Final published version
Research output: Contribution in Book/Report/Proceedings - With ISBN/ISSN › Conference contribution/Paper › peer-review
Research output: Contribution in Book/Report/Proceedings - With ISBN/ISSN › Conference contribution/Paper › peer-review
}
TY - GEN
T1 - Telecentre Users as Mediators of Empowerment of Rural Communities in Malawi
AU - Kapondera, Sellina Khumbo
AU - Panteli, Niki
AU - Bernardi, Roberta
PY - 2020/5/18
Y1 - 2020/5/18
N2 - For over three decades telecentres have been promoted as a means of reducing digital exclusion. However, their relevance is inconclusive. In this paper we investigate how telecentre users empower rural communities in Malawi. We adopt a qualitative approach and report preliminary findings from users and indirect beneficiaries of one telecentre. The findings indicate that empowerment effects of telecentres go beyond users. Specifically, when users use the telecentres, they get empowered and, eventually, empower other community members by, for example, teaching ICT, sharing knowledge, and raising awareness of problems and providing solutions within communities, thus generating collective empowerment. The study further indicates that community empowerment is influenced by such factors as social connections, self-growth, and beneficiaries' willingness to receive help. However, empowerment was also beset with a series of constraints such as limited resources.
AB - For over three decades telecentres have been promoted as a means of reducing digital exclusion. However, their relevance is inconclusive. In this paper we investigate how telecentre users empower rural communities in Malawi. We adopt a qualitative approach and report preliminary findings from users and indirect beneficiaries of one telecentre. The findings indicate that empowerment effects of telecentres go beyond users. Specifically, when users use the telecentres, they get empowered and, eventually, empower other community members by, for example, teaching ICT, sharing knowledge, and raising awareness of problems and providing solutions within communities, thus generating collective empowerment. The study further indicates that community empowerment is influenced by such factors as social connections, self-growth, and beneficiaries' willingness to receive help. However, empowerment was also beset with a series of constraints such as limited resources.
KW - digital exclusion
KW - empowerment
KW - Malawi
KW - rural areas
KW - telecentres
M3 - Conference contribution/Paper
AN - SCOPUS:85094316595
T3 - 2020 IST-Africa Conference, IST-Africa 2020
BT - 2020 IST-Africa Conference, IST-Africa 2020
PB - Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.
T2 - 2020 IST-Africa Conference, IST-Africa 2020
Y2 - 18 May 2020 through 22 May 2020
ER -