Telecentre Woman: Digital Literacy Campaign

1. Digital Literacy for Women, the road to a new future Telecentre Woman: Digital Literacy Campaign Telecentre.org Foundation and International Telecommunication Union (ITU)

2. Digital Literacy for Women, the road to a new future

3. Digital Literacy for Women, the road to a new future This is the situation in developing countries, where 60% of women end up being family workers with no salary, according to UN Women data.

4. Digital Literacy for Women, the road to a new future In Chile, 45, 8% of women are active in the labor market. An important part of this percentage are female heads of households. These are one parent families representing 10% of the population (National Institute of Statistics) 2010 y Women’s National Service. Female poverty and gender inequity are still prevalent, despite policies aimed at addressing this problem. The lack of access to information and communications technologies increases this inequality.

5. Basic digital literacy means that the information and communication technologies can be used to improve people’s quality of life.   • Rural women may be able to produce more and sell to higher prices, making use of market information. • Housewives may be able to start home businesses, allowing them to increase productivity and family income. • Those who combine family responsibilities with their labour activities may be able to work from home, thus carrying out multiple household duties and being the bread winners. Digital Literacy for Women, the road to a new future What does digital literacy mean?

6. Digital Literacy for Women, the road to a new future Who are the leaders of this campaign globally? The International Telecommunications Union(UIT), an international organization with 192 State members and a specialized UN agency. Telecentre.org.is a world network made up of individuals and organizations working to create and maintain community telecentreas spaces for development. What is the campaign’s mission? The Digital Literacy for Women Campaign is a world initiative aimed at helping women in vulnerable environments acquire knowledge and skills in information and communication technologies so they can enjoy improved labour opportunities as well as personal growth. The campaign seeks to recognize the achievements of the telecentre operators and their contribution to digital literacy and the development of their communities.

7. Digital Literacy for Women, the road to a new future Who are the leaders of this campaign inChile? TheAsociación de Telecentros Activos de Chile (ATACH) (Association of Active Telecentres of Chile) was chosen by Telecentre.org Foundation to implement one of three pilot projects that are part of the campaign because of their experience with information and communication technologies and vulnerable groups, as is shown in the following initiatives: Chilenos sin Límite (Unlimited Potencial program): a Microsoft initiative aimed at computer training at a basic level for low income groups. At least 5, 237 people have received training in eight regions of the country and more than 50% of the beneficiaries are women with from varied backgrounds: women in prisons, unemployed, handicapped, senior citizens, students from technical careers and rural women.

8. Digital Literacy for Women, the road to a new future Who are the leaders of this campaign in Chile? Programa Quiero Mi Barrio (I Love My Neighbourhood program): ATACH staff members and the Subsecretaría de Telecomunicaciones(Undersecretariat of Telecommunications) (SUBTEL, in Spanish) are founding telecentres in the 200 poorest neighbourhoods in Chile, from Arica to Punta Arenas. In addition, 500 operators have received training, and are acting as bridges between their communities and the information society. These training sessions are carried out through the Academia de Telecentros de Chile (Telecentre Academy), the training chapter of ATACH, and provide opportunities and training on information and communication technologies for those who lack access, knowledge and live in isolated locations.

9. Digital Literacy for Women, the road to a new future What are the goals of this campaign? • 1) To encourage women from disadvantaged communities to join the telecentre movement and acquire digital literacy. The world goal is 1,000,000 women from vulnerable communities. Local goal: 1,000 women. • 2) To bring together successful women from the information and communication technologies sector so they can be mentors, instructors and ambassadors, teaching and inspiring women from telecentres about the achievements of digital literacy and its benefits. World goal: 50,000 women mentors and ambassadors. Local goal: 50 • 3) Enhance the achievements of thousands of women in telecentres in view of the positive impact they have generated in the lives of other women. World goal: 100 awarded women. • 4) To support and promote the participation of telecentre networks around the world, mobilizing resources for fundraising, as well as content and curricula that enhance digital skills and e-commerce. World goal: 20,000 telecentres as learning facilities. Local goal: 60 • 5) To recruit partners from the private and public sectors, international agencies and local leaders in order to further the role of telecentres in the empowerment of communities. Local goal: 5 partnerships and/or agreements with the public and private sector, and informal sector.

10. Digital Literacy for Women, the road to a new future • What will be the Impact of Digital Literacy for Women? • Their personal well-being and that of the family and community will improve, whether they are in Africa, Asia or Latin America. They will have access to better jobs, they will be more efficient in their work, which will a benefit for any company needing their services. • Their participation at work, politics and decision making will improve. • They will enjoy greater economic independence, wages and empowerment. • They will have greater social interaction and will bond with the rest of the community. • They will have a safety net and become familiar with those organizations that protect battered women, providing them higher safety levels. During 2010, the police registered 139,180 cases of family violence in Chile*. • In brief, promoting digital literacy means a significant boost to world crusade against poverty. *The Department of Studies, Information and Analysis, Subsecretaría de Prevención del Delito (Undersecretariat of Crime Prevention) Ministry of Interior and Public Safety.

11. Digital Literacy for Women, the road to a new future What benefits will the companies receive from this initiative? • The rewarding experience of helping to change the lives and future of millions of women, creating a new, skilled and empowered generation that is more confident and able to take advantage of the opportunities raised by digital literacy. • An enhanced image of social responsibility, highly visible at a national and international level, and supported by every member and partner of the Digital Literacy for Women Campaign. • Participation, officially acknowledged and highly visible in all activities, actions and exhibitions of the Digital Literacy for Women Campaign.

12. Our partners

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