DrumNet
Country of activity:
Kenya
Web site:
Category:
A Global Village
Vision, objectives and goals:
The mission of PRIDE AFRICA is to create a commercially sustainable financial and information services network for small-scale entrepreneurs to increase incomes and employment and stimulate business growth across Africa.
While the PRIDE AFRICA’s financial/credit methodology has been proven over several years, DrumNet has been designed to focus on offering information services that are focused on increasing incomes and employment and stimulate business growth across Africa. DrumNet is also promoting the use of the Internet techNology especially in rural Africa. DrumNet is focusing on the simplest and easiest ways that the poor can access global information, without being intimidated by techNology and yet appreciate this techNology and make them part of the global village.
Uniqueness
DrumNet, has been dubbed “the poor man’s internet” and has designed a way that the poor man can access internet information without paying for it.
The DrumNet project is tapping into a network of almost 100,000 micro and small-scale entrepreneurs who have an average of 5 dependants each, these people have No access to the Internet or the techNology itself. DrumNet works in an interactive way; researches on their general information needs and provides this information to them in the most appropriate ways to meet their information needs. In return DrumNet collects information that is relevant to the outside world from these people, example on demographics, investment/contractual opportunities for the big companies, sub-contracting opportunities for the large companies, raw materials, expertise etc...
How ICT contributes to the organisational objectives:
DrumNet is piloting the project in the PRIDE Africa’s operations in Kenya in four branches. DrumNet maintains a client database of over 40,000 clients throughout the region.
DrumNet has designed a demonstration lab on how the project operates. DrumNet has entered into a contractual agreement with Touch Screen TechNologies in Kenya to provide and maintain the information Kiosks; they have already provided the Kiosks that have been used for the pilot phase.
DrumNet has also talked to a 4 big companies interested in advertising on the information Kiosk as a revenue generating area and have agreed in principle to participate. DrumNet is also in agreement with the World Space AfricaStar operations in Africa as a channel that we shall use in the long term. Already DrumNet is broadcasting data through the World Space foundation channel
DrumNet has developpped a webpage www.drumnet.org that gives more information on the project.
Through this initial phase DrumNet has
1. Captured data from clients that provides purchasing habits, social and financial profiles that has enabl;ed us provide them with relevant information.
2. Provided a medium by which PRIDE clients can market their goods and services to both a local, and global audience.
3. Provided a common shop window for clients to view, select, and pay for, goods and services promoted through DrumNet network
DrumNet is filling a big gap in business development and attempting something that has Not been done before.
Summary:
DrumNet is a project of PRIDE AFRICA: an East African based regional micro-finance organization with operations in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Malawi.
The mission of PRIDE AFRICA is to create a commercially sustainable financial and information services network for small-scale entrepreneurs to increase incomes and employment and stimulate business growth across Africa.
“Drum”, the traditional African communicating tool and “Net” the modern world communicating tool, bore the name DrumNet, symbolizing, moving from the traditional drums to the modern Internet.
This is an inNovative project that uses the Internet techNology through an information broker and information Kiosks via the World Space Satellite network to provide the poor and marginalized with access to information on
· Markets Information
Suppliers,
Potential business partnerships.
· Health Issues
AIDS
Malaria etc
· Environmental issues
Global warning
Forest preservation etc
· Agricultural Issues
Best tillage methods
Livestock diseases
Drought etc
And many more other issues that affect these people directly
Competition year:
2001
DrumNet
Country of activity:
Kenya
Web site:
Category:
A Global Village
Vision, objectives and goals:
DrumNet uses the Internet for communication. The project aims to use this information techNology to enable clients to run more profitable and sustainable businesses.
DrumNet aims to;
·Provide a Business information exchange network, linking the micro-and small-scale entrepreneurs to more established business sector.
·Provide Market Opportunities for the micro and small-scale entrepreneurs.
·Through a process described as *virtual wholesaling*, consolidate the purchasing power of a large number of small traders, thus enabling them to take advantage of bulk discounts and consolidated deliveries.
·Use Internet techNology to develop targeted media in the form of newsletters and web pages, which continually inform PRIDE clients of the benefits of PRIDE and DrumNet, particularly in relation to products and services available.
·Reduce in a controlled manner, the number of revenue earning entities (middle man) between producer and end user, which do Not add value to the product, and to find ways of leading them to alternative business opportunities.
·Utilize the Internet as a medium which:-
i.Provides a common shop window for clients to view, select, and pay for, goods and services promoted through DrumNet
ii.Capture data from PRIDE clients that provides purchasing, social and financial profiles for the benefit of PRIDE in product development, as well as for impact assessment and market research.
iii.Provides a medium by which PRIDE clients can market their goods and services to both a local, and global audience.
DrumNet is creating a searchable database, which provides the intelligence for PRIDE to develop financial products, which are in harmony with its clients* needs.
DrumNet is filling a big gap in business development and attempting something that has Not been done before.
How ICT contributes to the organisational objectives:
PRIDE AFRICA started DrumNet development process in 1994, and has achieved the following outputs to date.
·Focus Group Research
PRIDE Africa conducted focus group research in two fast growing towns in Uganda and Tanzania in 1999. The research established that clients:
Welcomed the idea of PRIDE facilitating *direct buying,* and the possibilities of bulk buying at more competitive rates buy business inputs en masse directly from suppliers.
Liked the idea of a newsletter, which would allow them to read vital marketing information and also advertise their services. There were interested in marketing information and using this as a means of communication.
Showed interest in the idea of an *infobroker* who could also supply marketing information about where to buy or sell goods.
Were interested in receiving training, recognizing that most of them do Not have any formal business skills.
·Rapid Rural Appraisals have been performed in two cities in Kenya (Machakos and Embu). During the appraisals, researchers interviewed government officials, managers of large businesses and entrepreneurs themselves to better understand the local environment and information needs. These areas demonstrated very high potential for DrumNet
A database has been developed and data has been collected in Arusha, Tanzania and is being captured at the PRIDE SUNLINK branch in Nairobi using the written client information questionnaires. The database is currently capable of producing reports and performing queries according to a number of criteria. A sample data has also been posted on the drumnet web server at www.drumnet.org
The first DrumBeat newsletter has been done and can be printed of the Internet.
Summary:
1.DrumNet is a project of PRIDE AFRICA: a Nairobi based regional micro-finance organization with operations in Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Malawi.
2.The mission of PRIDE AFRICA is to create a financial and information services network for small-scale entrepreneurs to increase incomes and employment and stimulate business growth across Africa.
DrumNet is an inNovative project that uses the PRIDE group network with over 44 branches to provide clients with access to market information including supplier, markets and potential business partnerships. DrumNet operates via electronic information kiosk called
Competition year:
2000
Information Waystations and Staging Posts
Country of activity:
United Kingdom
Web site:
Category:
A Global Village
Vision, objectives and goals:
To date, coherent health information projects have rarely, if ever, been put together on a cost-effective scale. Assistance has frequently been scattered through individual resource centres or small networks. Much techNology has been wasted through lack of maintenance and training, and projects have tended to focus on the pipes and Not the content that will flow through them. There has been little success in sharing of results among information resource centres, and consequently the wheel has been reinvented with depressing frequency. This ambitious project will draw on the combined experience and expertise of all partners to kick-start a Global Health Information Age.
How ICT contributes to the organisational objectives:
With the funding of the first phase of the project in December 1999, we have begun work to establish the Project Advisory Board and Policy Advisory Council, both of which have Now been constituted and work is underway to distribute questionnaires to 5,000 health information resource centres throughout the developing world. Success will be measured by the responses to this survey, and then by the achievement of funding for the following phases.
User needs:
In early 1998, Chris Zielinski started developing the Information Waystations project. The essentially capacity-building scope of Information Waystations was then merged with the local-adaptation model espoused in the Staging Posts concept, which arose fr
Summary:
The Information Waystations and Staging Posts project began with a first phase entitled the Health Information for Development project, which will compile a Global Directory of Health Information Resource Centers by August 2000, working with a wide range of partners throughout the world. Funding for this project has been provided by the Bill and Melinda Gates Children*s Vaccine Program at PATH (Program for Appropriate TechNology in Health).
The Health Information for Development project is seen as the first phase of the much-larger, $45 m/£30 m Information Waystations and Staging Posts project, which aims to establish a global network of 1,000 health information resource centers that will provide locally appropriate content on health issues. Funding is currently being sought for this five-year project.
In the second phase, we will upgrade selected resource centres into Information Waystations (IW) and create a network. An Information Waystation is a local point of access to health information received electronically. It has a PC, CD-ROM & databases, printer, modem, reliable satellite or land telephone, and prepaid broadband Internet access. It is linked to the network of other IWs. It has personnel who are trained in/teach technical maintenance and database use.
In the third phase, we will select some IWs for upgrading into Staging Posts (SPs). Staging Posts will act as "relay stations", translating and adapting information materials in order to make them locally appropriate. They will distribute information rapidly and widely, linked to health and education initiatives. They will make use of appropriate sources of information, particularly prototype publications provided electronically. They will have personnel who are trained in/teach adaptation techniques.
Competition year:
2000
Renforcement of Women’s Position in décision proc.
Country of activity:
Senegal
Category:
A Global Village
Vision, objectives and goals:
The project plans for equality to achieve power of decision, public debate to increase democracy and achieve concrete measures to have 30 percent of women in proceedings . With presidential elections of February 2000, a defence and petition were given to candidates inviting them to make a public comment during electoral campaigns.
How ICT contributes to the organisational objectives:
The debate on women’s access in decision proceeding is recurrent in society. There are Now 2 women out of 10 presidents in Regional Council. In pre-electoral campaigns for presidentials 7 out of the 8 candidates tackeld the question publicly . Presently there are two candidates for the second turn. They all agree with the equality. One of the two signed our petition <<30 percent in power of decision >>. We are waiting for the end to evaluate their actions.
User needs:
We Noticed women represent 70 percent of voting citizens. They elect those in power but they represent less than 10 percent in powers of decision. They don’t have the same opportunities as man in acceading to ressources.
Everybody’s aware about that this
Summary:
The goal is to have parity in area of political decisions proceeding (Before the project the position of women was under 10 percent.) Presently , we are seeking 30 percent. The stratégies are training for leader (male and female), publications, campaign on media,la mobilisation social mobilization and Lobbying .
Competition year:
2000
Multimedia Center in a underprivileged Brussel's quarter
Country of activity:
Belgium
Category:
A Global Village
Vision, objectives and goals:
The goal of our association is the promotion and the social insertion of young people from underprivileged class. And
, after the identification of school as the key element in this process of insertion, our main objective is the fight against
school failure by:
Increasing the value of kids and young people's learning potentials and an individual work on operative and
preoperative logical thinking.
The breaking of the marginality of young people by allowing them to appropriate a tool bringing future and exchange,
- The use of CD-Rom educational games allow to approach, individually with children, essential learning processes
prerequisite to academic kNow ledges : good educative CD-Rom are build around interactivity and self building of
kNow ledges. The fact they are attractive mobilize kid's attention,
- While kids and young people already often lived academic failures and developed deep feeling to be incompetent,
participation to elaboration of a finished product in a high tech. field is an occasion to get back confidence in their
learning ability,
- The meeting of very different people around interesting topics : it is what Internet and CD-Rom allow when they are
build by participants. To build a CD-ROM or a website is getting, analysing and evaluate information, to express
oneself, to confront and to restructure ideas. Website publication and CD-ROM presentation allow them to face other
people, to really feel personally and collectively valorized..
Our specificity is the tool we use and especially Multimedia elaboration. Other associations use CD-ROMS or bring to
young people access to Internet, but only us in Brussels, are the one to produce Web sites or CD-ROMS. because we
are the only one to kNow and to believe it is possible, even with young people having difficulties.
Our actions in elementary and secondary schools and our pedagogical work with teachers are also part of our
specificity.
How ICT contributes to the organisational objectives:
Regarding kids and young people, our objectives are reached. Their experiences gave them ways to regain
confidence in their learning abilities. They felt especially valorised during the numerous demonstrations. They
expressed themselves trough different ways on topics relevant and important for them. They dramatically increased
their ability to communicate. The kids living in the neighbourhood kNow they have, at FIJ Multimedia Centre, an efficient
and interesting tool and they don't hesitate to kNock at the door.
Teachers and principals had opportunities to meet their students under aNother lighting. They could also reflect and
ponder the ways to work multi disciplinary on projects.
Parents who bring their kids or participate to open doors are proud to see their kids using tools which are symbols of
wealth and success.
FIJ and the "Collectif Alpha" together bought et reNovated the building we work in. 48 Piers street is today a
welcoming, resourceful and always animated place.
To assess results we organised, at the end of school year, presentations of our productions (websites and
CD-ROMs) for all the schoolstaffes involved in the activities and for the parents.
We also proceeded to deep and complete evaluations , with every school, of the projects and of the objectives
User needs:
FIJ (Non profit organization) was born in 1984 from the established fact that young jobless have specific problems,
mostly qualifying training, giving them the chance to enable their will to work and to take their recognized part in our
society. FIJ's
Summary:
We had the opportunity to buy a building located in a underprivileged quarter of Molenbeek , poor municipality in North
Brussels and will accomplish , with the people living there, a work based on our experience and kNow how.
The population of Molenbeek is mostly composed of second and third generation Maghreb's immigrants and in less
proportion, of "illegals" originating from Eastern Europe and Central Africa. (Proximity of "Petit Château").
Those young people and those students have great problems at school , for instance important slowness,
disengagement and learning disabilities to learn french , second language of the first immigrants.
We thus had to create a space where kids and young people of the quarter have the opportunity to use sophisticated
computers and benefit of the guidance of competent trainers, either in pedagogical workshops organised with the
collaboration of their teachers or in partnership with the local associations , or informally when young people have a
precise request.
In our Centre of Molenbeek, the emphasise is set on Multimedia.
Indeed new communication media like Internet and CD's are evident ways to open the mind to other people and to the
world. But the access to those media is essential. To kNow where to get the equipment, to kNow how to use it and to
kNow what you can expect of them. It is far to be the case for the people with which we work. The risk to see the
increase of the gap existing between underprivileged and rich people and this being mostly acute for immigrants.
Our concern will be to give to everyone the chance to participate in this new communication network.
Competition year:
2000
Recruitment 2000
Country of activity:
Denmark
Web site:
Category:
A Global Village
Summary:
The study programme is aimed at physically disabled individuals with an educational background above high school level, and it is our kNowledge the first and only of its kind in the world. Recruitment 2000 is based on the principles established under the original NetJob education, but structured around the participation of one company, MerkantilData A/S.
MerkantilData A/S and NetJob have jointly planned the contents of the study programme; it is comprised of a combination of trainee periods with MerkantilData A/S and lectures at NetJob. Upon completing a general course of eight weeks duration, students then receive specialised training within one of MerkantilData's main activity areas.
Competition year:
2000
Haitian Research and Development Network (REHRED)
Country of activity:
Haiti
Web site:
Category:
A Global Village
Vision, objectives and goals:
The objectives of the project is following:
Initiate member organization in the use and relevance of new information techNologies; Create mechanisms which encourage the exchange of information and analysis; Facilitate the emergence of common strategies on key development issues; Create a forum which disseminates information on the work accomplished.
Our project is unique in that Haiti has only just begun to utilise the possibilities of Internet and a few people are aware of the advantages available through the new information techNologies. REHRED is playing a pioneering role in that it has introduced a new techNology and new forms of communication within the milieu. REHRED has been able to bring together a wide varity of institutions working in various sectors (public, private and social sectors) as well as grass roots organizations. This enabled grass roots organizations to benefit indirectly from exposure and access to these new information techNologies.
How ICT contributes to the organisational objectives:
To date, the results of the project are the following:
Internet access provided to more than 100 users;
Basic training provided to more than 100 users;
Advanced training in creation of web sites for more than 30 people;
Training for more than 30 webmasters;
More than 20 web sites are housed on the REHRED server;
Creation of a cyber center;
Creation and animation of more than five email lists;
Support services for members;
We monitor the results of our work through increased usage of services, the number of times the various sites are visited and the number of web sites created and lodged on the REHRED server.
User needs:
REHRED was founded in 1993 during the period of the coup d'etat in Haiti following a project funded by UNESCO to explore the possibilities of creating a Latin American and Caribbean network. The founding members decided to rise to the challenge and create
Summary:
REHRED is an original and inNovative experience in bringing together national and international institutions to work together on research and policy issues related to social ecoNomic, cultural and political development in Haiti through using ICT as an powerful tool in the service of this goal. REHRED, through bringing these institutions together, has created a space in which thay can share their experiences, create new synergies, and coordinate their actions in the field.
Since its formal constitution in 1996 as a Non-profit organisation, REHRED has gathered 50 institutions from different sectors: public sector intitutions, research intitutions and academic institutions, and provide Non-governmental organizations.
REHRED provides several services to its member among which are following:
- Dial-up access to Internet
- Tel.centre to facilitate those who don't have personal computers or phones
- Training program in the use of ICT
- Training program on web site design
- Free web hosting
- Technical support
- Mailing list on development topics.
Competition year:
2000
SISCOM
Country of activity:
Costa Rica
Web site:
Category:
A Global Village
Vision, objectives and goals:
Main
How ICT contributes to the organisational objectives:
Over the course of 1998, we trained about 70 persons from partner organizations in the entire Central
America. This group was the original participants into the SISCOM Network. By the end of 1999, we had
nearly 400 persons or organizations participating in the network. The participants to the network have
free access to the media put to their disposition. They act as correspondents providing articles for the
Electronic Newsletter, called InfoAlianza. They use the electronic board to anNounce activities and
publish news. They also are the Webmasters of their own pages, which in most of the cases are part of the
SISCOM site.
User needs:
The efforts to create the SISCOM regional network began in early 1997. The idea of an electronic
network on the issues of participatory management, as a strategy to foster sustainable human
settlements development, emerged as an operational response to th
Summary:
SISCOM consists of a network of individuals and institutions, as well as a web site. Network participants
come from grassroots groups, as well as from the different municipal associations, and governmental
and Non-governmental entities that are involved in human settlement development. These peoples'
role is to promote and foster the use and management of new information and communication
techNologies in their organizations and the communities in which they serve.
Competition year:
2000
New KNowledge Centres
Country of activity:
Spain
Web site:
Category:
A Global Village
Vision, objectives and goals:
To promote free access to the New TechNologies to every citizen.To spread local and regional culture by making
people participate in the Information Society.To develop abilities, such as entrepreneurial abilities, to build a new
region. To create a social and virtual space in order to build a compromise of our people with the transformation
needed for our region.
How ICT contributes to the organisational objectives:
Our centres have been visited 30000 times.We have got involved 4900 people who developed autoNomous initiatives
that may change their future.This have been achieved carrying out activities and projects. Our project pay attention to
every social group in a different way adapted to their necessities( women,elder people, cultural agents, workers,
businessmen,etc)We create collaboration nets between people with similar interests and we put them in contact by
e-mail, chats by IRC,etc.So, we generate possibilities to create new business( exhibing products by the Net).We also
pay attention to different social worries: environment, agriculture, ecoNomy, health and tourism are some of our main
objectives. We create initiatives that have positive influences on our community (Compilation of popular songs,
creation of a digital newspaper made by people from our region in order to spread our culture all over the world.
User needs:
"The Information Society is bringing about a social change similar to the one caused by the Industrial Revolution. If we
reproach ourselves that we lost the train of the first revolution, we should Not allow to do the same Now. The
challenge is to ente
Summary:
This project is supported by AUPEX, the Education,Science and TechNology Regional Ministry and local
governments.This project has developed since last May, the TechNological Literacy Programme which the Regional
Government has proposed to introduce Extremadura into this New Age of Communication, Information and
KNowledge.These Centres have been piloted in six villages for six months and Now nwe 14 centres have been
opened. The NKC have become a place for the experimentation and creation of new opportunities to make easier the
transformation process of Extremadura and introduce it into the New Age.
Competition year:
2000
The Lasipalatsi Home Page Machine
Country of activity:
Finland
Category:
A Global Village
Vision, objectives and goals:
The Home Page Machine is designed to be really easy for everyone. The Home Page Machine is unique because it makes it possible for anyone to:
... make their own electronic business card
... build their own plot in the information society
... have their place on the net.
How ICT contributes to the organisational objectives:
The aims of the projects are fullfilled. We have got experience how to involve ordinary people with the development of information society.
The Home Page Machine is Now just proto version 1.0. We are already developing the next vesion of the Home Page Machine.
Summary:
The Lasipalatsi Home Page Machine makes it possible for everyone to build his/her own personal home page on the Internet, easily and just in a few minutes. The home page contains a digital picture of the page owner and text according to personal wishes: a story, hobby description, concise company information, or whatever the page owner wants to type in the given text field. The page owner can choose the home page layout out of ready made graphical layouts.
The basic idea of this pilot project is that it gives equal opportunities to everyone to prepare their home pages without deeper kNowledge of how to use computer hardware and software. At the same time it gives people the opportunity of getting registered in the Internet, to make an electronic business card so that they can be found by the search engines.
It is a cheap and effective way of becoming a net-citizen. The Home Page Machine is in a way an information society machine even if it looks and works like a traditional automatic photo machine.
Competition year:
2000