Australia
Australian Seniors Computer Clubs Association (ASCCA)
ASCCA helps create and sustain Seniors Computer Clubs. Within the clubs, volunteers assist older and disabled Australians who are otherwise unable to use computer technology. Most younger Australians know how to use computers, and older Australians are often at a disadvantage because they did not gain computer skills at school or in the workplace. ASCCA has already developed 70 Seniors Computer Clubs; this grant will enable an additional 15 to 20 clubs to become part of the UP network. Through the clubs, an additional 10,000 seniors will gain IT skills each year.
Inspire Foundation
Inspire Foundation created the Beanbag Centres, community-based technology learning centers (CTLCs) that are part of the Microsoft UP network. Beanbag Centres bridge the digital divide for youth in underserved communities by providing access to technology and tailored training. This grant will expand the Beanbag network with 4 new CTLCs (22 total) and the introduction of a school-holiday workshop program.
The Smith Family (TSF)
Addressing the "digital divide" is a key plank of the Smith Family's commitment to unlocking opportunities for disadvantaged families to participate more fully in society. This grant will allow TSF to continue to deliver on the goals of Microsoft UP in Australia: improving lifelong learning for disadvantaged people by providing technology skills through CTLCs. The existing network of CTLCs will be expanded from 15 to 54. Through this network of centers—including the Unlimited Potential demonstration center in Collingwood—18,800 people will be trained in the next year. TSF's program also includes a train-the-trainer component for volunteers and will measure the impact of UP across all Australian initiatives.
WorkVentures
WorkVentures project has a number of components that together aim to enhance the sustainability of existing and new CTLCs that are a part of the WorkVentures network. The bulk of the grant will be used to bring 13 new sites into the UP network. These new sites will focus on unemployed, indigenous, and single-parent populations. The sites will be linked by a critical infrastructure such as the CTLC Database and Web Portal. Recognizing that the successful roll-out of the Unlimited Potential curriculum into CTLCs throughout Australia will depend largely on the skills and experience of the volunteer trainers at each site, WorkVentures will use the remainder of the grant to implement a nationwide train-the-trainers program.
Bangladesh
Learn Foundation
Learn Foundation will convert 5 of the existing 1,000 rural public telephone centers and 3 Learn ICT training centers in Sunamganj District into community-based technology learning centers (CTLCs). The foundation will provide Microsoft UP curriculum and trainers, as well as Internet connectivity from its own VSAT gateway. With successful conversion of the telephone centers and LEARN ICT training centers into CTLCs, the remaining telephone centers and rural schools, observing the visible benefits, will convert their facilities into CTLCs. This will create a meshed network of TCP/IP nodes encompassing the whole district of about 3,000 villages with 3 million people over a period of three to five years.
Bhutan
Department of Information Technology (DIT), Ministry of Information and Communications
This project will develop 60 rural community e-training centers to bring IT to the remote areas of Bhutan, where the digital divide has emerged and is likely to worsen if left unattended. The 30-month program works on a train-the-trainer model and is expected to reach out to 120 trainers and 3,000 rural residents in the first year. The government has accredited the UP curriculum as the national curriculum for community centers and vocational schools.
Cambodia
Association Sok Sabay
Sok Sabay is a 10-year-old nonprofit organization that works on improving the social conditions of children and young adults through long-term education. It also runs a shelter and rehabilitation centre for severely abused children, leading to training and job placement. Microsoft's contributions will be used toward developing the IT skills of youths 15 to 20 years old who have exceptional learning abilities but are unable to afford higher education. This is part of a three-year teaching program that covers other areas of education to help exceptional but disadvantaged students access a professional education to enter the job market with competitive skills.
China
The Asia Foundation (TAF)
The Asia Foundation will establish a CTLC in Sanxiang County, Guangdong Province, China. The CTLC will provide IT training to migrant women working in manufacturing factories. Guangdong is home to 10 million to 20 million migrant laborers, 60 percent of them women. The CTLC training will equip migrant women workers with IT literacy, which in turn will help them move up the career ladder, access critical information, better protect their basic rights, and stay in contact with their peers and families. Migrant women workers will be trained as CTLC teachers and will transfer their skills to their peers both during and after the two-year project period.
Planet Finance
Planet Finance is an international NGO focused on using IT to fuel the development of microfinance and microenterprise. This project will establish five CTLCs in key cities of China. The targeted cities for the CTLCs are Shanghai, Chengdu, Xi'an, Qingdao, and Fuzhou. These centers will provide IT skills training and government-recognized certification for migrant workers who have moved from rural areas to cities in search of employment or who have lost their land to urban expansion. In three years, the program expects to train 15,300 of these workers.
India
Datamation Foundation
Datamation Foundation (in collaboration with Indian Institute of Technology, the National Institute of Fashion Technology, Education Development Center) is implementing a pilot ICT-for-development project among the poor and semiliterate women of Kanpur-Lucknow cities in Uttar Pradesh state. The minority community in this area of Northern India has historically been one of the poorest and most marginalized in India. Many of these women produce traditional chikankari embroidery. Support from UP will enable Datamation to add six new CTLCs to the network, making it possible to train an additional 3,000 women next year and enhancing the competitiveness and marketability of these embroidery workers.
Mahila SEWA Trust
SEWA is one of the largest NGOs in India. It organizes poor women workers, who are increasingly marginalized, for economic and social empowerment. SEWA has 700,000 members. This project sets up a network of 50 CTLCs, training SEWA members on IT skills using the UP curriculum. In the first year, 2,000 women are expected to be trained.
MS Swaminathan Foundation (MSSRF)
With the support of UP, MSSRF will open 33 new CTLCS in four districts in Tamil Nadu (Thanjavur, Dindigul, Pudukkottai, and Ramanathapuram) and Union Territory of Pondicherry. The CTLCs will build the skills and capacities of the rural poor to enhance livelihood opportunities and will empower vulnerable people to make better choices and have better control of their own development. India is characterized as a nation that is "data rich but action poor," meaning field-level action lags far behind academic know-how. This initiative aims to harness ICT skills, bridging this knowledge and skill gap, and to train 1,500 people in the next year.
National Association of Software and Service Companies (NASSCOM) Foundation
The NASSCOM Foundation (NF) is a nonprofit organization founded in 2004 by NASSCOM, the leading IT industry association in India. This grant supports NF's efforts to promote IT skills training for women and people in rural communities. This project builds capacity of communities via a network of 65 CTLCs called Village Knowledge Centers spread over six Indian states. In the first year, 3,250 people are expected to be trained.
Indonesia
ASEAN Foundation
The ICT4D ASEAN Collaboratory, a nonprofit organization under the ASEAN Foundation, has expertise in delivering ICT content training to NGOs. Using a train-the-trainer approach, an initial group of 70 people from 23 CTLCs across Indonesia will be trained in eight modules of the UP curriculum. The first group of 70 trainers will in turn train another 460 people, for a total of 530.
Institute of Research of Community Empowerment, Bogor (Lembaga penelitian dan Pemberdayann Masyarakat) (LPPM)
LPPM is an institution under the Bogor Agricultural University, one of Indonesia's top agriculture universities. LPPM is focused on developing the local community. In particular it is developing seven concept villages of displaced farmers, fishermen, cattle raisers, and others. This project aims to set up seven CTLCs in these villages where villagers can be trained in the use of IT. This will help them achieve self-reliance and will improve their livelihood.
Pakta Foundation
Pakta Foundation will work with four local NGOs to develop sustainable CTLCs in four subdistricts of North Aceh, Indonesia: Lhoksukon, Matang Kuli, Syamtalira Aron, and Tanah Luas. Over 70 percent of the people are farmers; most are highly interested in IT but have had little prior access. CTLCs will use training, seminars, workshops, discussions, and competitions to introduce and enhance the IT skills of the local population. Each CTLC is expected to train 480 people annually in computer fundamentals; they will also provide services to the broader community (combined population nearly 112,000).
Japan
e-AT Association
Many individuals with disabilities face obstacles even in obtaining information about ICT. Even if they could get such information, electronic information devices require complex setting and operation, presenting further obstacles. Throughout Japan, NGOs are increasingly relied upon to provide support services to people with disabilities. This project will support the following services: train-the-trainers, expert consultation to NGOs, and information dissemination and networking between volunteer groups. The goal is to upgrade the skills of NGOs that provide support for people with disabilities. e-AT Association operates its training and certification program in cooperation with METI, MIC, and the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare.
Japan Computer Access for Empowerment (JCAFE)
Over the last decade, the number of foreigners residing in Japan has increased substantially. A large percentage of them are immigrant workers from South America and families of refugees from Indochina countries. Foreigners are often excluded from national IT training benefits offered by the government. JCAFE is a nonprofit organization that helps these disadvantaged foreigners by training them to become IT instructors who can in turn teach IT to other foreigners in the community. In the first year of this program, 960 people are expected to benefit from the training.
Japan NPO Centre
There are over 20,000 nonprofit organizations in Japan serving the community, but the nonprofits themselves are underserved when it comes to using IT. Sixty percent of nonprofits do not have home pages, and 32 percent do not use the Internet or e-mail. This project helps plug this gap by offering train-the-trainer courses for staff of nonprofit support organizations. In the first year of this program, 1,020 people are expected to benefit.
Tokyo Voluntary Action Center (TVAC)
This is the second UP grant for underserved women to be launched in partnership with TVAC. The program provides IT skills training to underserved women, including victims of domestic violence, single mothers on social welfare, and other women in financial difficulties. TVAC will set up 13 small-scale CTLCs in women's shelters and support homes in and around Tokyo. TVAC will also leverage many volunteers—IT instructors, technical help staff, and babysitters—to make this a reality. The program aims to train 320 women in a year.
Yokohama Women's Association for Communication and Networking (YWACN)
This one-year project with YWACN, a nonprofit organization, aims to provide IT skills training to underserved women to help them gain employment and improved job prospects. These women include victims of domestic violence and single mothers with financial difficulties. YWACN will conduct IT training for these women in five CTLCs. Within a year, 368 women are expected to be trained.
Korea
Korea Agency for Digital Opportunity and Promotion (KADO)
KADO is a public organization established under the Closing Digital Divide Act that is focused on closing the domestic and global digital divide. In 2004, KADO and Microsoft Korea signed a three-year MOU to implement an Unlimited Potential program for senior citizens by establishing CTLCs at senior welfare service centers and universities. For the first year, KADO focused on establishing 24 CTLCs and teaching basic skills to IT-illiterate senior citizens. In this second year, KADO will train seniors as IT trainers who can teach basic IT skills to their peers. The senior IT instructors will conduct training at CTLCs and will also provide door-to-door IT education by visiting community homes. There is also a plan to build an online service centre to match the senior IT instructors to the senior trainees. As a result of these efforts, 6,152 people are expected to be trained.
New Zealand
E-Government Unit of State Services Commission
The E-Government Unit was established in 2001 to implement the nation's e-government strategy, which seeks to ensure that all communities have the opportunity to access and efficiently use ICT. This project launches a nationwide train-the-trainers program focusing on centers run by NGOs who assist economically disadvantaged groups in New Zealand. The course will cover UP curriculum; 125 trainers and 2,250 people are expected to benefit from the first year of funding.
Philippines
Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA)
OWWA is a government agency that aims to provide overseas Filipino workers (OFW) with the knowledge and skills to stay globally competitive and to help them reintegrate into the local community. This project is the second phase of an ongoing project called Tulay (which means "bridge" in Tagalog) that provides IT training to OFWs and their dependents for better employment opportunities at home and abroad. The first phase targeted OFWs in Manila, Singapore, and Malaysia. This second phase trains 6,000 OFWs and their dependents in Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Cebu, Philippines. This grant supports upgrading the skills of the trainers and increasing the number of PCs. In addition to the cash grant, Microsoft and its partners secured an additional 10 PCs for the Hong Kong and Taiwan CTLCs.
Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA)
There are more than 70,000 NGOs in the Philippines, and they provide an effective way to reach underserved communities throughout the country. This project will extend the capabilities of the existing TESDA centers, enabling them to train NGOs and underserved community residents on basic computer operation, Internet use, and initial technology skills. The project will also train current instructors of vocational courses (agriculture, fishery, automotive, etc.) who have limited or no knowledge of technology and who cannot afford to enroll in formal computer classes. The NGOs and trainers will pass on their knowledge of basic computing to the communities they serve as part of the train-the-trainers model. The goal is to train 1,000 NGO trainers in the first year. These NGOs will in turn be reaching out to a minimum of 50,000 people in a year.
Singapore
The Singapore Women's Organization (SCWO)
SCWO is the national coordinating body of women's organizations in Singapore. It has 53 member organizations representing more than 150,000 women. SCWO operates an IT hub that trains unemployed and disadvantaged women and senior citizens. This project will provide train-the-trainer programs to upgrade the skills of volunteer trainers under the IT hub and will provide a one-time upgrade of software within the IT hub. In the first year, 1,800 people are expected to receive training.
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka Anti Narcotics Association (SLANA)
SLANA implements activities to meet the challenges of drug abuse. This project establishes CTLCs at four resource centers in the country. These CTLCs develop the competencies of disadvantaged youth aged 15 to 25, including former drug users, through a multipronged training process that includes IT and other skills development. This training helps participants find gainful employment over the long term. More than 2,850 youths are expected to benefit from this project.
Taiwan
Taiwan Association for Educational Communications and Technology (TAECT)
This grant aims to empower women and enhance their lives by improving their computer literacy. Under this grant, TAECT brings IT skills to nine segments of women's groups by working with key partners throughout Taiwan: National Union of Taiwan Women's Associations, Frontier Foundation, PWR Foundation, National Association for the Promotion of Community University, Council of Agriculture, and 104 Job Bank. The largest segment (total 1.32 million) is women who want to re-enter the job market for financial reasons after many years of being a homemaker. Without basic IT skills, it is almost impossible for them to even get an interview opportunity. Another key segment is peer networking, which is limited for stay-at-home women but can be overcome through information technology. The project uses a model of volunteer "seed trainers." These 1,000 volunteers must be influencers who can effectively attract 10 or more other women to participate in the e-learning program, and potentially be a member of a specific interest community group. Job placements are also part of the program and are one metric for measuring the program's success.
Thailand
Kenan Foundation Asia
Ranong and Phang-Nga are two of the communities that were ravaged by the recent tsunami. The tsunami caused loss of lives and property, and tens of thousands of people lost their jobs and livelihood. This project aims to help people in these tsunami-hit communities gain IT training and skills so they can rebuild their communities. A total of 13 CTLCs, including the two central offices in Ranong and Phang-Nga, and 1,000 people will benefit from the funding. The grant supports upgrading hardware, enabling Internet access, and training for trainers and community members.
Vietnam
HermannGmeiner School
The HermannGmeiner School is an NGO established to provide education and vocation training to disadvantaged youth in the Nghe An and Ha Tinh provinces. The school plans to introduce IT into its education and training programs. This grant funds the development of an IT unit in the school and IT courses for underserved youths aged 12 to 22. There will be three different levels of training to cater to individual needs. In the first year, 600 youths are expected to be trained.
Hue Social Mission of Youth
Hue Social Mission of Youth is a 15-year-old NGO that takes care of and assists disadvantaged children and youth. The organization plans to work with the Ministry of Education and Training to provide IT training and certification to these youths. The target group of beneficiaries is 12 to 20 years old; 500 are expected to benefit from this funding within the first year.
Thai Binh Committee for Population, Family and Children
Thai Binh province is one of the poorest areas in the northern part of Vietnam. This project, IT for a Better Future, will train rural youth and adults in the province who rarely have the opportunity to access IT. The skills and knowledge they obtain will help them find jobs or open their own service business to better support themselves. Nearly 300 people will be trained in the first year, and more than 1,200 will be trained in three years. The committee plans to employ about 5 percent of the top graduates to work as IT trainers or IT technical staff for the committee, the computer center to be established under this proposal, and other computer centers to be established in the future. Remaining participants who desire support in finding jobs will be introduced to the Job Creation Center, and it is expected that about 20 percent of the CTLC graduates will find appropriate jobs.
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