Irish National Programme Information Capital 2000

NATIONAL PROGRAMS OVERVIEW CURRICULUM MODULES PARTNERSHIP

Overview This project is based in South Kildare (see our photo gallery) and was created to ensure that people with disabilities or disadvantage through unemployment, geographic isolation, early school drop-out, etc... are not further marginalised by lack of knowledge about or access to the Information Society e.g. Internet and other global communication networks. A new and innovative curriculum consisting of three MODULES has been developed with the help of Liz Lennon, Nexus, to train professionals from the four organisations as trainers. Curriculum There is a great risk that the Information Society will exacerbate current disadvantage, by the creation of a layer of exclusion - between the "haves" and the "have-nots" of the information era. But there are many opportunities for disadvantaged groups in the Information Society. Advanced communications and information have the potential to: Reduce the penalty of distance and bridge isolation, often associated with disadvantage, leading to improved economic and social prospects; Create new means for groups at the margins of society to organise collectively, to jointly address common issues, and advocate for change; Support the sharing of experiences and information resources, and establish linkages that can literally span the globe. It is thus an imperative that marginalised groups, and those directly working with them, take the initiative and creatively use resources from whichever source to bring the Information Society where it is needed most. The approach of this project is: To build directly on existing groups, with different organisations that work to eliminate exclusion, in general and for specific groups; To take an integrated approach, with different organisations and groups in the consortium addressing a range of specific needs, thus facilitating cross-facilitating cross-fertilisation and generating new insights and approaches; To sow the seeds of something that can continue to grow well beyond the duration of the project. Thus, the very breadth of the challenge - how to ensure the Information Society reaches all groups especially those that need it most - demands a response that is both ambitious and realistic. The main components of this are: Beginning with the training of trainers in a range of organisations to develop information and communication technology skills in the first phase; ?Mainstream? the skills involved, by integrating them in a second phase into the normal activities of these organisations. This means to develop pedagogical skills for training including working with disadvantaged groups, individuals with different levels of education and intelligence, and people with disabilities. Take the next step by empowering the clients of these organisations and document, refine and diffuse the experience more broadly. This involves organisational skills to facilitate understanding of organisational systems and culture, in order to determine needs that might be fulfilled by the new technologies. Modules To train the participants during the different phases of the project three different modules have been developed. Module 1 - on line information services and communication Module 2 - Facilitation Module 3 - Organisation development and empowerment Partnership A.S.K. (Action South Kildare) Action South Kildare (ASK), a company limited by guarantee, was formed in 1993, to acquire and administer the dissemination of the E.U. Global Grant on behalf of Area Development Management Ltd (A.D.M.). ASK constitutes a dynamic partnership of voluntary, statutory, business and community interests group, operating at local level and serving local needs. ASK comprises a board of sixteen members, reflecting expertise in a diverse number of disciplines, thus creating a synergy to drive a multi-faceted programme of socio-economic development. The ASK board represents training, education, caring organisations, trade-unions, centres for the unemployed, farming organisation and business. KARE (Kildare Association of Parents and Friends of Handicapped People) KARE provides services for, and advocates on behalf of, people with learning disabilities in the Counties of Kildare, West Wicklow and East Offaly. The immediate target group are educators working for KARE, who will in turn bring the skills back to the organisation. They will explore a range of possible ways in which the organisation itself can improve its effectiveness, using advanced services, such as in sharing experiences with other groups with a similar aim; and how new and improved services can be provided to their ultimate clients. FΑS (Training & Employment Authority) FΑS runs a number of training programmes and initiatives. Participants in a number of FΑS programmes will be the final beneficiaries of the programme, predominantly people under 25 years of age. Participants already have access to a combination of programmes from foundation skills through to occupation-specific education and certification, and the Information Society will comprise a significant supplement to these. Kildare County Library (see our photo gallery) The immediate target for training is three or four librarians who have some technical IT training but have not had access to the developmental and organisational training envisaged in this programme. They will in turn analyse the library needs, and develop the information system and diffuse the skills an appropriately to other library staff. Final beneficiaries will be the public, including especially groups active in addressing exclusion and disadvantage, who will be given supported access to the services. Members of community and voluntary groups will be specifically encouraged and supported to use the services.