"…empowering Egyptian society to be able to take advantage of the ICT available to them…"
MCIT seeks to guarantee universal, easy, affordable and rapid access for all Egyptian citizens to ICT, and stimulating awareness of the potential uses and benefits of ICT. In this respect, MCIT has implemented a number of programs with the chief aim of providing benefits to users, promoting computer literacy, and encouraging increased use of ICT by the public.
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The value of the IT Clubs project is in its availability to the mass population. The concept that has been applied since 2000 and has become so widely spread is truly becoming a local window to the world.
The idea behind the IT Clubs is to provide each and every person in society the chance to develop his/her skills and knowledge through the use of technology. In this manner, the benefit is doubled. Computer literacy has become second nature to many societies and individuals without which they find themselves isolated and excluded.
The challenge is great in a country like Egypt due to the high illiteracy rate and the low incomes of many families. IT Clubs are meant to make dreams a reality for all those interested in taking part in the information society.
IT Clubs are the outcome of the cooperation of multiple players in the society. Although MCIT is the main contributor in the project, it makes sure that the private sector, public sector, individuals, and local communities are involved to ensure success. MCIT believes that full societal involvement will guarantee sustainability.
MCIT makes available, through cooperation with private sector, at locations such as schools, clubs, universities, youth centers, computer labs fully equipped with computers, printers, networks, access to the internet, and most importantly the well-trained instructors. Priority is given to low income areas.
Participants have the opportunity to access facilities and services of the club at any time for a nominal fee. Additionally, there is a wide spectrum of courses offered to guide participants to fully utilize the technology in their lives.
At the rate of almost 300 clubs established every year, MCIT intends to reach every neighborhood in the country. The expansion is not only in the number of clubs but also in the activities and target groups within each club. MCIT is working on activities for those with special needs, and children who have dropped out from the schooling system. |
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| It is the aim of the government of Egypt to provide access to each and every corner in the nation. This has proven a challenge with the unbalanced infrastructure setup and the accessibility to technical requirements for such a provision. However, MCIT refused to give in to these obstacles and in an agreement with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Italian Cooperation set it as its goal to expose rural and remote communities to ICT. MCIT finds that such exposure is the key to acting as a catalyst in human development resulting in shrinking the unemployment rates and increasing productivity.
The Mobile Internet Unit, as the term suggests, is a vehicle that is equipped with computers that travel to remote areas to provide access to technology and entrance to cyberspace. The unit is not merely equipment but it is a comprehensive program for members of the community to become equals with any metropolitan resident. Courses are offered for computer literacy, internet access, business skills, and more. |
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| It is critical to spread the notion of using technology for a purpose as a means not as an end in itself. It is not enough to learn how to use the technology efficiently, it is more important to understand how to apply it effectively. MCIT found that the best category in the society to adapt to new ideas and apply them with success is the youth. Since 2002, MCIT, in cooperation with the Arab Academy for Science and Technology and Marine Transport, has been organizing an annual competition in IT and programming; the Egyptian Olympiad in Informatics (EOI).
The Egyptian Olympiad in Informatics incites the young to be active participants in the society with their information technology and communication knowledge and skills. From hundreds of applicants, around 60 are chosen to participate in the contest. Participants’ age ranges from 6 to 20. The areas that the competition covers have expanded since its initiation to accommodate the new programs and courses provided. In this manner the EOI can be looked at as a measure of ICT competitiveness and aptitude. It promotes the use of IT tools to solve practical problems. It sheds light on the talented young in the society giving them opportunity for success in the marketplace. EOI also promotes and rewards innovation. |
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