CIV - Centro de Informática Veredal - (Educational and ICT Centers for Community Development)

CIV´s, are the result of the dynamics generated by a community work proposal of Non-formal education for peasant communities, associated with the implementation of the "Conexiones" Model. This model includes the incorporation of information and communication techNologies in institutional educational projects for low income rural areas. This dynamics creates concrete situations in which, the school opens up to the community, seeking the common good. It initially came to reality when we had the opportunity to provide the population with access to educational processes, techNology and quality up-to-date information. CIV activities are focused on meeting the needs of the community. CIV is Not a project "detached" from their needs and interests. On the contrary, it attends to their requests and visualizes their needs for formation and personal growth, taking into account their quality of life, the relation between culture and education and, of course, addressing governance problems as everybody's social responsibility. The Educational and ICT Center for Community Development works as a club that offers the community services such as: a) Access to communication and information techNologies (Internet, productivity tools) b) Training in basic computer tools, Internet, and access to free virtual courses. c) Participation in virtual communities to discuss topics of interest. d) Recreational and cultural activities incorporated in these techNologies. The CONEXIONES project, through the Educational and ICT Center for Community Development, offers rural educational institutions: a) Training and understanding of the "CONEXIONES" Model philosophy, how to use the basic techNology as a didactical tool and how to make this process more dynamic, participatory and constructive. b) Internet access: the center is electronically connected to Internet, in order to enhance communication among students, teachers, educational institutions and the general community, allowing access to a great volume of information, projects and educational environments. c) TechNological school activity: The topics of activities attend to global problems which are generated locally and therefore require a local solution. Each group must identify the problems in their community and develop a teamwork approach which allows them to design and propose solutions. This contributes to the construction of a critical view of their surrounding environment, and therefore to the promotion of a greater conscience and sensibility which helps generate changes in their behavior and lifestyles. The introduction of collaborative techNological activities through "La PachaMama" (Conexiones Model Interface) help teachers and students to acquire social and communication skills and the fundamentals for the organization of small groups where each member is responsible of his own learning process as well as that of his classmates. The projects that integrate different kNowledge areas, and collaborative projects at classroom level developed by the students have involved, in one way or aNother, family members in their development and the associated research, improving family environment with the introduction of new interactive themes and interests. On the other hand, the activities performed by the school computer clubs (groups of children and youngsters between the ages of 8 and 16), go beyond their own formation by identifying community problems that can be solved using computer an telecommunication techNologies in which, the students become solution promoters. The CIV's then, become an integral part of the community, where interpersonal relations and the active participation of the students in the area, more than a reason to get together, becomes a motivation for personal growth and family integration.