Dassandaga and information on ICT: a visit to the women of Gampela

To encourage the women of the member associations of Songtaaba, a week of cultural activities – known traditionally as Dassandaga – was organised in the village of Gampela. On the programme were activities such as a market featuring dolo (the local beer) and roast pork, traditional dances, a bicycle race, the opening of a store for shea products and a film screening.

This innovation was the work of Burkina-NTIC, after consultation with Miproka, an IICD project within Songtaaba whose aim is to promote shea products through the use of new technologies. A series of three films on ICT in village life, with the roles played by marionettes, was shown in the association's training room.

The films were explained in the local language to those present, who were interested in the concept and asked questions about the new technologies. Mrs Roukiattou Ouédraogo, manager of Songtaaba's document resource centre, and Ms Noélie, leader of the Miproka project, took turns in explaining, again in the local language, the importance of the Miproka project and of ICT in rural environments. Pictures of the Miproka projects in Saponé and Boussé were shown.

This demystification of ICT in rural areas will help to convince women that they in their turn need to embark on the path of development by emerging from their digital blackout with the support of associations and development partners.