What is NairoBits? (answered by Ineke Aquarius, project co-ordinator NairoBits Amsterdam)
NairoBits was founded in the Netherlands to realise cultural projects that create two-way channels of communication between Africa and the rest of the world, thus improving Africa's media presence. The first impetus was the initiators' wish to gain a first-hand, less media-tainted knowledge of Africa. Next came the urge to take action to counter the digital divide between Africa and the developed world. Bearing this in mind NairoBits started developing a computer course that would teach young Africans the skills of a Webmaster, thus giving them a voice on the Internet. The course would also provide the students with means to gain some financial independence and a more self determined future. The plan was set to start January 2000: After creating all these agreements and partnerships the NairoBits team set down to the hard slog of getting financial sponsorship for the project. After approaching every possible fund, two days before our deadline, the Prince Claus Fund became our first financial supporter, quickly followed by ICCO, Sans Souci, Cordaid, Mama Cash and the Dutch Embassy.
February and March 2000 were two intensive months of training for the 20 participants. The youths learnt to work with five industry standard software applications: Adobe Photoshop, Macromedia Dreamweaver, Microsoft Word, Gif Builder and Netscape. They also learnt to scan, print and maintain the computers. By the end of two months each youth had made his/her own website with self made photos of their city, a story written about their new home on a virtual deserted island, a computer drawn self portrait, a group made animation on a self chosen theme, and an animated button to link the pages together.
From April to December 2000, the youths continued training for 2 days and 2 mornings. Faith Longwe, information technologist from Nairobi, agreed to train with us and co-ordinate the project for the rest of the year 2000. During the part-time training programme, Faith was assisted by guest teachers from the Internet community in Nairobi, short visits from the Dutch crew and by mail contact.
In the original plan, the main partner MYSA (all NairoBits students are members of MYSA, who selected the youths), would adopt the project and organise spreading the skills towards the other 10 000 youths. Plans changed, because the participants, initiators and sponsors feel there is more to achieve. In short: a new organisation called NairoBits Kenya is to be set up in order to bring the project to a higher, self supported, longer level in a period of 3 to 4 years.
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