There are many online resources by other organizations that offer suggestions
especially tailored to setting up and maintaining community ICT and
networking projects, including community telecenters/community technology
centers. Some sites also offer tips for activities at such centers,
such as how to work with diverse populations and how to teach certain
classes.
Prepared by the United Nations Non-Governmental Liaison Service (UN-NGLS)
and the Friedrich Ebert Foundation (New York office). Explains basic
terms and concepts, offers advice and contacts, lists existing computer
communications networks and local e-mail service providers in developing
countries, and suggests ways to benefit from these communication tools.
Presented in question and answer form ("How can NGOs improve their chances
of getting access to Internet connected networks?"). Great resources
to help volunteers teach communities in developing countries the value
of the Internet. This handbook is available offline in French and Spanish
(visit the web site and contact UN-NGLS for information).
Includes Educational Materials and Curricula, Running a Community
Technology Center, Appropriate Technology Guides, E-Readiness Assessment
Tools, information about “E-Democracy, ” and a listing of Regional
Digital Divide Resources.
Although Canadian in focus, many of these resources are applicable
to community networks anywhere. Resources include suggestions for
community network sustainability, universal access discussions, concerns
for rural communities, planning a community center, human resources
management tips, suggestions for technology equipment (hardware, software,
network components), and suggestions for documentation (manuals, FAQ's,
newsletters, etc.).
Links to on-line courses and Internet resources in Spanish and English,
how to use a mouse, how to choose the right computer, E-mail basics,
and more. Compiled by the Association of Computer Networking.
This online publication by UNESCO is a step-by-step guide on how
to implement community based telecentres in an African environment
complete with examples of telecentre infrastructure, baseline questionnaires,
business plans etc. This web page offers links to many other Community
ICT Resources as well.
Community empowerment, management and development resources to support
volunteers of Seattle Community Network (SCN) in Washington state,
USA. Includes:
- Handbook for Mobilizers (principles and methods for strengthening
a community)
- Handbook for Generating Wealth (principles and a method for fighting
causes of poverty, including tips for starting and sustaining a
micro-enterprise)
- Handbook of Monitoring (sample forms, tips for writing reports,
measuring success, etc.)
- Training modules in community empowerment, community mobilization,
project management and design, obtaining group decisions, awareness
raising and gender balance, identifying community resources, and
more
The entire Community Management and Development (CMP) Training Curriculum
This section of the CompuMentor web site is to support its tech volunteers
working with nonprofits and schools, primarily in the greater San
Francisco, California Bay Area (USA). Their resources for volunteers
are divided up into these sections; much of the information is regional-specific,
but much of it would be helpful to any tech volunteer:
- How to Help Someone Use a Computer
- Structuring Volunteer Projects
- Volunteering in Nonprofits
- Volunteers in Schools
- Intro to Databases
- Database Development Plan
- Networking Concepts
- Planning Networks
- Installing Networks
- Administering Networks
- Using Donated Computers
- Computer Hardware Recycling
- Planning a Web site
- Web Development Resources
Includes "Digital Dividend Case Studies" (Education for the E-economy,
Expanding Microfinance, Internet Commerce for Development, Precision
Agriculture, Rural Connectivity, Digital Community Centers, and much
more) and "Background Articles" (From the Global Digital Divide to
the Global Digital Opportunity, IT and the Environment, 10 Ways E-Commerce
Could Affect the Environment, and more).
This Guide sets out practical approaches to building a "smart community",
one that can "compete in the global economy" without community leaders
"losing control of the economic destiny of their respective communities."
This guide is designed for communities to use ICT to enhance the administration
of municipal government and delivery of services; local business and
economic development; tourism development; access to information;
learning, training and education; preservation of cultural heritage;
and development of the arts. The guide includes suggestions for determining
community needs and opportunities, determining iInfrastructure and
other technology needs, preparing a budget, finding funding, finalizing
a business plan for a community, and many more resources. This is
part of a three-year federal program by Industry Canada.
By the . This web site was developed in large
part by online volunteers themselves and organizations that have involved
online volunteers. It offers extensive suggestions for using web search
engines, doing online research, finding useful shareware and freeware,
researching funding resources (grants), preventing computer viruses,
learning .html, web design resources, finding news articles on a particular
subject, translating documents from one language to another, creating
databases, moderating online discussion groups, and many, many other
resources and tools to help a volunteer undertake an online assignment
successfully.
and
These two guides provide excellent information applicable to a variety
of settings. Resources include: a guide to the basics of getting connected;
how to promote awareness and access to a community networking project;
a guide to providing training and support to the community; details
on creating online communities in towns, villages and virtual spaces;
and resources to help establish community partnerships and participation.
Includes a page of links to ;("Developing Women: How technology can help" by
Ashima Goyal; "Beyond Connectivity: New Information and Communication
Technologies for Social Development" by Ricardo Gómez, Juliana
Martínez and Fundación Acceso; and much more); , a collection of free-of-cost, freeware or shareware
oftwares/tools which enable communities, NGOs and individuals to create
interactive websites without incurring any monetary cost; and ,
a remote website-based as well as e-mail administered web designing
course for individuals, organisations and communities working towards
sustainable development.
Internet tutorials available in English, Español, Français,
Deutsch and Italiano.
An online educational program designed to train volunteers to help
other people in their communities with the Internet and related technical
issues. The program was created by the University of Minnesota (USA)
Extension Service as a way to educate community volunteers in the
concepts and applications of the Internet, and the web site helps
train these volunteers to provide this assistance. These community
volunteers are then able to more effectively assist others with applications
of the Internet. Master Internet VolunteersSM work with University
of Minnesota Extension Service county offices and directly with community
organizations to help others learn and make effective use of the Internet.
The University of Minnesota Extension Service provides this training
in exchange for volunteer time, including:
- Staffing public access Internet computers at University of Minnesota
Extension Service offices, libraries and other locations.
- Developing web pages for community organizations.
- Giving demonstrations for the public.
- Writing articles for local newspapers.
- Teaching community education classes.
- Working with youth, seniors, or special interest groups to help
them use the Internet.
NSRC is a training and technical assistance provider to programs funded
by the Corporation for National Service (AmeriCorps, VISTA, SeniorCorps,
etc.) in the USA. Its web site supports these volunteers in their
work, and includes a database for effective practices (Epicenter),
and an extensive online resource library that includes volunteer support
materials for its volunteers, such as
- Growing and Sustaining a School-Wide Tutoring Program
- Making an Impact on Out-of-School Time
- Seniors for Schools: Effective Practices Guidebook
- Students Teaching Students: A Handbook for Cross-Age Tutoring
NetDay sponsors one-day, all-volunteer efforts in the USA to build
appropriate wiring infrastructure in schools so they can access the
Internet. The NetDay How-To Guide provides everything volunteers need
to undertake these one-day events successfully
- Tips for Local Organizing
- State and Local Support: Getting Partners on Board
- Planning for NetDay
- Marketing NetDay to Businesses and Other Sponsors
- What NetDay Sponsors Can Do
- Sample NetDay Advertisements
- NetDay Public Relations Essentials
- Technical Issues
- The NetDay Kit
- Site Survey and Wiring Plan
- Cable Installation and Sample Wiring Plan
- Checklist for Technicians
- Non-Technical Volunteers
- Suggested Tools and Supplies
Numerous Checklists
Features lots of resources for launching and successfully maintaining
a community technology center, including "Ten Thoughts for Your New
Community Technology Center," CompuMentor's "Keys to a Successful
Community Technology Center", resources for youth development at CTCs,
suggested tools and resources, and links to other online materials.
Also includes related resources regarding technology and NPOs/NGOs.
