New Community Multimedia Centre Opens its Doors in Benin
16-09-2004 (Paris)
At the Opening Ceremony
© UNESCO
Local people eager to learn how to use computers have been flocking to the Community Multimedia Centre (CMC) in Sègbèya, a busy neighbourhood of Cotonou, Benin, since it opened earlier this week. UNESCO supported the setting up of a telecentre within the existing community cultural centre, providing equipment and training.
The CMC does not yet have its own community radio station but has linked up with a nearby FM station, Radio TOKPA for an hour’s broadcasting a day. The CMC will produce radio browsing programmes for the station in order to familiarize listeners with information technology and online resources.
Sègbèya means “God refuses impoverishment” and CMC manager Pascal Wanou intends to help revitalize this marginalized neighbourhood by promoting educational activities, small enterprise, micro-credit groups, e-commerce and distance learning. “It has been a long process to get to where we are today, but well worth it, as we now have new horizons”, he said.
UNESCO’s CMC programme is supported with funds from the Swiss Agency for Cooperation and Development (SDC) and the “Culture in the Neighbourhood” project which established the cultural centre in 2000 was also funded by SDC. The centre boasts dynamic cultural groups and strong local participation - great assets for the successful development of the new activities made possible by the CMC.
True to its cultural roots, the centre’s opening ceremony for the CMC included dances by the centre’s dance troupe and a poem composed especially for the occasion. The Gambidi CMC, the first CMC established by UNESCO in Africa - also in a cultural centre - celebrates its third anniversary next month in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
Sègbèya means “God refuses impoverishment” and CMC manager Pascal Wanou intends to help revitalize this marginalized neighbourhood by promoting educational activities, small enterprise, micro-credit groups, e-commerce and distance learning. “It has been a long process to get to where we are today, but well worth it, as we now have new horizons”, he said.
UNESCO’s CMC programme is supported with funds from the Swiss Agency for Cooperation and Development (SDC) and the “Culture in the Neighbourhood” project which established the cultural centre in 2000 was also funded by SDC. The centre boasts dynamic cultural groups and strong local participation - great assets for the successful development of the new activities made possible by the CMC.
True to its cultural roots, the centre’s opening ceremony for the CMC included dances by the centre’s dance troupe and a poem composed especially for the occasion. The Gambidi CMC, the first CMC established by UNESCO in Africa - also in a cultural centre - celebrates its third anniversary next month in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
© UNESCORelated themes/countries
· News Archives - 2004
· Benin: News Archive
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