Udit Chaudhuri <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Perhaps the only way this would work is to: > > 1 Collect computers used and donated in the command area itself, say > executives and offices of international companies and other > organisations who have imported the computers 3-4 years ago and are > upgrading their systems - incentivising (in token) or acknowledging > their donation;
This all depends on the level of development and/or economic crisis in a country. At APC, we have been covering the efforts of one of our members based in Argentina to equip local telecentres. They had originally planned to do it this way - contacting businesses locally - but because of the economic crisis it has been impossible. I'm assuming that this would be the situation for most of the less developed countries in the world. Now, fortunately, they have been put in contact with Computer Aid. We'll continue to cover this story on the APC site. You can read more below. Getting hold of computers for community telecentres in crisis-stricken Argentina is a serious challenge ROSARIO, Argentina, 06/07/2002 -- In the middle of one of the most serious crises ever faced by Argentina it's not easy for APC member, TAU to continue their dream of setting up self sustaining community computer centres in poor neighbourhoods. Based in one of the worst hit cities, former industrial heartland, Rosario, TAU is struggling to operate in a country where spine-chilling statistics point to 15 million people living below the poverty line out of a total population of 37 million, 60% of all children living in poverty and 25% of children are from families where even basic food needs are not met. Nevertheless, TAU is moving ahead with the implementation of three Community Computer Centres (or telecentres) in two marginal neighbourhoods within the city of Rosario and Capitan Bermudez, a town fifteen kilometers outside. - APCNews http://www.apc.org/english/news/index.shtml?x=5050 Building Computer and Internet Skills in Argentina Remains a Challenge but Demand Grows ROSARIO, Argentina, 05/30/2003 -- APC member TAU, based in Argentina's second city Rosario, has started meeting with organisations which are interested in setting up community telecentres in their neighbourhood. "It looks like we'll be developing six new telecentres which will make nine in total set up in Rosario and hinterland since last year," said Luis Martinez, one of TAU's coordinators. Getting hold of donated computers and other hardware is still a major headache in a country that has suffered such an economic crisis that most businesses are just not replacing their old machines as they did previously. "It's also proving really difficult getting even a basic dial-up Internet connection in certain areas of the city," said Luis. - APCNews http://www.apc.org/english/news/index.shtml?x=12181 Best wishes Karen Higgs APC ------------ ***GKD is solely supported by EDC, a Non-Profit Organization*** To post a message, send it to: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To subscribe or unsubscribe, send a message to: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>. In the 1st line of the message type: subscribe gkd OR type: unsubscribe gkd Archives of previous GKD messages can be found at: <http://www.edc.org/GLG/gkd/>
