Microsoft congratulates the following Unlimited Potential (UP) grant recipients. We are proud to support their work.
Argentina
Committee for Democracy in Information Technology (CDI)
CDI promotes the social inclusion of underserved and disadvantaged communities, using information and communication technologies as tools for building and exercising social responsibility. CDI will set up 50 new CDI Learning Centers and four regional CDI offices. It will also train 6,750 students and 300 instructors, recruit 250 volunteers, and impact 27,000 people. The Microsoft donation will be used to hire the trainers and two project managers, as well as to improve the quality of the training programs offered.
Fundación Compañía Social Equidad
Fundación Compañía Social Equidad was established in 2001. Equidad is a nongovernmental, not-for-profit organization that, in association with community leaders and teachers across Argentina, promotes social equity and human and economic development through information and communication technologies (ICT). This project will support the development of a community-based technology learning center in Buenos Aires that will help unemployed young people, women, and adults over 45 years old who have difficulties finding a job. This center will also be the Training Learning Center for the present and future Equidad Center teams, where the best practices for the administration and management of CTLCs will be taught and promoted.
Bolivia
Coordinadora de Organizaciones e Instituciones Juveniles de Santa Cruz (COIJ)
COIJ was founded in 1995 with the objective of promoting the overall development of the young underprivileged population in Santa Cruz. The Centro Tecnológico COIJ project will establish a new CTLC for the young underprivileged people in suburban areas of Santa Cruz. It will include a Web server, electronic communication, a virtual library, computers, printing, photocopies, and videos. It will aim to raise the level of awareness and learning about participants' human rights through workshops, conferences, and virtual practice using technology. This leads to the strengthening of community leadership, plants the seed for community projects, and will be the first step toward implementing an IT training program. The project will be part of a pilot to create a replicable model of community self-management, showing that providing Internet access to young underprivileged communities will increase their performance in school.
Brazil
Bradesco
Bradesco Foundation provides education to children, teenagers, and adults from underserved and disadvantaged communities through the implementation of schools. This project will develop 15 Digital Inclusion Centers (CID) across the country, each with 10 PCs. The Digital Inclusion Center is a space designed for disadvantaged communities, with the goal of facilitating access to technology, promoting digital inclusion, and motivating the community and companies to become involved in social issues. Microsoft will donate software and funds to be used for hardware and training. The project will benefit an average of 20,000 people a year.
Foundation for the Well-Being of Minors of the State of São Paulo (FEBEM/SP)
FEBEM was established in 1973. The NPO's mission is to take care of youngsters in juvenile detention, ages 12 to 18, providing them with social and educational activities as part of their rehabilitation program. The Microsoft and FEBEM TLCs project is designed to provide these young people with IT skills training opportunities in 10 different centers. The adolescents will have access to modern computers and software applications, and they will take part in industry-related activities. This project is extremely important to the community because it will help young offenders find a job after leaving the institution. The project will benefit more than 4,000 people.
Sampa.org
Sampa.org is a digital-inclusion initiative established in 2000 as part of the actions of the Institute of Public Policies Florestan Fernandes. Through this project, Sampa.org and Microsoft will open 18 CTLCs in community centers, taking advantage of the existing infrastructure. The telecenters will provide the communities with technology training ranging from basic computer literacy skills to the use of advanced business productivity applications.
Chile
Committee for Democracy in Information Technology (CDI)
CDI promotes the use of information technology in low-income communities as a tool for the development and promotion of citizenship and civil rights. CDI Chile has developed 46 Community Technology and Learning Centers (CTLCs) in 23 communities of Santiago. Microsoft funding will support CDI's expansion outside of Santiago and the opening of two regional offices and twelve new learning centers in the Valparaíso/Viña and Chillán regions. More than 960 new students will receive training in these CTLCs during 2004.
Colombia
Educar
The Computadores para Educar Program (CPE; Computers for Education) was established in March 2000 by the Presidency of the Republic of Colombia. It currently operates as a public nonprofit association. Microsoft has been a partner of this program since it launched. The project's mission is to ensure that 500 public schools, which already have computers and software, effectively integrate computer technology into the needs of the local community and use this technology to benefit teenagers and communities in underserved rural sectors from diverse regions of Colombia during nonschool hours. The Microsoft donation, along with funding from CPE and universities, will be used to train university students from all over the country to be technology trainers, based on the program Opcion Colombia. The project will benefit approximately 155,000 teenagers and 250,000 community members.
Corporación Para el Desarrollo y Paz del Valle (VallenPaz)
Created in 2000, VallenPaz is a collective and democratic space for the construction of social investment and productive projects in rural zones that are within the armed conflict in the departments of Valle del Cauca and Cauca. VallenPaz contributes to the achievement of peace through the economic and social reactivation of the Colombian countryside. Microsoft is donating US$55,000 for adding two new CTLCs, which will be located in the jurisdiction of El Saladito, municipality of Cali, and in the trail Monterredondo, municipality of Miranda, in the department of Cauca. The centers will work to complement the development process for the families of students in the educational institutions and the communities where they reside. The centers will offer training in technological tools to strengthen their business vision, improve their competitiveness, and develop their sense of community and family values.
Juan Bosco
The Juan Bosco Center is located in the heart of the Ciudad Bolívar neighborhood of Bogotá, one of the poorest neighborhoods of the city. Since its founding, Juan Bosco has offered at-risk young people (including juvenile delinquents, those with addiction problems, and generally marginalized youth) technical, cultural, and recreational programs and training opportunities that enable them to achieve a dignified life. With the objective of promoting the building of skills in technological tools for the target community, Microsoft is granting US$50,000 to help Juan Bosco create a project titled Public Access to Technological Training for the Transformation of Its Surrounding Community (Acceso Popular a la Formación Tecnológica para la Transformación de su Propio Entorno). As part of the project, the center plans to open a technical training room (Sala Popular de Formación Tecnológica) that will be open to the community and will available for the center's various training programs.
Costa Rica
Vision Mundial International Costa Rica
Vision Mundial Costa Rica (World Vision Costa Rica) works to promote and improve development opportunities in the poorest communities of the country. Microsoft will support the development of three Technology Centers in the northern part of the country. The program will impact more than 3,000 people who otherwise would not have access to this type of technology. Microsoft funds will be used to purchase the computers and office equipment for the centers.
Fundacion Costa Rica para el Desarrollo Sostenible
The Costa Rica Foundation for Sustainable Development (LINCOS) is an organization that seeks permanently innovative initiatives that allow the dissemination and practical implementation of the concept of sustainable development, using the tools provided by modern information technologies. Microsoft has been supporting the LINCOS initiative since its very beginning. Recently, Microsoft donated US$60,000.00 to LINCOS to develop, in partnership with MIT, a new methodological approach called Second Generation model. Now Microsoft is supporting LINCOS through a donation of US$120,000.00 to test this new model in three countries in Latin America: Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, and Panama.
Asociacion de Empresarios para el Desarrollo (A.E.D.)
A.E.D. was created in 1997 by Costa Rican and foreign companies. Its objective is to channel human and material resources in an efficient and effective way to projects focused on children at social risk. Since 2002 A.E.D. and Centro de Educacion Vecinos have been working with the San Felipe de Alajuelita community to solve their main problems. After two years of working with A.E.D., San Felipe de Alajuelita has diminished its problems thanks to a very good community organization. As a second stage, A.E.D. wants to improve the local development process by implementing a Microsoft technology center. The new center will be an important motivation for the community, which is working very hard on changing their disadvantaged conditions.
Dominican Republic
Programa Amigo de los Niños, Inc
Programa Amigo de los Niños, Inc., affiliated with Children International, has been working since 1987 to support children and youth in becoming healthy, educated, and independent and socially responsible adults. Microsoft is donating US$30,000 to help Programa Amigo de los Niños build a CTLC to provide training in computer skills for 600 poor youngsters 15 to 19 years old. The goal is to improve the living conditions of the recipients and their families. After the youths are trained in computer skills, they will have a better opportunity to compete in the job market.
World Links
The mission of World Links is to improve educational outcomes, economic opportunities, and mutual global understanding for youth in developing countries through the use of technology and the Internet. In 2000, World Links introduced its Telecenter model to encourage school labs sustainability while promoting community development. The telecenters are either school-based computer labs or community centers that are converted into telecenters. The purpose of the telecenters is to introduce ICT skills and IT-enabled resources to underserved communities, with the intent of enabling adults and youth to participate successfully in the global knowledge-based economy. Microsoft is granting US$66,700 to the World Link Telecenter program to transform five schools located in semi-rural areas into telecenters under the Microsoft Unlimited Potential CTLC program in the Dominican Republic.
Ecuador
Fundación ChasquiNet
ChasquiNet is a private nonprofit organization based in Ecuador that is dedicated to empowering grass-roots organizations, minority groups, and impoverished sectors in general through the promotion and use of information and communication technologies, including the Internet. ChasquiNet views the Internet as a tool that can be used to enable poor communities to improve their living standards, voice their opinions and demands, and create an impact on the development of social and economic policies that affect them. Microsoft is granting US$50,000 to help ChasquiNet develop a Disability Kit for people with disabilities and visual impairments.
Guatemala
Academy for Educational Development
The Enlace Quiché project began in 2000 as part of a USAID initiative to strengthen education in rural areas. It focuses on using information and communication technology as a tool to enhance the training of the rural bilingual (Spanish-Maya) population. In 2004, Enlace Quiché will strengthen the use of 20 centers and will help 11 centers with Internet access make better use of their connectivity. Students and teachers will improve their skills in software applications and will learn how to create better teaching materials. They will also learn how to communicate with other schools and how to form a virtual community, enabling them to participate in international collaborative projects.
The project will identify underserved community groups near the centers and will train them in the use of technology. More than 2,400 students and teachers, as well as 25 community organizations, will benefit from this project. The Microsoft donation will be used to cover personnel and administrative expenses, Microsoft-certified training courses for selected participants, accessories, and other equipment needed.
Committee for Democracy in Information Technology (CDI)
CDI is one of the largest CTLC networks in Latin America. Today there are more than 800 CTLCs managed by 46 CDI regional centers, 36 CDI regional offices in Brazil and 10 outside of Latin America. The CDI Headquarters is responsible for supporting each CDI regional office in replicating the CDI model and ensuring this is done to a high standard. This project will improve the infrastructure and capacity of CDI Headquarters to support the regional CDI centers in Latin America. The Microsoft donation will support part of the operational cost of CDI Headquarters. It will cover quality improvement for the CTLCs, including review of pedagogical methodology and adaptation of Microsoft curriculum. The donation will also be used to hire a third-party organization to improve the CDI management skills for the Latin American operation.
Center for Human Rights Legal Action (CALDH)
CALDH is an organization for legal defense of human rights. One of the organization's programs is APREDE, which is a liaison of four organizations: AMPEGUA (Guatemala Penitentiary System's Multisectorial Association), FADS (Relatives and Friends of Crime and Kidnap Victims), ICCPG (Institute of Comparative Legal Studies in Guatemala), and CALDH (Center for Human Rights Legal Action). APREDE's mission is to work with young people whose lives are at risk (members of gangs) and with vulnerable young people through the implementation, execution, and follow-up of training programs and social and work-force reinsertion. Microsoft is donating US$25,000 to help APREDE build a CTLC for training 1,200 youths per year in computer technology to decrease criminal activities.
Mexico
Committee for Democracy in Information Technology (CDI)
CDI promotes the use of information technology (IT) in low-income communities as a tool for the development and promotion of citizenship and civil rights. CDI has 10 IT and Citizenship Schools (ITCS) in Mexico. These schools focus on IT skills training and citizenship education for young people. CDI is launching a new program called Basic IT Skills for the Unemployed, opening ten new centers to provide IT skills for unemployed people of all ages. The centers will offer training on operating PCs, using the Internet, and using Windows 2000 and Office 2000 Professional. They will also provide training on how to write resumes, search for jobs using the Internet, and prepare for an interview. CDI will work together with the Ministry of Labor to identify unemployed people who can benefit from the program. The Microsoft donation will be used to cover administrative, operational, infrastructure, and personnel expenses. The project will benefit more than 3,000 people in one year.
Instituto Mexicano de la Juventud
The Instituto Mexicano de la Juventud (The Youth Mexican Institute) is an NPO that develops strategies and programs oriented toward the Mexican youth. Microsoft's grant will support 20 of the existing 100 Youth Empower Interactive Centers, providing technological tools and training in Microsoft software and the Internet. The project will allow young people to use technology as a tool to develop their potential and to increase their quality of life.
Panama
Patronato Luz del Ciego
Patronato Luz del Ciego develops educational programs and provides social-cultural development options for the visually impaired population of Panama. Microsoft will support their project Technology Center for the Visually Impaired to establish an IT center that will make it possible for people with visual impairments to use the knowledge they acquire to improve their lives. Funding from Microsoft will be used to purchase computer equipment and to create the network. The project will benefit the entire visually impaired population in Panama (around 8,000 people) and the community of Panama City, since the technology learning center will be open to walk-ins. It will effectively train at least 1,600 people within the first 18 months. The participants will learn how to use and handle the JAWS 4.2 program, how to use Microsoft Office applications, and how to benefit from the Internet.
Fundación Tierra Nueva
The Fundación Tierra Nueva is a nonprofit, nongovernmental charitable organization founded by Bishop Mons Rómulo Emiliani in 1994. The principal activity of Fundación Tierra Nueva is the creation of an educational center in Darien, with the objective of improving the social and economic status of the residents. This project aims to create a CTLC that will enable the population of the communities that border the center to attain computer skills.
Peru
Sumbi
Sumbi is a 21-year-old organization that promotes development. Their work has fortified the quality and effectiveness of education in the poorest areas of Peru. Microsoft will support their project Niños y Niñas Felices (Happy Little Boys and Girls) to teach basic computing skills to 24,000 children under six years old from the poorest corners of the capital city of Lima. The training will take place in public Internet facilities. The funds provided will be used to set up a PC lab with 12 computers, pay for training of trainers at Sumbi, design an e-learning program, and pay for use of the facilities.
Fundación para el Desarrollo Solidario (FUNDADES)
FUNDADES was created in 1992. Its mission is to promote a culture of solidarity and social responsibility in both individuals and businesses, leading them to undertake actions designed for the good of all and for the sustainable development of those who suffer social, cultural, economic, or other disadvantages. Microsoft is supporting FUNDADES to implement a project for training teen parents (teen mothers between 14 and 18 years old and teen fathers between 16 and 22 years old, most of them single parents) with no economic resources in computing skills. The training will help them find jobs to support their families and avoid the abandonment of their kids.
Puerto Rico
Programa de Apoyo y Enlace Comunitario (PAEC)
PAEC is a private nonprofit organization that has been working with disadvantaged rural communities in Puerto Rico since 1995. Through the Rayos Esperanza project, PAEC will open a Technology Learning Center with 12 computers in the rural district of Aguada to serve the local community, including youth from five area schools. The project will benefit more than 2,000 people. It will provide training for the students and the community on basic computer programs such as Microsoft Office. It will also provide academic support, help people apply computer skills, and provide Internet access. Funding from Microsoft will allow this community, where the majority of people live below the poverty level, to have direct access to computers and the Internet.
Uruguay
Universidad del Trabajo del Uruguay (UTU)
Uruguay has undergone four years of recession, which has led to the highest unemployment rate in recent history. Job reinsertion of unemployed adults is one of the main challenges. Acquiring basic computer skills improves a person's chances of getting a new job and makes the job search easier. With this grant, UTU will train 1,500 people in one year, offering 20-hour courses in basic computing skills for groups of 20 people. UTU will take full advantage of their existing equipment, facilities, and trainers, and will work with the Department of Labor and Social Security to select participants. Microsoft funds will be used to cover personnel, facilities, and administration expenses.
Venezuela
UNICEF
UNICEF Venezuela began its activities in 1991, creating conditions that protect children and their rights. Microsoft will support the Technology for Indigenous Children project to give indigenous youth the opportunity to learn how to use technology to improve their skills and knowledge. The project will help maintain children's motivation at school by keeping them from child labor and providing the possibility of access to a qualified education. This will be the first time that indigenous children and communities supported by UNICEF will have access to technology as a tool for improving their learning and their lives. The Microsoft donation will be used for training, technical assistance, hardware and educational software, and personnel expenses. The project will benefit 2,000 children and teenagers.
SUPERATEC
Several years ago a group of individuals, organizations, and enterprises started an initiative called the Venezuelan Computer Training Project, with the objective of helping people in lower-income communities improve their standard of living through the use of technology. As a response to this, in August 2002 SUPERATEC, a Venezuelan nonprofit organization, was created. SUPERATEC is the Spanish acronym for Personal Growth Through Technology. SUPERATEC provides the opportunity for other sectors of society (volunteers, partners, donors, etc.) to participate in a clearly scalable initiative and to create a more equitable society through civic solidarity, with the spirit of having a united rather than a divided country. Microsoft is donating US$30,000 to open a new CTLC in La Pradera.
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