Last year, one of long time life dream came to pass when I got an opportunity to travel to the USA for the first time to attend the 1st ever global annual Adobe Youth Voices (AYV) Summit. I really saw this as a golden opportunity to learn and share new skills from professional film makers and AYV educators and students from across the global and also make new connections for myself. I also longed to meet the other iEARN members that I had collaborated with on iEARN projects for a long time. At the summit I interacted with a lot of people in the AYV circle and learnt a lot of knowledge and skills that I did not know before I went.

One of the people I met was Lisa Jobson, the Deputy Executive Director of iEARN USA. I was really excited to talk to her. Surprisingly she was the first to talk to me because she was mistaking me for someone she had met at the iEARN conference in Cairo in July, 2008. In our conversation,  I managed to tell my own iEARN story i.e. how I have been a member for nine years running, the projects I have been involved in such as The Global Teenager project, Feeding Minds, Fighting Hunger, Folks and Tales project, Eradication of Malaria and HIV/AIDS, Tead Bear Project and the different presentations and efforts I have been doing to encourage other peers and teachers to participate in iEARN projects and how they can benefit from projects. I also told her more about the AYV media i.e. the documentary on gender disparity in science we had made and how I had been actively involved in the AYV implementation process i.e. facilitating at a number of AYV training workshops around the country.

During our conversion, she happened to talk about the internship opportunities they had previously offered to a number of other active iEARN members from across the globe. I also asked her if I could get such an opportunity. Fortunately, “I think” with the background I had given her about myself,  she told me it was possible for me to do internship at iEARN USA but she first had to talk to her bosses and would then get back to me. She also asked me if I would want to do it immediately after the summit or after finishing up my studies. I told her I would to do it after my studies; she then told me to remind her after my studies.

After the summit, I left USA with the team of AYV students I had gone with to the summit and came back to Uganda. I still made sure I kept her posted with the AYV and iEARN work I was involved in locally here in Uganda. In May this year, I wrote to her asking if I could still get the internship opportunity and she simply asked  for my resume (C.V) and told me she was going to talk to her bosses and get back to me.

After she talked to her bosses and reviewed my resume, she then handed me over to the Executive Director of iEARN USA, Prof. Ed Gragert who asked me a couple of questions to check if I had really thought about the internship opportunity and would also be a beneficial person to them. Allow me to put the questions as they were:

“It would help me if I could receive from you a description of how you would envision using what you would learn on your internship to benefit both yourself and iEARN.   And of course, you would be teaching us many things too, so I would love to hear how you feel you could contribute to the work of iEARN-USA as well.”

With the experience and training I have got from answering similar open-ended questions, I thought about these questions and answered them. He was impressed with the way I answered them and next thing I knew we had started discussing travel arrangements and accommodations details. And I speak I just received my air ticket today (21-07-2010).

But before I forget there have been a lot of interviews to answer in order to make this opportunity come to pass e.g. before admitting to International House, New York City I had to fill in a lot of applications and I remember in one of them I was asked to write a one page essay explaining why I would love to stay at International House, New York City, how my stay would benefit the local community and the community projects that I had been involved in for the past year. I remember sharing with them a lot about my experience in working with the local communities to produce media in AYV and also using the knowledge from SNU to answer these questions. I have also been getting a lot of assistance from SNU in order to ensure that my trip is a success.

I am now looking forward to a wonderful stay and sharing and learning experience while in New York City. I want also to establish more links and opportunities while there and also making it possible to connect Ugandan Schools with USA schools to collaborate on real life projects.

In conclusion, I would like to share with you what I learn from my own experience in the hope that you can do the same or more from it.

1. When we get an opportunity to attend an event/workshop outside, we should not just go to attend and leave the place wondering how awesome other people are implementing their projects elsewhere. It is an opportunity for us to network and share with others what we are doing and also explore further possible opportunities out there.
2. SNU and other organizations that help us get other opportunities may not directly get us to where we exactly want to be but could just give us a small push and we should be able to get ourselves going further to where we want to be.
3. We need to let the other people out there when we go out there know of what we are currently doing and what we are capable of because without telling someone they can’t know what you are doing and what you are capable of doing. We also need to keep them updated with what we are doing even when we are not close to them.
4. I am one of the people who fall in that category of people who just pick interest in a project and actively participate in it without thinking of how it is going to directly and immediately benefit from it. The time I joined iEARN I was in my S.2 in Namilyango College and had never thought that I would get an internship opportunity there. At that time I just wanted to connect with the other youth around the World and in my own small way contribute solutions to the global problems with other youth and teachers around the world. But here I am today telling you I am going to be an intern at the iEARN USA offices. And have also made use of the projects and opportunities they are co-coordinating to get other opportunities outside their scope.

Finally I would once again like to say thank you to SchoolNet Uganda and iEARN USA for this opportunity and for slowly but steadily bringing me closer to my dreams. To you it may seem like you are just doing your work but I would like you to know that in me you are modeling a very bright and intelligent young man who is going to benefit the whole world at large. May the Almighty GOD reward you accordingly.

I love literature but now you may find it hard to define me – whether I am a teacher of literature and English language or of things computer – if you ever get to meet me. My interest in things literature is rooted in my childhood which was spent richly with immense books of all sorts to devour.

My interest in computer, on the other hand, began in my later life when I was pursuing my Bachelor of Education Degree at the then Institute of Teacher Education, Kyambogo (ITEK), now Kyambogo University. I essentially knew nothing about computers, not until the challenge of having to produce a typed research project confronted me. My supervisor, Dr. Kakooza Michael, fresh from a long time British experience of precision and thorough work, challenged me to use the Internet as a very resourceful thing for my research. Thankfully, I was very eager to rise to the occasion but it was a hard going…

The research work was time bound, which means I had to submit it to a typist who could do it fast but alas, it was costly. When it came to Internet surfing, the cafes were the only option as Internet was still a rare thing then and costly too! I still clearly recall how I had to depend on a 15 year or so girl in the café – Lotus Internet Café it was – to guide me through clicking here, navigating there, recognizing a tool the other side and so forth. My inadequacies before this little girl were laid bare. It propelled me into working harder to learn how to use the computer. I had also discovered the power of Internet as a source of information. “Google” became my favorite word. Meanwhile I had to always get back to the little, kind and sympathetic girl to guide me whenever I wanted to surf the net for information. 

Soon, my elder brother had a computer in his home office and he was kind enough to let me have access to it once in a while. I had every good reason to visit his home from time to time. It was at this stage that I had a little more interaction especially with the MSWord.

One of the most significant turning points for me came when I joined PMM Girls’ School in March 2002. My life changed once I entered the school’s computer lab which was furnished with ten brand new Internet-connected Pentium III Compaq computers – they were the envy of those days – supplied through SchoolNet Uganda or so I learnt. That was my first knowledge of the existence of an organization called SchoolNet, Uganda.

The computer lab was like heaven for me. I was very excited about the possibility of gathering information from the Internet for my literature lessons. The Net was overwhelming, especially when it came to literature of the western world. I spared no time in identifying and creating content for literature lesson. When we formed the Lit. Writers’ Club – a creative writing club – we chiefly had magazine making in mind with the aid of the computers in the lab. I would gather the club’s members in the lab and instruct them on the little I knew about computer. They would type out poems, use drawing tools and so forth. Soon we were producing magazine locally produced with the help of the computers. The students didn’t really have any regulated or programmed lessons on how to use the computer. We all just delved into it and learning began and products were produced.

I had discovered that computer was a powerful means to disseminate information, instruct and create. Marriage of literatureteaching and computer had been born. (My dream now is to create a literature content though I haven’t zeroed on the software medium to use). It was also during one of these days that I had my first involvement in ICT hands-on training workshops. Though I wasn’t a principle participant, I witnessed interesting activities going on. It was also during one of these workshops that I met one of the Directors of SchoolNet Uganda, namely Mr. Kakinda Daniel. I still vividly recall him writing on a board:

“Aspire to Inspire Before You Expire”

The magnitude of those words remained imprinted in me. It gave me a sense of purpose in the things I do with computer. I have since designed the wordings and glued to the wall of the computer lab.

Enthusiasm to do things our selves (me and my colleague in the department) – trouble shooting, repairs, creation of contents and discovering new things became our specialty. My enthusiasm must have been noticed by the Computer Department’s Head Administrator then, Mr. Lwigale Bernard who in 2003 recommended me as an administrator in the department and asked me to instruct the head teacher Mrs. Lujwala Petronella in Computer lessons. I became the admintrator in charge of internet connectivity and services to students. It is interesting how one gets to be placed in a place of responsibility of sorts out of sheer interest, experience and commitment to what you have never really done in any formal education.

In another workshop organized for teachers by SchoolNet Uganda, I volunteered to take the lead in modules on MsWord and Internet. I must have done well because the next thing I knew was a phone call from Mr. Kigozi Bright who has worked closely with Mr. Kakinda in various SchoolNet programs. Bright invited me to be ready to facilitate an ICT Workshop in Basic Skills for Teachers in Gulu District. The six day workshop at Sacred Hearts Secondary School in Gulu town was a tremendous success in my opinion because I witnessed teachers who had felt intimidated by computer begin using it confidently in that short time. It also gave me confidence in my ability to change people from being illiterate to literate. Me together with Kigozi Bright subsequently organized and conducted similar workshops in several other districts: Tororo, Moyo, Adjumani, Busia and Mukono. We would always leave behind a desire and challenge of teacher participants and their schools to acquire computers. It wouldn’t make sense to induce you to learn ICT then live on after that without access to a computer.

Meanwhile my growing interest in things computer were bringing me into contact with various organizations in the world of IT fraternity – ThinkQuest Uganda, INetwork Uganda, Ugabyte and so forth. These IT interest groups and especially SchoolNet Uganda had begun to redefine my role, position, perceptions and methods as a secondary school teacher. For one thing, you will be a dead pan teacher if you assume to be the overall provider of knowledge, apportioning, and disseminating information as the all-knowing. The world of IT has made me appreciate greatly the power of adopting knowledge sharing mentality in learning. Not only in IT lessons but in all disciplines.

In any case, younger people characteristically are faster and more creative learners than older people. No one may necessarily claim monopoly of knowledge as some children actually have better access to IT products of greater sophistication than even teachers. This actually makes an IT savvy teacher’s role easier: to direct and guide learners as well as provide an enabling environment for learning to take place; making young people realize the potential of computer and other IT gadgets for useful purposes. Human beings, and especially children, are very imaginative. The versatility of computer provides for very many possibilities for one to exercise his or her imaginations and create new useful products. The key lies in acquiring the necessary ICT skills.

Motivating, guiding and providing an enabling environment for a child to use the computer for beneficial purposes is or will be the new challenge for the ICT teacher of the 21st Century Africa. The growth of ICT is an inevitability for which educational institutions have to get prepared. Having an IT savvy teacher is also therefore inevitable and the contemporary teacher must rise up to the occasion and embrace it regardless of his or her discipline of specialty.

I therefore feel privileged to have participated in several SchoolNet initiated educational programs with specific emphasis on ICT as a means to disseminate and share knowledge, skills and values. Notably:

• Training fellow teachers in basic ICT workshops in many parts of Uganda.
• Being trained and participating as an educator in a sexual and reproductive health program, The World Starts With Me.
• ThinkQuest Uganda.
• ICT youth camps.
• Adobe Youth Voices Project.

Each of these has uniquely impacted on me by:

• Improving and widening my scope of understanding and acquisition of skills in ICT.
• Adopting and innovatively recognizing and practicing new pedagogical skills.
• Making me a more versatile teacher with interdisciplinary knowledge.

Yet again, I only see the beginning of things for me. The sky is surely the limit!!

Chole Richard 

At school, together with Aminah, our Director of Studies Mr. Henry Naabye and Mrs Sarah Awebwa, we started a new project called Education for Rural schools where we created Educational contents which we were to share with the neighbouring rural schools so that they could also get access to good notes. We created both video and audio lessons in various subjects like Geography, Biology, Physics etc. and we shared them with the rural schools. During the course of this project, we kept on getting assistance from SchoolNet Uganda.

In January this year 2009, through Mr. Kakinda Daniel, I was invited to attend a workshop for a new project which was being introduced in Uganda by SchoolNet Uganda called Adobe Youth Voices (AYV) which equips young people with technology and skills to create media for social change. At the workshop, we were introduced to the project and also trained in media making where we were trained in photo shooting and editing, video shooting and editing, story boarding etc.

After the workshop, I had to work with the SchoolNet Uganda Inspiring Science Education for Girls using ICT site to develop a media piece for social change. At our site, we developed a documentary on the gender disparity in science where we wanted to find out the hidden causes of the low participation, poor performance and low retention of girls in science as compared to the boys. In the course of working on this documentary, I developed a number of skills and experience in video shooting and editing, photo shooting and editing, interviewing people, team work, communication and interpersonal skills, negotiation and I also met a number of big people who inspired me a lot.

Through the SchoolNet Uganda AYV mailing list, an opportunity was sent out to all the sites which were participating in the AYV project where they could apply to attend the 1st ever AYV summit which was to be held in Palo Alto, California (29th July – 2nd August) 2009. The summit participants were to get further training in media making and to meet other AYV members from other countries. The AYV project is implemented in over 30 countries

Our site applied for this opportunity and through a breath taking process our site was chosen to attend the summit. I was very excited to be part of this because it was going to be my 1st time to travel and more over to USA (all expenses paid). I went through the entire process of getting the passport, visa and air tickets and also had to do some pre-summit activities. We had an online forum where we collaborated with the people we were going to be with at the summit. We also had to create a 1 minute video on an issue we wanted to change in our community where I created a one minute video on  deforestation. These activities helped me to improve my skills for using the Internet, communication and interpersonal skills and also media making skills.

The flight day came and I was really excited it being my first time flying and my parents were really proud of me and escorted me to the airport. Together with my team we boarded the plane and flew to USA. However a long the way I saw very many things that excited me e.g. the bigger airports in the other countries, technology etc.

In California we met a number of media making professionals e.g. David Nakabayashi, the Visual Arts Director of Lucas films who has worked on a number of great films including Harry Potter, Transformations, Iron man etc. He shared with us his experience in media making and inspired us to continue with media making. We were also trained in new media skills e.g. I managed to learn some new skills in Adobe Photoshop like photo editing and I learnt also how to record music and how to shoot a music video. My group actually created a music video on Identity.

We were staying at Stanford University so I got a chance of seeing what a University in US looks like. We also visited Dreamworks PDA, a movie making company where we watched their latest animated movies “Monsters Vs Aliens” and “Madagascar 2” in 3D glasses so we were watching the movie in 3D. This was an exciting and interesting new experience which I will actually never forget.

We also had the closing ceremony called AYV Live which was at the Yerba Berna Centre of Arts, one of the best museums in California. Here our documentary was among the six documentaries which were showcased at this event which really excited me and also my other teammate Ronald Kasendwa made a speech at the event. As if that was not enough, I got a life time opportunity of meeting and interacting with the Black Eyed Peas (International Musical Artists) and also took photographs with them. I also managed to watch a live performance of the Black Eyed Peas.

After this experience, I finally returned home to Uganda. From the summit, I learnt new media making skills, shared my experience with the other AYV youth and educators, made a lot international friends who I am still in touch with and I keep learning from them, and also got inspired to continue with media making.

Currently, I am working with Emuka Studios where I do photo shooting and editing in order to make myself some extra pocket money (trying to apply the skills I learnt) and I attribute all this to SchoolNet Uganda (SNU) for having involved in me their activities. I also chose to do Bachelor of Information Technology because these activities have enabled me to see a bright future in IT.

I want to conclude my testimony by thanking SNU for giving me an opportunity to be part of their family because right now they are helping me make better decisions for my future. And to SNU, I want to thank you for all you have done for me; words alone are not enough express my gratitude and I am more than willing to come and share my testimony, skills and experience with all the other youth in case I am need to.

I started using ICT while still in the University, but it was limited to using Microsoft Word   after being compelled by the mistakes typesetters used to make whenever I could take my research work for typing. Mistakes would always appear and I had to learn how to use Microsoft Word.
After completing my University course, I enrolled for a certificate in computer applications that runs from midnight to morning at Makerere University Faculty of Computing and Technology. This was because of the passion I had developed after typing and editing my research.
The first school I taught in was private and did not support use of technology especially in teaching and collaboration. School secretaries would type all the examinations, administrative documents and were always overwhelmed by the work.

A turning point in my life

In year 2006, I joined Gayaza High School, where I started using technology because the school administration supported its use. My passion for technology use that was being threatened to extinction was re-ignited. The technology environment in the school was so conducive and was never seasonal. The staffroom had and still has three desktop computers connected to Internet 24 hours a day, 7 days a week with a printer. What captivated me was the fact that, each teacher had to type their own exams, print and take them for running. Through this, I gained more skills that propelled me into what I am today.

Given the fact that I had the passion for technology, the environment made things easier for me and my way of teaching changed. I started digitalizing my notes, engaged learners in using technology, used Internet as a teaching and learning resource, shared work online through email addresses (opened a free mail for sharing information with students, biologyclass2@yahoo.com )

Ronald Ddungu, our Deputy Head Teacher also inspired and mentored me greatly into what I am today in use of ICT. He speaks of technology with a lot of passion and willing to support any teacher ready to use technology in teaching and developing professionally. He has also benefited from ICT including international travels, local and international awards, scholarships and fame both locally and internationally.

In year 2007, I joined SchoolNet Uganda family through Daniel Kakinda after learning how they where impacting and changing teachers and students lives through technology. I made sure I attended all the workshops organized by SchoolNet especially the ones organized from Gayaza High School. Through the various SchoolNet workshops I attended, my attitude towards use of ICT in Education became even more positive. I started using more and more ICT in my teaching. My colleagues started calling me computer wizard because I was using computers much of the time. I also started facilitating SchoolNet Uganda workshops like those for Inspiring Science Education for Girls Using ICT project. I learnt so many skills that I had not acquired before like trouble shooting and networking computers, project-based teaching, tele-collaboration and doing online courses.

Through SchoolNet Uganda, I was able to acquire my first desktop computer which they offered to us teachers at a relatively low price. Acquiring the computer strengthened my way of using ICT. It is easy and less taxing working with your own computer.

SchoolNet Uganda has inspired me and I am inspiring students and my fellow colleagues into acquiring ICT skills for easy teaching, learning and also other aspects of life. I have been able to involve my students in many projects from within school, community and internationally courtesy SchoolNet Uganda mailing list for science teachers. Many of my students who have involved themselves in the different projects are now multi skilled in different life aspects ranging from leadership, communication, collaboration, use of Internet as an educational tool, multimedia production and many others.

What I have benefited from my involvement in ICT

 I have benefited greatly from my involvement in use of ICT in a number of ways: 

•  My teaching has been simplified.
•  I have linked up with very many friends locally and internationally. 
• I have facilitated at a number of workshops organized by SchoolNet Uganda including at the Head Teachers ICT in Education workshop held at Kyambogo College Training centre held in May 2009. I can now ably offer consultancy services as far as ICT integration in Education is concerned.
• I have attended workshops locally and internationally both face to face and online.
• I have travelled outside the country. In May 2008, I travelled to Ghana for the Africa Innovative Teachers’ Forum and the e-learning-Africa conference with all costs of travel, accommodation and feeding covered by Microsoft. In Sept 2009, I travelled to Mauritius for the Africa Innovative Teachers’ Forum with all costs of travel, accommodation and feeding covered by Microsoft.

The pride of winning
In the Uganda national Innovative Teachers’ Forum which was held in March 2009 at Hotel Africana, I was the runner up and was awarded with a laptop. I got the information on the competition through SchoolNet Uganda mailing list. 

In September 2009, I emerged a champion in Pan Africa Innovative Teacher held in Mauritius (http://www.school.za/itf/2009_Pan_Africa_event.htm ).
My project  “Conservation of Local Medicinal Plants” was the best in Community Category.  I immediately walked away with a brand new Toshiba laptop. I am humbled and honoured to be one of the three teachers to represent Africa at the Global Innovative Teachers completion to be held in Brazil in November 2009. The event in Mauritius was attended by 4 other members from the SchoolNet family who witnessed this award and we celebrated together as a country and SchoolNet family.
Microsoft will be covering my cost of round-trip to Brazil and accommodation at the global event. I hope to keep the SchoolNet and Uganda flag up at this competition.

Regarding ICT hardware, I have been able to acquire two laptops in one year as awards for my excellent work done in ICT.

In conclusion, as teachers of the 21st century, we out to be innovative in our teaching, adopt the use of ICT in teaching, involve learners in projects locally and internationally and join organizations like SchoolNet Uganda that are willing to uplift us professionally.

Let’s take up opportunities that come through SchoolNet, let us use the mailing lists provided to us by SchoolNet Uganda profitably, let us share the little information we have for technology requires that we share be it an educational resource, job opportunity, or a scholarship. Lastly have passion for what you doing and don’t forget that God loves you and wants you to prosper so always give thanks to him.

Anyway, over the past few years I have been involved in a number of SchoolNet Uganda activities such as training workshops, youth camps, competitions, evaluation surveys etc. and I believe these have impacted a lot on my life as a young person because in most cases when I share with my friends what I can do, they find it hard to believe I have all the capabilities I tell them. Allow me to kindly share some of them with you with the hope that they will inspire you in one way or another.

The World Starts with Me Evaluation survey

I happened to be among the team of 12 Bachelor of Statistics students which were chosen as research assistants to help SchoolNet Uganda administer questionnaires to secondary school going students in the school where they are implementing the World Starts with Me (WSWM) sexuality education program.
We first had a 3 day training workshop at Bativa Hotel in Kampala where we were trained in data collections, designing of data collection materials i.e. we had a session in which we were taken through the questionnaire and we were to give in our input in order to improve the questionnaire, carried out a pre- test survey and were finally sent into the field to collect the data (well facilitated). Being a statistics student, this training help me actually realize, practice and have a clear picture of how surveys are planned and carried out unlike most of my classmates.

 I for one (along with Simon Katongole) was sent to Soroti and Tororo districts to administer the questionnaires to the schools there. Having been well facilitated the challenges I was bound to face were minimal. Simon and I were excited to get such an opportunity and we administered the questionnaires to 6 six schools in these districts and are happy to report that SchoolNet Uganda did not have any complaints with the data we collected.

Besides the data collection, we had a lot of fun in these districts especially in the evenings e.g. there were days when each of us ate two whole fish, a whole chicken and even the day when both of us ate half a goat in Tororo (believe me all these are true), we also visited the Tororo rock and saw Mt. Elgon and the Inselburgs  in Kachumbala.

Personally I gained a number of things from this exercise and these include:

• Had practice in the designing of data collection tools.
• Got practical experience in data collection (especially questionnaire administration).
• Got a chance of interacting with practicing statisticians (Billie) who happened to give me a clear picture of the kind of work they do.
• It improved my public speaking and communication skills as we always first had to brief the students on how to answer the questionnaires, kind of responses expected on each questions etc.
• I interacted with a number of important people especially the teachers and the head teachers at the schools. This excited me a lot because we would go to the staff rooms and interact freely with the teachers and we also went to the head teachers offices, signed in the visitors book and even interacted with them freely unlike in the actual school setting where you only go the head teachers office when you had committed an offence.
• I also got a chance of traveling to those other districts unlike before when the furthest I had been from Kampala is Jinja.
• I also received some payment for conducting this exercise which I used to boast up my pocket money.

This exercise actually got me more interested in the course I am pursuing at the university since I was able to see what I was heading for.
After this I actually thought the fruits of this exercise were almost exhausted, little did I know that this was just the beginning of what is in for me for having participated in this exercise. During my period of internship at Mildmay Uganda, because of this experience I was shifted to the research department where I managed to practice a lot of statistical work e.g. designing of data collection tools, data collection, data entry, data analysis and interpretation and statistical report writing unlike my other friends on internship who only did data collection and data entry.

Training workshops

I have attended and facilitated in a number of training and sensitization workshops which have been conducted by SchoolNet Uganda. These were mainly under the projects Inspiring Science Education for Girls Using ICT, World Starts With Me, and Adobe Youth Voices (AYV). At these workshops, I mainly make presentations; did video recording and documentation of the workshop report. These have helped me improve my communication and presentation skills, acquire skills and experience in video recording and also meet and interact with people whom without these workshops may be I would not have been able to meet.

One specific workshop that I really like most was Adobe Youth Voices training workshop that took place in January 2009 where I was directing involved in the training. I made presentations and trained people in Adobe Software like Adobe Photoshop where I was teaching the participants how to create a photo story and Adobe Premier where I was training the participants how to edit a movie clip. I also trained the participants on how to use a digital and video camera for photo and video shooting respectively. This was a huge achievement to me since I was sharing what I can do with other people and I was very happy when the participants were able to do what I was training them and even modify them to look better. This workshop also helped me learn better how to use the software myself.

I have also been involved in the AYV school visits and trainings where a team from the SchoolNet secretariat is sent to an AYV participating school to help kick start the project in the various schools, share experiences in the project or to help out with the school to carry out activities which the project is trying to carry out at the school e.g. I have been asked to go to schools like Kings College Buddo, Gayaza High School, Duhaga S.S where I have been able to share my experiences in AYV and also train them on how they can use some of the equipment e.g. the video camera i.e. sharing with them good video capturing tips. This has always improved my knowledge on the project and about what I share with the students. It has also always been an opportunity for me to travel to the various part of the country where I had not been before.

 Participating in Adobe Youth Voices (AYV)

AYV is a very special project to me because of the numerous skills, experiences and I see may arise out of it. I have been participating in the first AYV project cycle in which my team was producing a documentary on the Gender Disparity in Science. During the production of the documentary I was heading the group of students and we were about to come up with a complete media piece. The production involved a number of activities e.g. meetings and discussions of what media piece we are supposed to produce, discussion of the story board, designing questionnaires to be used for the interviews, visiting schools and interviewing the students, getting in touch with female scientists and interviewing them, video editing and coming up with a final product and then sharing our product with the target audience. All these have been very interesting and challenging to me at the same time.

Through participating in AYV I have gained a number of things including:

• I have developed more concern on issues affecting my community and am more active in such issues.
• I have gained a number of skills like team building and team working skills, media making skills including video/photo shooting and editing, communication and interpersonal skills, innovativeness and creativity, recapping and critiquing skills etc.
• I have also managed to meet and network with a number of big people whom without AYV, I would not have been able to.
• I have also managed to share my experiences with the other people within the AYV project.

All these are skills and experiences that I did not get a chance of having while at school.

International conferences and competitions

During our participation in the AYV project, through the AYV mailing list; an opportunity was sent out to all those taking part in the project to apply through a competition for the first ever AYV summit to take place in Palo Alto, California, USA.
In order to compete one had to produce a media piece for social change and also complete an application form. My team produced a documentary on Gender Disparity in Science and also completed the application forms. The competition involved schools from 30 countries. I am humbled to say that my team was among the two teams which were selected from Uganda to attend the summit. The summit is due this month form July 29th – August 2nd. At the summit, we are going to be trained how to produce youth media for social change in addition to interacting with professional film makers. I have already received my USA visa and Adobe Foundation is covering all the costs of air travel (US$ 2819), accommodation and feeding. I am really excited with this opportunity because traveling to the USA is a dream come true more so due to the fact that the first time I go there I am going to be interacting with professionals in film making; a field which I am very much interested in and I hope to have my future in.

I also managed to participate in the Mtandao Afrika website design competition (another project coordinated by SchoolNet Uganda) once again and this time round. My team created a website called Africa for All http://maflib.mtandao-afrika.net/MAF080026/ in which our main aim was to help clear the bad image people have of Africa as a suffering and poor continent by providing appropriate, timely and relevant information about the continent. My team won the platinum award in the Interdisciplinary category http://www.mtandao-afrika.org/English/Winners/Winners2008.aspx . I am really also excited about this victory and again without SchoolNet Uganda conducting it, I would not have been able to be part of the winning team.

Finally, I would like to thank SchoolNet Uganda for having provided me with all these opportunity. To them it might be that they are inspiring young people like me as they carry out their activities but to me, they provide me with opportunity to challenge myself and see what I can achieve and also it a chance for me to learn skills that I may not have gotten a chance of learning while at school. I would like to say thank you, SchoolNet Uganda for reaching out to young people like me because slowly but steadily you are modeling  the ideal future generation that our country needs. And to the reader thank you for reading my testimony, hope I have some how inspired you and if you get the chance of participating in any SchoolNet Uganda activity, please make maximum use of it.
 

I would first of all want to extend my thanks to SchoolNet Uganda for the opportunities they provide to us….

I got to know about SchoolNet Uganda in 2006 when SchoolNet Uganda donated a computer to me as the best A’ Level girl science exhibitor in our school open day exhibition.

Before I got to know about the use of ICT in science, I never thought a computer can be used for study purpose and therefore I used to use the computer for playing games, surfing football, emailing etc but nothing to do with education!

I first attended a Science with ICT holiday camp at Gayaza High School held from 7th -11th May 2007 at Gayaza High School. The camp was organized and conducted by SchoolNet Uganda. I was awarded a certificate of completion!

In this workshop we were told of various things. We were taken through the use of ICT in sciences .We covered some topics in Biology, Chemistry and Physics.

After going through some of topics like evolution which had always seemed to be a nightmare to me, I was left wondering as to what had been so hard with these topics.

We were introduced to the use of the virtual science labs and these were the most interesting, doing science experiments on the computer! By the time we left the camp some of the things that seemed to be abstract to me became a bit lighter.

When we left the Science with ICT camp, I actually first told my little brother and sister about the workshop with evidence of what we had done because as we were concluding the camp each one us was equipped with a CD containing the work we had done at the camp. They were all interested in that kind of work especially the virtual lab, and they even still practice this kind of work in addition to some of the educative websites that we keep discovering.

I also told my fellow students at school about the workshop and a good number of them were interested in the kind of work we had done at the workshop. This caused a good number of my fellow students to develop a positive attitude towards the use of computers as science students. Most of them had never thought that they could ever use the computer for study purpose since most of us never had time for the computers as science students.

I went ahead to tell my Head teacher about the camp and how good it would be for the school to use ICT for science. The Head teacher told me talk to my teachers about it which I did and some of them for example my Biology teacher started using computers for teaching. Sometimes he would give us web links to go to and make notes which we had to explain to the whole class and every one liked this kind of work!

I got a chance of attending the second Science with ICT holiday camp held at Gayaza High School from 16th -20th December 2007 and this time I was a co-facilitator and I even got a facilitation fee. I still learnt more about the use of ICT in science

Having analyzed the importance of the use ICT in science, I found it important to also tell the Minister of Education and Sports, about the use of ICT for science. I went to the Minister’s office several times and when I finally talked to Minister’s secretary, I was told to write this in a form of a proposal which I am still working on so I can produce the best that I can.

In my proposal, I am suggesting that Ministry of Education and Sports works hand in hand with the SchoolNet Uganda so as to pass on this wonderful information to the many schools in Uganda because from my personal experience it’s a wonderful program and very useful.

From 7th -11th January 2008, I attended a Technical Capacity Building working held at Nalinya Lwantale Girls SS. The workshop was organized and conducted by SchoolNet Uganda. During the workshop we were taught how to assemble and disassemble computers, software installation, setting up Local Area Network (LAN) and troubleshooting. I usually use the knowledge and skills I acquired at home and I sometimes help at Nkokonjeru Institute of Management and Technology in their computer lab for ‘first aid”

I was called upon by SchoolNet Uganda for a short term contract as a research assistant for World Starts with Me (WSWM) to help in the issuing questionnaires to some schools in Mpigi and Wakiso. This way I got a chance of traveling to that side of the country and interacting with the students was great. I was also paid a very good incentive per each school that I went to!

I got another chance of attending a World Starts With Me (WSWM) national students camp 2008 held at Nabisunsa Girls School from 28th April to 1st May 2008. The workshop was organized and conducted by SchoolNet Uganda. SchoolNet Uganda was training sexual and reproductive health and rights national peer educators. From this camp, I learnt how to talk to different peer groups without misleading them. And I now actually know what to do with my life and health

From 5th – 9th May 2008, I facilitated in a workshop which was based on training teachers in the introduction to the use of educational technology to improve teaching and learning which was held at Bukomero SS. Here I had a very good experience interacting with teachers. I was very happy because by the time we left, most of the teachers had promised to change their teaching skills and most of them of them admitted that what was taught would make their work simpler as teachers and they had even gained more love for their profession.

I was invited at Gayaza High School by the Deputy Head Teacher, Mr. Ronald Ddungu to help the students as they were typing their notes to find good educative links for their particular topics. I also saved some of these links and I give them to the people who need them.

Currently, I am working with St Balikuddembe SS Kisoga telling them about the use of ICT in science (this is volunteer work). It’s just that from personal experience using ICT is the way to go. I am also moving to many other village schools letting them know about the use of ICT in science though most of them do not seem interested!

Once again I want to extend my thanks to SchoolNet Uganda especially Mr. Kakinda Daniel (SchoolNet Uganda, Executive Director and Training Director) and Engineer Allen Nansubuga (SchoolNet Uganda, Technical Director) for the opportunities that they provide for us and thus making us important citizens.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH!!!

It was in 2001 when I had just joined Duhaga Secondary school in Hoima for my high school education when SchoolNet Uganda picked up Duhaga SS to be one of its members.

We had computers but they were just computers and the miraculous part of them was missing and that was Internet.

 Being so optimistic and inquisitive about the whole Internet ‘thing’ I was one of the first students to register for the ICT club which was not so busy at that time. Because I showed much interest in the program, I was ,chosen by the school ICT coordinator Master Kizza Ali by then, to be attending different workshops in Kampala organized by SchoolNet Uganda .
My first workshop was at Shine Hotel in Kansanga though we used to have the training sessions from St. Peters SS Nsambya.
I got many skills, like web designing, Photo manipulation and so many other computer skills which just changed my life.

I have traveled through out East Africa just because of the Knowledge I gained form the workshops organized by SchoolNet Uganda. Leaving alone that, SchoolNet offered free Internet services to students at the building opposite Fido Dido of which I personally benefited from, by that time Internet was pretty expensive but because of that Internet service by SchoolNet Uganda, I just perfected my self in the arena of Internet.

Currently I am in my third year at Uganda Christian University pursuing Public Administration and Management, but I am well conversant with the ICT world because of the strong foundation I got from SchoolNet Uganda. I don’t  need to go for some computer packages because all was taught to me through the efforts of SchoolNet Uganda .

Apart from being a computer ‘wizard’ I gained counseling skills from the workshop I attended at Ridar Hotel in Seeta, this was On-line Counseling training workshop under the AIDSWEB project, I just got marvelous skills. This workshop was in conjunction with Straight Talk foundation.
 I have changed people’s lives just because I can counsel them and they get better with their problems
and in that I have been blessed!!  And I attribute this all to the efforts of SchoolNet Uganda.
 When am doing all my things on this planet earth I just remember SchoolNet Uganda it shaped in a way that
I would never be shaped.

 “Long live SchoolNet Uganda.
 

 I  joined the WSWM program in S1 and never turned back. I have gained a lot of experience in sexual reproductive health and rights (SRHR) because I even conduct lessons of the WSWM at school.

I mostly thank SchoolNet Uganda for through this program I have been able to sensitize fellow youth from my home village about sexually related matters and at one time saved a girl from aborting.  I have been able to do all this because of the knowledge and skills I got from WSWM. Mine is more than a testimony, it is a thankful heart.

To everyone out there serving us through SchoolNet Uganda, what you do is a great job and please keep up the good work.

Am thankful and hope I will maintain my service as a member of WSWM even after school, because it has really given me a lot of peace to know that I am saving someone from perishing through the SchoolNet Uganda WSWM program

Thank you.
Kalenzi Sam

Since 2000 I have been exploring various ways in which the teaching and learning experience can be made more exciting for both educators and learners through integrating ICT into the curriculum. I joined SchoolNet Uganda because it is involved in a similar thing. Plus it facilitated me with more training on how to make my teaching more exciting. By getting involved in more of SchoolNet Uganda activities I learnt more and more.

SchoolNet Uganda  activities I have been involved in.

 I have been involved in a number of SchoolNet Uganda activities.

•  Four phase training:
  • Introduction to Computer Technology.
  • Introduction to the Internet in Teaching and Learning.
  •  Designing and Implementing Tele-Collaborative Projects.
  •  Curriculum and Technology Integration.
  •  Diffusion of Technology Innovations.
•  Computer Literacy Curriculum Development with ConnectEd September 2000.
•  The Aidsweb project July-August 2002.
•  Professional Website Design May 2002.
•  IEARN International Conference, Moscow Russia July 2002.
•  Mentoring WorldLinks/SchoolNet Uganda eLearning program February-May 2003.
•  Educational Video Production training May & June 2003.
  •  Production Design.
  •  Story boarding.
  •  Video Schooting.
  •  Digital Video Editing.
•  Facilitating at sensitization workshops in various secondary schools in and around Uganda for teachers on how to use ICT in their teaching.
•  Served as a World Leadership Corps volunteer in India July 2005, July 2006.
•  I also served as an ambassador for SchoolNet Uganda.

Benefits I have got from participating in SchoolNet Uganda activities 

 I have got so many benefits by being a member of SchoolNet Uganda in terms of knowledge, skills and attitudes.
 

Knowledge

• Understanding how ICT is used to improve education in countries outside Uganda and Africa through exposure visits.
•  Understanding and adapting to various cultures and lifestyles around the world.
•  Becoming an all-round educator and not just a French language teacher.

Skills

•  Basic Computer skills ie. Word processing, spreadsheets, presentations.
•  Computer Graphic design skills.
•  Basic Web design skills. 
•  Project based learning skills.
•  Project writing skills. 
•  Communication skills.
•  Public speaking skills.
•  Innovation and creativity aimed at improving life in different communities.
•  Time management and self management skills.
•  Managing other people.

Attitudes

•  I have learnt the value of tolerance for people who perceive life differently from me because of exposure to different cultural norms and values.
•  I have a personal vision around which all the activities I get involved in revolve. 
•  I have learnt that the fastest way to learn so much is to share what you know with others.
•  I have learnt that it is important to always be positive even during very trying moments.
•  I have learnt to accept the things that I cannot change. As a result I have been able to do so much about the things that I can change.

 I am currently using the skills and knowledge that I have acquired through the past 7 years to make a difference in the life of young people. The skills and knowledge I have acquired have helped me to focus on addressing one of the most imminent danger of our times, that is environmental degradation and its consequences to future generations. I am going to contribute to creating a generation of people who are passionate about living in a naturally green and clean environment. This is the generation which will be able to reverse some of the effects of environmental degradation that can indeed be reversed.

My opportunity to attend the Science with ICT holiday camp which was organized and conducted by SchoolNet Uganda under the Inspiring Science Education for Girls using ICT project came as a surprise and was unexpected. I seized the opportunity without wasting time! As they say ‘don’t let any opportunity pass you by.’
During the camp, I benefited a lot in terms of knowledge, skills and attitude and would be willing to participate in another if another opportunity comes up.

In terms of knowledge:

• I got to learn that simulations and animations are available on the Internet can be very useful in my studies.
• I got to learn that the Internet has a lot of information on anything and can easily be used for research.
• I also found out that practical lessons can easily be carried out on the Internet and on the computers.
• I got linked to iEARN (www.iearn.org )- International Education and Resource network and now learned a lot from the youth around the world in the iEARN discussion forums. I got to know that racism and the discrimination of people according to skin color is everywhere and no one is supporting it.

In terms of skills:

• My skills in the use of the computer greatly improved. I got to learn how to use the different search engines to look for information.
• I also got more practice in using the Internet actively. The last time I had visited the Internet for academic issues was in the CHOGM time when I had to carry out a research on Botswana which was my case study during the mock CHOGM sessions.
• I got a permanent email address which I can easily sign in and out of. It has also improved my communication with my friends from other parts of the world.
• My typing skills were also greatly improved since I got a lot of practice.
• I also improved my communication skills as I participated actively in the brainstorming sessions.

In terms of attitude, the following perceptions were changed

• My attitude towards the computer changed positively. I used to think the computer was just a source of entertainment. But now I know I can use it for study purposes. My general paper teacher had once mentioned it but I hadn’t taken it seriously but now I can go back and proudly use it maximally!
• My attitude towards practical examinations has changed. I used to hate practical lessons but now I have learnt that I can easily carry them out on my own and especially for the spring constant experiments where in the normal labs one will have her masses touch the floor even before oscillating! This used to greatly demoralize my practical part of learning.
• I offer chemistry but I am one person who believed that chemistry was hard. And via practical studies the story was the same. But during the camp that attitude towards chemistry changed positively.
• Chemistry is a subject where accuracy is emphasized. With the actual practicals, some one can easily make mistakes in the proportions of chemicals to add. This will make one repeat a full experiment or get wrong results. Chemicals can at times get contaminated making one gets very different results. But with the virtual chemistry lab that we were introduced to one can easily carry out an accurate experiment without getting the above mentioned problems.
• I had got biased in some branches off Physics like ELECTROSTATICS and PROJECTILES and hence had a hard time understanding them, but with the introduction to the online simulations and animations, I was able to understand and internalize most of the matter concerning these branches.

My sincere thanks go to Mr.Kakinda Daniel who willingly allowed me to attend the camp.
I will also like to extend my sincere gratitude to all the facilitators who gave us their time and tried their level best to make sure that we learnt something without them very little would be achieved.