Jul

27

By Oreoluwa
Audrey Wilson receives prize for Ms Congeniality from Dr Somolu, Secretary of Board of Trustees

This is very sad news that we regret to share. In June one of our alumni from our 2008 W.TEC Girls Technology Camp, Audrey Wilson, passed away. Audrey had been ill for a while and in and out of the hospital. Unfortunately in June she lost her fight.

Audrey attended the Girls Technology Camp in a year that holds very special memories for us, because it was the first edition of the camp. The 15 girls who attended the camp were selected following a competitive application process, which included written tests and oral interviews. Audrey shone right from this application stage and her star only got brighter as we got to know her better during the camp.

Always INCREDIBLY talkative and never short of words, Audrey was smart, attentive and very witty. She had that rare gift of genuine interest in others and struck up friendships with every single girl who attended the camp, as well as with our staff. It was no surprise to anyone really when she was awarded the Ms. Congeniality prize at the end of the camp.

There is no doubt in my mind and in the mind of anyone who knew her that Audrey was definitely destined for great things. Our deepest condolences go to her family. The only bit of comfort from this tragedy is knowing how highly people thought of Audrey and how many were touched by her vibrant spirit and warmth.

Rest in peace, Audrey.

Jul

27

By Karin ter Horst

I’m getting more and more integrated in the Nigerian society. My stomach is able to handle my dinner and I’m greeting people by saying: ‘How far?!’ I’ve to tell you that the conversation is directly over at the same moment, but so far it’s fine. I also know now that I shouldn’t pay 3000 naira’s for a trip of five minutes in a cab and that I have to talk about the softness of the corn that I want to buy at the market.

But there’s something and I can’t get used to it. People want to take pictures of me, all the time. I’m not that popular in the Netherlands, you have to know. It’s not that I’m special, but my Dutch presence just stands out more here. The same thing happened last week. One of the girls who had applied for the 3rd W.TEC Girls Technology Camp had already finished her selection test and interview, when she returned to the office to snap a picture. With me.

At this moment we’re very busy with the preparations of the camp, which will be starting in about two weeks. I was really surprised to meet girls who have never touched or used a computer. Off course, I’m from the Netherlands where a lot of things are just normal and possible. There’s always water, electricity, good education for everyone and a minimum salary in any case. In my work at W.TEC I face the differences between countries.

Dutch people aren’t better persons and life in general isn’t better in the Netherlands. No, in the Netherlands there are more opportunities. These opportunities offering better possibilities in the future. I’ve met a lot of motivated and ambitious Nigerians in the last few weeks. There are enough people who want to work hard and want to learn. But the possibilities and needed support aren’t there.

I came here to change the world, to make a change. But I realize and I know it’s not possible for me in 6 weeks in Africa – to be realistic. But an important thing is that you have to start somewhere. Every single person who will face better opportunities to develop themselves and others is worthy. Besides, in my opinion the local people are the real change agents. They have the ability to communicate in the common way and to connect with the right people. I’ve a lot of respect for the activities and the employees from W.TEC. Women and girls will be given the chance to equip themselves with ICT- and leadership skills. That empowers them and makes them able to develop themselves. These women and girls are the people who can have the needed impact in the Nigerian society in the future.

When I will leave Africa, the world will be still the same. There will be still a gap between poor and rich. Just a little group of the children will have the same possibilities in here as in the Netherlands. But I will bring an inspiring experience back home and I would have had the chance to deliver my contribution to the development of 15 wonderful Nigerian girls – the girls who are going to make the difference within a few years in the Nigerian society. And also a very important contribution: there are some people in Lagos who has a photo with a smiling oyibo.

Jul

27

By Karin ter Horst, a Dutch intern

Again, I learned a lot in my second week in Nigeria. For instance, that’s not necessary to dance in the club at Saturday night; it’s also possible at Sunday morning in the church. Further I discovered that plantain is my new favourite food, especially when it’s around four in the afternoon. Besides I know now what ‘flashing’ means and what the relationship between men and women is.

Several times I made some analyses about the last topic. Maybe it was visible on my face that I was thinking about this brain breaking difficulty. Because some people were asking me what my opinion is about Nigerian guys when I was walking around on the domain of the University in Lagos. It were some people from a local television station who were making a documentary. I told them that I like guys. But in my opinion Nigerian guys like girls more. That was exciting information; I had to give an example.

Last weekend I couldn’t get into sleep because I missed my Internet connection to much. So one of my new Nigerian friends brought me to a bar for two hours of surfing and browsing on the World Wide Web. I only had to pay 200 naira’s while at that moment I should give everything for checking my mail. My friend had the great idea that he was made for some of my Dutch friends. He told me this based on two facebookpictures. I should send her a message to invite her to come to Nigeria and convince her of his great muscles. They would build a beautiful relationship and within two years they would be married. Maybe is Facebook the new way for finding your true love. Maybe.

I decided to give another example to the camera people, because my Nigerian friend is always watching local channels when he isn’t busy with finding his true love. I explained that guys here are very physically and they give a lot of compliments. I’m also thinking that guys have more power related to the girls in a relationship. I spoke some of the boys and one of them told me he had five girlfriends! I made some jokes about it, but I can’t imagine that. It isn’t something to be proud of. I think a girl or woman deserves more respect than that, how many compliments she also should receive.

Guys are very generous in giving compliments and Facebookinvitations. But spending phone credits is more difficult. That’s something I recognized. When I took my phone I saw six missed calls. I called everyone directly back, brave as I am. But I discovered that a lot of people just call you for two seconds as a sign you have to call them back. It’s called ‘flashing’. I felt ‘flashed’ indeed.

The most important lessons I learnt last week is that you have to ignore boys with four girlfriends and you have to pick up your phone within two seconds. Oh! And when you walk into an internet bar, it’s better to buy directly three hours. So you don’t have to upgrade every 30 minutes.

Again, I learned a lot in my second week in Nigeria. For instance, that’s not necessary to dance in the club at Saturday night; it’s also possible at Sunday morning in the church. Further I discovered that plantain is my new favourite food, especially when it’s around four in the afternoon. Besides I know now what ‘flashing’ means and what the relationship between men and women is.

Several times I made some analyses about the last topic. Maybe it was visible on my face that I was thinking about this brain breaking difficulty. Because some people were asking me what my opinion is about Nigerian guys when I was walking around on the domain of the University in Lagos. It were some people from a local television station who were making a documentary. I told them that I like guys. But in my opinion Nigerian guys like girls more. That was exciting information; I had to give an example.

Last weekend I couldn’t get into sleep because I missed my Internet connection to much. So one of my new Nigerian friends brought me to a bar for two hours of surfing and browsing on the World Wide Web. I only had to pay 200 naira’s while at that moment I should give everything for checking my mail. My friend had the great idea that he was made for some of my Dutch friends. He told me this based on two facebookpictures. I should send her a message to invite her to come to Nigeria and convince her of his great muscles. They would build a beautiful relationship and within two years they would be married. Maybe is Facebook the new way for finding your true love. Maybe.

I decided to give another example to the camera people, because my Nigerian friend is always watching local channels when he isn’t busy with finding his true love. I explained that guys here are very physically and they give a lot of compliments. I’m also thinking that guys have more power related to the girls in a relationship. I spoke some of the boys and one of them told me he had five girlfriends! I made some jokes about it, but I can’t imagine that. It isn’t something to be proud of. I think a girl or woman deserves more respect than that, how many compliments she also should receive.

Guys are very generous in giving compliments and Facebookinvitations. But spending phone credits is more difficult. That’s something I recognized. When I took my phone I saw six missed calls. I called everyone directly back, brave as I am. But I discovered that a lot of people just call you for two seconds as a sign you have to call them back. It’s called ‘flashing’. I felt ‘flashed’ indeed.

The most important lessons I learnt last week is that you have to ignore boys with four girlfriends and you have to pick up your phone within two seconds. Oh! And when you walk into an internet bar, it’s better to buy directly three hours. So you don’t have to upgrade every 30 minutes.

Jul

27

Karin ter Horst is our newest (albeit temporary) addition to the W.TEC staff. She is a member of AIESEC, the world’s largest student-run organisation and will be interning with us for a month.

Karin is from the Netherlands and currently in university studying Organisational Sciences & Public Management. It’s been her dream to visit the African continent and this desire has come true now with this trip to Nigeria. In the short time she’s been here, she’s already visited Abuja and explored many parts of Lagos.

Her work here at W.TEC focuses mainly on our upcoming Girls Technology Camp. Karin has been instrumental in revising our camp schedule so that the girls are less loaded with information and have more time for practice.

We’re excited to have Karin with us for this short time and hope that she, in turn, enjoys her time with us.

Jul

16

By Karin ter Horst

A story from a Dutch intern in Nigeria

Really, I couldn’t wait to open my inbox in my internet browser. I hadn’t used my laptop for a whole week so it took some time to starting up. I entered my password to log in and saw 81 new mails. Where to start?! I scanned quickly all the messages on my screen: mails from my Dutch friends who were missing me, photographs from my father and invitations for summer parties. Besides these messages there were also less attractive messages, like reminders for library books and bank accounts.

This was the first time I had access to the World Wide Web after one week staying in Nigeria. For me, it’s a new record! Never in my young life had I lived such a long period without Internet. Although I was busy with learning to eat Nigerian spicy food last week. Besides I also had to learn some Pitching English and a few African dance moves from students in Lagos. So actually, I didn’t have the time to think about using Internet or checking my Facebook. Maybe you think it’s crazy, but in the Netherlands I’m used to do it at least four times a day!

My whole life I wanted to visit Africa. This summer I got the chance to do a development internship in Lagos. So that’s the reason why this internet addicted Dutch girl came to Nigeria. In this country you have to pay for every minute you’re online. Normally I should take all the possible time to answer my messages and to upload some new photographs on my travelblog. But now I will be as fast as I can, because of my host family. I made a plan to read all these 81 mails. I decided to start with the most urgent mails. So I sended my dad a mail that I’m still alive in Africa.

In the Netherlands it’s normal that everyone has access to information and communication technology (ICT). Additional you can use broadband Internet for a standard amount a month. That makes it’s possible to search, learn, shop and communicate on your personal computer (PC) or laptop: at office, home, school and university, wherever you want. Nowadays there are a lot of people who are using the Internet on their laptop or mobile phone when they are travelling. Children with the age of four years are already playing educational games on the PC and young people build their social networks by chatting and social media, for instance Facebook. Another possibility for foreigners, for example, is to call with family in other countries with Skype. Internet makes the world smaller and accessible.

The man was head of the family and was all day working, that’s what the traditional roles were in a Dutch family, 50 years ago. Women stayed at home to take care of the children and to clean the house. Nowadays, the most Dutch women have a job also, mainly part-time. It’s normal to go studying after primary school. Both, for boys ánd girls. To be honest, girls finishing their university in average earlier than their male fellow students.  For so far the access and use of ICTs is the same for boys and girls to raise their goals. But one thing has to be said: Boys will spend more time on online gaming.

Then, my time was up, I had to turn off my laptop. The Korean girls who were also staying at the host family really wanted to chat with some friends in South-Korea, so they were waiting. But I forgot almost the most important thing: my mail inbox from the university. So the last thing I did was checking if I received some results of exams by mail. That wasn’t the case, the only thing I received was a message that I should order my new books for next college year. But that’s an issue to worry about later. First I will enjoy Nigeria. With or without Internet.

Jul

12

The applications for this year’s edition of the W.TEC Girls Technology Camp have been pouring in.

Thanks to our friends in the media and online colleagues, who have helped us publicise the camp including Technology Times, TW Magazine, BellaNaija, Development Report and International Telecommunication Union, as well as fellow bloggers like Gbenga Sesan, and the countless Twitter and Facebook friends.

We also thank our other supporters including Omatek Computers, Laureates College, NTA Lagos Channel 10 and the Women in Computer Science at Rutgers group. With this much interest, we know that this year’s camp is going to be phenomenal!

We are still accepting applications, so please nominate a girl or apply for yourself. If you are interested in sponsoring a girl to attend the camp, you can contact us by email info@w-teconline.org or phone, +234.819.115.0387, +234.802.328.7137, +234.1.850.9782.

Jul

6

W.TEC trained participants at the recently-completed capacity building workshop for ‘Women Living Under Muslim Laws’ on strategic e-campaigning. The programme was organised by BAOBAB For Women’s Human Rights in Nigeria and facilitated by Association for Progressive Communications Women’s Networking Support Programme (APC WNSP).

The training forms part of the WLUML Women Reclaiming and Redefining Cultures Projects and Institute for Women’s Empowerment (IWE). It is the first of two workshops, the second to be conducted in Asia in August 2010. APC WNSP contracted Oreoluwa Somolu (of W.TEC) and Oluwatoyin Ajao to run the training workshop.

It was developed for the main purpose of harnessing ICT for the empowerment of women and girls and for collective mobilisation and advocacy purpose in the cause of women’s human rights advancement.

Training Objectives:
• To share and build knowledge and skills on communication rights and information and communication technologies (ICTs) from feminist perspectives
• To create dynamic spaces to explore and deepen feminist practices and politics of technology
• To raise awareness on the critical role of communication rights in the struggle to advance women’s human rights
• To share skills that will enable participants use technology to effectively document abuses, mobilize support and amplify pressure for change

The participants were all very committed to finding out how online tools and other technology could support their campaigns.

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