Digital Opportunity Trust
Ethiopia: Updates from Ethiopia for June
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Where We Work
DOT programs have been localized for Africa, the Middle East, Southern and Eastern Europe and the Caucasus region, and North America. Every year, these programs impact and connect thousands of people including youth at risk living in slums in Kenya and Ethiopia, tourism operators in Lebanon, and teachers and students in Mississippi and Louisiana.
DOT programs include:
DOT partner NetCorps programs include:
Why Africa is a Unique Opportunity
In response to growing demands in Africa, DOT is building a Pan-African base of operation in Nairobi, for local ownership and operation. This platform is coordinating national programs in Ethiopia and Kenya with a view to operating in six more African countries over the next three years.
We are working with communities that are overcoming poverty, low levels of basic education and literacy, as well as the absence of infrastructure that the most developed communities take for granted. DOT Africa addresses the critical need to build African capacity to apply ICT in African communities to support economic and social development, improve rates of employment and business start-up and enhance the role of women in the economic sector and the society.
Opportunities in the Middle East
After a brief pilot phase in which DOT established proof of concept in the Middle East, DOT's work set root in an incorporated, Jordan-based chapter of the organization: Netcorps Jordan (NCJ). Working with small-to-medium enterprises, we have helped local entrepreneurs to integrate ICT tools into their business processes and created a similar entrepreneurship project aimed at micro and small businesses.
NetCorps Jordan is now in the process of launching a community tourism development project, which aims to build the capacities of community-based organizations, tourism-oriented entrepreneurs and small-to-medium enterprises through integrating ICT tools into their ventures.
DOT's work has also reached into Egypt and Lebanon.
Expansion into Southern and Eastern Europe and the South Caucasus region
As part of its 2010 Scale Strategy, DOT is expanding its operations to focus on Southern and Eastern Europe and the South Caucasus region. In response to the developing need in these regions, DOT Azerbaijan and DOT Turkey will provide ICT-enabled training and programs to promote digital inclusion and 21st century community-led economic development to local community participants.
DOT Azerbaijan and DOT Turkey’s initial demonstration program is set to launch in 2008.
And in the USA…
DOT USA was launched in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, to support Cisco Systems Foundation's response to the crisis. As of October 2007 more than 55 schools in Mississippi and Louisiana are discovering how technology can help teachers to deliver a richer education experience to more than 25,000 K-12 students.
DOT USA is responsible for training and managing "Interns", who are coaching teachers to bridge technology and curriculum for their students. This 21S Internship program has been designed for local students and alumni interested in strengthening their leadership skills and gaining work experience that is relevant to the careers they wish to pursue.