1. International Symposium on ICT Volunteerism -Dakar: 23 - 25 October 2003 IT Volunteers in Africa: A myth or a reality? By Lawase Akpolou (SchoolNet Africa)

2. International Symposium on ICT Volunteerism -Dakar: 23 - 25 October 2003 SchoolNet Africa Pan African Non-Governmental Organisation; Pan African Non-Governmental Organisation; SchoolNet Africa and the Volunteerism: SchoolNet Africa and the Volunteerism: African Volunteers; African Volunteers; Foreign or Expatriate Volunteers. Foreign or Expatriate Volunteers.

3. International Symposium on ICT Volunteerism -Dakar: 23 - 25 October 2003 IT Volunteerism The term volunteerism can be used to describe situation in which there is trading of skills for less than the actual value of the skill being traded if not for free. The experts leave their country or town to go to another place and share their expertise with others in their host places and help build the skill base there. The term volunteerism can be used to describe situation in which there is trading of skills for less than the actual value of the skill being traded if not for free. The experts leave their country or town to go to another place and share their expertise with others in their host places and help build the skill base there.

4. International Symposium on ICT Volunteerism -Dakar: 23 - 25 October 2003 Is IT Volunteerism good for Africa? Yes, Africa need volunteers; Yes, Africa need volunteers; Proper management is necessary; Proper management is necessary; Economical viability; Economical viability; Potential of Volunteerism. Potential of Volunteerism.

5. International Symposium on ICT Volunteerism -Dakar: 23 - 25 October 2003 IT volunteers in Africa, is it a means for the developed worlds to resolve their unemployment problems or a means to sharpening painlessly blunt instruments and readying them for their home market? Is there really anything free in this world? Paying the bill; Paying the bill; Unemployment in the Western World; Unemployment in the Western World; Expertise and competence of volunteers; Expertise and competence of volunteers; Producing expert or qualified personnel for the Western World. Producing expert or qualified personnel for the Western World.

6. International Symposium on ICT Volunteerism -Dakar: 23 - 25 October 2003 4) How committed are volunteers in their daily activities? Touring opportunity; Touring opportunity; Self-development. Self-development.

7. International Symposium on ICT Volunteerism -Dakar: 23 - 25 October 2003 Is the manner in which volunteerism is done for the benefit of Africa? A chance should be given to Africans; A chance should be given to Africans; Volunteerism should be a two way process. Volunteerism should be a two way process.

8. International Symposium on ICT Volunteerism -Dakar: 23 - 25 October 2003 6) Model for IT Volunteerism Expert level Expert level Intermediary level Intermediary level Level prior transfer of skill Level prior transfer of skill

9. International Symposium on ICT Volunteerism -Dakar: 23 - 25 October 2003 Conclusion Africa needs all the help it can get in order to bridge the digital divide. Although IT Volunteerism is one of the means by which this can be done, it should not be seen as the solution for bridging the digital divide but rather as a means to an end. IT Volunteerism as it is now should be scrutinised if Africa is to benefit from it and if we do not want to make it a process by which blunt instrument are sharpened effortlessly for the developed world. Africa needs all the help it can get in order to bridge the digital divide. Although IT Volunteerism is one of the means by which this can be done, it should not be seen as the solution for bridging the digital divide but rather as a means to an end. IT Volunteerism as it is now should be scrutinised if Africa is to benefit from it and if we do not want to make it a process by which blunt instrument are sharpened effortlessly for the developed world. Find mechanism to change the IT Volunteerism programmes into IT Exchange programmes as we all do have some expertise. However limited it may be, this expertise needs to be nurtured and developed. Find mechanism to change the IT Volunteerism programmes into IT Exchange programmes as we all do have some expertise. However limited it may be, this expertise needs to be nurtured and developed. Provide the volunteers sector with the necessary resources they need in to achieve their mission. Provide the volunteers sector with the necessary resources they need in to achieve their mission.