Active participation of TCF and all telecentres worldwide in all significant local and global activities like, disaster relief operations, world youth day, indigenous peoples day, family day, united nations day, etc.
We try to project to the whole world that TCF and the global telecentre movement in general are not focused mainly on ICT-based programs, projects and activities but are more concerned on TOTAL community well-being and development.
The discussions on the various forums have been too much technology leaning. We are failing to tap the knowledge behind the various experts involved in utilizing technology in their various daily activities. For this reason, there is need to focus more on activities that promote innovation and knowledge creation. There is need to promote such knowledge gathering instruments as communities of practice in the utilization of telecentres in media, in agriculture, in communication, in small business development and in promotion of market orientation. I have for instance not seen discussions centered on how ICTs are helping address the various international declarations by governments such as the MDGs. While capacity needs to be promoted more so that there is a nexus among actors on development themes, we in the movement are still following than leading. We need to innovate and our discussions need to demonstrate this. In a nutshell therefore, we shall need to focus on:
1. Knowledge management
2. Innovation
3. Use of ICTs to support/promote pro-poor themes such as agricultural value addition, SMEs, agricultural research
4. Collaboration with other knowledge based initiatives
5. Expert forums on economic development or such themes as attract learners to get attracted to the network- this could be broadcast to promote learning and those learning how to use technology to advisedly policy can be a critical tool to increase numbers
We have a typical situation in an open consultation, experts bringing varous view points increases our options of how TCF to be innovated?
I agree your view on need for "promote innovation and knowledge creation" as well as focus on MDGs which already focused by many institutions, TCF joining in will contribute to global collective efforts of MDGs.
1. Knowledge Management - This should happen at National Level, as knowledge is require local adaptation, How ever TCF can facilitate research and collaboration among National initiatives to share replicable models
I thank all that have contributed greatly to this important discussion. Let me add the following to the new themes Telecenter.org Foundatuion should include:
1. Telecenter and ICT policy Advocacy
There is a need for increased advocacy in this area as many governments in the south have not taken ICT tools and development as important important instruments of development. Much of our regional protocols are not ratified and many ICT polices are not being implemtented as according to speed they require.
Further telecentres have not been fully accepted as important local instutions increasing rural access and reducing the cost of access to unserviced communities.
2. Telecenter Capacity Building and partnerships
We need to increase steps to support growing number of telecenters in developing countries that need technical and financial resource support to enable them start up and operate sustainably. We have individual telecenters and networks that are strugling and need capacity development in many of our countries. This could be inform of training, technical, increased financial and mentorship developement component.
3. Mobile technologies and community telecenters
Mobile technologies are increrasingly becoming part of lives many people in Arab and ACP countries. telecenters have not taken initiatives to integrate the use of mobile devices with telecenters. The theme could add more impetus to local initiatives in the use of mobile devices to accerate and facilitate development processes.
4. Knowledge sharing and information exchange platform
The role of telecentre.org Foundation becomes more and more relevant to international development if local needs are taken into account.
1. Environmental management and conservation. Regarding this am looking at more work around e-waste management and green computing. Telecentres are a majority consumers of technology hence the need for sensitization on this aspect.
2. Also issues like climate change, agricultural productivity, health, disability and education can be emphasized and scaled up even though TC.org already working on a few of these areas.
3. Innovation, research and development of new products for the telecentre community is also an area that needs a lot of work, maybe the telecentre academy could directly address some of these issues in its curriculum. Locally relevant content promoted in languages as well. Collaborations with higher learning institutions is key to realizing some of these issues, there are wonderful students out there who just need the opportunity to innovate and research on most of these issues. Appropriate technology for rural African in terms of hardware and software is a major contributing factor in realizing sustainability objectives; hence its promotion is inevitable. (have a look at inveneo.org)
Telecentre Foundation has many more opportunities to enable it continue to stamp its uselfulness to the world community. Such themes include;
- Climate Change since it is an issue that can't go unnoticed and it is affecting all.
- WE should also have a session that will enable the Telecentres do follow-ups on the impact of their services/ goods to the community.
- Importance and relevance of other ICTs apart from Computers like radios, phones among others.
- Telecentre Capacity building. Where stakeholders or interested parties learn of the Telecentre movement.
- Alternative energy. Many people can't get Telecentre services due to contraints like power which can be managed through alternative energies like solar e.t.c
There are plenty of topics for this list. All of them diverse and relevant, but first the Foundation should focus on consolidation and multiplication of what TC.org has done well up to this point.
There is lots of value in corroborating the answers of members of the global network on this subject. Such brainstorm will show the needs, trends, and current impact of the job done by TC.org
Multiple aspirations will be gathered around this question, all of them representing the collective interest of TC.org’s current global network. The diversity of topics is guaranteed, illustrating a clear picture of each country, region, and the world, and describing all the main issues surrounding Telecentre today.
Even more important than these themes, is how the Foundation will address all of this information. So, the Foundation must create a mechanism that can help identify and respond to the needs and trends of the telecentre movement at the regional level, as well as the global level - a well-established process and/or methodology, which should give additional value to the future role played by the Foundation.
Such a mechanism will allow the Foundation to reinforce its influence at the regional level, as well as global level, serving its members effectively, and interacting with donors, supporters, and multiple stakeholders in a much more professional way. In addition, it will facilitate decision-making processes around how to better use resources, multiply impacts, and consolidate best practices among its members.
There are plenty of topics for this list. All of them diverse and relevant, but first the Foundation should focus on consolidation and multiplication of what TC.org has done well up to this point.
There is lots of value in corroborating the answers of members of the global network on this subject. Such brainstorm will show the needs, trends, and current impact of the job done by TC.org
Multiple aspirations will be gathered around this question, all of them representing the collective interest of TC.org’s current global network. The diversity of topics is guaranteed, illustrating a clear picture of each country, region, and the world, and describing all the main issues surrounding Telecentre today.
Even more important than these themes, is how the Foundation will address all of this information. So, the Foundation must create a mechanism that can help identify and respond to the needs and trends of the telecentre movement at the regional level, as well as the global level - a well-established process and/or methodology, which should give additional value to the future role played by the Foundation.
Such a mechanism will allow the Foundation to reinforce its influence at the regional level, as well as global level, serving its members effectively, and interacting with donors, supporters, and multiple stakeholders in a much more professional way. In addition, it will facilitate decision-making processes around how to better use resources, multiply impacts, and consolidate best practices among its members.
Hope you have teh document "GUIDEBOOK ON DEVELOPING COMMUNITYE-CENTRES IN RURAL AREAS:Based on the Malaysian experience". Our Centre of Excellence for Rural Informatics (CoERI) contributed in it. You can find the document online on http://74.125.153…
Movie looks good. But it would be great if some real time practices in between 2005-2010 can be shown in the video. Congratulation to telecentre.org and the initiators for building and surviving this powerful knowledge platform.
This video tells the story of telecentre.org -- from its 5-year tenure as a $21 million social investment program at Canada's International Development Research Centre, to its spin-off to a country in the developing world, that is, the Philippines.…