Mobile Telecentre Launched in Manila

PRESS RELEASE: 16th January 09:

In the urban regions of Manila’s metropolis, five young Filipinos have built the country’s first mobile, self-contained, wireless telecentre. The students are all graduates of the Philippines 1st telecenter, GLOW, which launched in 2000. They have designed a new and innovative approach of delivering ICT learning combined with a sustainable business model, to communities that typically have no access to the internet and IT training services.

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MobileTelecenters.com takes internet and telecommunications to Philippines schools and villages in self-contained, wireless enabled, mobile telecentres built on the famous national mode of transport - the three wheeled motorcycle called a tricycle or Trike which is the most common mode of local transport in The Philippines after the famous Jeepney.

Seed funded by social venture capital group www.YSEI.org, the eTrike is a fully self contained mobile, wireless telecentre which travels into urban communities in Manila and provides youth with access to participate in new digital ICT technologies, basic computer lessons using multimedia CD-ROM’s and live internet lessons. The eTrike mobile unit carries 3 laptop computers, a mobile cell phone repair unit, 1 digital camera, 3 cell phones and a printer. The Internet is provided via a wireless connection and electricity is provided from an onboard generator.

Schools are contacted by the Mobile Telecenters team to schedule a training which is carried out the on-campus usually lasting a full day. Charging institutions a small fee for the training service the eTrikes are also sustainable as they offer a variety of paid services such as cell phone repairs, SMS services, internet access, recharge services and more.

Once the pilot program has been completed over the 1st 6 months Mobile Telecenters have plans to expand their fleet of eTrikes into other needy areas of Manila and further afield in other provinces across the Philippines expanding to incorporate eJeepneys and eventually an eShip.

Christine Lopez (team leader) said “We envision, that through onsite training our student recipients will become competent and literate in the job and business opportunities which ICT’s represent. Our vision is to help empower Filipino youth to become independent and productive citizens of the Philippines.”

The eTrike project was formally launched on Friday 16th January 2009 at the Main Campus (Rosepack) of Francisco P. Felix Memorial National HIH School in Cainta, Rizal, Manila at 10.00AM.  View video here

For further contacts: www.MobileTelecenters.com -
Email: info@MobileTelecenters.com – simon@SolvePoverty.com
Phone:  +632-92 1975 6997

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