Program Updates

Turkey

In May 2007, One Global Economy collaborated with Cisco Systems to begin work on a pilot phase project to create a national Beehive site for Turkey and a local Beehive for the city of Istanbul.

One Economy partnered with a number of national and local non-governmental organizations working on issues including education, health, women’s empowerment, and entrepreneurship. These NGOs provided valuable content for use on the Beehive. Turkey- and Istanbul-specific content has been integrated with content developed for previously created Beehives. Turkey and Istanbul specific information includes the Turkish Social Security system, nationwide and local health services, the Turkish education system, national exams, financial educational support systems, e-applications and procedures for official documents and information, and information about national and local governance.

The Turkey Beehive (http://turkey.thebeehive.org) was successfully launched in September 2007 and the Istanbul Beehive (http://turkey.thebeehive.org/istanbul) launched a month later with a press conference organized by OGE, Cisco Systems and the Istanbul Municipality. The Istanbul Municipality’s aim is to establish free Internet centers in all parts of the city, especially in the low-income neighborhoods. A total of 300 centers will be available by the end of 2008. The Istanbul Beehive will be the home page in all of these centers. In November 2007, OGE trained the managers of the 50 internet centers already operating in Istanbul.
In collaboration with Cisco Systems and the Yalova municipality, One Global Economy created a local Beehive for the city of Yalova, located south of Istanbul. Launched in early December, the site provides specific local information on health services, schools, after school facilities, local firms, the local government and governmental services, and services provided by non-governmental organizations for Yalova citizens.

Since the Beehives’ launch last year, more and more Turkish citizens have benefited from the local and national web portals. Throughout the month December 2007, 15,000 unique visitors came to the Turkey Beehive and 18,000 unique visitors came to the Istanbul Beehive.


Durban, South Africa

One Global Economy, with the support of Cisco Systems, has been working in the Durban Industrial Basin in South Africa since early 2007. The Basin is a heavily industrialized area which has been gripped by a recession in recent years. One Global Economy has worked with a consortium of local, community-based NGOs, and a number of the surrounding large scale industries to create the first One Global Economy community technology center in the Austerville Library. The center opened on February 10th, 2007.

In addition, One Global Economy—in partnership with the community—has built a local community portal to link residents to jobs and provide them with global information and best practices on HIV/AIDS prevention, education, entrepreneurship, and government services. The website, the Durban Beehive, also launched at the opening of the One Global Economy community technology center.

One Global Economy is now expanding into other parts of the state of Kwazulu-Natal, working with local NGOs and communities in the Valley of 1000 Hills. A large number of child and grandparent-headed households live in this semi-rural area, where resources and opportunities are limited. Access to technology will mean better education, better job opportunities, and ultimately better lives for these Aids-ravaged communities. As part of this project, One Global Economy is securing funding to begin the translation of the Durban Beehive into other languages spoken in the region.

One Global Economy has also been developing partnerships with NGOs, schools and local government in parts of Cape Town and Johannesburg, and expansion into these two major cities is planned for 2008.

Last month, One Economy joined with the QuadPara Association (QASA) to open a new center that provides computer training and employment solutions for the quadriplegic and paraplegic residents of Ashley Village in KwaZulu-Natal, as well as members of the public with disabilities. One Economy helped set up the center, providing assistance to new users and on-site training.

The Rod Colenbrander center, funded by the Alexander Forbes Community Trust and Microsoft SA, encourages people to make use of the Durban Beehive to expand their knowledge and skills.

Already, two classes of people with disabilities have graduated from a course in basic computer literacy. Most of the trainees had never used a computer before. As part of the training, the candidates learned how to write a resume. Several recruitment agencies that specialize in finding employment for people with disabilities are using those resumes to help the graduates look for jobs.

 
Amman, Jordan

Our work in Jordan started through a partnership with The United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) and support from Intel to set up an electronic center, the e-Village, in the villages of Lib and Mleih in the governorate of Madaba. The e-Village provides local residents with technology training opportunities and increases their job preparedness.

This work has evolved into the Jordan Beehive, an all-Arabic portal that will provide technical assistance on a variety of issues that affect the day to day lives of Jordanians. Launched in June 2007, the Jordan Beehive also provides information on the different services available to low-income residents of Jordan.

In collaboration with the Young Entrepreneurs Association, we provide new and aspiring business owners with guidance and help. Our partnership with Save the Children gives us access to information about the different services being provided to low-income communities in Jordan and to produce a new section targeting youth issues and services. We are also working with the King’s Academy to create cross-community collaboration and to train low-income residents from Mabada to use The Jordan Beehive.

The Jordan Beehive is used at the e-Villages and is expanding to other community centers & initiatives.