|
Issues at a Glance
Cyber Cafés:
Improving Access to Information for Youth in High Risk Situations
Also available
in [PDF] format.
The Internet
is a powerful and inexpensive way for people to make connections, share
information, and exchange ideas. Although access is still
limited in many countries, young
people worldwide increasingly view the Internet as an important source
for health information. Moreover, cyber cafés are
popping up all over the globe to provide Internet access.
For gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender
(GLBT) youth and for young men who have sex with men (YMSM), cyber cafés
can offer a safe means for finding accurate information and a supportive
community.
Young people
seek health information on the Internet.
In the United
States, a nationally representative survey recently found that 68 percent
of people ages 15 to 24 use the World Wide Web to search for health
information. Thirty-nine percent look up health information
online at least once a
month. Forty-four percent seek information on sexual health.
Not surprisingly,
the survey also found that 82 percent of the youth identify confidentiality
as "very
important" when looking for health information.[1]
In
developing countries, sexual health information may be scarce and/or
outdated.
In many developing
countries, information on sexual orientation, safer sex, AIDS,
and sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including HIV,
may be limited and hard
to find. The cost and accessibility of new information may make
acquiring it difficult
for clinics, hospitals, and public libraries.
The Internet
offers the opportunity for youth in high-risk situations to safely
access accurate information.
The Internet
can be an especially important source of information for youth
who may feel uncomfortable or unsafe seeking assistance through
more
traditional channels.
In many developing countries, YMSM and GLBT youth often have
difficulty finding accurate information and safe spaces
where they can find
support, ask questions,
and receive sexual health information without being harassed
or attacked by peers or by adults, such as teachers or
law enforcement
officers.
For these
youth, Internet access can be invaluable. In many countries,
non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have set up cyber
cafés to help GLBT
youth and YMSM access the Internet and to create a safe space
where youth
can meet
and seek sexual health information.
Best Practices
for Setting Up and Maintaining Cyber Cafés[2]
Operational
Considerations
- Identify
a coordinator for the cyber café.
It
is important to designate a person to be responsible
on a daily
basis for maintaining and overseeing the cyber café rather
than assigning staff to monitor the café on
an ad
hoc basis. The coordinator works to make sure
that the café functions smoothly, even when she/he is
not present, by ensuring that the café opens
and closes on time, that the computers are on and
working
properly, that the printers have paper, and by tracking
users' time
on the machines. The coordinator offers assistance
in navigating the World Wide Web. Ideally, the coordinator
will be a
young person. In addition, the coordinator should
possess
the following important attributes:
- Ability
to work with youth of varying cultures,
socioeconomic status, ethnicity, and sexual orientation
- Ability
to work in partnership with youth
- Ability
to communicate well with youth
- Creativity
- Flexibility
- Sense
of humor
- Ability
to enjoy people and situations
- Willingness
to empower youth to educate themselves
and their peers
- Ability
and willingness to assess the accuracy
and reliability of World Wide Web sites and to
share this information
with users.[3]
- Set
goals and objectives for the cyber café.
Before opening the café, coordinator
and project staff must be clear about the reason
(goal)
for its
establishment and should clearly identify activities
to realize that goal. For example, if the goal
is to provide confidential access to information
and
a safe community space for GLBT youth and YMSM,
then activities should ensure confidentiality,
help build
rapport among clients and staff, and aid young
visitors in building the skills to access information
and
community via the Internet.
- Involve
young staff in the cyber café. Young
people can be involved in this project in numerous
ways, ranging from running the entire operation
to participating as online peer educators for
the organization's
Web site. Ideally, the young people involved
in this project should be those most involved
in the organization's
primary activities.
- Offer
to train users on how to send/read email and how
to research a specific Web site as well as how to
assess sites for accuracy and reliability. Although
some users may be Internet and Web-savvy, it
is important to offer training so that those
who are not can also
find the information they seek.
- Be
sure that the instructor knows the software he or
she is using. If
the instructor is not proficient in browser
software and in how to frame a search, the
experience may
frustrate potential users and deter them from
using the World Wide Web. Proficient instructors,
on
the other hand, will attract users to the workshops
and
to the café. Employ proficient instructors
and provide them with ample training, especially
with regard to communication and interpersonal
skills.
- When
launching the café, offer a limited amount
of free Internet access each week in order to attract
clients and potential volunteers. Free
access can encourage potential clients to try
the café and may bring in youth interested
in volunteering for the organization.
- Once
the initial clientele is established, continue charging
much less than commercial cyber cafés in order
to maximize access for youth.
Subsidizing the user fees will make the services
more accessible to the community's youth.
- If
some visitors cannot afford to pay user fees, consider
providing them with the service in exchange for volunteer
work to support the café or the organization. For
example, youth might conduct
research on the Web on a topic useful to the
program or volunteer
at the organization for a specific number of
hours each week.
- Monitor
and evaluate. It
is important to monitor and evaluate cyber café activities
in order to determine whether the project is achieving
its goals. In order to assess efficiency, for example,
the coordinator could keep track of how the cyber café is
being used, by whom, at what times, and how much.
This information may highlight difficulties and
barriers to correct as well as achievements and
successes
to
replicate. In order to assess progress towards
the goals and objectives of the project, baseline
evaluation
must be carried out at the inception of the project.
Technical Considerations
- Start
with a minimum of three computers. Upgrading to the
desired number of computers can be done later, by adding two
or three at a time. The idea is to get started.
- Try
to get new computers instead of used ones. One
cannot predict how a used computer will behave, and repairing
old computers
may be more costly than buying new ones.
- Research
which Internet service providers are reliable and stable. Then
assess which one of these offers the best deal and try to buy
the service a year at a time. In the long run
this will be more cost effective than buying the service
on a month-to-month
basis.
- Invest
in a printer and a scanner. These will be useful when
users want to print articles from the Web or peer educators want
to scan print materials to use online.
- Whenever
the cyber café is open to the public, reserve the use
of the computers exclusively for clients. While the
café is open, the computers must be available so clients
can navigate the Internet. Staff can use the computers for administrative
purposes when the café is closed.
- Hire
the services of a freelance network administrator. It
is both useful and necessary to have a computer technician check
out the network connections and the machines from time to time.
If possible, also train a staff member to troubleshoot the machines.
- Invest
in the software necessary to support users' needs. Computers
usually come with the software required for basic Internet and
Web navigation and for basic word processing. However, for workshops
and some other special services, such as listservs and message
boards, additional software will be necessary.
- If
offering training on how to use the Web or how to
use a word processor or spreadsheet, schedule these
workshops so as not
to interfere with the operations of the cyber café. This
is especially important if the cyber café has few computers.
Moreover, holding workshops at off-hours will permit
staff to devote all their resources to the training.
- Purchase
the licenses needed to use the software on all of the computers. Avoid
using pirated software because it is illegal. In some jurisdictions,
computers may even be confiscated, if local authorities find
pirated software installed on them.
Physical Considerations
- Choose
a room with enough space for at least three computer tables and
chairs as well as for a larger table for materials, and a trash
can. Too small a space will result in a cramped
environment that is uncomfortable, lacking in privacy,
and
discouraging for users. People will keep using
the cyber café if
it is comfortable.
- Ensure
that the café has the right electrical connections and
that a constant flow of fresh air is available. This
will help keep the machines from overheating.
- Ensure
easy access to the cyber café for the public. If,
for example, clients must walk through several
rooms to get to the café, they may be less likely
to enter or to return.
- When
conducting workshops, limit the number of participants to the
number of computers available. Schedule additional workshops
to handle the overflow, so no one will have to share computer
screens and keyboards. This will enhance participants' ability
to learn.
- Put
up a "real" bulletin board in a visible and accessible
part of the cyber café. This will allow for
posting upcoming events and schedules for training
as well as the operating hours and important information
about the
cyber café. This is also a good place to post information
about reliable, accurate Web sites.
References
- Rideout
V. Generation Rx.com: How Young People Use the
Internet for Health Information. Menlo Park, CA:
Kaiser Family Foundation, 2001.
- The
best practices are gleaned from Advocates for Youth's
Linkages Project, whereby Entre Amigos in El Salvador,
Comunidad Gay San Pedrana in Honduras and OASIS in
Guatemala established a cyber café to support
their HIV /AIDS prevention work.
- Renfrew
M, Fothergill K, Hauser D, Jackson K, et al. Guide
to Implementing TAP (Teens for AIDS Prevention):
A Peer Education Program to Prevent HIV and STI.
2nd ed. Washington, DC: Advocates for Youth, 2002.
Written by Alex
Franca and Nicole Cheetham
January 2003 © Advocates for Youth
Click here to view the Publications
Catalog and/or to order this publication.
|
Send this page to a friend