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The challenges rural women face in using Telecentres: The case of the Eastern Cape Province

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dc.creator Gcora, Nozibele
dc.creator Gopeni, Amanda
dc.creator Tuswa, Mbali
dc.creator Lwoga, Edda Tandi
dc.creator Chigona, Wallace
dc.date 2018-08-03T12:08:28Z
dc.date 2018-08-03T12:08:28Z
dc.date 2015
dc.date.accessioned 2021-05-05T12:22:58Z
dc.date.available 2021-05-05T12:22:58Z
dc.identifier 978-0-620-68395-1
dc.identifier http://localhost:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/55
dc.identifier.uri http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/73314
dc.description Shared Information and Communication Technology (ICT) facilities such as telecentres offer people opportunities to access digital technologies that may facilitate socio-economic development. This is particularly important in rural areas where the citizens are less likely to own technologies. However, despite a huge investment in such interventions, developing countries have not fully realised the benefits. In particular, due to a myriad of social factors, women in rural areas seem to benefit the least from such interventions. The aim of the paper is to explore the challenges rural women face in using telecentres. The study employed a qualitative approach and was based on an interpretivism paradigm. Data for the study came from both secondary sources and semi-structured interviews. The interviews were conducted with women in two Eastern Cape rural towns. The challenges which limited the usage of telecentres were grouped into: (1) institutional, (i.e. financial sustainability, staff shortage, poor ICT infrastructure, location, lack of awareness), and (2) community challenges (perception, operational times, affordability, lack of ICT skills). The study concludes that through awareness; improvement of ICT capacity (infrastructure and literacy); and women empowerment in terms of ICT; use of telecentres can be successfully integrated in rural communities. The findings of the study may be used by those seeking to improve the impact of telecentres in rural areas, especially on women
dc.format application/pdf
dc.publisher Proceedings of the 9th IDIA conference
dc.subject telecentres
dc.subject women
dc.subject rural areas
dc.subject challenges
dc.subject ICT
dc.subject Information and communication technologies (ICT)
dc.subject South Africa
dc.subject Eastern Cape
dc.title The challenges rural women face in using Telecentres: The case of the Eastern Cape Province
dc.type Article


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