ChangeWaves

he talks are finally coming to fruition. When the idea of the telecentre.org telecentre academy was first floated several months back, it seemed like a distant dream. Several months down the road, telecentre academies have been launched in different parts of the world.
The idea of the East African Telecentre Academy was mooted during the East Africa Network Leaders staff exchange program at the UgaBYTES in February 2008. Network leaders then agreed that it is both a capacity building and sustainability program.
With over one million grassroots telecentre knowledge workers required by 2010 to staff telecentres that proliferate world over, there is clearly a need for training and continuous learning systems that the telecentre networks can rely upon.
I have been asked by the executive committee of the academy to contact key institutions that we can work with to develop a curriculum for the academy under the following areas:

1. Management training
This has to do with understanding the roles and functions of a manager which is very relevant to how a manager will get results through and with others.
2. Community outreach
This has to do with linking the telecentre to the community and making it relevant. It may include community mobilization skills, understanding the community, public speaking skills, content development, facilitation skills, research skills among others.
3. Strategic financial management – managing for financial sustainability
This has to do with planning and implementing financial strategies for financial sustainability. It may include entrepreneurship skills like business planning, resource mobilization among others.
4: Content identification and packaging
This includes identification of proper content for telecentres

5. IT essential skills
If you have conducted training for telecentres or related organisations in any of the above areas, please lets share ideas. Post your comments here or send me an email at esther@changewaves.org