Revitalization of War-affected Areas of The Republic of Croatia Using Information Technology

Donors:
Mercy Corps
The Olof Palme International Center

www.zamirnet.hr/ecra

Project manager: Danijela Babic

Project areas:
Kistanje, Obrovac, Donji Lapac, Drniš, Donji Srb
(Counties: Zadarska, Licko-senjska, Šibensko-kninska)

Project duration:
February 1st 2002 - November 30th 2003

Project objective
The project "Revitalization of war-affected areas…" was created as a result of the need to help the communities devastated during the past war activities.
It is important to stress that we are trying to be partners who mobilize knowledge, ideas, managing skills, information technology and human resources to the communities in which we operate in order to support the development of the communities.

We consider mutual solidarity and cooperation amongst the citizens to be the precondition for development and progress of the society as a whole. We believe that social networks and connectedness of the people as well as their readiness to do something for each other have extraordinary value and we regard them as an important social capital.

Long-term objectives sought to be accomplished through this project
1. The creation of economic programs which open new job opportunities
2. Increased reintegration of the community
2. 1. Stronger social cohesion

Activity summary
a) computer courses for youth, women and war veterans
b) on-line training and on-line discussions for youth and interested citizens
c) capacity building of the representatives of the Local councils
d) community members project - community web portal creation
e) support for the local government in creating a strategic plan for the development of local communities

Introduction
The ZaMirNET project "Revitalization of War-affected Areas of The Republic of Croatia Using Information Technology" is aimed at the continuous supplementation of knowledge, raising the level of consciousness through access to information needed for a better life and enabling people to turn information into action and decisions. The strategy is aimed at satisfying personal needs, but also needs of the whole community. Without comprehensive development of the community, empowering individuals does not bring much, especially in the field of social-political and cultural changes.
When talking about knowledge supplementation, we have to keep in mind that for some people and some countries the lack of access to using new technologies means a diminished ability of gaining knowledge and keeping pace with the developed industrial countries. The term digital divide created in the 90's describes the very division between people who have information equipment, Internet access and access to relevant contents and those who don't have that.
To be on the less lucky side of the gap means having less opportunity to partake in the new economy based on information technology where a lot of work is based on computers. That also means less possibilities of partaking in education, training, commerce, entertainment and on-line communication.
An increasing number of people in the world are using computers to enhance their lives, which widens the gap to the ones who don't have this possibility. Therefore narrowing of the digital divide is one of the main goals of the Republic of Croatia as was explained in the sub-project Information and Communication Technology within the project Strategic Development of the Republic of Croatia "Croatia in the 21st Century" (www.otvorena.vlada.rh).
Of course, it is important to know that computers, programs and data are only a technological skeleton which one has to know how to use. Along with easy "access" education for using the technology is also needed: how to find a job, get education through the Internet, do financial planning, how to get information relevant to the customers, hobbies, etc. Therefore our intention is to incorporate the technological factor into local community development plans in order to ensure maximum usage of the advantages which information technology offers.

Project users
This project involves the inhabitants of county districts Kistanje and Donji Lapac, village Donji Srb, and the cities of Drniš and Obrovac. The targeted groups are youth (15-25 years), women and war veterans (a functional definition, does not apply only to formal veteran status), who will gain additional qualifications through education in computer centers, which would make it easier for them to find employment.
Besides the targeted groups, ZaMirNET will, within the project, work with the members of the Local council in Obrovac, and the representatives of local governments in Drniš, Kistanje and Obrovac. The total number of users is 800-1000. Two thirds of this number are youth, the rest are women, war veterans and others.