The ICT applications project (post PNOA)

Yesterday we concluded the six rounds of participatory needs and opportunities assessment (PNOA) for our ICT applications project. Computer Science and Information Technology students from La Fortuna College, AMA-Cabanatuan, College of the Immaculate Conception, Central Luzon State University, Araullo University and Nueva Ecija University of Science and Technology participated in the event.

It was some sort of a face off between the game developers and their intended clients: the out of school youth (OSY) Filipino farmers. Just to refresh your memory, this is a project where computer-related studies students are being asked to develop games that will promote cost-reducing and yield-enhancing technologies to OSY Filipino youth farmers.

I appreciate the fact that the university students took an effort to dress down (I knew they were fashionable people) for the event. I observed that many of them got inspired to think of a game that can be used by their clients. I surmise it was also the first time that they’ve been to that place. I have been telling my friends that my concept of Talavera (the municipality where we had our PNOA) was just Jollibee and Chowking so we can have some good meals outside PhilRice. I was very surprised to learn that there were some barangays (villages) kilometres away from the national highway. The places we visited were surrounded by vast expanse of rice areas, and indeed very rural.

Some of the OSY had difficulty writing their names when we asked them to sign in the attendance sheet. Literacy was a problem for some. While I am fully aware that many farmers did not finish formal education, it was another thing to see someone in his 30s or 40s who did not finish high school. It should be highlighted, however, that there were OSYs whose dreams could challenge the world’s biggest dreamers. They have big dreams for themselves. They just need some time to realise that—when they go back to school—probably next year as they said.

We had two fulfilling days doing the PNOAs. I, for, one was very pleased that this convergence of seemingly unrelated disciplines—development and computer-related—studies is finally possible. I can’t wait for the next big thing i.e. when the students are ready to show their games for the OSY Filipino youth farmers.