The series of videos examines how communities are learning to use information and communications technologies (ICTs) to empower social and economic development. The videos provide insight into a number of International Development Research Centre (IDRC) Acacia Programme projects in South Africa. The series aims to provide a visual vehicle for the project beneficiaries and participants to tell of their experiences, to reflect on the challenges and lessons learned, and to assess the future possibilities for the use of ICT in community projects.

The objectives of the publication and dissemination of the 5 short videos are to:

• focus on 5 selected areas of significant intervention by Acacia over the last 3 years in South Africa;
• record a few key features of the work and activities within those interventions;
• include some viewpoints and issues of the beneficiary communities in relation to each intervention;
• reflect on a selected major lessons learned in each case;
• identify a few main features of best practices;
• suggest some guidance for future interventions of a similar nature;
• ensure dissemination amongst practitioners, beneficiaries and the wider public.

This project highlights the work of Acacia in 5 key theme areas in South Africa over a period of three years. There are five videos that present the problems and day-to-day struggles that communities have faced, demonstrate how they have applied ICT to development issues and share the hard lessons that have been learned.

• ICTs empowering integrated rural development;
• ICTs empowering entrepreneurship;
• ICTs empowering communities;
• ICTs empowering schools;
• ICTs empowering activism.

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