Integratig Technology into International Social Work

The Director of our program, Walter LaMendola, has urged us this year to really get connected, become one with techonology if you will, and see the imporant role technology plays in our lives as future academics, advocates and disseminators of information. I find that if I am not on the internet looking at Life Hacker or the Times (which let me interject here and say BBC doesn't even have a "Technology" section) or listening to the super sweet NPR app on my Ipad at least on a weekly basis, then I find myself falling behind in the world of technology. Technology is becoming the new "it" thing. It's everywhere! I swear I just read an article (thank you Guardian for having a Technology and Environment section!!) about a pilot program that is creating solar powered classrooms that can be utilized in rural areas of Africa. Seeing pictures of students working on laptops, where each student has their own computer and the student-teach ratio is around 20-1 gives me so much hope. When I was in Ghana, we had about 40 students in the class with 1 teacher. Students shared desks, notebooks and even pencils. It was June 2008 and they were hoping that by then end of their winter (our fall), they would have electricity and a library. It may be a long process and tough undertaking, but if successful, I see a bright future for many parts of Africa. Currently, agencies like the United Nations Industrial Development Organization are collaborating with HP to bring technology education to parts of Africa and the Middle East. As we become more globalized, it is becoming more and more important to find the ways technology fits into your life and the lives of those around you.

Let me introduce myself...

My name is Jordan Farrar and I am a first year Doctoral student in University of Denver's Graduate School of Social Work. My interests are centered around International Social Work, with a focus on child soldiers, children in armed conflict and social development. I am about to embark on a fundraising journey to raise funds that will allow me to travel to Uganda 2012 to work with the Arise Foundation. My goal is to acquire used laptops, a used digital camera, thumb drives and a used video camera for the foundation. I will be working to teach pro social life skills to former child soldiers. I am also interested in their adult education and HIV/AIDS program. Below is a video I urge you to watch as it discusses the issue of child soldiers in Uganda.

I encourage you to join me on this journey. To see the trials and tribulations of educating others on a topic many choose to ignore as well as to see that with education, you can spread an important message and advocate for marginalized populations.