World Bank Press Release

Telecenters of the Americas Partnership

Hemispheric Communities Connect Initiative

FOR INMEDIATE RELEASE:

Telecenters of the Americas the World’s Largest Community Technology Network Presented the Seminar:

Telecenters of the Americas: A network of networks supporting community development, access & management of assets and human resource capital development through community telecenters

A Seminar Sponsored By The Word Bank E-Development Services Thematic Group in Washington, DC

Washington, DC – In an effort to promote the economic development of communities across the Western hemisphere, the Telecenters of the Americas Partnership (TAP) presented a seminar on Tuesday, September 21^st, 2004, at the World Bank in Washington, DC entitled: Telecenters of the Americas: a network of networks supporting community development, access to and management of assets and human resource capital development through community telecenters.  During this activity key TAP members presented the components of a new paradigm for community and regional social, economic and educational development supported by digital technologies to be implemented making use of TAP extensive network. Telecenters of the Americas Partnership is a hemispheric organization composed of the five leading community access technology networks in the Americas.

Telecenters are public spaces where people access and learn to use new information and communication technologies and participate in a wide variety of social and economic development programs. The alliance between the Aspira Association, Pacific Community Networks Association (PCNA), the ChasquiNet Foundation, Somos@Telecentros, and Community Technology Centers’ Network (CTCNet), brings together the strongest regional networks in the Americas to enable economic development through the integration of resources and services among the myriad of regional telecenters that have emerged across North, South America and the Caribbean.

“This coalition coordinates and connects over 5,000 telecenters throughout North, Central and South America, and the Caribbean. Working collectively, we are empowering millions of individuals, their families and communities by delivering social and educational services aimed at the development of their full potential,” indicated John Villamil, executive vice president and chief information officer of the Aspira Association.

“All of the organizations involved have created strong networks of telecenters in their respective regions,” states Kavita Singh, executive director of CTCNet. We are sharing best organizational and community development practices as well as curricula between countries, streamlining workload and costs, enabling individual technology centers to maximize resources and, ultimately, develop their communities” she said.

“Access to the Internet in our communities is a powerful tool that can have a positive impact on their social, educational and economic needs, particularly in the low-income and rural areas that we serve.  By leveraging digital technologies and the scale of our network, TAP will implement this novel economic development vision.” added John Zoltner, director of policy and programs for CTCNet.

Klaus Stoll, president of the ChasquiNet Foundation, indicated at the seminar, “The TAP community development model will enhance economic opportunity and social development in local and regional communities throughout the Americas, which is a goal of all of the organizations involved. Through our model, communities will have access to capital and the necessary capital management tools and platforms.  This will be accomplished by delivering a number of services through our networks.”

“The relationships among TAP participating organizations allow us to leverage our resources and deliver services for underserved communities,” said Bev Collins, general manager of the Pacific Community Networks Association.

For more information on the Telecenters of the Americas Partnership, contact John Zoltner at CTCNet, (202) 462-1200 or jzoltner@ctcnet.org.

ABOUT CTCNet:
Community Technology Centers’ Network (CTCNet) is a membership network of more than 1,000 community-based technology centers, programs, and support organizations throughout the United States dedicated to the dissemination of digital technologies to low income neighborhoods in ways that strengthen individuals, families and communities. (www.ctcnet.org)

ABOUT SOMOS TELECENTROS

The Somos@Telecentros network is a rapidly growing community of telecenters throughout Latin America and the Caribbean, committed to fulfilling the potential contribution that telecenters can make to digital inclusion strategies across the region. Since its inception, the S@TNetwork has quickly become the place for activism, information, education, networking, resources, lobbying efforts and communication for telecentre issues in LAC. (www.tele-centros.org)

ABOUT Fundacion Chasquinet
Fundacion Chasquinet is a non-profit organization based in Quito, Ecuador. Chasquinet promotes the strategic uses of information and communication technologies among impoverished groups locally and regionally, and fosters economic and social policies that will contribute to human and sustainable development. (www.chasquinet.org) 

ABOUT Aspira Association
The Aspira Association, Inc. is the only national nonprofit organization devoted solely to the education and leadership development of Puerto Rican and other Latino youth. The Aspira Association promotes the empowerment of the Puerto Rican and Latino community by developing and nurturing the leadership, intellectual, and cultural potential of its youth so that they may contribute their skills and dedication to the fullest development of the Puerto Rican and Latino community everywhere. (www.aspira.org)

ABOUT PCNA
The PCNA was formed in 1993 to support community networking in British Columbia.  In 2003 the PCNA officially partnered with the Yukon Territories to promote the establishment of community networks in British Columbia and the Yukon, and to provide support for existing community-based technology initiatives. The PCNA has a strong philosophical orientation that focuses on process and local ownership and involvement. It includes 28 Regional Networks including 1,010 CAP sites in British Columbia and the Yukon. (www.pcna.ca) 

Telecentres of the Americas