MITOS Tool 15 Virtual World for Migrants 3D Collaboration. Published by:

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1 MITOS Tool 15 Virtual World for Migrants 3D Collaboration Published by:

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3 MITOS Tool 15 Virtual World for Migrants 3D Collaboration A Virtual Platform for real-life collaboration 1 Tool: Access and use Virtual World Platform for Migrants with an emphasis on information-sharing between country of residence officials, development agencies and migrants, and support and collaboration between migrants. A migrant place will be installed on Second Life. 2 Objectives: After having successfully attended the interactive workshops and accessing a purpose-fit virtual environment, migrants and their families will be able to: Understand key new technology developments that could benefit them such as social networks and virtual worlds Demonstrate how to access a virtual world such as Second Life via computers and mobile devices, and participate in information-sharing sessions with relevant development agencies and facilitators Present their own challenges and identify solutions via a collaborative platform of virtual worlds Attend a virtual conference focused on migrant issues and contribute their insights and experiences in a multicultural environment Show understanding for the rules and regulations, as well as social customs of residents of countries of destination and gain information about latest developments in the origin country Implement a practical virtual worlds marketing project to showcase their entrepreneurial expertise and attract potential investors and/or supporters Utilise the virtual world s platform to access business opportunities 3 Target group: Primary: Migrants and their families living in the CoO Secondary: Virtual World online users attending various hosted events Internet users also interested in development and support of migrants 4 Problems and potentials of migrants addressed by this tool: Learning and enterprise support take many diverse forms, and new technology is emerging with promising results in the fields of m-learning, e-learning and virtual learning environments. More than 600 leading universities are active in Second Life as one of the first 3D environments to embrace enterprise and education as key principles. Both of these are important in the context of migrants support, whereas the notions of virtual nationality and digital identity could play a role in creating a unique supportive system. The importance of a 3D world (where there is sense of belonging to a specific community and sharing an online presence or space with others) should not be underestimated in the migrant context. At the Fourth International Conference of Technology, Knowledge and Society in Boston USA (2008) a paper was presented to highlight the special offering of virtual worlds to migrants and their families: The Virtual Nationality: National Identity in the Virtual World of Second 1

4 Life by Sara Venczel, of the Ethnic Studies Department, University of California. Findings include that it was entirely possible to distinguish open, ethnocentric, inclusive and exclusive groups according to the attitude toward the members of their nation and toward others. and nationality has important relevance in the world of Second Life, even in this world without borders. (In fact) nationality is still very important despite of the postmodern opinions about the new informational world. Given the fact that virtual worlds mirror attitudes and behaviour in the physical world with regards to nationalities, it becomes viable to use a platform such as Second Life for unique visually-informed experiential training between destination country members and migrants. Adding collaboration, discussion and advocacy to the mix makes for a dynamic and innovative way of crossing boundaries between people that do not necessarily share the same physical space. Computer-based technologies as well as mobile devices are part of our lives, inform us about the world, and connect us with our loved ones. This does apply particularly for migrants and their descendants according to Pedro J. Oiarzabal, author of Diasporas in the New Media Age: Identity, Politics, and Community. The virtual environment with its three-dimensional space offers meaningful possibilities for advocacy and support to migrant in their enterprise and employment plight. One such example played itself out in 2007, when 1,800 activists from 30 countries demonstrated outside IBM premises in solidarity with Italian IBM workers in dispute with the company. This was, however, a rather unusual sort of protest: it took place on Second Life, the virtual world now populated by 7 million subscribers, and the demonstrators wearing union T-shirts were Second Life avatars. (Source: This tool provides direct assistance to development agencies to access a 3D environment and establish a presence with support, and then, in turn, facilitate the participation of migrants and their families using Second Life or similar 3D environment. There is a potential to conduct intercultural and world-of-work workshops and information-sharing events that will strengthen the community of migrants within (but also beyond) their own dispersed nationality. Many levels of connectedness will be achieved by the use of a virtual world for migrants between migrants and their families, between migrants and their hosts, migrants and other migrants from the same nationality, from different nationalities but in the same boat and between migrants and development agencies and activists. Employment generation and access to relevant job opportunities in countries of destination, and on return, in countries of origin are critical for migrants to contribute to economic development. Access to a virtual employment centre for migrants in a virtual world to connect skills with labour opportunity will be one of the outcomes of the intervention. Integrating the efforts of web-based employment agencies into a virtual environment will deepen the exposure of the services of agencies, as well as the experiences of migrant job seekers and prospective employers. Various challenges of job seekers and migrant employees are addressed in a holistic way via the Virtual World for Migrants programme, where the predominant approach is one of integration with existing trade support programmes. Collaboration with others, information-sharing and experiential learning are utilised to assist migrants and their family members in a highly interactive and immersive way. The greatest benefit of the tool lies in its ability to cross geographical boundaries and establish a community of intent that works together to achieve its shared objectives. 2

5 5 Description: The proposed tool Virtual World for Migrants contains: a. Virtual Worlds Aptitude Barometer Understanding virtual worlds as a growing new media technology, and testing the aptitude of the facilitating body to include it into its range of programmes. b. Online Portal as well as Voice-over-IP (Skype) and Mobile Support Centre for Virtual World for Migrants Due to the relatively unknown nature of the tool, it is imperative to provide 24/7 virtual worlds support services to beneficiaries and support agencies, and a unique entry point with its own API to the appropriate virtual orientation space. The mobile support will be linked to the virtual environment itself with questions and queries from migrants (not in 3D world) being answered by experts and volunteers (active in 3D world). c. Virtual Conference and Exhibit on Migrants in a Global Interconnected Economy Interested service providers to migrants especially BDS providers share best practices to a global audience at a specific event, and set up virtual support offices and utilise virtual meeting spaces for migrants in a continuing programme in Second Life. d. Virtual World for Migrants Guide Book Printed resource to fast-track access to Second Life or similar virtual environment, and serve as preparatory tool for sharing experiences and opportunities in a virtual environment. The emphasis falls on friendly guidelines to become part of a virtual environment and then use it for advocacy and exposure. e. VLE (Virtual Learning Environment) Courses for Migrants Facilitators and respective Participants Hand-Outs Successful completion of various training workshops offered via the Virtual World for Migrants, focusing on host country context and dynamics and also on enterprise and employment skills required. Experiential training implemented using the Linden Dollar (tokens) as tool in Second Life virtual economy. 6 Prerequisites: 6.1 Implementing organization The following options can be considered in selecting the implementing organization: Mandatory/Essential: Expertise in training (specifically VLE) and Virtual Worlds Optional/Beneficial: Business Development Service organizations and providers 7 Particularities and/or difficulties: Particularities The conference and planned events, as well as training are all based on practical know-how of virtual learning environments. Experienced CEFE trainers could conduct this training on completion of a simple additional course on VLE and specifically the Virtual World for Migrants programme. Coaching by a trainer familiar with the tool and specific guidance on how to adapt existing material for the virtual platform would be an asset for the first application of the tool. Event management and design expertise in virtual worlds will be required for the facilitating agency to prepare the platform and implement the tools in Second Life. 3

6 Difficulties Virtual worlds are fairly unknown for its benefits to the educational and enterprise communities and it may not be embraced by all support agencies. This could be a barrier to entry that would be overcome by an incremental approach where the practice is shared widely via the internet itself after implementation by a group of providers, migrants and their families. 8 Costs: The different tools related to the Virtual World for Migrants intervention are cost-efficient due to its virtual environment (and lack of travel, refreshments, accommodation). However, due to the innovative nature of these tools as emerging technology for collaboration and sharing, there is a larger element of knowledge transfer to facilitators and related coaching for VLE. The knowledge transfer will happen between the main VLE facilitator and virtual worlds expert, the in-country facilitators and the benefiting migrants, as well as country- or industry-specific stakeholders from the private trade and employment sectors. Costs may also vary from country to country based on rates of resource persons and other cost items: The implementation of the Virtual Worlds Aptitude Barometer is an online event linked to VOIP support, and will present each supporting agency with a benchmark in terms of VLE: Item: Aptitude Barometer Aptitude test for VLE (per organisation/agency) including VOIP feedback 350 Total cost per test 350 Support to Organisations supporting migrants for a period of 12 months via The Virtual World for Migrants in a uniquely created, purpose-fit and dedicated 3D-world: Item: The Virtual World For Migrants Participation Rental exhibition space and office for provider (3D Venue for 12 months) per organisation/per country* Rental contribution to shared meeting spaces for migrants (3D venue for 12 months) Establishment fee: transferring content from web to 3D 24/7 orientation and coaching for newcomers via Skype and in-world Ad-hoc technical virtual worlds advice to facilitator 1, ,600 13,200 6,000 Total annual 22,745 * Rental cost (license at Second Life ) reduces proportionally as number of organisations increase per country, and amount quoted is for one organisation only, e.g. two would reduce the cost to 885 USD annually. * The above EXCLUDES unique 3D development and building of 3D constructs, but includes a pre-designed environment where unique content such as web information, logos, pictures, flags, presentations, music and videos could be displayed. Any consultation beyond the above will be independently quoted. 4

7 The VLE Training-of-Trainers is a 10 day course for 25 participants (facilitators and agencies that will work directly with migrants and their families in virtual worlds): Item: VLE Training-of-Trainers VLE Training-of-Trainers (10 days) 5,000 Venue (Virtual World) 500 VLE coaching and support to BDS providers/facilitators 2,500 Training material and equipment 800 Total cost per course 8,800 A table of average cost of a training course/event in Second Life for migrants and their families is given as follows for a group of 15 participants and a duration of 5 days: Item: Migrants Training in 3D Resource persons fee 2,500 Venue (Virtual World) 300 Training material and equipment 700 Total cost per course 3,500 The annual virtual conference and exhibit for migrant issues is expected to attract a minimum of 4,500 active participants during a two-day event and monthly exhibition: Item: Virtual Conference on Migrants Resource persons fee 2,500 Venue (Virtual World) 2,000 Event management 4,000 Total cost per conference 8,500 9 Dissemination: The Virtual World for Migrants tool will be disseminated via BDS providers and even academic institutions (prominent in Second Life ) active in private sector development, and with an interest in migrant support. In addition, the CEFE network of facilitating providers will be utilised to offer an additional VLE course for interactive immersive training to migrants in their countries. A first step would be the development of a marketing strategy to expose migrants and/or families to the technology, and thereafter offer the course and support function. Ultimately, virtual worlds offer the ideal platform to structure shared experiences into learning opportunities by discussions and events. Dissemination of this opportunity should of course also happen via virtual worlds itself, where a number of migrants are also present and active participants of the creation of these environments. 10 Links to other MITOS tools: MITOS Tool 01: Migrant Opportunities Website MITOS Tool 02: Kiva for Migrants MITOS Tool 09: Import and Export Service Training MITOS Tool 13: Mentoring Prepared by: Dorette Steenkamp/Uthango Social Investments/ newmedia@uthango.org/ International/coordination@cefe.net 5

8 Published by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH Sector Project Migration and Development Registered offices Bonn and Eschborn, Germany Friedrich-Ebert-Allee 40 Dag-Hammarskjöld-Weg Bonn/Germany Eschborn/Germany Phone: Phone: Fax: Fax: migration@giz.de Authors CEFE International and the global network of CEFE trainers Design andreas korn visuelle kommunikation, Bad Homburg Printed by Aksoy Print & Projektmanagement, Eppelheim Printed on FSC-certified paper Photographs Front cover: GIZ/Gerhard Sippel As at July 2012 GIZ is responsible for the content of this publication. On behalf of Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, Division Federal government/states/local authorities; migration and employment; returning experts; export credit and investment guarantees Addresses of the BMZ offices BMZ Bonn BMZ Berlin Dahlmannstraße 4 Stresemannstraße Bonn/Germany Berlin/Germany Phone: Phone: Fax: Fax: poststelle@bmz.bund.de