The Village Girl and Technology "It is not too late".

            "It is not too late"

   The term Technology is defined as any tool, device, program or system that when applied to the educational environment will increase productivity, creativity and achievement of students, teachers, and administrators and will prepare students for new roles in learning, living and working in a technological World. Generally, technological tools are devices that aid in the acquisition, manipulation or communication of information or performance of work process. These technologies encompass computers, Televisions (TVs), Video Cassette Recorder (VCRs), overhead projectors, satellite broadcast systems, peripheral devices, calculators, adaptive devices, networking infrastructure, instructional, operational and management programs including other forms of existing technologies as well as those not yet invented.

    I am a young woman who has gone through the frustrations in acquiring technological knowledge/skills with the hope of creating great impact in my career in a digital world that is fast advancing. My aim is to motivate every other young woman/girl with or without disability to open up and learn for I believe it is never too late to start.

    Growing up in the early 1980s, I never knew what a mobile phone was, talk less of a computer. Even when I got to know what a phone was, I did not know how to use it. I had a cousin who had a "nokia analogue" phone and out of excitement at the moment, I learned how to check communication credit using the MTN network code which is still (*155#).

    I grew up as a very poor kid with so many challenges/limitations and had no interests in technology whatsoever since it was costly and I considered it a waste of time/money. I always struggled to see myself and younger ones through school. I will stop school for a year just so I could work as a nanny to support my mother who is a widow in completing my fees for next academic year. When I finally made it to the University, my first 2 years were not easy. I had to beg from a friend "Reverend Sister" who understood my frustrations. At this point, my cousin handed over his "nokia 310" to me and I was very satisfied with my small "choronko Nokia analog phone".

    Unfortunately for me, my Nokia phone could not do much for me. Each time I had an assignment, I will walk up to my Reverend Sister friend who always told me "to Google search". Something I barely understood and will not ask any other person since they nick-named me"village girl". Today, I learned that was bullying.

    During such times, I will hide myself before launching a search which in many instances, I failed. The first ever assignments, I took to a documentation and paid for, the man Google search and printed out the required materials. I took it home, did my work and took it again to the documentation for typing and printing at a very expensive rate. This happened for quite some time and I reverted to sister for help. She did and during each assignment, she will Google search for me. This went on for a while after which she told me she had an old phone she was willing to give me to always use for my assignments. She showed me what to do; I learnt fast and got my HND ( Higher National Diploma). Sister was still by me and told me, " my dear I know it's very hard on you but I will give you my other computer which is not really good but I know it's going to help you". I got so afraid and denied but sister insisted and told me how to go about the computer. She gave me work to type and she kept on encouraging me but I was already suffering from stigmatization with the name "village girl in the university". I finished my degree and sister took back her computer but at least I could type and we seperated.

    I received my first android phone in the year 2019 a gift from my younger sister though I did not know how to manipulate. Each time I asked someone to for help their response will be, "go and google search". I tried and learned about WhatsApp and facebook but only knew how to update my status/profile when I had plaited a new hairstyle or worn a new dress. I knew nothing of Zoom, Teams, and Telegram just to name but these.

       As such, I was again humiliated during my volunteerism program with a local Non Governmental Organization in my region. Whenever I was asked to attend zoom meetings, I got so demoralized and humiliated. This gave me the impression that,"people are very wicked". Like Libianca Fonji rightly puts it " People don't really know you". Whenever I walked up to colleagues for assistance, their response was always " who bring you here". Again, the village girl nick name will sprout in my mind and I will be demoralized all over again.

    By the year 2021, I started attending trainings, workshops and seminars that gave me insight to what technology is all about and how important it is in our daily lives. At this point, I got a different volunteering opportunity and motivated myself by buying a PB (Paul Biya) laptop. Though on a low budget, I took a decision to empower myself  "somehow". I challenged myself in this same year when I attended a workshop organized by United Nation Women and was given a heavy perdiem. I was determined and used to get myself "a real phone" as my younger sister called it. She said her sister has grown to the point where she could buy "a real phone" she repeated, and those in the store laughed at me continuously but my joy was I now had my own technological device.

     Another challenge presented itself 3 years after I had finished my BSc ( Bachelor of Sciences). I searched for a job and I never knew I could stay at home and work in a different country or office. I only knew I had to write and drop job applications at specific offices. Upon arrival at the said locations, I will be instructed to go and send it online. The fraustration increased whenever I got a job opportunity with a link. To apply, I started paying a minimum cost of 5000fcfa (8.09 USD) for each online application in many instances was not done.

    I remember my first online certificate in PSEA(Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse) where a deadline was given in the organization and I was the last person to complete after 2 weeks of the deadline. All colleagues refused to help out but rather asked me," who give you phone"? Others said," I beg go you back for village yaa", "village girl don touch android". Their comments were so hurtfully and I cried. A colleague took pity on me but I did the course 4 times before getting the pass grade and the certificate. That first ever online certificate is so precious to me.

    I was so excited when I got my first ever international job unfortunately, manipulating advanced technology was quite challenging. Whenever I begged for assistance they asked me, "how did you get in here"? Others said, "My children at home can manipulate a phone and a computer, where are you coming from"? I was further announced in a meeting with over 30 staff as the one wasting all the papers during photocopy and printing and had to be stopped completely from photocopying or printing any documents. Often, I had to pay for all office documents to be printed or photocopied in town. As such, I passed my timesheets late since I could not print talk-less of signing digitally. The things I could easily get done in the office on my phone became nightmares to me due to ignorance and no available helpers. Sometimes, I will even follow my colleagues to their homes at late hours after work just to learn. When I get there, some will ask for 2000fcfa (3.24USD) for internet and I will give, they will tell me lines or connection is slow or very poor or no connection at all. I will learve there very late angry but again there was nothing I could do.

   Then, I was taken to task and decided to enroll myself in a computer school telling the teachers, please teach me internet, power point, how to apply for a job online and everything I need to know. Everybody laughed at me, madam where are you from?

      When I got home to share my experience with a senior colleague from a different organization, she was empathetic though I was expecting another negative address but behold I got a positive one. She encouraged me to continue with my classes and promised to teach me some basics with my phone and PB. This is how I got to Linkldin, after taking part in a training organized with so many other women/girls. There I discovered I was not alone.

   Today in my late 30's, I no longer consider myself a village girl struggling to master aspects of technology. I can safely say that I am a technologically savvy lady. "That village girl has noe risen from searching airtime to attending online meetings, following links, has a digital signature and is now ready to hand-down the knowledge I have acquired without judging others. The vitality and importance of Technology, I cannot overemphasize rather, I am simply encouraging every woman/girl with or without disability to rise above the abuse and frustrations acquire the  required skills for their tomorrow. I did it; so can you for I believe it is not too late".