| dc.description.abstract | The purpose of this study was to assess the lCT adoption in youth initiatives and examine their impact on the youth in terms of development. More specifically using the case of Mathare youth initiatives, the study attempts to use selected indicators such as IC'F aspects: computers, internet, mobile phones and landline telephones to measure ICT adoption by youth programmes. In addition the study attempts to identify and understand factors that determine IC'T adoption in youth initiatives and also the impact of lCT adoption to the youth in terms of development as measured by the enhancement of youth employment opportunities or self employment opportunities by the youth.
The study had a sample of 96 youth who were picked home 4 purposively selected youth organizations in Mathare valley slum. These organizations were: Mathare Youth Sports Association (MYSA), Maji Mazuri Youth Organization, Mathare Youth Polytechnic and Mathare Roots to Fruits Youth Organization. Two organizations: MYSA and Maji Mazuri adopted JCT as measured by the availability of lC'T aspects such as internet phones and computers, while the other two: Mathare Roots and Mathare Polytechnic were used as control groups as they did not integrate ICT in their organization in terms of availability of internet and computers. The organizations provided the survey data needed for the study. The sample was selected using both the probability and non probability sampling techniques, This was an exploratory study that used both the primary data from the youth in the organizations and the secondary data from the organization's documents, books. journal internet.
The study reported several findings, to begin with, factors such as sponsors of organization and financial status of ,the organization were found to be important for an organization to adopt K'T. Very few youth were found to have been exposed to aspects of lCT such as internet and computers, meaning the youth were unable to integrate some of their activities like soccer with lCT therefore to them lCT has made little impact in their lives as their goal was to develop talents. However, the use of mobile phone was very significant to the youth; quite a bigger percentage of the youth own mobile phones which bring to our realization that mobile phones have become a very important gadget even to the poor who lack some basic needs like food.
In connection to this, recommendations are made from this study, for instance, findings of this study suggests that the lCT adoption by youth organizations does not amount to youth development in Mathare slums. Both the youth organizations that had adopted ICT and the control group that did not, had minimal impact on the 'youth in terms of development and improvement of the youth's livelihood in Mathare slum. Other factors such as level of education are important in the development of the youth in Mathare slum. Accordingly, the study recommends that unless the status of the organizations, ICT policy and the number of sponsors are addressed, the ICt adoption of the youth initiatives may not attain its goals on youth development in Mathare slum.
Finally, the study reveals that despite the negative feedback of the youth on JeT as a tool for development, lCT aspects availability and adoption is an important determinant of lCT adoption by the youth in Mathare slum. More specifically, availability and accessibility of mobile phones significantly enhance the adoption of lCT by the youth in Mathare slum. | en |
