Rwanda Telecentre Network is a social enterprise working in the field of ICT for development and SME development. Between 2011 and 2012, RTN facilitated and hosted three web 2.0 Learning opportunities. The training on 2.0 and social was the first of its kind in Rwanda and was possible due to the partnership between RTN and the Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation (CTA). Thank to CTA for providing training materials, lunch and refreshment during the three sessions co-organized with RTN. In addition to around 100 who benefited from the training co-organized with CTA, RTN has provided short training on web 2.0 and social media to more that 1,000 people in Rwanda though Telecentres. Participants are drawn from different organizations working in agriculture and rural development including government, educational institutions, non-government organizations (NGO), civil societies groups and farmers cooperatives. Currently RTN plans to scale the web 2.0 and social media training in all Telecentres at National level.
In the context of RTN, the web 2.0 learning opportunities has had an impact at three level: At RTN as organizations which uses web 2.0 and social media in day today operations, at Telecentre level which provide direct ICT access to the community and at beneficiaries who have benefiting from web 2.0 and social media training.
- Impact on RTN: As a result of hosting and training its staff in web 2.0 and social media, RTN using web 2.0 tools in all managerial aspects: communication, operation and strategic planning. More importantly, RTN being the champion of web 2.0 and social media training, this has increased RTN publicity and awareness within local community and at local government level.
- Impact on Telecentres: As a result of organizing short training on web 2.0 and social media, this has increased number of internet users in Telecentres. Telecentre managers reported that before the use of internet in Telecentres was limited to send and receive email now many people can do more that email, and hence are spending time in search information , publishing information on the web. Also in terms of time spend on internet usage in Telecentres, Telecentres visitors who were trained on web 2.0 and social media are spending much time on Internet that before. This has direct impact on Telecentre revenues and sustainability.
- At Beneficiary level: Web 2.0 training changed the mindset and practices of beneficiaries in regard to the communication, information and knowledge sharing using the internet. Those who benefited from the can easily use internet in fruitful way and without difficulties. The following are feedback from beneficiaries of web 2.0 and social media. One beneficiary noted that knowing web 2.0 skills helped to reduce time taken to get data online and in libraries. Ezron a Horticulture Entrepreneur said : “After web 2.0, It is easy now to search now market of my products online and also I have created web pages for my company at no cost”. Denise, another training beneficiary said “while visiting a telecentre he had to request an telecentre staff to help me search for information but now, I can easily search information on poultry business I’m doing”.