MULTIPURPOSE COMMUNITY TELECENTRES

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MULTIPURPOSE COMMUNITY TELECENTRES
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TELECENTRES COME IN MANY FORMS-THIS CAN BE
CONFUSING...

• An MCT can be
• Community owned
• Operated as a franchise or
• Sponsored by an entity such as
• Regional Development
• State or Central Government or
• An international organization such as UNESCO
  (United Nations Educational, Scientific and
  Cultural Organization)

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WHAT DO PEOPLE THINK A TELECENTRE IS?

• Shops providing
• Phone services only, or
• Phone services plus email/Internet, or
• All of the above plus fax and photocopier
• All of the above plus a wide range of services
  and programmes.

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What is a Multipurpose Telecentre?

• An MCT is not just computers, Internet and email
• An MCT is a technology hub which provides social,
  economic and information support to many diverse
  services and programmes that come together in one
  location to share equipment, staff, and expertise.

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Case Studies Established MCTs

• Case Study - Indian Ocean Island
• Case Study - Himalayan Community

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WHAT SERVICES AND PROGRAMMES CAN THIS MCT OFFER?

• Basic Services
• Email, Internet
• Computer use
• Photocopying
• Scanning
• Printing
• Telephone access

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Programmes and Services (contd)

• Internet Service Provider (ISP)
• Home page design
• Information retrieval
• Web page maintenance
• Data base design
• Video Conferencing connection

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Programmes and Services (contd)

• Disabled persons support
• Meeting facilities
• Office space for daily rental

• Government forms information
• On-line market prices
• Youth Club
• Computer Club
• Business Club
• Seniors Club
• Arts/Craft Club

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Programms and Services (contd)

• Toy library
• Book exchange
• Video library
• Community paper production
• Interpreting services
• Community information board
• Local events promotion

• Labor market information
• Small jobs information board
• Passport photos
• Photo restoration

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Programmes and Services (contd)

• Small business development
• Business incubator
• Job application assistance
• Computer training
• Internet training
• Exam supervision
• First aid training
• Emergency training

• Secretarial services
• Word processing
• Tourist information produced
• Grant applications
• Minutes/agendas
• Bookkeeping
• Phone answering
• Printing/publishing books, papers

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DONT DUPLICATE SERVICES

• MCTs do not duplicate services, they seek to
  start new programmes and services which are not
  currently operating in the community.

• Exceptions
• Basic services - email, Internet, photocopying,
  facsimile and telephone

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COLLOCATION

• MCTS can join with
• Libraries
• Technical training
  education groups
• Labor market providers
• Agriculture
• Post office
• Banks/fee collection

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COLLOCATION HELPS WITH SUSTAINABILITY

• THE MCT SAVES MONEY THROUGH
• Sharing buildings
• Sharing equipment
• Sharing staff
• PROVIDES LONGER OPENING HOURS
• Giving the community longer access time to
  programs and services. THIS PROVIDES ADDITIONAL
  INCOME.

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Community Input is Required

• The community can help the project by
• Finding a rent free/or cheap
  rental building
• Providing volunteers
  to assist in the Centre
• Becoming members
  and helping with other
  needs as and when required

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SUMMARY

• Information received during this meeting
• Programmes and services identified
• Support has/has not been promised.
• Community agrees/disagrees to establish an MCT.
• Community prepared to pay/not pay a fee to use
  the MCT

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THE MULTIPURPOSE COMMUNITY TELECENTRE
STEERING/MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE

• THANK YOU FOR ATTENDING.