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External
Assessment of the Small Islands Voice Youth Internet Forum in
2005
In 2005, Ms
Darcy Nugent conducted an assessment of the Small Islands Voice
Youth Internet Forum as part of the requirements for her Master
of Science degree at the University of San Jose, California, USA.
She was awarded her degree in 2006, and a full
version of her thesis is available. The following represents
a short synopsis of her key findings.
As part of
her research, she visited six of the islands in 2005: Bahamas,
Cook Islands, Dominica, Fiji, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Vincent
and the Grenadines. Teachers and students were interviewed and
the computer technology available to the students was documented.
Survey questionnaires were sent to other countries participating
in the forum. A total of 185 surveys were collected from the nine
countries that participated in the assessment.
Results showed
that the forum promoted action. Overall, student survey responses
indicated participants tried ideas that were discussed on the
forum. . The forum, when coupled with a classroom activity that
engaged students in local "ground" activities, produced the strongest
results for behaviour modification. For example, having conversed
with many students from the Indian Ocean islands, the students
in St. Kitts and Nevis decided to hold a candlelight vigil in
January 2005 for the countries affected by the tsunami of December
of 2004.
Sixty-three
percent of students polled talked to their parents about the forum.
As a result of family discussion, one student commented his family
worked toward reducing daily trash. They now reuse many plastic
containers once tossed in the garbage.
Regardless
of connectivity, students had an overwhelmingly positive experience.
Opinions of the forum were extremely favourable. High percentages
wanted the forum to continue at their school (90.2%) and felt
it was a good way to talk to others (93.5%). Students in most
countries complained about the speed of the internet connection
and lack of adequate computers and equipment. In addition, natural
disasters such as hurricanes and cyclones disrupted internet services
for many islands.
The Pacific
Islanders were the most positive regarding the forum. However,
attitudes, related to ease of use and the ability to share problems,
were lower. The Pacific region suffered from slow connections
and computer issues more so than the other two regions and their
answers are a result of their limitations. Even though the Indian
Ocean percentages were the lowest of the three regions, the responses
were still positive. The Caribbean region expressed interest in
maintaining the forum as well. When asked in interviews about
what they liked most, participants talked about connecting with
other students around the world.
There were
a wide range of environmental concerns and topics. Each region
listed environmental topics of interest but there were some differences.
In the Indian Ocean, students were most concerned about greenhouse
gases. The Caribbean participants thought garbage and beach pollution
were key problems. Deforestation and water issues topped the list
for the Pacific Islanders. Non-environmental topics such as money
and finance were also mentioned. Island life and culture were
a favourite in the Caribbean, but all regions mentioned the importance
of native dance, language, and heritage. Many were interested
in the traditional knowledge found on other islands.
Preliminary
results from this assessment were discussed by SIV partners at
the Mauritius Strategy Implementation - Small Islands Voice Planning
meeting, held in St. Vincent and the Grenadines in July 2005.
As a result the Small Islands Voice Youth Internet Forum was re-designed
in the latter part of 2005, and a "new-look" forum was launched
in February 2006 - see www.sivyouth.org
(with username view and password only)
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