Many antipoverty crusaders believe that closing the Digital Divide is not a top priority, arguing instead that the poor need clean water,good roads, electricity and jobs before they need computers. However, what they do not realize is that access to digital technology greatly enhances the effectiveness and affordability of efforts to improve the water supply, improve rural health and education, generate jobs and address any of the other interrelated problems of poverty. Closing the digital divide is not a silver bullet for reducing poverty. But there is a much lower likelihood of large scale and sustainable poverty reduction without doing so.
The emerging market countries of Asia are now major drivers of the digital economy and, in that vast region, the spread of wireless networks is stimulating all other dimensions of economic growth. In fact, the biggest technological growth is occurring outside big cities in these countries. As broadband networks spread into the countryside in Kenya, costs throughout the supply chain will drop. By adjusting their policies to close the digital divide, the major IT and telecom companies are achieving innovations that could spur growth in the advanced countries as well.
one prototype initiative is by a kenyan Harvard professor. Calestous Juma from the shores of Lake victoria in Budalangi. Calestous Juma is Professor of the Practice of International Development and the Director of the Science, Technology and Globalization Project at the Harvard Kennedy School He volunteers as a member of the International Advisory Council of World Computer Exchange (WCE).Professor Juma is now contacting his friends and colleagues to explore if they might be willing to join him in financially Sponsoring part of the $30,000 for content materials, sourcing the computers and other items as well as the logistical and shipping costs.
Victoria Institute of Science and Technology (VIST)will be key in bridging the digital divide and improve livelihoods of the rural communities of Bunyala Distirct in Kenya.
