I’m so pleased to announce the latest recipients of Internet Society Community Grants.
These grants are awarded twice a year to Internet Society Members and Chapters. Each applicant must have a clear vision of how they want to use the Internet to bring positive change to their local communities. It’s about supporting innovation, change, and local solutions with global impact.
If you’d like to find out how to apply, you can read our Community Grants pages.
Please join me in congratulating this latest round of inspiring projects from our amazing global community of Members and Chapters.
What a difference you are all making.
1. e-Commerce content development and capacity building of indigenous Penans community in Sarawak
Project Leader: Tariq Zaman, Malaysia
The community in Long Lamai are mainly involved in subsistence farming, and like many other remote rural areas, find most of their young people moving away to urban centres. There is also a lack of awareness of the hidden assets that exist in the remote areas, such as flora and fauna, and the unique culture of Long Lamai.
This e-commerce project will leverage these assets by helping the community to develop and promote their handicrafts and homestays, and give the local people the skills to maintain the e-commerce website themselves. Ultimately, the project aims to generate new employment and reduce number of young people leaving these remote areas through the creation of social and economic opportunities.
2. Women experts in computer maintenance and Internet Security
Project leader: Sigrid Ortega, Bolivia
The project targets young women in the junior and senior levels of six high schools in Oruro, Bolivia. Through several workshops and courses, the aim is to enable girls and young women to learn computing, web-related technologies and issues related to Internet security. The successful students will be granted a certificate as Trained Technician on Maintenance of Laptops, Internet Security and Computer Networks.
The learned skills and knowledge will enable these young women to earn an income, create their own jobs, and find other employment opportunities, by unleashing their technological potential. At the same time, they will become agents and promoters of technological innovation and social change based on the principles of a responsible use of Internet.
3. Introduction and applications of the Internet for elementary students at PCS
Project Leader: Patrick Blank, Federated States of Micronesia
In the Federated States of Micronesia, only 5% of the population has access to the Internet. This project will see wireless Internet access points installed in an elementary school in Pohnpei. Moreover, the teachers will also be trained in using the Internet, and in turn they will use these resources in their curriculum. The ultimate goal is to create experienced Internet users and expand the use of the Internet, both inside and outside the classroom.
Not only will this project be a pilot project for other schools, but it will also be used as a test case of the sustainability of using the Internet in schools and it will highlight how underutilized the Internet is on the island.
4. Training on computer use and Internet access for women and girls in Vietnam
Project Leader: Ngo Thi Quynh Van, Vietnam
The Nghe An Public Library, a unit under the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, is the largest centre for information, education and entertainment of Nghe An province in Vietnam.
The main objective of the project is to develop and enhance the Internet literacy skills of women in rural areas, teaching them to use computers and navigate Internet, delivered through several educational courses.
5. ABC for Bangladesh
Project Leader: Monir Bhuiyan with support from ISOC Bangladesh Chapter
The aim of this project is to support and foster collaborations between the academic and business communities in Bangladesh. This project will help to connect academics and business people with research and contacts in fields including e-commerce, e-governance, and e-health.
6. Developing local contents for Boulkassoumbougou
Project Leader: Mamadou Diallo Iam, Mali Chapter
This initiative is the continuation of a successful project implemented in 2013 that connected a school group to the Internet.
In this second phase the project will develop educational content in the Bambara language. The ISOC Mali Chapter will work together with teachers from the school and with advisors of the education authorities to produce different lectures in the local language including grammar, reading, comprehension, as well as units on citizenship, environment, history, geography, science, math and technology. This work will help students in their learning process while contributing to the development of local language content on the Internet.
7. Soweto Wireless
Project Leader: Jabulani Vilakazi, South Africa Gauteng Chapter
Access to the Internet is a significant enabler of economic growth and human development, this project will create a wireless network that will give free and low-cost access to rural township and remote areas.
8. Orient and Rouse the Blind with Information Technology (ORBIT)
Project Leader: Hiwotu Teka, Ethiopia
This project aims to empower individuals with visual impairment to use a computer, the Internet and other technologies effectively. Skill training will be provided at selected schools for students and at the resource and training centre, equipped with adaptive technologies, as well as a variety of services like internet connection, e-library, audio-books, Braille and other general services.
9. Yemen e-Commerce
Project Leader: Ahmed Almarwani, Yemen Chapter
The project will be promoting e-commerce in Yemen, and boosting the confidence of the Yemeni community in the Internet as a means of purchasing and selling products and services using available online resources.
To achieve its goal, the project aims at providing training focusing on young Yemenis, preferably those who have a university degree, who are either unemployed or need an additional source of income and are eager to explore the various potentials of e-commerce to advance their careers. This project will help them develop skills through group training, seminars, and debates around what is needed to enhance the conditions for developing the e-commerce sector in Yemen.
10. “TUJIUNGE” Unissons nous pour la disponibilisation de l’information à la communauté d’Uvira
Project Leader: Delu Lusambya, Democratic Republic of the Congo
This project involves the creation of a centre connected to the Internet for grouping, sharing and publication of information related to violence against women in the province of South Kivu, in the Democractic Republic of the Congo.
A resource centre will be set up, including 10 computers with Internet access, for sharing and publishing information around getting help for young women coping with violent situations in the Uvira community.