Thank you for your interest in e-Desa. It is one of the Sabah State govt initiatives to bridge the digital devide between the have and have not. Basically the govt provides the infra and the local communities drive the activities.

Dr. Ashish,
Sorry I could not come back to you sooner.

Our model works on production of any service or agricultural produce that a member uses as his accumulated resource and against which they can get credit for other goods or services. At the moment we are not dealing in cash as we seek to stimulate production and subsequent value addition.

A member who is registered and dealing a focus crop or offering a service along the value chain of a focus crop will receive inputs in terms of what can help them become more productive.

I wonder if this is helpful or better still, let me know what you would like me to clarify further.

Kiringai

I am inspired by the information provided by Jennet Oreeva on IATP centres and particularly by the example on the empowerment of disabled
people.Could you please inform the names of the countries where IATP is operating and how the support of IATP may be availed by the interested persons?
Thanks for presenting a piece of very nice information.

Helo Dr Ashish Kumar Verma, nice to see your interest with our organization mission. It is my pleasure to tell about Internet Access and Training Program. Addressing the shortage of access to information in Eurasia, the Internet Access and Training Program (IATP) spurs community development by employing information and communications technology (ICT) to link citizens and resources both regionally and internationally. IATP fosters better-informed and more efficient citizens who use ICT tools that facilitate the free exchange of information, build local and international associations, and improve communities. The program targets citizens in a position to disseminate information and generate positive change, such as NGO employees, educators, journalists, and government officials.
IATP centers typically consist of an administrator and six to twelve computers providing:

• Internet Access - Free computer and Internet access available at centers helps bridge the digital divide for individuals and communities, and provides new sources of information, opportunity, and knowledge.

• Technical Training – IATP’s standard course list includes computer basics, Internet basics, blogging, Web design, wikis, graphics editing, and specialized ICT courses for government employees, NGOs, journalists, teachers, and others.

• Web Content Development – New Web resources created by IATP trainees increase local-language content, making the Internet more accessible and useful to local populations.

• Online Forums – Stakeholders, experts, and decision-makers join online in virtual exchanges of ideas that bridge regions with capital cities, countries with their neighbors and with the greater world

• Community Events – Citizens utilize the centers as neutral meeting places to organize community initiatives and use technology to strengthen their projects.


There are lot achievements in social work with local people, and I would like just to bring one example of our success with disabled people empowerment.

 Two blind trainers are conducting computer courses for four of their female peers under the pilot project of IATP in partnership with the Turkmen Society for the Blind and Deaf (TSBD). ICT for the Blind is a collaborative project which is aims to teach computer literacy and Internet basics to visually impaired people. The project has already taught over 15 members to use computers with the help of special voicing software, and aims to equip them with job skills. The program is mutually beneficial for trainers and trainees alike, as trainers receive honoraria and job experience, and trainees learn skills useful in both their personal and professional lives.

Thanks Dr Ashish Kumar Verma for the microfinance and rural banking works.I would like to link up with you in sharing of experience in this field and how we can collaborate.