Taigüey Foundation

Telecentre Wokshop Jamaica (workshop telecentres in Jamaica)

July 30, 2009

CAPS REPORT ON THE JAMAICA NETWORK (Jachan) NETWORKING WORKSHOP Kingston, Jamaica - July 30 2009. The workshop Gathered There Were 27 participants from 17 local telecenters / CAP sites across the island. The Objective of the workshop WAS to Strengthen the networking activity among the the CAP OPERATORS / managers, Within the framework of the Jachan, in order to enable peer to peer support permanent, Dissemination of best practices, tools and resources, to Strengthen the sustainability and Social Impact of the CAPS in the communities. It was Organised by Jachan and ICT4DJamaica and Taigüey Foundation, in the framework of the ACT! ivate project This workshop WAS Organised thanks to the support of telecentre.org to Financial program is a joint venture of the International Development Research Centre (Canada), the Swiss Development Corporation and the Microsoft Corporation.

The ACT! Ivate Project Which was Launched in October 2008, and Implemented by Taiguey Foundation, to Establish and Maintain AIMS the core of the Alliance mecanismos of Caribbean Telecentres (ACT!), a regional framework for sharing and Collaboration among Caribbean telecentres. The project is Intended to support telecentre leaders' interaction via virtual space and face to face events, networking, sharing information (general and Thematic) Accessing resources, service and tools and Collaboration on regional projects.

There are over 30 telecenters individually as well as in Jamaica 30 additional Internet access points in public libraries across the island. In March 2008, supported by ICT4D Jamaica Conference, Ministry of Energy, Mining and Telecommunications and UNESCO WAS Held in Kingston Which was geared Toward the Possibility of exploring Jamaica Establishing a Community Access Point / Community Multimedia Center (PAC / CMC) Network and to Provide the Opportunity for local community-based projects to share ICTs Their Knowledge and Experiences. One outcome of the conference WAS the establishment of the Jamaica Community Access Point Network (Jachan) Which is geared Toward Representing the Interests of telecenters / CAP across the island.

In March 2009, at WAS meeting Held Between Jachan, ICT4D Jamaica and the ACT! Ivate Project Which was Represented by Taiguey Foundation. The purpose of the meeting to introduce the ACT WAS! Ivate project and explore Ways In Which Jamaican telecenters Could Participate in it. By the end of the meeting, It Was Determined That a training workshop for Jamaican Representatives of telecenters would be Held in July. The workshop would be Facilitated by Jachan together With The ACT! Ivate project and ICT4D Jamaica. Its Costs would be supported by the ACT! Ivate project.

2 Objectives of the workshop

The Objectives of the workshop Were to:
The Objective of the workshop WAS to Strengthen the networking activity among the the CAP OPERATORS / managers, Within the framework of the Jachan, in order to enable peer to peer support permanent, Dissemination of best practices, tools and resources, to Strengthen the sustainability and Social Impact of the CAPS in the Communities

For this book included

• Sharing information on the Caribbean wide survey telecenter Currently Being undertaken
• Demonstrate the ACT! ivate networking platforms
• Identify Challenges for sustainability and social Impact, best practices, solutions and lessons Learned That can be shared on the online platform

3 The Participants

There Were 27 Participants from 17 local telecenters / CAP sites across the island. They are listed in Appendix 2: Workshop Participants List

4 The Agenda

The workshop included breakout groups and Plenary Both sessions, in Addition to hands-on computer sessions. The book is appended (Appendix 3: Final Agenda). Limitations Because of time so the book WAS Amended That There Were two breakout sessions instead of the three originally planned.

5 Presentations

The ACT! Ivate Project-Yacine Khelladi

The background to the project and the Activate Were Objectives Outlined. The presentation is found at http://taiguey.org/activate/

Telecenters of the Caribbean - Valerie Gordon

The survey of telecenters Currently Being undertaken by the project WAS Outlined. The survey undertaken in 2006 and a summary WAS Described WAS of results presented. It was Mentioned That WAS the More detailed survey Intended to Provide updated information But more in depth on the issues centers Including Which Affect Them the most.

Jamaica Community Access Point Network (Jachan) - Lawrence Zelris

An overview of Jachan WAS provided and included how it started, the Objectives, Aims and Some Proposed Activities. The presentation is found at http://www.caribbean-telecentres.net/group/JACAN

Working group 6 outputs

Participants Were Divided Into The 2 groups, Group A and Group B.

In the first breakout session, Group A WAS Introduced to the Caribbean Telecenters networking platform, www.caribbean-telecentres.net , and Group B WAS asked to Consider: "Challenges Facing Telecenters Best Practices and Lessons Learned."

During The second sessions, while group B WAS Introduced to the platform, the group A '"What can we do together; Next steps online; Tasks for Jachan"

6.1 Networking platform introduction sessions

Both group A and B Were guided Participants in the Various features of the web site and instructed to join the group. They Spent time learning all the platform features, adding Their personal profile and / or That of Their telecenter / CAP site, adding photos and finally locating Their telecenter / CAP site on the map. There Were Some delays as the internet connection was very slow, however all Participants Were Eventually signed in September and About sending sample messages.

6.2 Group B - Findings on "Challenges Facing Telecenters Best Practices and Lessons Learned

The Findings from the group Were as FOLLOWS:

.
Challenges

1. Location and Security - It is Important for CAP sites to be in a location Where the traffic is high ie Many People can eat to the center Easily, and Which is safe from break ins Also. This is to Ensure That equipment (investment) is secure.
2. Networks - Computer networks need to be
3. Low voltage - This is a problem for Some locations and can cause damage to equipment
4. Finances - The main cost is for internet access need to be And This available to centers at a more affordable cost, the cost of repairs an issue for también centers
5. Maintenance - Centres with Inadequate maintenance Suffer from viruses, breakdowns etc. In Addition, ITS networking architecture in telecenters can cause problems. Some persons felt connected computers Individually That Were more Effective and required less professional trouble shooting When things went wrong, while Others felt That a single server connected to clients WAS Several more efficient.

Best practices

1. Maintaining social good Relationships Between the center and the community center is located Which is the Important for business, and contributes to good security Also.
2. Turning off equipment not in use when to not only save on electricity cost But the protests Also electric equipment form surges etc.
3. Good customer service is Important to good business and good Also to Maintaining social relationships.
4. As an initiative Jachan Provides the Opportunity for collective action, advocacy for the Interests of telecenters, better prices for goods and services etc.

Lessons learned

1. Less Expenditure WHERE equipment is turned off
2. Laptops are more convenient than desktops and centers Should Consider Taking These for portability and less space.

In This session, Group B WAS Introduced to the website, while Group A WAS

6.3 Findings on Group A: What can we do together; Next steps online; Tasks for Jachan

What can we do together?

1. Register as an NGO Jachan so as to Ensure That the entity can act on Behalf of the telecenters Including Accessing funds
2. Draft a business plan for Jachan - this will Ensure That the entity can be Sustainable
3. Communication half

Next steps online and Otherwise

1. Develop a skills bank
2. Develop a Needs Assessment of telecenters
3. Establish online training and resources using the website

Tasks for Jachan

1. Capacity Building - On Behalf of the members and telecenters based on Identified Needs
2. Advocacy and lobbying-On Behalf of the Needs of centers

6.4 Plenary Discussions

Strongly felt Participant That WAS the way forward to Establish the group and the entity Jachan to Represent the telecenters' interests. It was felt the website would be That an Important Part of Maintaining contact and Collaboration among groups.

The original Steering Committee for the work Recognised WAS HAD They Were Already done and Participants urged to Consider Already available in the documentation moving to the next level.

The Importance of Selecting a Board as a prerequisite Highlighted WAS to registration.

Board.

7 Follow up Commitments

Participants Committed to the following.

Appendix 1: Evaluation Workshop Participants

Were Participants asked to rate the workshop. Twenty persons filled in the forms and Their responses are Shown below.

On a scale of 1-5, with 5 Being the Highest say Whether this workshop added to your Knowledge of:

Assess the Following attributes on a scale of 1-5

On a scale of 1-5, with 5 Being the Highest, the Extent to Which rate you think the workshop Objectives Were Met

Participants liked the best thing about the workshop Were: the Information sharing, networking and meeting new people (95%); Participants' level of excitement (5%)

The thing Participants Were liked least, - the slow internet (80%), inadequate time for workshop (10%) the late start of the workshop (5%), not enough new information (5%)

Appendix 2: Workshop Participants List

Appendix 3: Final Agenda

9:00 Registration

10:00 Opening and Welcome Valerie Gordon

Workshop Overview

10, 15 Participants Introductions

10:30 The ACT! Ivate Project Yacine Khelladi

Telecenters of the Caribbean Valerie Gordon

Lawrence Zelris Jachan

11:00 COFFEE BREAK

11:30 Breakout Groups

Group 1: Common Challenges

Best practices, Lessons Learned

Group 2: Introduction to the Platform - Yacine Khelladi

Hands on Exercise: - Participants enter Their data, photos on platform, test etc.

12:30 Plenary: Common challenges; Best practices

1:00 LUNCH

2:00 Working groups

• What can we do together?
• Tasks for Jachan
• Next steps online

2:45 Plenary: Presentations from working groups

3:15 Wrap up discussions and Commitments

4:00 Workshop Close

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