December Newsletter

CTCs East of Eden


Jordanian women at work, at a CTC near the Dead Sea.
In November 2003, Peter Miller was part of a team that visited Jordan to study community technology centers there, and the institutions that support them. The trip was initiated through an email contact inquiring about advice on building sustainable CTCs in Jordan and took a year to develop. It was sponsored by the USAID-supported Chemonics Internation in the US and AMIR in Jordan.

We interviewed Peter to find out what he saw, and what he learned, during this unique excursion.

What were the high and low points of your trip to Jordan?

Both occurred during our visits to CTCs in the Dead Sea area. The first CTC we visited was exciting because it was so lively and functional. We were introduced to a group of women who were very active on the workstations, mostly working on searches and e-mail. They were very open to having conversations with our team. We learned that they had some basic training and frequently used the CTCs to explore job possibilities and stay in contact with friends in other areas. The CTC had evolved into a public space where these women could explore nontraditional roles and opportunities. Our exchange with the CTC's manager was also very lively, and while we spoke with him we could see the women at work and helping each other, which is one of the best practices you could hope to find in any CTC.

In contrast, the other CTC that we visited was more of a low point. It was sad to see that the place seemed to be floundering, without a clear idea of what it should be doing.

Who funds the CTCs that exist in Jordan, and who staffs them?

An outside view of one CTC the team visited.
The Jordanian CTCs are backed by a major government initiative, and an influx of money from the royal family. Jordan has an enlightened monarchy, so things work in a very top-down way. The initiative's goal is to build a hundred CTCs; seventy-five have already been built, which is remarkable in a country roughly the size of Indiana.

The government works in tandem with non-governmental organizations (NGOs), equivalent to American nonprofits. CTCs' managers are appointed by NGOs, while teachers and trainers are selected and paid by royal commission. Other staffing is provided by NetCorps, Jordan's equivalent to the CTC VISTA Project.

Some members of our team met NetCorps members in charge of doing outreach for CTCs there, and were very favorably impressed. NetCorps has a plan in place to expand from a pilot program of under 100 members to 5,000 over the next several years.

What kind of language and cultural barriers did you encounter?

Peter Miller and team member Richard Civille on the street in Amman.
I was surprised by the degree to which there wasn't a language barrier. English is essentially a second language of Jordan. Most signs were bilingual in English and Arabic, and a large number of people spoke English well. Since our visits had been set up ahead of time by government agencies, most people we met were more than happy to talk to us. That being said, there were some clear gulfs, as we were strangers from another culture. Some of the people we spoke to tended to be deferential and cautious, especially in the presence of government officials. On the whole, though, we were very pleased with the openness of our interactions.

What lessons can CTC VISTAs draw from your experience?

First of all, it's gratifying to know that you can go anywhere in the world and find a place that connects with you. CTCs are developing everywhere, and their practices seem to resonate across cultures.

It was also extremely impressive to see the extent of the government's commitment, compared with the support available in the United States or anywhere else. Jordan's government is responsible for the creation of this network, and has tied the community technology movement in with their workforce development initiatives. We even visited an ostrich farm that had been created out of the business incubator services offered at one of the centers. Jordan is really a world leader in its governmental support of community technology.

The ostrich farm! Hi, ostriches!
In Jordan, like many Third World countries, the technology we take for granted is not so widespread, so CTCs are positioned to provide a range of services in addition to their traditional mission. Everything from photocopying and faxing services to Internet access and social services can be provided there. Interested VISTAs at CTCs in the United States could both learn from and contribute to the Jordanian equivalents of their programs, and in light of our team's visit, they are in a good position to do so.


For more information, visit Jordan Information Technology Community Centers.

Peter Miller is the director of the CTC VISTA Project.