In Haiti, only 11 percent of the whole population has access to computer and internet technologies nationwide. In rural Haiti, where there is no electricity, less than 1 percent of the people have achieved some level of computer/digital literacy. With the ever-increasing impact of computerized communication and information delivery, the need to facilitate learning about information technology is critical for girls and women residing in rural Haiti. Regarding girls and women living in Haiti’s remote rural areas, access to digital literacy is something for which they have been longing. However, the Haitian government has not made any efforts to build the infrastructure required for computer literacy and internet access within the abovementioned rural communities.

 

In a context where young women in rural Haiti have been relegated to second class citizens for centuries, they have developed survival skills in the environment in which they live that are mind-boggling. On the other hand, they have also missed a lot of opportunities associated with information technology that are more readily available to their urban sisters. In today's ever-changing society, this rural-urban gap has been widening in a context where young men are more likely to become digitally literate.

 

Challenges

In rural Haiti, large number of school age children, especially girls have never attended a school where they should be introduced to information technologies. In fact, rural schools don’t have any computer system installed. In other words, everything has to be done from scratch. There are (a) no building Infrastructure (furniture and Computing Resources); (b) no electrical installations (c) skilled people with required computer skills (d) no support from local authorities. To power computer equipment in this environment, solar or wind energy is the best option.

 

Key benefits

The benefits than girls and women living in rural Haiti are enormous and unlimited

• Expanding communication with world beyond their communities

• Reduction of the digital divide or gap between men and women

• Opportunities to do internet research for school related activities

• Access information about women’s health

• Connection with women in Haiti and abroad

• Acquisition of life skills

• Increase of baseline skills required for young women to compete in the workforce

• Transfer of digital literacy to children and the youth