U-reporter Enables RICNET to carry out action research about her sms platform

RIC-NET has been running sms platform since 2010 to send sms alerts, receive feedback on radio programmes, sensitize parents about their roles at schools,  sensitise citizens about their roles in the governance and electoral processes, provide weather information alerts, market information and preventive health alerts.

Every year RIC-NET sends out over 500,000 sms on these different issues to over 3,500 citizens in her database residents of Rwenzori region, therefore the organisation required a clear feedback on effectiveness of these sms in delivering the intended massage.

The organisation sample two District Kasese and Kabarole and send over 1,500 sms to users the following questions:

 1. Is SMS a useful way of informing parents on issues about their children at school? Yes/No, why?

2.       Have you or your parent ever taken action because of the SMS received about education from RIC-NET?

The results of these questions are as follows

836 people responded the first question and 510 responded to the 2^nd question.

Out of 836 people, 497 disagreed with sms as effective channel for information to the parents with mostly giving reasons as most parents are illiterate, expensive to buy phones, not able to engage on phones. But this contradicted the fact the 836 out of 1,500 people had responded to the poll.

Responses based on Gender on 1^st question

Sex	no	other	yes	Total
F	130	4	67	201
M	234	5	164	403
N/A	132	5	95	232
Total	496	14	326	836

It was observed that mostly people from Kasese responds to sms than Kabarole District.

Responses based on sex, category per district

Category	Sex	Kabarole	Kasese	Total
no	F	49	81	130
	M	51	183	234
	N/A	36	96	132
other	F	2	2	54
	M	1	4	5
	N/A	1	4	5
yes	F	27	40	67
	M	49	115	164
	N/A	21	74	95
Grand Total		237	599	836

Response on the 2nd question
 55%  (282 people out of  the 510) who responded to question 2 had taken action because of the our sms. This was positive compared to 33% who regarded sms as effective in sharing education information to parents.
This  can generally imply that, though only 326 people regard sms positive, at least  282 of these take action action.

PICTURE STORY OF THE RIC-NET AGM HELD ON 3IST MAY 2014 AT ST JOSEPH'S INN VIRIKA

Districts resolve to sustain E-society Centres in Rwenzori region- Uganda

From a humble beginning of initiating E-society centres in the Districts resolved at  Kasese 2008 stakeholders roundtable  meeting, all the seven Districts of Rwenzori region (Kasese, Kabarole, Kamwenge, Kyenjojo, Ntoroko, Kyegegwa and Bundibugyo) have established and  resolved to keep and sustain  the District ICT (e-society) Centres in absence of the initial support from HIVOS through RWECO/RIC-NET.

some youth in a training session at Kasese District e-society centre

District staff in Bundibugyo e-society centre

All the Districts have appointed, on temporary terms, a staff to take care for the e-society centres paid  from the  District local revenues.

Though RIC-NET continued to offer technical support, internet bandwidth  and pay staff up to to March 2013, the Districts took over all other costs and eventually the staff salary and internet subscription from April 2014. In recognition for this effort, RIC-NET in partnership with RWECO offered a bridge up contribution of one million shillings to each District as a honorarium to their staff this financial year.

Hon. Rwabuhinga Chair Person LC V Kabarole receives a chegue from John Silco Director of RIC-NET

Deputy CAO Bundibugyo receives the Honorarium cheque

Mr. John Chief Finance officer and Mr. Shabani ICT officer Ntoroko

The Deputy CAO Bundibugyo District said that this contribution was timely and sign recognizing their efforts on sustaining the e-society centres. This was a good sign and prove of Public Private partnership efforts in the region.

Districts went ahead to lobby the Ministry of public service to take on the e-society staff as permanent District staff on government payroll. And so far, Kasese District has officially recruited the ICT officer, Ntoroko and Kamwenge have received a go ahead and they are yet to recruit the ICT officers. 

Other Districts have formally requested and awaits for the formal response from the Ministry of public service.

The e-society centres have not only become places for accessing information and sharing between District civil servants, CSO , youth and the general public; most Districts have used the centres  in skilling the youth with ICT and entrepreneurship skills. 

Girls - single mothers or displaced by ADF rebels attack- training in ICT at Ntotoko E-society centre

Ntoroko District has so far trained over 250 youth and held a certificates award ceremony on 20th May 2014 presided over by the Chair person LC V Ntoroko District.

RIC-NET and CSOs   efforts to  initiate e-society centres follows the establishment of a network of  50 rural information centres in the most counties/ sub counties in the region that enables information access, documentation and sharing among the  farmers, youth, women. elected leaders and general public

M John Silco of RIC-NET with some youth who trained at  Ntoroko  e-society centre

 E-society centres, Dynamic District websites, District e-libraries, District  online discussion groups coupled with sponsored radio programmes, web-sms based platforms and neighborhood  assemblies  has led to an effective convergence of several information accesss and dissemination channels leading to a relative quick feedback process among stakeholders. A success story of the collaboration between RIC-NET, CSOs and local government structures being repeated as with the farmers' "Plant clinic" initated by RIC-NET/SATNET in 2009 in the region and with support of plantwise uganda, it is now taken up and adapted by District Agriculture officer in most the  District in the Rwenzori region. http://ric-netnews.blogspot.com/2013/01/kabarole-holds-first-regional-plant.html

TRAINING OF MENTORS PROGRAM KICKS OFF IN RWENZORI REGION

RIC-NET, selected Teachers   of secondary schools, District chairpersons of Kamwenge , Kyenjojo and kyegegwa were among the participants in the three days inception meeting for  Mentoring Program held at RENA Guest House in kyenjojo District on 13^th-15^th May 2014

The  three-year mentoring initiative support targets 75 conflict affected aged 13-18  annually in the selected schools of kyenjojo S.S, Rwamwanja S.S in kamwenge and Bujubuli secondary in kyegegwa Districts. Through Mentoring and training, the program will empower girls to become economically independent and socially responsible leaders based on a powerful model of combining and weaving education with key life skills, leadership, vocational and entrepreneurship skills. Equipping young women with these skills will ignite their cognitive skills, critical thinking, innovation and inter-dependence, which are critical necessities for success in the global economy. The young women will be inspired and equipped with skills that will enable them confidently and competitively enter the job market as employers or employees.

 CEDA international an NGO based in Kampala has established a partnership with   RIC-NET facilitated at the training.The conflict affected girls will be trained  in computer packages, hair dressing, crafts making, tailoring. RIC-NET support Mentors in the use of innovative learning techniques.

CAO-NTOROKO DISTRICT LOCAL GOVERNMENT CREDIT'S AND APPRECIATE'S RIC-NET'S WORK

RIC-NET SUPPORTS E-SOCIETY RESOURCE CENTRES

The Chief Administrative Officer-Ntoroko District thanked RIC-NET for it's support to the district with an ICT hub and continuous support to the centre even after handing over the facility with it's equipments and the staff to the district, he further acknowledged that RIC-NET has written to him asking for the District Account details to give more financial support to the centre, he gave credit to the spirit shown by RIC-NET as a partner in development and promised to continue working with RIC-NET, he called upon other CSO's (NGO's) to give a hand in order to develop the District, he made the aforementioned remarks on Tuesday, 6th May, 2014 at the District Technical Planning Committee (TPC) meeting held at the district headquarters in Kibuuku TC

"Empowering Citizens"

"Empowering Citizens"

Ntoroko E-society Resource Centre invites you to it's fourth graduation ceremony scheduled to take place at the district headquarter's on Tuesday, 20th May, 2014. Registration for New students is ongoing. Below some of the computer literacy training-finalists pose for a photo with the ICT-Officer at Ntoroko E-society Resource Centre.