The Need

In Africa:

• 890,000 children are AIDS orphans*
• Only 5% have any hope of minimal education
• Street Children have NO medical care
• Street Children are vulnerable to sexual exploitation

*According to statistics released during last week’s international conference on Aids in Barcelona, Spain, the number of children orphaned by Aids in Kenya stands at 890,000 – the third highest in the world.

• 2.6 million orphans
• 1 million living on the streets

In Kenya:

• Population 43,000,000
• Unemployment rate 40%
• Mortality rate under 5 years 9%
• Underweight children 23%
• Stunting under 5 years 34%
• Annual population growth 3.5%
• 14% of adult males and 31% of adult females can not read or write

The four public and ten private universities in Kenya can only accommodate less than half of those seeking post-secondary education.

FIRST WORLD, NOT WORLD WIDE, WEB

Internet access will take decades to spread in underdeveloped countries, according to a recent United Nations report. The 1999 Human Development Report found that 88 percent of the world’s Internet population is located in wealthy, developed nations. Internet access is often beyond the capability of remote areas that may lack basic infrastructures such as roads or telephone lines. Political barriers also present a problem in underdeveloped countries, as dictatorial governments may attempt to restrict access to information. Unfortunately, there does not seem to be a feasible solution to the technological inequity. The report’s recommendation to impose a tax on Internet use received harsh criticism from those hoping to preserve the Internet’s freedom from regulation. (ZDNN 07/12/99)