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AOL Peace Pack
The fundamental goals of Peace Corps’ information technology initiative are to spur innovation at the grassroots level, integrate information technology into current projects, and to expand the reach of development efforts into remote areas through the work of Volunteers. To support these goals, Peace Corps has developed the “Peace Pack” program with financial support from the AOL Foundation. The objective of this program is to explore models of how Information Technology can be used at the grass roots level in developing countries to meet local health, economic, education and civic engagement goals.Current AOL Peace Pack Projects
Aioun Information Center
APROMI - Nouakchott
EcoDev Cyber Center in Nouakchott
Maal Rural School Access Project
Nissa Banque- El Mina, Nouakchott
Atar Girls Mentoring Center
Boghe/Bababe Girl's Mentoring Center
Nouadhibou Library Access Project
Diadjibine Rural School Access Project
Aioun Information Center
The volunteers in Aioun were approved for an AOL PeacePack in August 2001. The funds for the project were used to buy equipment and Internet connection for a community computer center in Aioun. The equipment includes computers, printers, a scanner, as well as other related materials.The target group for the computer center is the youth in Aioun. There is a high interest level in computers and the Internet especially among the youth. We hope to use this motivation to help us have a more participatory center with a lot of community involvement in the management and the overall operation. The center will also hopefully become a forum for broad discussions and presentations among the youth.
Teachers and school administrators have access to the center as well as a formalized training, as we hope that they will provide a principal part in training the students in the future. We also hope that the school administrators will use the computer and the Internet to enhance the efficiency of their operations and increase their networking skills with other schools and educational organizations worldwide.
The AOL center believes in the importance of girl's education for their overall development and therefore dedicates a certain minimum number of hours per week for high school girls.
APROMI
APROMI’s primary goal is to increase its member’s available resources regarding the microfinance sector with the most current information possible. They plan to fulfil their goal by offering: Mirocfinance Conferences (Train the Trainer, Sustainability, Anthology, etc.), a Universal Mauritanian Mirofinace Manual, access to their new Microfinance Resource Library and Consulting with individual member institutions to help them be as efficient as possible. In order for APROMI to accomplish their goal, they require both financial and technical assistance. APROMI is currently working with several local and international organisations to help them meet their members' growing demands.
APROMI was fortunate enough to receive an AOL Peace Pack to aid them in accomplishing their goal which was no small accomplishment being that AOL only funded 30 out of 137 Peace Packs worldwide and they were one of eight to be awarded in Mauritania alone within the last year. AOL has provided them with the financial assistance they required to purchase the computer equipment and Internet access that allows them to do their research and offers them the resources to create a Microfinance Manual and distribute it to its members. This equipment also allows them to create and house a Microfinance Resource Library database that its members, as well as, the general public can access. With the assistance from AOL Peace Pack, APROMI has gone from an organisation operating with minimal and basic equipment to one operating with state-of-the-art technology. With the equipment that they were able to purchase they can now offer the same quality of training conferences in the interior that they offer in Nouakchott. This could not be possible without AOL’s support for which they are truly grateful.
EcoDev
Ecodev’s mission is to support development actors such as NGO’s and community districts in Mauritania through training, consulting, and setting up development projects. Ecodev helps conceive and set up development projects based on innovative economical, social and technical approaches in both rural and urban areas. Some of their initiatives include infrastructure projects with water and sanitation, and electrification and telecommunications projects. Their small enterprise development projects work with agriculture and food, and promotion of local artifacts. Major training they provide includes: project design and management, NGO development, training of trainers, grassroots and management training. They also provide the following support, training, and consulting: feasibility studies, project monitoring and evaluation, socio-economic studies and surveys, design of manuals and procedures, facilitation of workshops and networks, and design of communication aides and flyers.The equipment donated by AOL will be a major step in introducing internet and computer technology as a means to address development needs. This project would give Ecodev the ability to research the internet to learn how other development organizations have been successful with their development projects, share their successes with the internet community at large, facilitate communication with their partners, and begin training poorer communities and local partners about the internet and computer literacy.
College de Maal Computer Center
Using solar energy, a computer center was set up in the library of the school in Maal. The AOL Peace Pak funds received in October of 2002 were used to buy four computers, a printer, speakers, head sets, education-oriented software, one DVD drive, extra reams of paper, disks, ink cartridges, maintenance equipment, and covers...etc.The School took responsibility for the center yet it remains open to all members of the community. It is especially benefiting students, teachers, and other staff of the various schools in Maal through organized and programmed classes. Female students have been given a priority although no one is excluded. It is the hope that the center will serve as the site of a full girls mentoring center in the near future.
Several teachers are being trained to train others even in the absence of Peace Corps Volunteers. A committee will be organized to run the center in the future that will consist of student, teacher, administrative, and community representatives.
Nissa Banque
Nissa Banque is a microfinance institution. Its partners include UNICEF, Secretariat de l’Etat de Condition Feminine and Peace Corps. Nissa Banque’s goal is to fight poverty through the provision of small loans to women’s cooperatives and by building awareness of women’s and children’s rights. Promoting microfinance amongst Mauritania’s poorest women allows them to develop their income-generating activities. These revenues help to improve the quality of life for their families and their neighborhoods. Nissa Banque has encouraged women to organize themselves and to develop community solidarity through community forums, health awareness seminars and the enforcement of sister cooperatives (to act as collateral/guarantee). Nissa Banque is unique for its continued training of management and committees, educational awareness seminars and its simplified management tools.The AOL Peace Pack project is an extension of Nissa Banque’s Nouakchott branch. The AOL grant complements their existing financial and educational services. The Peace Pack will help finance computers for their financial institution, a cyber café and a women’s computer training center. SECF has donated two rooms of a Women’s Community Center located in El Mina, Nouakchott.
New information technology will improve the institution’s transparency, outreach and efficiency. The cyber café will provide Internet access to the local community as well as generate income for Nissa Banque. The computer training center will be available to Nissa Banque members.