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Independent Researcher Ms. Darcy Nugent is presently in the Federation evaluating the UNESCO Small Island Voice Youth Internet Forum and associated programmes. |
Basseterre, St. Kitts (March 02, 2005): Independent Researcher Ms. Darcy Nugent is presently in the Federation evaluating the UNESCO Small Island Voice Youth Internet Forum and associated programmes such as the Conch Shells and its Back Chat group.
During an SKNIS interview yesterday, Ms. Nugent revealed that she would entertain a series of meetings which commenced with a discussion with UNESCO National Commission Secretary General Antonio Maynard. She said that he had given her an overview of the SIV programme. Ms. Nugent also intends to meet with the Conch Shell coordinating teachers as well as the Back Chat students, with the objective of finding out what is liked about the programme, how to enhance it and how to get more involvement.
She also commended the local SIV Initiative and noted the positive feedback that she had heard from the community thus far. She said there appeared to be quite a bit of positive public relations about the programme and during a visit to the National Museum an individual informed her that she knew the SIV jingle.
Ms. Nugent added that St. Kitts and Nevis is just one of several stops to countries that have the UNESCO SIV Internet Forum. Prior to arriving in St. Kitts and Nevis she traveled to Bahamas and after leaving the Federation, her destinations will include Dominica, St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Following that, her next stops will be in the Cook Islands and Fiji. She explained that since all islands that undertook the programme would not be visited, the others in the Caribbean and Indian Ocean would be assessed by phone and mail surveys.
The independent researcher explained that her evaluation will determine the next step, from the teacher and student perspective as to what excites them enough so that they want to become involved and how global communication can be used as an educational tool.
Ms. Nugent noted that her report would not be submitted until she had received the feedback from participating islands whether via personal visits, phone or mail surveys. Once submitted by May or June, some of the findings of her report would be reviewed at the upcoming UNESCO SIV meeting which is scheduled to take place in St. Vincent in July of this year.
