Mzuzu University Digital Repository

The use of multipurpose community telecentres and their services in Malawi: the case of Lupaso Community Telecentre

Show simple item record

dc.contributor.author Kapondera, Sellina Khumbo
dc.contributor.author Hart, Genevieve
dc.date.accessioned 2022-07-21T05:25:29Z
dc.date.available 2022-07-21T05:25:29Z
dc.date.issued 2016
dc.identifier.citation Kapondera, S. K. & Hart, G. (2016). The use of multipurpose community telecentres and their services in Malawi: the case of Lupaso Community Telecentre. South African journal of libraries and information science, 82(1), 13-25. https://sajlis.journals.ac.za/pub/article/view/1589 en_US
dc.identifier.issn https://sajlis.journals.ac.za/pub/article/view/1589
dc.identifier.uri 192.168.2.8:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/286
dc.description.abstract Telecentres aim to bridge digital divides between rural and urban communities. In many developing countries, like Malawi, the assumption is that once telecentres are established, people will adopt them. The purpose of the study was to examine the factors influencing the use of telecentres in rural areas of developing countries by means of a case study of Lupaso Community Telecentre, in a remote region of Malawi. Following the example of a study of public computing facilities in Cape Town (Chigona & Licker 2008), the study employed Rogers’ Diffusion of Innovation (DOI) theory as a theoretical frame. Data were gathered through a mix of methodologies: questionnaires, interviews, observation, and records analysis. The study reveals that a large majority of users view the telecentre as an empowering project and are satisfied with its services. They perceive it to be improving human skills, helping the economy and strengthening the social capital of the surrounding community. However, it seems that the telecentre benefits only a small percentage of the community. Access is uneven. One surprising finding is that the centre’s Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) are not the chief attraction. The factors that negatively impact on the use of the ICTs are lack of internet searching skills, frequent electricity blackouts, lack of local content, and fees charged. To fulfill their mission, it is recommended that telecentres in developing communities enhance their services with information literacy and literacy education programmes. en_US
dc.language.iso en en_US
dc.publisher South African journal of libraries and information science en_US
dc.subject digital divide en_US
dc.subject rural areas en_US
dc.subject public computing facilities en_US
dc.title The use of multipurpose community telecentres and their services in Malawi: the case of Lupaso Community Telecentre en_US
dc.type Article en_US


Files in this item

This item appears in the following Collection(s)

Show simple item record

Search MzuniDR


Advanced Search

Browse

My Account