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THE PROJECT : Networking Women-Empowerment through ICT

This is a National Pilot Project under the E-community Sector within the auspices of the National Information Technology Council (NITC). The project is partly funded by DAGS.

Primary Objectives of the project

  • To raise awareness on the benefits of ICT
  • To form an electronic community of women through community-based organisation targeted at and/or run by women
  • To raise public awareness on gender-specific and community issues via ICT and the Internet
  • To facilitate partnership and information-sharing among community-based organisations targeted at and/or run by women

Problems Addressed

  • The underdevelopment of IT literacy in women.
    Women in their traditional roles seldom have the opportunity to integrate IT in their work. Initiatives to provide women with access to IT skills will be designed to incorporate their current activities. This proposal is aimed at women working for NCWO and its affiliates.
  • The need for an efficient medium of communication and advocacy.
    The project is in line with our national and international development and the need for IT skilled people to operate at all levels of social and community development.
  • The need for information on the work of women and community-based organisations.
    Many of these organisations deal with problems relating to women, social and community development leading to women's groups working in isolation. Facilitating the development of an electronic network will help address this problem
  • The need to share resources and information among community-based organisations for more efficiency and productivity.

Opportunity

This project provides an opportunity for women:

  • to learn new skills in a setting that is familiar to them
  • to explore ways in which they can increase their knowledge about their organisation and related organisations
  • to disseminate information within their organisation and between organisations in a more efficient manner and quickly

TEAMS INVOLVED IN THE PROJECT

THE MAIN TEAM (KUMPULAN UTAMA)
Prof.Dr. Farida Habib Shah Dr. Yasmin Weaver ( up to Feb 2001)
Geetha R ( June 2000-Jan 2001)
Syamimah(June 2000-Nov 2000)
Mariah Hussein (from Nov 2000)
Norhasnita Hassan ( from Nov 2000)
Mrs. R Gurusamy (NCWO)

THE RESEARCH TEAM (KUMPULAN PENYELIDIKAN)
Prof. Farida Habib Shah Mariah Hussein (Researcher,from Nov 2000 )
Syamimah (June 2000-Nov 2000)
Massila Hamzah (UKM)
Fauziah Kartini (UKM)
Assoc. Prof Dr. Azizah Hamzah (UM)
Dr. Rokiah Talib

THE BOOK TEAM( KUMPULAN PENERBITAN BUKU)
Prof. Farida Habib Shah
Prof. Dr. Nik Safiah Karim
Peter Anderson
Mariah Hussein
Norhasniata Hassan
Mras.R.gurusamy
Dr. Azizah Hamzah

THE MANUAL TEAM ( PENERBITAN MANUAL)
Assoc.Prof. Dr. Muhamad Osman
Assoc.Prof.Dr. Marmot Said
Prof.Faridah Habib Shah

The Training Team (KUMPULAN LATIHAN)
Ms.Bismillah Kader (Internexia Sdn Bhd)
Mimos Technology

The Technology Team (KUMPULAN TEKNOLOGI)
Mimos Technology Consultant

THE FORUM COMMITTEE (AHLI JAWATANKUASA FORUM)

THE VIDEO TEAM (KUMPULAN PENERBITAN VIDEO)
Prof. Farida Habib Shah
Jennifer Rodgrigo (Goodwork Production)
Ben Roongen (Goodwork Production)
Mrs. R. Gurusamy (NCWO)
Tam Pham (UNDP)

ACTIVITIES OF THE PROJECT

1. Provide Infrastructure in terms of hardware and software to participating associations

2 Development and designing of websites for the affiliates

3. Creation of NCWO website

4. Creation of an NCWO women's portal : "www.newwomen.net"

5. Training Training is provided to Representatives of Associations so they can share the knowledge with other members of their organisations a. Smart Web Pages and Website Development This course is accomplished through a mixture of presentation, hands-on sessions and discussion b. ICT on line training A comprehensive on-line training programme with ten face -face sessions

6. FORUM : Creating awareness on the many applications of ICT for women " "Women in the new ICT era: Challenges and Opportunities", 23-24 Oct 2000

7 Production of a book which documents the project. This will act as a different medium and mode of dissemination of information on ICT and revelant information on women's websites.

8 Production of a simple user friendly manual on understanding and using the internet

9. Production of a video which also deals with the project and at the same time creating awareness on the uses of ICT

10. Research on " Women and IT" which will provide useful data for strategizing policies and implementation of projects that are useful for women

11. Setting up of NCWO CyberCentre. A centre where women and women's groups will have access to computers, computer training and a chance to network with one another

Health
Environment
Youth Issues
Violence Against Women
Consumer
Legal Issues
Religion & Culture

FFPAM
GERAKAN
NCWO YOUTH COMMISSION
WAO
FOMCA
AWL & IIU
BAHAI

28 August, 2000: WANITA 2000 CELEBRATIONS was officiated by YAB Dato Seri Dr Mahathir Mohamad at 9.00 pm at the Esplanade KLCC. It brought together about fifteen thousand women from all states, a ceremony with the theme 'NUR BERMULA DENGAN MU".

The NCWO Science & Technology Commission under the Chairmanship of Prof. Dr Faridah Habib Shah has launched a project that demonstrates the use of IT and multimedia to provide networking facilities to organisations affiliated to NCWO. This project has been undertaken due to:- - 7 -

  • the relative lack of awareness among women about the use of benefits of ICT
  • the low level of ICT resources in women's organisation
  • the lack of knowledge about ICT and their applications and the lack of skills in using ICT in women's oganisations
  • the need to improve communications and means of communication among associations
  • the lack of reliable quantitative and qualitative information about the work of women's organisations.

Participants to the project were identified from amongst NCWO affiliates who both responded to the survey questionnaire, attended the follow-up briefing sessions and workshop organised by Prof. Dr. Faridah Habib Shah.

The Networking Working project, HAWA UNDP Together with Third World Organisation of Women in Science, MIMOS Bhd, endorsed by Ministry of Energy, Communications and Multimedia held an International Forum on the theme 'WOMEN IN THE NEW ICT ERA; CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNIES" 23-24 October, 2000.

Global Knowledge II was held in Kuala Lumpur, 7-10 March, 2000, which comprised of three related components, GLOBAL KNOWLEDGE FORUM, GLOBAL KNOWLEDGE PARTNERSHIP ACTION SUMMIT and KNOWLEDGE FAIR. It brought together participants from all walks of life and from countries around the world with a special emphasis on agents of change i.e. thinkers and doers from developing countries. The theme was "Building Knowledge Societies: Access, Empowerment and Governance".

During the GK II Conference NCWO with co-sponsorship from UNDP Malaysia and UNDP Asia Pacific Gender Equity Network (APGEM) organised the GK II WOMEN'S FORUM. The WOMEN'S FORUM brought together about 130 women from all parts of the world to discuss the opportunities and challenges facing women in the new information age.

To ensure the participation of young women in the GK II Youth Forum NCWO in collaboration with UNICEF brought together two young women between the ages of 18 and 24 from Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam, Brunei D.S., Myanmar and Vietnam and five from Malaysic.

As a follow-up of the GK II WOMEN'S FORUM, we organised a Basic computer course for Senior Women Leaders from our affiliated organisations.

NCWO Malaysia hosted the 9th ACWO General Assembly and Conference on the theme "THE NEW MILLENNIUM - ASEAN WOMEN TAKING STOCK AND MOVING FORWARD" which was held in Kuching, Sarawak 4-7 May 1000. It brought together delegates from Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam and Malaysia, with a large number of observers from Kuching, Sarawak.

The Keynote address was presented by the Patron of ACWO, YAB Datin Seri Dr Siti Hasmah Haji Mohd Ali on the theme. The Conference was officiated by YAB Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri (Dr) Haji Abdul Taib Mahmud, The Chief Minister of Sarawak.

The KUCHING DECLARATION was adopted by the delegates.

NCWO conducted a study on the Family Court system available in other countries and prepared a Memorandum. The Memorandum served as a basis for discussion at a Workshop organised by NCWO supported by NACIWID and HAWA.

NCWO is working with HAWA on the formulation of the FAMILY COURT ACT. Discussions are also held with Y. Bhg. Datin Fauziah Ramly, Bahagian Hal Ehwal Undang-Undang, Jabatan Perdana Menteri, on the starting of a Family Court pilot project in Kuala Lumpur. With reference to Family Court, discussion was held with YB Dato Shahrizat Abdul Jalil and YB Dato Rais Yatim.

The Beijing + 5 Review Report prepared by NCWO was presented at the ASIA PACIFIC Regional Meeting and submitted to APDC, HAWA, Women Environmental Development Organisation (WEDO) New York and NCWO Affiliates.

A Memorandum was presented to YB Dato Shahrizat as leader of the Delegation to the UN General Assembly Special Session in New York. containing issues for consideration pertaining to the Beijing Plus Five Review at the UN General Assembly Special Session..

In conjunction with International Women's Day the NCWO Young Women's Commission organised a Forum 'WORKING TOWARDS GENDER PARTNERSHIP IN THE NEW MILLENNIUM". The Forum attracted a large number of young men and women who were very articulate in their presentation of ideas.

A Mentorship and Leadership Programme (MLTP) was organised together with YWCA Malaysia to enable young women and girls to develop skills and expertise which would equip and empower them to be involved in the decision making processes, in the non-governmental organisations, the corporate bodies or in politics.

NCWO in collaboration with CAP organised a two-day workshop on 'SUGAR THE SILENT KILLER".

The Ministry of Energy, Communications and multimedia invited NCWO to a dialogue session on the 'PERSONAL DATA PROTECTION (PDP) BILL". The PDP Law is envisaged to be a world class leading edge cyberlaw that provide, for higher levels of personal data protection.

As in previous years NCWO presented its proposals to the 2000 and 2001 Budget Dialogue Sessions at the Ministry of Finance.

© Copyright 2001 NCWO