Elizabeth Ryan,ATEC (the Access Training and Employment Centre), Victoria
This presentation details the social, cultural and educational outcomes of a series of programs based on developing ICT skills for young women who have migrated from the Horn of Africa. One of the results of the school holiday program on web design conducted in April 2001 was 'Ebtisama', a compilation of personal web pages developed by the program participants - www.vicnet.net.au/~ebtisama. The web site continues to grow with a second web design program conducted in January 2002 and training continuing on a weekly basis.
The Access Training and Employment Centre (ATEC) have been conducting computer holiday programs for young Horn of Africa women since January 2000. The original pilot program was based on research ( Horn of Africa Youth Research Program Report, prepared by Hadiya Consult, commissioned by the City of Melbourne.) that identified young women from the Horn of Africa as having difficulty accessing educational and recreational opportunities. A school holiday program was designed comprising a blend of ICT skill development and leisure activities, conducted in a women only environment. This and subsequent programs have shown the value of an adaptable learning environment based on developing computer skills and use of the Internet. The Ebtisama paper focuses on the many rewards of this culturally rich program as experienced by organisers as well as participants.