I had a conversation today with Amani , my son, that my father would never have dreamt having with me in the 80’s growing up in Kabale, Uganda.
I’m going to show the conversation while highlighting the major pros and some concerns that populate the digital world we live in today.
Him: ” Taata, do you know that there are wireless chargers these days?
Me: “I have heard. How did you find out?”
Him: I” was playing my game on the Tablet and a pop up advertising them came up(internet safety) and I followed it”( ICT induced curiosity and research)
Me: “Aha what did you discover?”
Him: ” That it charges using Bluetooth and the speed of charging depends on how far the phone is from the wireless charger”
In a short conversation with Amani, my 10 year old, I was able to see how ICTs stimulate curiosity and self driven discovery, the boy was able to explain the correlation between distance and electromagnetic intensity. Really? My boy explaining complicated scientific concepts like that?
Together , we were wowed by the speed of discovery of new technologies and I could see in him a hunger to be a part of it. I was however concerned about the pop up and how he followed it. It could have been anything!
Does a child in rural or the underserved urban areas in Uganda have a chance against my boy in this information era? Who is more likely to participate in global changes and discussions and do things rather than have things done to them?
It brought to mind the digital divide both internally among Ugandans and externally between Uganda and other developed countries. It is a big threat to global stability and risks further widening the chasm between the rich and poor of this world.
I feel motivated to further to push TechKids ICT into as many primary schools in Uganda as possible. It’s incumbent upon us as private business in collaboration with government to actively engage in causing the change we desire to see!
Wow, I see a son walking in the father’s footsteps. Imagine if all kids had access to such information. With your lCT programme l see a bright future for these kids.
Thank you Enid. We shall continue to exert ourselves and to improve too
Wow.
What a story! And how you tell it. Amazing. Todidea you are the ICT hope for Uganda. Connect the nation and you will be connected to endless springs of wealth.
Thanks Ronnie. Onward!
Hi, I already have a tablet to which i desire to load edu programmes for my 9 year old son. Do you offer such a service at ToDideas? If so where are you located? How much is the service?
Julianne
Yes we do. It’s 150,000/=. We are at Glamour Images, Ground floor, Kati house, Nakasero just above Senana supermarket. Call/WhatsApp 0757112376/0778244564