Gems of the Earth Rural Community Telecenter Network

Gems of the Earth Rural Community Telecenter Network Empowering Brazilian Rural Communities Through Access to Cyberspace Marco Figueiredo June 2004

Introduction • • Career background. The opportunity to make a difference. Addressing the needs of the immigrant community. Finding the focus – the creation of the telecenter pilot project in rural Brazil. • Creating the rural telecenter network concept – The Gems of the Earth NGO. • Next step: Mobilize the immigrant community in the US. • Future: Expand the support network to other developed nations. Page 2

Defining Digital Inclusion: The Big Picture The Participation of all Citizens in the Construction of the Society of Knowledge Page 3

The Gems of the Earth Network • Focus on rural digital inclusion - communities with less than 2500 inhabitants (districts). • A not for profit, non-government organization, founded in September 8, 2003 in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. • Steering Committe formed by people involved in the social causes and rural development. • Fiscal Committe formed by people of recognized reputation. • Executive management led by Marco Figueiredo. Page 4

Management Organization Page 5

Pilot Project • Started in November of 2001 in the Jequitinhonha Region, Minas Gerais. • Partnership with community associations in São Gonçalo do Rio das Pedras, Milho Verde, Tombadouro, Rodeador and Conselheiro Mata. • Partnership with FUNIVALE – local NGO with 14 years of work in the Jequitinhonha region. • Support of Unesco, Ministry of Communications, Prodabel, Catalytic Communities, CTCNET, and Free Software community. • Internet through satellite, 1 server computer, 1 client computer and 1 multi-function printer. Page 6

Free Telecenters • Created and managed by the local community. • Organized in the NGO format. – Steering Committe, with participation of all segments of the community. It ordinarily meets once a year and it establishes the guidelines of the telecenter. – Board of Directors, volunteer, elected every two years. – Fiscal Committe, volunteer, elected every two years. – Telecenter manager, hired to administer the entity. • Self-sustainable – Fee-based system. • Uses free software. Page 7

Structure of the Embryonic Telecenter • 1 multimedia computer server (diskette, CD-R, photowebcam). • 1 client computer with audio. • 1 multi-functional printer (fax, copier, scanner). • 1 broadband Internet system (satellite, radio, DSL). • Furniture. • Average cost of installation: $2, 000 • Average monthly maintenance cost: $400 • Average yearly maintenance cost: $4, 800 Page 8

Structure of the Advanced Telecenter Approximate area: 150 m². Average cost of installation: $ 15, 000 Average monthly maintenance cost: $ 900 Average yearly maintenance cost: $10, 800 Page 9

Means to Self-Sustainability • Access fees based on communities abilities to pay. • Rendering services to governments: – – – Education, Health, Safety, Communication, Collection and dissemination of information, Others. • Electronic trade and tele-work. • Training and Entrepreneurship. • Others. Page 10

Gems of the Earth Methodology: Community Relationship Page 11

Gems of the Earth Methodology Research, Popularization and Awareness Building • Research – Continually search for and develop knowledge about rural communities and the technologies of digital inclusion used in the formation of the Society of Knowledge. • Popularization - Fill out the available spaces in the national and international media to advertise our agenda. • Awareness Building - Organize encounters and regional conferences to attract rural community leaders and promoters of digital inclusion, with the intention of advertising the concept, provide tutorials and affiliate potential developers of community telecenters. Page 12

Gems of the Earth Methodology Capacity Building • Rural Community Telecenter Guide. – Unesco funded project to produce and disseminate a guide, such as the manuals produced by CTCNET and UNESCO, which incorporates the whole methodology of creation of rural community telecenters. • Telecenter Management Educational Center – Develop a curriculum to form managers of rural community telecenters. – Train the trainners to allow advanced telecenters to become regional educational centers. Page 13

Gems of the Earth Methodology Telecenter Certification • The Gems of the Earth Network certifies rural telecenters motivating their sustainable growth. • Certification levels: – Crystal - community receives support of the Gems of the Earth to create a telecenter embryo. – Amethyst - community creates NGO to manage telecenter. – Turmalin-telecenter becomes self-sustainable. – Emerald - telecenter reaches advanced structure. – Diamond - telecenter becomes a regional telecenter management educational center. Page 14

Gems of the Earth Methodology Telecenter Construction • Telix – Free Linux-based software package for telecenters. • Legal support. • Technology support. • Sustainability planning. • Definition of programs. • Acquisition of equipment and services. • Fundraising. Page 15

Gems of the Earth Methodology Telecenter Network Management • • Self-sustentation of the cells. New programs. Documentation. Internal/external communication. Continuing education. Exchanges and integration. Fundraising. Page 16

Gems of the Earth Methodology Knowledge Bank • Aggregate and make available, in open source format, all content generated by the network through an online knowledge bank. • Promote discussion lists, forums and collaborative project management tools. • Promote transparency through the Virtaul Cash Register. • Integrate with donors in a virtual environment. • Derive intelligence from the transactions in the knowledge bank to strengthen the mission of the organization. Page 17

Mobilizing the Immigrant Community • Motivations: – Promoting social change that will directly benefit relatives and friends, future generations and themselves in case they return. – Recognition by Brazilian society for supporting social development. – Recognition by American society for supporting democracy in the developing world. • Goal: – Organize a large group of Brazilian immigrants, relatives and friends to support the building of the Gems of the Earth Telecenter Network. Page 18

Ten Thousand Gems Program • Create a network fo 10, 000 Brazilian immigrants, relatives and friends, the TEN THOUSAND GEMS, to contribute $100 a year each. • Build a $1 M budget a year. • For each GEM, raise TWO GEMS from international organizations, governments, private sector and third sector. • Build a $3 M budget per year and expand. Page 19

Pilot Meeting • February 2004, presented the project to about 20 Brazilian immigrant and friends in Annapolis, Maryland. • Connected live with pilot telecenter. • Energized community but lacked resources and structure to follow-up. Page 20

Considerations for Continuing Development • Fully establish Brazilian NGO ($150 K in 2004) – Bring pilot project to full maturity. – Develop training infrastructure. – Develop collaborative virtual environment. • Build member based organization in the US to promote community mobilization and fundraising (requires seed funding). Page 21

Contacts and Donations Gems of the Earth Network 235 Fernandes Tourinho St, Suite 903 Belo Horizonte, MG 30112 -000 Telefax: 55 -31 -3285 -1601 marco@gemasdaterra. org. br http: //www. gemasdaterra. org. br 202 -276 -8324 Page 22