A Call 2 Action: Develop a website for people from poor and rural communities to aid them making best benefit from the internet and ICT

1. A portal with useful and practical information
for rural people
Firmin Soutime
21 May 2011

2. Video
Cheryl van Kempen (Initiator)

3. What is the idea? (1)
People in developing countries need useful knowledge
professions creating business
There is a lot of knowledge and information available on the
internet
e-learning courses social platforms
Khan Academy Nabuur, ideas4africa etc
But: people living in the countryside or urban slums are new to the
internet and new media
Do they know, what it can do for them? Do they know their way on the internet?
No Not really

4. What is the idea? (2)
create a portal where people can go to learn about the
internet and all the rich and useful content
explain how the internet refer them to different sites and
should be used useful resources.
turn the available create business, job or
Create just income.
information into something
opportunities
useful

5. 1. Using computers and the internet
 Using a computer is not
always straightforward
 Especially when support
is far away, one should
handle the computer
wisely
 An important skill for
students attending high-
school and university

6. 2. E-learning resources
 There are many online
courses available:
 Language, math, even
university courses
 This can be an important resource for people who want
to learn something

7. 3. Development resources
 Lots of information is online on development and poverty
alleviation
 Often aimed at NGO’s, in thick reports
 We want to improve access to this information and help
 With the translation to
feasible actions and results
 How to succesfully implement
this information?

8. Practical example of creating business
Moringa Tree:
Gram for gram, Moringa leaves contain
Scientific research has proven, that the leaves of Moringa
tree are a powerhouse of nutritional value.

9. Practical example of creating business (2)
Moringa Tree
 How to turn the Moringa
tree into products
 That can be
Monetized ?

10. 4. Supporting community
 This portal can only come into being if a community of
volunteers and professional partners commit to:
» Create and maintain the website
» Keep adding resources so the website keeps growing
» Keep contact with our target group to check whether available
resources meet their needs
» Create additional resources
if necessary

11. How does it change the old way?
AID1.0 AID2.0
Demand coming
Demand coming
from Developing
from West
countries
Government -
Government People -People
NGO-Communities

12. How does it change the old way?
AID1.0 AID2.0
Entrepreneurs
People in need
(Business)
Aid coming from
Development that
far-away
arises from within
communities and
a community.
NGOs.

13. Rural Web Info
&
Millennium Development Goals (MDG’s)
The most important
issues that need more
attention
Rural Web Help to
MDG’s
.Info reach

14. Role for NGO’s and Government
 We only create a site and a supporting community
 They implement the development projects that bring
internet and computers to the bottom billion
 Ruralweb.info can be a useful tool for them too!

15. Other important roles
• Facilitate the spreading of
“Indigenous Knowledge”
• Promote and emphasize the
importance of participation from
diaspora communities

16. Ruralweb.info

17. Thanks
Questions