Peer to Peer Technology Trainings

Vital Stats

Beth H

Santa Cruz

  • people helped100
  • People Doing It 5

The Problem

About 6% of the population in Tanzania is living with HIV. Almost everyone has been affected by the disease in some way. Because there is no cure for AIDS, the way it must be fought is through prevention; and the way to prevent it is by talking about it. There are millions of people talking about it all over the world, but some of the most affected are the most disconnected from the transnational discussion and from people willing to fund their prevention efforts. In the Kilimanjaro Region of Tanzania, the amazing people working to fight the disease in rural areas are almost invisible to the outside world, with no online presence or way to discover and contact people who are willing and able to help. Many community organizations do not use available technology because they do not understand it, they are uncomfortable using it, they cannot afford it, or they cannot see its utility. The Internet holds an endless supply of free and simple tools that could drastically increase organizations' reach and effectiveness, if only CBOs knew about them and how to use them. Tanzania does not have the resources and capacity to fight an epidemic of this magnitude alone, but it does have the internet. The internet holds endless possibilities to help the disease to be fought in global solidarity. By eliminating the digital divide, we become progressively closer to eliminating AIDS.

Plan of Action

I will go to Moshi, Tanzania to teach organizations working to fight the spread of HIV in rural areas how to set up free websites, e-mail accounts, stay connected with others, access information, search and initiate discussion with possible funders, organize and present their data and successes, and establish a global presence so that everyone knows that they are there and they are not invisible. Moshi Institute of Technology (MIT) will host the trainings. The institute has facilities with 40 available computers in two locations, which are fully equipped with Internet, Microsoft Office and many more programs. Workshops will be 2-3 hours a day, 5 days a week for 8 weeks. I am hoping to train about 80 staff members from 20-30 different NGOs. I will train MIT staff and leave behind procedure guides and books to ensure the participants have access to resources for additional support after the trainings are complete. This project will start a partnership with GIIP at UC Santa Cruz, and MIT (Moshi Institute of Technology) in hopes that future students can continue to provide trainings of their own design. Many of the trainees will be from yoth empowerment organizations who already work to empower young people with skills. Because of the pay-it-forward nature of these organizations, it is inevitable that the workshop participants will pass on the knowledge to community members and volunteers in their organizations. These trainings will create a true ripple effect.
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Global Health

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