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International Conference on Social Implications of Computers in Developing Countries

ICT4D 2019: Information and Communication Technologies for Development. Strengthening Southern-Driven Cooperation as a Catalyst for ICT4D pp 152–167Cite as

The Influence of Telecentres on the Economic Empowerment of the Youth in Disadvantaged Communities of South Africa

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Part of the book series: IFIP Advances in Information and Communication Technology ((IFIPAICT,volume 551))

Abstract

We investigated how telecentres influence the economic empowerment of the youth in disadvantaged communities in South Africa and what factors affect their usage. For South Africa, the inequalities are greatly attributed to the apartheid government policy of segregating other races from major development activities. ICT is an enabler to development and may play a role in education, health and the economy. Interventions such as telecentres have the potential to deliver socio-economic benefits for people living in disadvantaged communities. Data for the study was collected through interviews with users of the Smart Cape and a privately-owned telecentre in Cape Town. The study used the Choice Framework as a theoretical lens. The study showed that (i) indeed the telecenters were aiding in empowering the youth living in disadvantaged communities (ii) the youth faced a number of personal, environmental and institutional challenges which limited their use and benefits from the telecenters. This research may help policymakers and project implementers on how to design and implement similar projects in future.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, Cape Town, South Africa

    Samkelo Lutho Booi, Wallace Chigona, Priscilla Maliwichi & Khaya Kunene

  2. Malawi University of Science and Technology, Thyolo, Malawi

    Priscilla Maliwichi

Authors
  1. Samkelo Lutho Booi
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  2. Wallace Chigona
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  3. Priscilla Maliwichi
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  4. Khaya Kunene
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Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Wallace Chigona or Priscilla Maliwichi .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway

    Petter Nielsen

  2. University of Dar es Salaam, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

    Honest Christopher Kimaro

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Booi, S.L., Chigona, W., Maliwichi, P., Kunene, K. (2019). The Influence of Telecentres on the Economic Empowerment of the Youth in Disadvantaged Communities of South Africa. In: Nielsen, P., Kimaro, H.C. (eds) Information and Communication Technologies for Development. Strengthening Southern-Driven Cooperation as a Catalyst for ICT4D. ICT4D 2019. IFIP Advances in Information and Communication Technology, vol 551. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-18400-1_13

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-18400-1_13

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-18399-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-18400-1

  • eBook Packages: Computer ScienceComputer Science (R0)

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