[kictanet] Refugee Camps to Benefit from Resource Centers

[Grace Githaiga]

Refugee Camps to Benefit from Resource Centers
By Mutwiri Mutotia
 
NAIROBI, Kenya, September 28- Software manufacturing giant, Microsoft Corporation has established three computer resource centres in Kenyan refugee camps to ensure the displaced are in tune with the information technology age.

 
This was disclosed by the company’s senior vice-president, Prad Smith, who led a high powered delegation to the Kenyan deputy leader, Kalonzo Musyoka at his office on Wednesday.
 
“This centres will help them access information about their families and relatives besides helping them access to online education as well as update the refugees in their respective camps on the day-to-day activities in other parts of the world,” Smith proclaimed.
 
He said the organisation was working closely with the United Nations High Commission for Refugees in ensuring that refugees become computer literate.
 
Kenya has borne the majority of refugees fleeing the strife-torn Horn of Africa with the Kakuma and Daadab refugee camps in the Northern part of the country hosting almost a million displaced persons.
 
The Community Technology Learning Centres (CTLC) as the project is known, was mooted in 2003 with the pilot at the Daadab camp that now host close to half a million refugees. CTLCs have also been launched in Afghanistan.
 
But with Kenya hosting the 6th Internet Governance Forum (IGF) the stalwarts of the global tech industry have taken advantage of the gathering to seek new markets for their products.
 
During the visit, Musyoka lauded the role played by Microsoft in the provision of knowledge, information and communication which is critical to the development of any country.
 
“The Kenyan Government is doing everything possible to ensure that every child in the country gets access to a computer and internet connection as one way of preparing them to face the challenges of the modern world,” the vice-president stressed. 		 	   		  
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