ICT4D is an acronym that stands for “Information and communication technologies (ICT) for development.” It refers to the use of software, hardware and telecommunications technologies in pursuit of development and humanitarian aid. In March 2018, I had the pleasure of attending the ICT4D Conference held in Lusaka, Zambia, which brought together representatives from NGOs, the private sector and academia to discuss how ICT...
Continue Reading >>A lifelong traveler, Linda was born in London and raised between London and Beijing. She studied Manufacturing Engineering at the University of Cambridge, before starting an M.B.A as a Silver Scholar at the Yale School of Management. She is interested in the intersection of technology, international development and innovation. Prior to the Kiva fellowship, she took on a variety of internships and roles to explore these three themes. These included interning at the UN World Food Programme in Rome and at the Ericsson graduate program in its Digital Services division in Stockholm and Johannesburg. Linda is excited to explore the fields of microfinance and mobile money during her Kiva fellowship across Southern Africa before she returns to Yale to complete the second year of her M.B.A. program.
Fellows Blog Posts by Linda Du
Tsalani Bwino means “stay well”, or goodbye, in Nyanja, one of Zambia’s local languages. When I first arrived in Lusaka, I didn’t know how I would spend 2 months here. “There’s nothing to do in Zambia,” a friend helpfully told me when I asked them for some travel advice. It’s true that Lusaka doesn’t have many tourist attractions, and it’s usually used as a stopover point by backpackers on their way to Livingstone or one of the national parks. However, upon arrival my calendar quickly filled with things to do and my time in-country has flown by. It’s now my last week in...
Continue Reading >>Kiva is not just for microfinance institutions. Before joining the organization as a Fellow, I worked in information technology and telecommunications, and developed a strong interest in technology’s use in the developing world. As a Kiva Fellow in Southern Africa, I get to pursue that interest in my work with a company called iSchool that develops educational technology for primary school students and teachers in Zambia. iSchool produces pre-loaded Mwabu tablets with educational resources for students and teachers. Their materials cover the entire Zambian primary...
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