Introduction [TJ]

6.2.4 Beneficiaries

The primary project beneficiaries were students (13 to 21 years old) and teachers involved in the GEEP activities such as FLE Clubs. The first beneficiaries were 60 adolescents and teachers who attended a train-the-trainer course. It is worth noting that the actual number of beneficiaries was definitely higher. In effect, the 60 primary beneficiaries in turn trained as many other beneficiaries as possible. They extended their reach beyond the school setting to grassroots communities - through awareness raising and the organisation of events such as conferences, public events and cyber holiday camps.

6.2.5 Institutional Background

GEEP works as a network of human resources that aims to be a driving force for positive changes in the Senegalese education system. Through its actions and activities, GEEP promotes FLE for students, learners and teachers while attempting to raise awareness in schools and at universities on the relations between population issues, the environment, citizenship and sustainable development. Because of the expertise of its members, GEEP is regularly solicited for advice on various issues.

6.2.6 Project Management Structures and Staffing

The project is under the management of GEEP, an NGO constituted by researchers, teachers and professional interested in population issues, the environment, citizenship and sustainable development. GEEP is led by a national coordinator and team, with regional/local teams throughout the country. The national coordination team is located in Dakar and has an administrative and organisational function. Each project site has its own local management team and a steering committee for the Youth Cyber Club.
Each local management team comprises a teacher (PRT) and at least one student (LEA), with at least one being female. The management team play the role of technical facilitators and are in charge of training, first-level equipment maintenance, and support to users. The steering committee plays an advisory role and includes the school administration and occasionally a few members of the student-parents associations. It also plays a role in controlling the budget and finances. These two bodies are the link between the FLE and the national project coordination team. Periodically, team meetings are held in one location to discuss problems, achievements and to share lessons learnt.
Each Youth Cyber Club received a budget to cover a portion of its telecommunication costs and other running costs such as ink and paper. Some costs are recovered from the services supplied (word processing, computer training, etc) or from donations. Schools provide the physical facilities as well as water and electricity for each of the Youth Cyber Clubs.

6.3 Project Activities

6.3.1 Pre-start Up

The first activity was the selection of sites for Youth Cyber Clubs. This was based on how well they could:

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  Foster decentralisation of FLE management by hosting Youth Cyber Clubs in a school or structure selected as a regional focal point for Youth Forums. This would make it possible to endow the host structure with information tools that improve FLE activity management at the regional focal point;
  

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  Enable certain FLE clubs to come out of their isolation in remote areas or to overcome the handicap of distance and improve communication with the executive team; and
  

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  Encourage a number of promising and consistent FLE clubs by giving them incentives, and through their example, promote excellence within the FLE network.
  

6.3.2 Start-up (Piloting)

The project is still in the pilot stage having set up 22 Youth Cyber Clubs in the country these were provide with computer training, and provided with reading material for students, teachers and school community members.
Several activities were undertaken during the project life: cyber youth camps (each year within the country and in Kenya in 2001). These cyber youth camps were held in remote areas, outside of the normal school activities. The purpose of these camps was to share experiences among participants and create opportunities to think on issues to be undertaken for the following year (programmatic meetings), to disseminate project results among the project team and others; to demonstrate the usefulness of computers in school, and most importantly, to be close to the actual developmental issues at the community level.
Several national and local workshops have been organised involving teachers, students, parents, school administrations and policy makers. One of the main influences of these workshops is the adoption of the Youth Cyber Club strategy and approach by the Ministry of Education for introducing ICTs in schools.

6.3.3 Partnerships

GEEP has worked together with, and received support from, other partners to implement the activities of this project. As part of its programme of assistance to Senegal (1998-1999), UNFPA committed to supporting GEEP to set up five Youth Cyber Clubs in youth information and counselling centres at Cheikh Anta Diop University and in four counselling offices in high schools with active FLE clubs.
Club 2/3 is a cooperation and development agency that supports GEEP in conducting a three-year experimental programme on environmental education called “Greening Schools and Schools’ Environments”. This initiative for environmental protection and preservation is expected to open three Youth Cyber Clubs in some pilot schools at the rate of one cyber club per year.
In addition, the Ministry of Health (MoH) has agreed, as part of a package for assistance, to support GEEP in executing a programme on awareness raising for the prevention of AIDS. The MoH provides institutional support and covers monitoring missions through an endowment.
Finally, Schools Online is providing assistance by upgrading equipment and setting up a new Youth Cyber Club at the Collège d’Enseignement Moyen (CEM) Banque Islamique in Guédiawaye.
The table below indicates the total estimated costs of the Cyber Jeunes project, and the financial and in-kind contributions made by the various partners.
Table 6.1 Budgetary Estimates on Youth Cyber Clubs

Item	Cost FCFA
IDRC CONTRIBUTION (71%)
Equipment (computers/modems)	23 160 000
Logistics, communication & consumables	21 600 000
Training, technical assistance, documentation and facilitation	21 900 000
Research	10 000 000
TOTAL	76 660 000
OTHER CONTRIBUTIONS (29%)
UNFPA 10.44%	11 275 000
Club 2/3 (Canada) 5.55%	6 000 000
Health Ministry 3.70%	4 000 000
GEEP 9.26% (In–kind contribution)	10 000 000
TOTAL COSTS (including GEEP contribution)	117 935 000
Additional contribution: Schools Online – Grant to set up a new Youth Cyber Club and upgrade the equipment in two others	US$ 20 000