Tuesday, February 16, 2010
THE CHANGE AGENT
(Feature article on Vivian Liu, Delegate/Singapore, KL Summit 2009, in the December 2009 issue of Her World)
QIFANG: STUDENT LOANS MAKE FAMILY ABOUT LOVE, NOT FINANCIAL SECURITY
by Timothy Chen (Delegate/US, Singapore Summit 2007)
The Chinese are known to take a long view on everything. Story has it that in the 1970s, when Zhou Enlai was asked by Henry Kissinger what he thought about the French Revolution, Zhou responded, "It's too early to tell." Likewise, traditionally most Chinese parents would gladly give everything they have to their children-to invest in the next generation-with the expectation that 40 or 50 years down the road, those children would "repay" the parents by taking care of them in their old age.
In a China steeped in Confucian mores with less in-country migration and deep ties to family and home communities, this was an investment that parents could count on. Parents could also spread their risk by having several children with the hopes that at least one would be there to provide for them in the future. Previous generations had done the same.
But in today's China, with a migratory workforce, looser connections to traditions and most families with only one child, seniors must either trust in the country's limited social safety net, or live with the uncertainty that investments in their children will pay the types of returns that will allow them to retire with financial security.
And what if your family's financial means are limited and you don't have the family savings to invest in your child now when they are pursuing their education? There is a small window of time during which you must have the money to pay to keep your child in school. Some majors at universities in the East might cost as much as four times the annual salary of a worker in a poorer, Western province. According to the National Bureau of Statistics, most Chinese families already spend more money on education than on anything except food. And other expensive items, like computers, have become educational necessities.
For many, government support has been the principal option. Government support for tertiary education is growing, but focuses on those who can demonstrate the greatest need. What's left is a tremendous gap between those for whom school fees are not a problem, and those who receive public sector support. Families in the gap have tried to find informal means to borrow for school, from friends or extended family, or their children had to drop out.
This is where formalized borrowing and a robust set of options for education finance can relieve a tremendous burden from so many Chinese middle and lower income families. With the expansion of education finance, educational decisions about where to go to school and how long to stay in school can be removed from the realities of financial resources. Young people with potential can use their talent as collateral to make sure they stay in school and realize that potential.
Shanghai-based Qifang is facilitating this development. Qifang is an online service for Chinese students to find a way to pay for their education by connecting them with individuals, companies and organizations that can support their educational dreams. Working like an eBay auction, sponsors can bid and compete to help, and lenders can offer internships and job opportunities as well as provide funding to pay bills. Qifang manages the transaction and repayment and is a communication tool for borrowers, lenders and peers. This has helped students learn about related topics like financial literacy too. With nearly 2500 loans on the site, Qifang's model is gaining early traction. In 2008, the World Economic Forum recognized Qifang as a Technology Pioneer for its innovative model and positive social impact.
Importantly, with models like Qifang, parents can still support their children's education according to tradition-helping with any money they can-but there is a subtle but important shift in responsibility to the child. It's their name on the loan and their credit at risk. It's this credit that the child will need to be in good standing to later borrow for a house, a car or to start their own business. And parents can still also depend on their children's improved career prospects to provide for their retirement and golden years, but they can also use some of the money that would have gone entirely to pay for education today to invest for retirement, buy insurance products or otherwise build up their own nest eggs.
Ideally then, family members become somewhat more financially self-reliant, but remain there for each other in times of need and emergencies. Family relationships are freer to become more about emotional and spiritual fulfillment and less about economic necessity.
The Chinese are known to take a long view on everything. Story has it that in the 1970s, when Zhou Enlai was asked by Henry Kissinger what he thought about the French Revolution, Zhou responded, "It's too early to tell." Likewise, traditionally most Chinese parents would gladly give everything they have to their children-to invest in the next generation-with the expectation that 40 or 50 years down the road, those children would "repay" the parents by taking care of them in their old age.
In a China steeped in Confucian mores with less in-country migration and deep ties to family and home communities, this was an investment that parents could count on. Parents could also spread their risk by having several children with the hopes that at least one would be there to provide for them in the future. Previous generations had done the same.
But in today's China, with a migratory workforce, looser connections to traditions and most families with only one child, seniors must either trust in the country's limited social safety net, or live with the uncertainty that investments in their children will pay the types of returns that will allow them to retire with financial security.
And what if your family's financial means are limited and you don't have the family savings to invest in your child now when they are pursuing their education? There is a small window of time during which you must have the money to pay to keep your child in school. Some majors at universities in the East might cost as much as four times the annual salary of a worker in a poorer, Western province. According to the National Bureau of Statistics, most Chinese families already spend more money on education than on anything except food. And other expensive items, like computers, have become educational necessities.
For many, government support has been the principal option. Government support for tertiary education is growing, but focuses on those who can demonstrate the greatest need. What's left is a tremendous gap between those for whom school fees are not a problem, and those who receive public sector support. Families in the gap have tried to find informal means to borrow for school, from friends or extended family, or their children had to drop out.
This is where formalized borrowing and a robust set of options for education finance can relieve a tremendous burden from so many Chinese middle and lower income families. With the expansion of education finance, educational decisions about where to go to school and how long to stay in school can be removed from the realities of financial resources. Young people with potential can use their talent as collateral to make sure they stay in school and realize that potential.
Shanghai-based Qifang is facilitating this development. Qifang is an online service for Chinese students to find a way to pay for their education by connecting them with individuals, companies and organizations that can support their educational dreams. Working like an eBay auction, sponsors can bid and compete to help, and lenders can offer internships and job opportunities as well as provide funding to pay bills. Qifang manages the transaction and repayment and is a communication tool for borrowers, lenders and peers. This has helped students learn about related topics like financial literacy too. With nearly 2500 loans on the site, Qifang's model is gaining early traction. In 2008, the World Economic Forum recognized Qifang as a Technology Pioneer for its innovative model and positive social impact.
Importantly, with models like Qifang, parents can still support their children's education according to tradition-helping with any money they can-but there is a subtle but important shift in responsibility to the child. It's their name on the loan and their credit at risk. It's this credit that the child will need to be in good standing to later borrow for a house, a car or to start their own business. And parents can still also depend on their children's improved career prospects to provide for their retirement and golden years, but they can also use some of the money that would have gone entirely to pay for education today to invest for retirement, buy insurance products or otherwise build up their own nest eggs.
Ideally then, family members become somewhat more financially self-reliant, but remain there for each other in times of need and emergencies. Family relationships are freer to become more about emotional and spiritual fulfillment and less about economic necessity.
HERITAGE AS A CATALYST FOR PROGRESS
by Ivan Anthony Henares (Delegate/Philippines, Tokyo Summit 2008)
A strong national identity can become a potent force to push a nation to become great. Unfortunately, the Philippines has yet to solidify its own identity as one nation. There is thus a need to strengthen pride of place and nationalism, especially among young people, in order to harness that cultural identity and unite the country to be able to move forward as a nation.
Built heritage is a potent symbol for national identity. The Heritage Conservation Society is the prime mover and advocate for the preservation of Philippine built heritage resources. We do this "in order to contribute towards the establishment of a Society that preserves and values its cultural heritage through advocacy and volunteerism, project implementation, education and information." Our vision is "a Filipino society that values and preserves its cultural heritage in order to instill pride of place and strengthen Philippine national identity."
Heritage is an asset people do not realize they have until it's finally gone. When it's gone, you can't bring it back. It's sad when people realize how heritage could have raised the quality of life in a community. And when they finally understand it, they try to recreate it, but cannot.
Part of our mission is to make heritage relevant to Filipinos today. And part of heritage conservation is making heritage economically viable if you want it to survive. The term there is adaptive reuse. We use heritage buildings by carefully altering the interiors to suit modern needs. Most of the important tourist districts in the world have revolved around heritage.
Sad to say, many businessmen in the Philippines are so short-sighted, they consider old buildings as useless, tear them down, and build hideous structures to replace them. If packaged in the right way, people will flock to heritage areas like Binondo, Sta. Cruz and Quiapo in the Old Manila district and that will increase business. Dr. Trevor Hogan, an Australian sociologist said, "If Quiapo were in Melbourne, the rich and famous would be scrambling to live in it."
Our neighbors have fine examples of adaptive reuse, districts with preserved exteriors and chic interiors, such as Boat Quay and Clarke Quay in Singapore, San Ma Lo and Plaza Senado in Macau, and the Bund in Shanghai. They have been transformed into trendy attractions.
As we continuously destroy every trace of our past, we are diminishing our pride as a Filipino race. There will be no visible symbols that we can use to bring us forward as one people. And many poor communities in countries around the world have turned their situation around because of heritage and cultural tourism. You can check out the Hue Declaration on Cultural Tourism and Poverty Alleviation to guide everyone on how heritage has become a tool for poverty alleviation.
I look forward to a Philippines with a strong sense of nationalism and cultural identity. It is my hope that Filipinos, especially the current generation of the youth, will value our rich cultural heritage and be proud of everything that is Filipino. Preserving our culture and heritage is the duty of every Filipino. Once that love for country and everything that is Filipino is instilled in every citizen, it will create a realization of our moral obligation for civic participation and volunteerism that would address all these pressing concerns that transcend sectors.
For more information on the Heritage Conservation Society, click here. You may also visit Ivan's travel blog, Ivan About Town.
Ivan, a staunch advocate of cultural heritage, is a Trustee of the Heritage Conservation Society and member of the International Cultural Tourism Committee (ICTC) of the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS). His blog was adjudged Best Travel Blog at the 2007 Philippine Blog Awards.
A strong national identity can become a potent force to push a nation to become great. Unfortunately, the Philippines has yet to solidify its own identity as one nation. There is thus a need to strengthen pride of place and nationalism, especially among young people, in order to harness that cultural identity and unite the country to be able to move forward as a nation.
Built heritage is a potent symbol for national identity. The Heritage Conservation Society is the prime mover and advocate for the preservation of Philippine built heritage resources. We do this "in order to contribute towards the establishment of a Society that preserves and values its cultural heritage through advocacy and volunteerism, project implementation, education and information." Our vision is "a Filipino society that values and preserves its cultural heritage in order to instill pride of place and strengthen Philippine national identity."
Heritage is an asset people do not realize they have until it's finally gone. When it's gone, you can't bring it back. It's sad when people realize how heritage could have raised the quality of life in a community. And when they finally understand it, they try to recreate it, but cannot.
Part of our mission is to make heritage relevant to Filipinos today. And part of heritage conservation is making heritage economically viable if you want it to survive. The term there is adaptive reuse. We use heritage buildings by carefully altering the interiors to suit modern needs. Most of the important tourist districts in the world have revolved around heritage.
Sad to say, many businessmen in the Philippines are so short-sighted, they consider old buildings as useless, tear them down, and build hideous structures to replace them. If packaged in the right way, people will flock to heritage areas like Binondo, Sta. Cruz and Quiapo in the Old Manila district and that will increase business. Dr. Trevor Hogan, an Australian sociologist said, "If Quiapo were in Melbourne, the rich and famous would be scrambling to live in it."
Our neighbors have fine examples of adaptive reuse, districts with preserved exteriors and chic interiors, such as Boat Quay and Clarke Quay in Singapore, San Ma Lo and Plaza Senado in Macau, and the Bund in Shanghai. They have been transformed into trendy attractions.
As we continuously destroy every trace of our past, we are diminishing our pride as a Filipino race. There will be no visible symbols that we can use to bring us forward as one people. And many poor communities in countries around the world have turned their situation around because of heritage and cultural tourism. You can check out the Hue Declaration on Cultural Tourism and Poverty Alleviation to guide everyone on how heritage has become a tool for poverty alleviation.
I look forward to a Philippines with a strong sense of nationalism and cultural identity. It is my hope that Filipinos, especially the current generation of the youth, will value our rich cultural heritage and be proud of everything that is Filipino. Preserving our culture and heritage is the duty of every Filipino. Once that love for country and everything that is Filipino is instilled in every citizen, it will create a realization of our moral obligation for civic participation and volunteerism that would address all these pressing concerns that transcend sectors.
For more information on the Heritage Conservation Society, click here. You may also visit Ivan's travel blog, Ivan About Town.
Ivan, a staunch advocate of cultural heritage, is a Trustee of the Heritage Conservation Society and member of the International Cultural Tourism Committee (ICTC) of the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS). His blog was adjudged Best Travel Blog at the 2007 Philippine Blog Awards.
BUILDING A BETTER WORLD THROUGH SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND INNOVATION
by Penny Low (Delegate/Singapore, Seoul Summit 2006)
Social Innovation Park Ltd (SIP) was founded in 2006 with a vision to build a more inclusive, sustainable, and better world through Social Entrepreneurship and Innovation. SIP is an impartial, not-for-profit organisation that aims to Educate, Empower, and Enhance (3Es) social entrepreneurs to bring positive innovations to lives and societies. This year, SIP will celebrate its fourth anniversary and the many achievements that have brought us many steps closer to realising our dream.
One of our programs, the Global Social Innovators Forum (GSIF), brings together a highly trusted community of influential minds from the public, private and people sectors and provide opportunities for them to collaborate and embrace innovations that will define business, government and society, thereby building a more inclusive, sustainable and better world. The theme for GSIF 2009 was Collaborative Innovations: Investing in Team Earth & an Inclusive World . For three days, more than 530 delegates and speakers from about 30 countries took part in building a community of change leaders who are embracing social innovation to do good and do well. We started the forum asking ourselves how to design a better future, one with economic profits, social dividends, political successes and harmony, and environmental sustainability. Throughout the three days, we deliberated on the challenges we face, but more importantly focused on the social innovations that can lead us to our better future.
At the GSIF Gala Dinner, SIP announces the recipients of its SIP Distinguished Fellow and Fellow Awards, which was started in 2008 and honors leaders in Social Entrepreneurship and Innovation worldwide. Among the inaugural Fellows recognized was Veronica Colondam (Fellow/Indonesia, Class of 2007), Founder of Yayasan Cinta Anak Bangsa (YCAB). This year honorees included Asia 21 alumni Melissa Kwee (Delegate/Singapore, Singapore Summit 2007), Chairperson of Halogen Foundation, Singapore, and Calvin Chin (Delegate/USA, KL Summit 2009), Co-Dounder and CEO of Qifang, China.
Another project, called the Pop and Talent Hub (PaTH) Initiative, is Singapore's first Social Enterprise Development Platform, championing social entrepreneurship via the arts by developing artists from traditionally marginalised groups including the hearing- and visually-impaired, chronically depressed, stay-at-home mothers, youths-at-risk, among others. In 2008, we collaborated with Network for Electronic Transfers Pte Ltd (NETS) to launch six limited edition CashCards featuring artwork by PaTH talents. Through the partnership, 150,000 cards were printed and six less-advantaged but equally-abled artists gained confidence and dignity from seeing their artwork published and in the hands of thousands of Singaporeans.
As we enter our fourth year of driving the social entrepreneurship movement in the region, we've been fortunate to receive the partnership and support of many global movers and shakers- leaders and innovators including his Excellency President S R Nathan of Singapore; Peng Tsin Ong, technopreneur and founder of Match.com; and Global Investor Jim Rogers. Many SIP supporters have also given their time to educate on social entrepreneurship and innovation through our "Giant in Conversation" and "Chatterbox" speaking series. Our "Giants" have included Rory Stear, founder of Freeplay Enterprise and Fondations; Mel Young, social entrepreneur and founder of the Homeless World Cup; Young Global Leader Jon Stephenson von Tetzchner, co-founder of Opera Software; and Stephan Chambers, Chairman of the Skoll Centre for Social Entrepreneurship and Director of the MBA and EMBA degress at Oxford Saïd Business School. Stephan Chambers joined us in Singapore last year for the launch of a Skoll-Oxford-SIP partnership through which SIP and the Skoll Centre for Social Entrepreneurship will host an annual exchange of lectures, forums, and other events to grow the social entrepreneurship movement. SIP is also spreading its seeds overseas, having formed SIP Chapters in the USA (Yale University), China (Fudan University), Japan, Indonesia, and Kashmir as well as maintained our local student chapters at the Singapore Institute of Management and Nanyang Polytechnic. Projects range from student forums at our university chapters to SIP Water Clubs, formed in Kashmir to teach water conservation and solutions to water problems faced by locals. SIP looks forward to continuing to grow our organisation in 2010 and educating, empowering, and enhancing social entrepreneurs to bring positive innovations to lives and societies worldwide.
To find out more about SIP and its initiatives, please visit www.socialinnovationpark.org or email info@socialinnovationpark.org.
Penny, President and Founder of Social Innovation Park Ltd, is one of the 34 founding members of the New Asian Leaders by the Geneva-based World Economic Forum. She has also been honored as one of the 237 (out of 8,000 worldwide) founding members of the prestigious The Forum of Global Young Leaders (YGL). She was the youngest elected female Member of Parliament in Singapore, representing the Pasir Ris-Punggol Group Representation Constituency in 2001.
Social Innovation Park Ltd (SIP) was founded in 2006 with a vision to build a more inclusive, sustainable, and better world through Social Entrepreneurship and Innovation. SIP is an impartial, not-for-profit organisation that aims to Educate, Empower, and Enhance (3Es) social entrepreneurs to bring positive innovations to lives and societies. This year, SIP will celebrate its fourth anniversary and the many achievements that have brought us many steps closer to realising our dream.
One of our programs, the Global Social Innovators Forum (GSIF), brings together a highly trusted community of influential minds from the public, private and people sectors and provide opportunities for them to collaborate and embrace innovations that will define business, government and society, thereby building a more inclusive, sustainable and better world. The theme for GSIF 2009 was Collaborative Innovations: Investing in Team Earth & an Inclusive World . For three days, more than 530 delegates and speakers from about 30 countries took part in building a community of change leaders who are embracing social innovation to do good and do well. We started the forum asking ourselves how to design a better future, one with economic profits, social dividends, political successes and harmony, and environmental sustainability. Throughout the three days, we deliberated on the challenges we face, but more importantly focused on the social innovations that can lead us to our better future.
At the GSIF Gala Dinner, SIP announces the recipients of its SIP Distinguished Fellow and Fellow Awards, which was started in 2008 and honors leaders in Social Entrepreneurship and Innovation worldwide. Among the inaugural Fellows recognized was Veronica Colondam (Fellow/Indonesia, Class of 2007), Founder of Yayasan Cinta Anak Bangsa (YCAB). This year honorees included Asia 21 alumni Melissa Kwee (Delegate/Singapore, Singapore Summit 2007), Chairperson of Halogen Foundation, Singapore, and Calvin Chin (Delegate/USA, KL Summit 2009), Co-Dounder and CEO of Qifang, China.
Another project, called the Pop and Talent Hub (PaTH) Initiative, is Singapore's first Social Enterprise Development Platform, championing social entrepreneurship via the arts by developing artists from traditionally marginalised groups including the hearing- and visually-impaired, chronically depressed, stay-at-home mothers, youths-at-risk, among others. In 2008, we collaborated with Network for Electronic Transfers Pte Ltd (NETS) to launch six limited edition CashCards featuring artwork by PaTH talents. Through the partnership, 150,000 cards were printed and six less-advantaged but equally-abled artists gained confidence and dignity from seeing their artwork published and in the hands of thousands of Singaporeans.
As we enter our fourth year of driving the social entrepreneurship movement in the region, we've been fortunate to receive the partnership and support of many global movers and shakers- leaders and innovators including his Excellency President S R Nathan of Singapore; Peng Tsin Ong, technopreneur and founder of Match.com; and Global Investor Jim Rogers. Many SIP supporters have also given their time to educate on social entrepreneurship and innovation through our "Giant in Conversation" and "Chatterbox" speaking series. Our "Giants" have included Rory Stear, founder of Freeplay Enterprise and Fondations; Mel Young, social entrepreneur and founder of the Homeless World Cup; Young Global Leader Jon Stephenson von Tetzchner, co-founder of Opera Software; and Stephan Chambers, Chairman of the Skoll Centre for Social Entrepreneurship and Director of the MBA and EMBA degress at Oxford Saïd Business School. Stephan Chambers joined us in Singapore last year for the launch of a Skoll-Oxford-SIP partnership through which SIP and the Skoll Centre for Social Entrepreneurship will host an annual exchange of lectures, forums, and other events to grow the social entrepreneurship movement. SIP is also spreading its seeds overseas, having formed SIP Chapters in the USA (Yale University), China (Fudan University), Japan, Indonesia, and Kashmir as well as maintained our local student chapters at the Singapore Institute of Management and Nanyang Polytechnic. Projects range from student forums at our university chapters to SIP Water Clubs, formed in Kashmir to teach water conservation and solutions to water problems faced by locals. SIP looks forward to continuing to grow our organisation in 2010 and educating, empowering, and enhancing social entrepreneurs to bring positive innovations to lives and societies worldwide.
To find out more about SIP and its initiatives, please visit www.socialinnovationpark.org or email info@socialinnovationpark.org.
Penny, President and Founder of Social Innovation Park Ltd, is one of the 34 founding members of the New Asian Leaders by the Geneva-based World Economic Forum. She has also been honored as one of the 237 (out of 8,000 worldwide) founding members of the prestigious The Forum of Global Young Leaders (YGL). She was the youngest elected female Member of Parliament in Singapore, representing the Pasir Ris-Punggol Group Representation Constituency in 2001.
Monday, February 15, 2010
REPLICATING THE MAHAVILACHCHIYA EVILLAGE CONCEPT
by Nandasiri Wanninayaka (Delegate/Sri Lanka, Summit 2008)
Having provided ICT and English education since 1998 to the children of Mahavilachchiya, a village in Anuradhapura, 245 km from Colombo in Sri Lanka, Horizon Lanka is looking for innovative ways to expand its services and bring the benefits of ICT to the adults in the village as well.
The Model eVillage project was officially launched in January 2005 in hopes that by providing parents and other adults in the village with an education in ICT and Internet accessibility at home and at ICT centres, the community will enjoy an improved quality of life through informed decision making.
Recognizing early on that the support of the local community would be intrinsic to the success of such a concept, one of the first steps Horizon Lanka embarked upon was the strengthening of relationships already established within the community.
Horizon Lanka began a series of training sessions and workshops aimed at introducing the community to the concept of an eVillage and familiarizing them with ICT usage and its benefits.
As predicted, since the introduction of the Model eVillage, Mahavilachchiya has seen endless benefits to its community. For instance now, at the click of a button, farmers are able to access agricultural information, weather forecasts, crop prices and market information. They use this to make informed decisions about when to harvest crops and at what price to sell their produce.
The unemployed are able to access information from the multi-media library and the Internet, which significantly broadens and speeds up their employment prospects. The ICT skills learned at the training sessions and practiced regularly at home have been invaluable in securing gainful employment for themselves. The communication link between villagers and others across the country and the world have been enhanced. Presently, with Internet-enabled computers at home and the knowledge on how to use it, families can talk to relatives abroad using webmail and IP telephony services like Skype, all without any cost to themselves.
Perhaps the greatest success of the Model eVillage concept launched by Horizon Lanka has been in transforming village students into IT professionals. Public schools in rural areas have to make do with the barest of resources, which means subjects like ICT are often overlooked. By providing children access to computers and the Internet, they learn to use these tools to improve their standard of work and put them in a competitive with students from urban schools. To ensure that more children in the village benefit from the novel experience, Horizon Lanka has been providing more public schools, temples, and other institutions with computers and Internet access.
Access to bank accounts through the Internet and communication via email have also significantly reduced the inconvenience of travelling to Anuradhapura town to conduct business transactions. Horizon Lanka has made it possible for villagers to do so at home, saving them time and travel costs. Something which has been near impossible in the past is the ability to disseminate information quickly, which is of utmost importance especially in times of crises like national disasters, war or drought. It is hoped that the introduction of ICT will facilitate the flow of information to rural areas. Public information suppliers from NGOs and the government now have better access to rural communities. The community will begin to feel less isolated and become more interested in what is happening to the rest of the country.
Mahavilachchiya became the first rural village to benefit from mesh technology in 2006. Mesh technology has given the whole community wireless access to the Internet from their homes. Since its inception, Horizon Lanka's eVillage concept has furnished over 100 families with used desktop computers. Following up on the unprecedented success achieved in Mahavilachchiya, Horizon Lanka is now able to share its experience, taking ICT to the rural communities of Sri Lanka. The foundation provides consulting services with respect to launching and setting up rural level ICT centers throughout the country. Similar projects are now being replicated island-wide.
But the downside of all these is that, though Horizon Lanka did all these almost impossible tasks, now it is facing many financial problems to take its work forward, and hope those who have the means will chip in to take Horizon Lanka's journey forward.
Wanna is the CEO of Horizon Lanka Foundation. He has found a way to bring modern technology to isolated communities, link villagers to outside networks through the Internet, and use alternative education (with emphasis on the English language) to foster teamwork, creativity and self-esteem among students. He initiated Sri Lanka's first village-level outsourcing venture and is working to establish an e-commerce facility so farmers can avoid middlemen and sell their products at market prices.
Having provided ICT and English education since 1998 to the children of Mahavilachchiya, a village in Anuradhapura, 245 km from Colombo in Sri Lanka, Horizon Lanka is looking for innovative ways to expand its services and bring the benefits of ICT to the adults in the village as well.
The Model eVillage project was officially launched in January 2005 in hopes that by providing parents and other adults in the village with an education in ICT and Internet accessibility at home and at ICT centres, the community will enjoy an improved quality of life through informed decision making.
Recognizing early on that the support of the local community would be intrinsic to the success of such a concept, one of the first steps Horizon Lanka embarked upon was the strengthening of relationships already established within the community.
Horizon Lanka began a series of training sessions and workshops aimed at introducing the community to the concept of an eVillage and familiarizing them with ICT usage and its benefits.
As predicted, since the introduction of the Model eVillage, Mahavilachchiya has seen endless benefits to its community. For instance now, at the click of a button, farmers are able to access agricultural information, weather forecasts, crop prices and market information. They use this to make informed decisions about when to harvest crops and at what price to sell their produce.
The unemployed are able to access information from the multi-media library and the Internet, which significantly broadens and speeds up their employment prospects. The ICT skills learned at the training sessions and practiced regularly at home have been invaluable in securing gainful employment for themselves. The communication link between villagers and others across the country and the world have been enhanced. Presently, with Internet-enabled computers at home and the knowledge on how to use it, families can talk to relatives abroad using webmail and IP telephony services like Skype, all without any cost to themselves.
Perhaps the greatest success of the Model eVillage concept launched by Horizon Lanka has been in transforming village students into IT professionals. Public schools in rural areas have to make do with the barest of resources, which means subjects like ICT are often overlooked. By providing children access to computers and the Internet, they learn to use these tools to improve their standard of work and put them in a competitive with students from urban schools. To ensure that more children in the village benefit from the novel experience, Horizon Lanka has been providing more public schools, temples, and other institutions with computers and Internet access.
Access to bank accounts through the Internet and communication via email have also significantly reduced the inconvenience of travelling to Anuradhapura town to conduct business transactions. Horizon Lanka has made it possible for villagers to do so at home, saving them time and travel costs. Something which has been near impossible in the past is the ability to disseminate information quickly, which is of utmost importance especially in times of crises like national disasters, war or drought. It is hoped that the introduction of ICT will facilitate the flow of information to rural areas. Public information suppliers from NGOs and the government now have better access to rural communities. The community will begin to feel less isolated and become more interested in what is happening to the rest of the country.
Mahavilachchiya became the first rural village to benefit from mesh technology in 2006. Mesh technology has given the whole community wireless access to the Internet from their homes. Since its inception, Horizon Lanka's eVillage concept has furnished over 100 families with used desktop computers. Following up on the unprecedented success achieved in Mahavilachchiya, Horizon Lanka is now able to share its experience, taking ICT to the rural communities of Sri Lanka. The foundation provides consulting services with respect to launching and setting up rural level ICT centers throughout the country. Similar projects are now being replicated island-wide.
But the downside of all these is that, though Horizon Lanka did all these almost impossible tasks, now it is facing many financial problems to take its work forward, and hope those who have the means will chip in to take Horizon Lanka's journey forward.
Wanna is the CEO of Horizon Lanka Foundation. He has found a way to bring modern technology to isolated communities, link villagers to outside networks through the Internet, and use alternative education (with emphasis on the English language) to foster teamwork, creativity and self-esteem among students. He initiated Sri Lanka's first village-level outsourcing venture and is working to establish an e-commerce facility so farmers can avoid middlemen and sell their products at market prices.
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Presidentiables face young leaders on iVote
Youth issues take centerstage as student leaders, young executives and entrepreneurs meet the 2010 Presidential candidates at iVote: The Presidential Youth Dialogue on February 9, from 9 am - 4 pm at the Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium of the RCBC Plaza, Manila, Philippines. Hosted by Asia Society Philippines, the organizing body of the Philippines 21 Young Leaders Initiative, and IPVG Corporation, iVote aims to present a picture of the presidency as envisioned by the young leaders themselves. The youth comprise almost 60% of the voting population, and are increasingly involved and vigilant on issues relating to electoral politics and the public agenda.
Unlike other presidential fora that take on the debate format, iVote is structured as a dialogue between the 2010 Presidentiables and leaders of the youth sector. Each candidate is allotted a 30-minute session with the audience, first to answer a series of questions based on issues identified with or deemed important by the youth. This will be followed by questions from the audience, and may range from specific policy responses to social issues, to more irreverent questions that reflect the personality and character of the candidates.
iVote recognizes the youth sector's pervasive online presence and penchant for social networking. IPVG will be livestreaming the forum in its entirety, via the Asia Society global website. An edited version of the program will be broadcast by QTV 11 on March 20.
iVote is spearheaded by the Asia Society’s Philippines 21 Young Leaders, the Student Council Alliance of the Philippines, YouthVote Philippines, National Movement of Young Legislators, and other organizations of young leaders.
The event is free and open to the public. To register, please contact Tieza Santos (7524374, tiezas@asiasociety.org.ph) or Patricia Vega (8108983, patriciav@asiasociety.org.ph).
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About Asia Society and Philippines 21 Young Leaders Initiative
Asia Society is the leading global and pan-Asian organization working to strengthen relationships and promote understanding among the people, leaders, and institutions of the United States and Asia. One of Asia Society’s key global initiatives is leadership, in particular the development of a core network of the most promising and upcoming leaders across the region through the Asia 21 Young Leaders Initiative and its local counterpart, the Philippines 21 Young Leaders Initiative. The program enables young changemakers to learn from and collaborate with each other on creative solutions to the region’s most pressing social concerns.
Fellows include Cora de Ungria (eminent DNA scientist and 2008 TOWNS awardee), Ivan Henares (heritage advocate and award-winning blogger), Mark Ruiz (co-founder, Microventures, Inc./Hapinoy, WhyNot? Forum), Ching Jorge (Bato Balani Foundation programs head and YouthVote Philippines lead convenor), Jaime Enrique Gonzalez (CEO, IPVG Corp.) and Efren Peñaflorida, Jr. (co-founder, Dynamic Teen Company and 2009 CNN Hero of the Year).
About IPVG Corporation
IPVG is a leading ICT investment company that is publicly listed on the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE Ticker Symbol: IP). Its subsidiaries operate in the following business segments: (i) Communications (IP Services and Internet Security); (ii) Content (On-line gaming and Mobile solutions), and (iii) Business Process Outsourcing (BPO). IPVG presence is established in the Philippines, Singapore, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Panama, United Kingdom and USA.
For more information, visit www.ipvg.com.
Unlike other presidential fora that take on the debate format, iVote is structured as a dialogue between the 2010 Presidentiables and leaders of the youth sector. Each candidate is allotted a 30-minute session with the audience, first to answer a series of questions based on issues identified with or deemed important by the youth. This will be followed by questions from the audience, and may range from specific policy responses to social issues, to more irreverent questions that reflect the personality and character of the candidates.
iVote recognizes the youth sector's pervasive online presence and penchant for social networking. IPVG will be livestreaming the forum in its entirety, via the Asia Society global website. An edited version of the program will be broadcast by QTV 11 on March 20.
iVote is spearheaded by the Asia Society’s Philippines 21 Young Leaders, the Student Council Alliance of the Philippines, YouthVote Philippines, National Movement of Young Legislators, and other organizations of young leaders.
The event is free and open to the public. To register, please contact Tieza Santos (7524374, tiezas@asiasociety.org.ph) or Patricia Vega (8108983, patriciav@asiasociety.org.ph).
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About Asia Society and Philippines 21 Young Leaders Initiative
Asia Society is the leading global and pan-Asian organization working to strengthen relationships and promote understanding among the people, leaders, and institutions of the United States and Asia. One of Asia Society’s key global initiatives is leadership, in particular the development of a core network of the most promising and upcoming leaders across the region through the Asia 21 Young Leaders Initiative and its local counterpart, the Philippines 21 Young Leaders Initiative. The program enables young changemakers to learn from and collaborate with each other on creative solutions to the region’s most pressing social concerns.
Fellows include Cora de Ungria (eminent DNA scientist and 2008 TOWNS awardee), Ivan Henares (heritage advocate and award-winning blogger), Mark Ruiz (co-founder, Microventures, Inc./Hapinoy, WhyNot? Forum), Ching Jorge (Bato Balani Foundation programs head and YouthVote Philippines lead convenor), Jaime Enrique Gonzalez (CEO, IPVG Corp.) and Efren Peñaflorida, Jr. (co-founder, Dynamic Teen Company and 2009 CNN Hero of the Year).
About IPVG Corporation
IPVG is a leading ICT investment company that is publicly listed on the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE Ticker Symbol: IP). Its subsidiaries operate in the following business segments: (i) Communications (IP Services and Internet Security); (ii) Content (On-line gaming and Mobile solutions), and (iii) Business Process Outsourcing (BPO). IPVG presence is established in the Philippines, Singapore, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Panama, United Kingdom and USA.
For more information, visit www.ipvg.com.
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