by
Gideon
Hayford Chonia
University
Of Zurich
Winterthurerstrasse
190
Zurich
- Irchel
Zurich
ZH 8057 Switzerland
Digital
divide, Immigrants
This
presentation will explain the programs designed to close the digital divide and
tackle the difficulties and solutions encountered in a project in Switzerland.
The
unstable World conditions, of Wars, famine and natural catastrophes, economic
instability, have forced many to migrate to rich and industrialized nations.
Most people from developing nations migrate for economic reasons or seek refuge
as a result of war
These
immigrants are exposed to a well-advanced digital society, in their place of
work, home and their environment, which they need to "jump" to cope
and live within. There exists then a big rift between these immigrants and the
new environment.
These
require a need to "leap Frog" to bridge this gap to be able to work
and integrate into the system.
Most
women from developing countries have no provision to bridge this digital gap,
cause of cultural, national, ethnical concept.
Recently
the media has brought attention on what should be done about global widening gap
between wealthy and poor households, between the "haves" and
have-nots" in our society
This
rift between the 'haves' and the 'have-nots' in our society is being reflected
online, because these miss out in online activities
This
paper will describe an ongoing initiative of the author in closing the digital
gap between foreigners from developing countries living in Switzerland, and
efforts to provide access to the Internet and other information technologies
that are crucial to their economic growth and personal advancement.
Swiss
with a population of 6.3 million has 3.2% of foreigners from developing
countries living in Switzerland, and 30% are unemployed
The
paper will also provide us with a look into the future. As society is changing
rapidly due to the explosion in the high-tech industry, policies to close the
digital divide must also focus on bringing technology into homes.