LOSING STEAM
Since 1999 the Government has set a clear programme for prioritising the development and use of innovative technologies, having a reliable, affordable communication infrastructure and providing for an ‘information-enabled’ society and sustainable economic growth.
When the whole of Government’s strategy was proposed to provide a unified framework and policy direction for ICT initiatives, a strong emphasis was put on individual and community development where ‘digital divide’ issues – that is, the potential of ICTs to exacerbate existing inequalities, were assumed to be paramount.
One initiative taken was when the Department of Labour’s Community Employment Group developed a project involving a range of community-based strategies aimed at enabling all New Zealanders and community groups to access and effectively use ICTs.
This project worked at showing how ICT can be used to give marketable skills to the long-term unemployed. It was one of only a few number of government projects where some funding was provided. The plan was to use a community-wide planning methodology to facilitate develop-ment of a range of local community-based Internet and new technology initiatives; technical and planning support; and, a full evaluation after 6 years. The project provided some training for designing websites for communities and getting them online. It had some early success but lost steam somewhere along the way.
WHERE IT STANDS
Today, it is estimated that nearly 3 of every 4 small- or medium-sized community development-related organisations or groups in New Zealand either don’t have or lack resources to access something as fundamental as the Internet and communications using the Web. With a little funding support from some enlightened philanthropic organisations, however, that could be narrowed down to half of the total in a matter of just 3 years.
The situation in Aotearoa is that, even as it has a very high and widespread use of ICT in some sectors, the association of the lack of ICT access and skills in the Third Sector with other socio-economic factors has the potential to obscure the real issues.
The challenge to realise the potential of ICT to significantly improve the quality of life of all means more people and organisations at the community level are connected to the Internet and capable and confident of using it safely and effectively.
The interdependence of relevant content, the skills to use it in a safe and secure ICT environment and affordable access to a quality telecommunications infrastructure carries with it an inherent power to unlock the potential of individuals and communities of interest. It promotes innovation in business in a networked environment.
COMING TOGETHER
By coming together to help themselves and others, members of The Community Well.NZ Pro-ject aim to reduce the gap of the ‘Digital Divide’ in Aotearoa.
It starts with three simple actions points:
- proactively support efforts and participate in capacity-building activities using ICT tech-nologies;
- learning to use the Internet and the Web more effectively as a powerful communications tool and channel; and,
- working together to gain higher visibility for their individual content so that it reaches the widest possible number of audiences; the constituents they serve; stakeholders; and, others that include grant-making bodies willing to learn about, fund and support their purposes, plans, objectives and initiatives.
The TCW.NZ Demo Website, therefore, is one step of many that brings all its members closer to narrowing the divide we speak of today.
