Comics offer digital aid

SchoolNet Namibia, a non-profit group which provides net services, computers, and training to schools in Namibia. It has had great success in supplying and training people on open-source software. But they found was that after the trainer they provided for two months left the schools, the computers in the labs remained largely untouched, especially by the teachers themselves.

It is no use giving computers away to schools if no one is going to use them," Ebben Hatuikulipi from SchoolNet Namibia explained to the BBC News website. So in April, they came up with the paper-based Hai TI comic, which means Listen Up in the local language, Oshiwambo." It is printed every Tuesday in the local youth newspaper, so it goes across the country. What is in the comic is also all online," said Ms Hatuikulipi.

"We've started receiving calls from parents now asking questions about where to save documents they get from the net and so on" Ebben Hatuikulipi, SchoolNet Namibia

The colourful gang of characters explain technology and what it can be used for through stories, just like a conventional comic adventure. When they talk about e-mail or downloading, for example, information panels near the speech bubbles offer an explanation and web addresses for readers to follow. The characters are based on actual SchoolNet staff members and the comic has been such a hit that they are becoming minor celebrities. And word is spreading." We've started receiving calls from parents now asking questions about where to save documents they get from the net and so on, so the questions coming into our helpline are now about how to use the computers," said Ms Hatuikulipi, which is a sign of real success as far as SchoolNet is concerned. They have also started to receive a lot more e-mails from all over the country since its launch. The group has also noticed that the teachers, 75% of whom are women, have been inspired too with a large proportion of helpline calls and e-mails coming from them. " Women and technology have never really got on. So we did want to get more women into technology too," said Ms Hatuikulipi. "The response has been really good."
Even though it is a young project, it has been recognised by the World Summit Youth Award for bringing technologies closer to people.

Article by: Jo Twist
BBC News technology reporter in Tunis