| Naushki
discovers the Internet at SDNP's workshop |
May
22, 2001 |
On
May 22, 2001, SDNP Quetta conducted a workshop on "The
Use of Internet and Email" at Naushki, a remote district
of Balochistan. This event was held in collaboration with
the Water Environment & Sanitation Society (WESS) and
a local CBO, Bolan Youth Welfare Organization (BYWO) at
Oxfam's Naushki office. Forty-five participants representing
different NGOs, CBOs, teachers and students attended the
workshop.
SDNP
Quetta's City Coordinator, Mr. Jan Muhammad highlighted
IUCN/SDNP's role in promoting ICT's for development, their
use for environmental awareness and information exchange
with the "global village". Mr. Aslam elaborated
upon the activities of WESS.
The
significance of the Internet and Email, its advantages and
importance in one's life; the origin, structure, usefulness,
and mechanics were explained by Mr. Jan Muhammad in the
first session. The hands-on session caught the participants
attention, as everything was explained online. The process
involved connecting to the web; browsing different websites
related to Balochistan province, like the district websites
of Kech, Gwadar, and the Balochistan Conservation Strategy
(BCS); news sites like daily Jung and Dawn; search engines;
opening an email account and sending messages through it.
The resource personnel then fielded questions put to them
by the audience.
The
participants felt that the skills imparted to them at the
workshop had widened their horizons and brought a world
of information to their fingertips. The local CBO Bolan
Youth Welfare Organization (BYWO) also requested that a
similar workshop be arranged by SDNP for the female students
and faculty of Naushki in the near future.
Towards
the end of the workshop, Mr. Nadir Gul highlighted the role
of IUCN - The World Conservation Union in addressing environmental
issues and specially the contribution of the Balochistan
Conservation Strategy (BCS). A 20 minute documentary on
the BCS was also displayed to the participants. The Global
Environment Facility (GEF) - Small Grants Program (SGF),
Coordinator, Mr. Karim Nawaz presented the GEF-SGP funding
mechanisms for NGO's and CBO's.
