The Beyond the Net Funding Programme is proud to announce the results for the November 2015 cycle.
These projects here are just an example of the opportunities people can make for themselves when they have access to the Internet. No matter if it’s boosting education, building a community, or fighting poverty they’re able to use the Internet to bring amazing changes to their world.
The Beyond the Net Funding Programme
Open Data Lebanon
Nabil Bou-Khaled, Lebanon Chapter
This project aims to host and manage the opendatalebanon.org portal and provide guidance and support to the various government agencies to assist them in the identification, transformation and publication of their datasets on the portal.
Open data is data that is that others can use freely and redistribute to anyone. Because most of that government data is public data by law, many governments around the world have been publishing their data on specialized websites free of charge.
Alliance Article 32
Mondher Laabidi, Tunisia Chapter
The purpose of this project is to defend the values and principles of freedom of access to information and networks in Tunisia, following article 32 of the new Tunisian constitution. The main objectives of this project are:
- An appraisal work to see the scope of Article 32; What are the laws that are against its implementation, and what are the bills that will achieve access to information and networks
- A citizen action: making an awareness campaign on the rights related to access to information and networks (encourage people to access networks and online databases). Create a proposal force around debates in areas with young people and civil society concerned by Article 32
To tour in 8 regions to reach citizens - Training and awareness sessions for youth, journalists, academic and government representatives mainly in inland areas of Tunisia.
240 young, 20 Members, 50 journalists, 160 students.
Observatorio de la Juventud
Adela Goberna, Paraguay (SIG)
The “Youth Observatory” is an initiative of young members of Internet Society in Latin American countries, seeking to build a participatory platform to bring knowledge about Internet governance and principles to the youth in Latin America, regardless of their language, sex, race, religion, etc., building capacity among young people. Also, through these tools, build knowledge among young people, enabling them to acquire skills to address these issues.
Internet of Things Makerspaces
Solomon Kembo, Zimbabwe Chapter
Most Zimbabwean schools are operating on shoe-string budgets as budgetary support from government is limited and students barely afford to pay fees. As such access to modern ways and tools of learning, such internet and IoT toolkits is a pipe dream.
The project will work with Herintals High School students, between the ages of 12 and 20 years, from high density suburbs of Harare. Herintals is a group of secondary school centers located in most major cities in Zimbabwe. Its target market are students from mostly high density suburbs. Most of its centers are also located in the high density suburbs for the convenience of the students. A number of Herintals students are repeat students that are supplementing subjects failed on initial examination sittings.
Below is a list of ways in which the project will benefit students earmarked for this project:
• Provide Alternative Career Paths to Academically Challenged Students
Vocational subjects such as wood work and metal work have proved, in the past, to be successful with students that are not academically gifted. Likewise the hands-on nature of IoT offers an alternative avenue of expression for academically challenged students.
• Interesting IoT Applications to stimulate creative thinking
The students will have their minds opened up to a whole new world of possibilities by exposing them to IoT applications undertaken by their peers. They will have a chance to develop similar projects in the process stimulating their own creativity and problem solving capability.
• Engaging young students
Most youths in the targeted areas are disillusioned by the current state of the economy and engage in unhealthy habits that include alcohol and drug abuse. Engaging them in interesting Internet projects will take their minds off some of these unhealthy habits.
The project will establish Internet of Things (IoT) Makerspaces, at selected Zimbabwean schools, to inspire and equip local students with IoT skills and resources, enabling them to develop problem-solving IoT projects in their communities.
Read more about The Beyond the Net Funding Programme