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APTN Monthly Newsletter | Issue 01- May 2010 |
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Message from the APTN Secretariat On its way forward, APTN Secretariat is looking forward to create a pool of experts who can extend their helping hand to the telecentre managers/ operators and community in Asia Pacific Region as well as round the world. Please take a moment to fill the QUESTIONNAIR and send it back to us, which will help us to create our data base for the pool of telecentre expertise. Thank you in advance. |
At its 2009 session, ITU Council adopted the theme: "Better city, better life with ICTs" to mark World Telecommunication and Information Society Day 2010 which celebrated on 17th May 2010. The WTISD theme for this year was dedicated to promoting "Better Cities, Better Life" and which will showcase a number of initiatives aimed at achieving greener, safer, healthier, prosperous, inclusive and well-managed cities - where over half the world's population resides. ITU believes that there is a better future around the corner. Thanks to information and communication technologies (ICTs), cities of the future will be safer, cleaner, and more convenient than ever. Electric cars will plug into a smart electricity grid system when not being used, and automobiles will communicate with intelligent parking spaces. Perceptive protection sensors will accommodate to our needs and work to keep us safe. |
News from UNESCAP UNESCAP working on Knowledge Networks As the world moves into an increasingly globalized knowledge-based society, organizations and governments need to share knowledge and information through knowledge networks. In this era of increasing competition, knowledge networking is an effective means of combining individuals' knowledge and skills in pursuit of personal and organizational goals. The key drivers' of knowledge networks are Information Communication Technology (ICT) and Space based Technologies. Telecentres and knowledge hubs are two important tool in transmitting vital information and services particularly to those communities who are deprived of having individual access to these mechanisms. The 'Knowledge networks though ICT access points for disadvantage communities' is a United Nations Development Account (UNDA) Project which attempts to transform ICT access points into knowledge hubs of global knowledge networks. The project uses this mechanism to address the problem of fragmented and inadequately utilized knowledge for sustainable development . |
Following its successful transfer in March this year from Canada's International Development Research Centre to the telecentre.org Foundation based in the Philippines, telecentre.org is now preparing to move forward and break new ground. telecentre.org gathered its new staff for a team-building-cum-planning activity meeting, which was their first staff meeting in Manila, Philippines from May 18-21, 2010. |
News from External Resouces WSIS Forum 2010 was held from 10 to 14 of May 2010 at the ITU Headquarters, Geneva, Switzerland. This event built upon the tradition of annual WSIS May meetings, and its new format was the result of open consultations with all WSIS Stakeholders. The host ITU and the co organizers ITU, UNESCO, UNCTAD and UNDP would like to thank all participants of the WSIS Forum 2010 for their enthusiastic, meaningful and engaged participation. |
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 Log in, Zoom in and Check out APTN - Telecentre Network Map Asia Pacific Telecentre Network (APTN) Secretariat is working hard towards building its web portal as a strong network to transfer technology and required knowledge to its members. With your strong participation and dedication, a success regional cooperative mechanism can be built. Therefore APTN Secretariat kindly look forward to it community's generous support to APTN and all national networks/ telecentres or knowledge hubs, so that they could exchange and provide more information and knowledge and new services to the rural and disadvantaged communities in the region. On its way forward, APTN Secretariat is in the process of developing a site map of the grassroots organizations and telecentre networks that undertake telecentre activities in the Asia pacific Region. In fact, it intends that APTN portal will be linked with all it member organizations/ telecentre Networks web pages in order to providing information and details on telecentre activities carried out by respective organizations/ telecentre Networks. Therefore, it is a great pleasure the APTN Secretariat to locate all the ICT organizations & telecentre networks in the proposed site map. So far there are 4 telecentre Networks, 15 institutions & organizations from Asia Pacific region that are involved in telecentre activities located in the map. Added to that several ICT organizations and telecentre networks that are in operations beyond the Asia Pacific region also being accomadated in the map.
APTN highly appreciate your co-operation in further developing the content of the map and cordially invite respective members from ICT organizations and telecentre networks in Asia Pacific region to be a part of the APTN - Network location map.
If you/ your ICT organization/ telecentre Network is interested in join hand with APTN or need further clarifications, Please do not hesitate to contact APTN Community Facilitator via an email to seuwandiy@icta.lk
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 APTN online community is reaching 100-member mark The Asia Pacific Telecentre Network (APTN) online community is reaching 100 member mark in fewer than 3 months and it keeps on growing. The rapid rise in membership reflects both the community's commitment to the telecentre movement in the Asia Pacific region and the value of a regional knowledge sharing platform which provides a space to share information on telecentre activities that takes place in the Asia Pacific region and to seek help through the various online features sharings.
The APTN online community, which makes use of the Ning platform, incorporates interactive online features including blogs, forums, groups, online events, and photo and video & member profiles, enabling telecentre implementers, community members and stakeholders in the region to get to know one another, exchange ideas on common issues and interests, and stay connected.
In anticipation of achieving its main objective: to promote innovation and knowledge-sharing amongst Telecentre organizations/ networks in the Asia-Pacific region where telecentres are growing spontaneously each year, a discussion was opened to provide members with the opportunity to have their say and make suggestions on APTN future plans, resource persons as well as other logistical matters.
APTN Secretariat is working hard towards building its web portal , as a strong network to transfer technology and required knowledge to its members. Added to that, it is only with a strong community participation and dedication that a successful regional cooperative mechanism can be built. Therefore APTN Secretariat kindly look forward to interactive community participation in APTN web portal and kindly invite all national networks/ telecentres or knowledge hubs to join in, so that they could exchange and provide more information and knowledge and new services to the rural and disadvantaged communities in the Asia Pacific region. |
 The Philippine Community eCenter Program - Full steam ahead towards 2011-2016 Written by Jasmine Mohammadsali For the past three years, the Strategic Roadmap of the Philippine Community eCenter (CeC) Program 2008-2010 has been the common denominator that has shaped the telecentre landscape in the country. United under one vision - A Community eCenter in every municipality - and spurred by the support of the Philippine government, the academe and private sectors, the Philippine CeC Program, with the Roadmap as its guide, has since then measured its progress in leaps and bounds.
The program is now at a crucial turning point, with the current road map drawing to a close, and the challenge of drafting a successor road map up to the task of building on the foundation laid by the current road map is the program's top agenda.
READ MORE |
 Jaffna e-Society Day: Taking ICT to the Community in War Torn Areas of Sri LankaInformation & Communication Technology Agency (ICTA) recently completed a successful ICT program in Jaffna peninsula on ICT applications and contents that are available for the public. The event consisted with a training workshop and an exhibition which ran through for 2 days and held in Jaffna Public library on 05th and 6th of May 2010.
As ICTA has focused its attention on further improving the standard of life of the people of the North, an area which was affected by the 30 years of war. The main objective of this event was to create awareness and create multiple opportunities for the community and uplift the socio-economic standards of the people in Jaffna peninsula by using ICT services, applications and various contents that are available. Therefore the main intention of conducting this event was to create awareness and disseminate information on projects that will benefit general public especially farmers, women, children, small scale entrepreneurs as well as differently abled persons. |
Centre of Excellence for Rural Informatics (CoERI) launched eLamai and eBuayan In Malaysia The Centre of Excellence for Rural Informatics (CoERI) a research centre, anchored at the Faculty of Computer Science and Information Technology (FCSIT), Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) inaugurated eLamai and eBuayan under Demonstrator Application Grant Scheme (DAGS). Ngerabit eLamai: A new Community Telecentre to provide high speed internet and communication services were inaugurated in Long Lamai on 10th December 2009. The Community Telecentre has been set up by the CoERI- UNIMAS, with the support of Ministry of Science and Technology (MOSTI) Malaysia and Japanese Government. This project is a step in replication of eBario, a multiple award-winning initiative of UNIMAS. Long Lamai is a remote rural community, located close to the border between Indonesian Kalimantan and Sarawak. Flying from Miri to Long Banga and an hour on boat to Long Lamai is the only way to get there. The community has a population of 500 people and the majority of the people are Penans. They are one of the smallest ethnic groups in Sarawak and are mainly farmers. The community has only very limited interconnections with the outside world. |
Info Lady, Bridging Digital Divide in Rural Bangladesh Written By Fatema Begam Labony A large amount of Bangladeshi people lives in rural area and for the low literacy rate they are long way from the benefit of Information communication and technology (ICTs). According to urban people rural people have no interest in modern science and don't want to know about this. Always we saw them to visit Fakir instead of Doctor when they became sick. We think they are depriving themselves from the benefit of modern science and technology revolution but did we questioned ourselves that what opportunity we created for them to get access in modern science and technology resourses?
There is a growing concern that already marginalized poor people are further pushed to the corner and their livelihood becomes more vulnerable due to ferocious competition for job, market share and common resources. People having access to ICTs have better access to information, which put them in better position in economic activities. Therefore, various initiatives are on the way across the globe for identification of effective, efficient and sustainable means for making ICTs useful for the poor people both in urban and rural areas. Info Lady is one of the solutions introduced to the rural community in Banglash in order to benefit them with ICT. |
"Improving Rural Development through Telecentres": Workshop on Improving Rural Development through Telecentres in Malaysia International Telecommunication Union (ITU) jointly with Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) organised the training workshop on "Improving Rural Development through Telecentres: Key Success Factors" from 26 - 28 April 2010 in Penang, Malaysia. The training workshop aimed to provide an avenue for participating countries in sharing their experiences in implementing community telecentre for rural development and to identify policies that can promote sustainability of the centre. This workshop was developed as a part of the Rural ICT Development Programme within the framework of the ITU Centre of Excellence for the Asia Pacific Region and will take place at The Gurney Resort Hotel & Residences, Penang, Malaysia. It was addressed to Policy Makers, Regulators, Corporate Executives and Managers, i.e. middle-level managers, administrators and officials dealing with Rural ICT Development. |
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Telecentre News Beyond Asia Pacific |
Community Knowledge Centers (CKCs) in Sultanate Oman
Information Technology Authority ( ITA) has used an unique unified methodology in transforming Oman into a digital society is the best example for integrating and synchronizing ICT for socio-economic development. ITA has set up and launched Community Knowledge Centers (CKCs) in various regions in Oman as part of their e-Oman strategy to bridge the digital divide. These CKCs are geographically located in Muscat; Sur, Seeb and Salalah. In the first step there will be training for trainers on IT at the CKCs by using the Microsoft digital literacy curriculum. Public can utilize the CKC centres for accessing IT training. Each CKC will be equipped with the required computing , communication equipments, internet connectivity and educational IT programs. The CKCs managed and operated with the support and expertise of a nationally respected training company, will have its own program and event schedule, that will allow interested citizens to register for and participate in the training programs. It is expected that through the CKCs, 60,000 Omani nationals will be benefited over the next three years. This initiative supports members of the community to get prepared for higher digital literacy certifications and provide them with free access to the e-services.
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eLearning Africa 2010 - 5th International Conference ICT for Development, Education and Training Source: Southern Africa Telecentre Network Southern Africa Teecentre Network announces that this year's eLearning Africa, the fifth in the highly successful series of pan-African gatherings, will take place in Zambia under the patronage of the Zambian Minister of Education, the Honourable Ms Dora Siliya. From May 26th - 28th, 2010, the Continent's largest annual assembly of eLearning and education professionals from Africa and beyond will convene in the capital, Lusaka. Moving to Zambia in 2010, eLearning Africa continues to build and expand its worldwide network of people involved in all aspects of technology-enhanced education and training in Africa, including management and policymaking. As with previous conferences, eLearning Africa 2010 will be conducted in both English and French. |
Telecentre-Europe prepares for 'challenges for change', May 25-27th 2010 Source : Telecentre- Europe Newsletter Since the first edition in 1978 in Barcelona, the World IT Congress (WCIT) has become the world's leading information technology gathering. From Tokyo to Adelaide, from Paris to Fairfax, the world Congress has been hosted all over the world. WCIT 2010 will address the theme Challenges for change, divided in nine tracks in which IT plays a critical role in the near future. Telecentre-Europe is pleased to actively participate in two of the tracks: eInclusion and eGovernment. More than that, we are planning to promote the major impact of telecentres in today's society through a telecentre-shaped-booth where we will demonstrate daily activities that happen in telecentres across Europe. |
Upcoming Telecentre Events from Asia Pacifc |
eIndia 2010 Awards eIndia is a unique platform for knowledge sharing in different domains of ICT for development and facilitates multi-stakeholder partnerships and networking among governments, industry, academia and civil society organisations from different countries, including the host country- India. eIndia Awards are held annually with the eIndia conferenece and exhibition and are open to all national and international government organizations, civil society organizations, bilateal and multilateral development organizations and enterprices, who have transformed social development opprtunities into a sustainable social enterprice through innovative ICT intervention.
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m-Billionth Awad 2010 Information and Communication Agency (ICTA) of Sri Lanka together with the Digital Empowerment Foundation of India and the Department of Information Technology, Ministry of Information and Communication, Government of India are pleased to announce the region's very first mobile content awards. m-Billionth Award 2010- "Recognizing innovations in mobile Content & Application for masses" , the award program is to honor the mobile application developer in the south Asia region.The mBillionth Award 2010 will recognize and felicitate the region's best and innovative mobile innovations, applications and service delivery.
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Contact Info
Asia-Pacific Telecentre Network Secretariat,
ICT Agency of Sri Lanka,
No. 160/24, Kirimandala Mawatha, Colombo 05,
Sri Lanka
Tel: +94-11-23699099
Fax: +94-11-2369091
email: info@icta.lk |
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| The Asia-Pacific Telecentre Network (APTN) is a collaborative initiative of the United Nations' Economic and Social Commission for the Asia-Pacific (UN-ESCAP) and telecentre.org and APTN Secretariat presently being hosted at ICT Agency (ICTA) Sri Lanka. The network will promote innovation and knowledge-sharing amongst Telecentre organizations in the Asia-Pacific region where Telecentres are growing exponentially each year. The APTN is expected to be developed into a unique network of Governments and Private sector supported telecentres, telecentre service providers, research & development organizations, telecentre experts, consultants and other stake holders active in the field of communication and information technology. APTN will serve as the focal network or the knowledge hub for communication and information technology in the Asia Pacific region. |
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