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Microsoft Indonesia and ASEAN Foundation/
ICT4D ASEAN Collaboratory
Friday, 19 August 2005 ,
ASEAN Foundation Secretariat
Jakarta , Indonesia

Source: ASEAN ICT4D Collaboratory website - http://www.ict4dasean.org/index2.php?main=news/2005-08-19.php

Press Release

ASEAN Foundation and PT. Microsoft Indonesia initiated a partnership agreement today at the ASEAN Foundation's office in Jakarta .  Based on the signed MOU, ASEAN Foundation through its ICT4D ASEAN Collaboratory will conduct a series of Training-of-Trainers (TOT) activities to support the development of Community-based Technology and Learning Centres (CTLCs) established by PT. Microsoft Indonesia under its Unlimited Potential (UP) Program.

Since 2003, Microsoft Indonesia together with a number of NGOs/NPOs, such as: Yayasan Mitra Mandiri, Koalisi Perempuan Indonesia, Asia Foundation, PAKTA, Yayasan Mitra Netra and Lembaga Penelitian dan Pengembangan Masyarakat Institut Pertanian Bogor, have developed 28 CTLCs located in Sumatra, Java, Bali, Lombok, Kalimantan and Sulawesi.

All CTLCs except those under Yayasan Mitra Netra coordination will send 2-3 trainers to the ASEAN Foundation, and each trainer will undergo two TOT activities within a one year period.  The entire TOT course consists of 8 modules, including computer fundamentals, word processing, spreadsheet, presentation, web design, digital media, database, and internet & world wide web.  Each TOT session covers 4 modules and takes 5 working days.  After completing the TOT activities the CTLCs' trainers are expected to retrain 5-10 local trainers in their respective areas.  So overall, it is expected that a total of around 500 trainers will be trained during this phase.

“ Microsoft has made a major commitment to the goal of Digital Inclusion through world-wide programs to promote the development of skills that enable people from all segments of society to use software productively. Through this partnership, we believe we can achieve the commitment.” said Tony Chen, President Director PT Microsoft Indonesia.

Microsoft UP program is a global initiative that focuses on improving lifelong learning for underserved young people and adults by providing technology skills through the development of CTLCs.

ASEAN Foundation and Microsoft shares the belief which is to enhance and develop the unlimited potential of people by providing Information and Communication Technology (ICT) skills to the targeted groups through various programs including the TOT activities covered under the MOU. In fact, preliminary discussions are underway to explore the possibility of subsequent roll-outs of such TOT activities to a wider group of people including those in other ASEAN countries. Apichai Sunchindah, Executive Director of ASEAN Foundation stated that “we welcome such a partnership initiative since it dovetails very well with the mandate of the ASEAN Foundation to raise awareness of how ASEAN can be relevant and useful to society by targeting specific groups like women, youth and the differently advantaged people through ICT training and development. It is a good example of a win-win situation and building synergies for the benefit of the countries and peoples concerned”.

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About The ASEAN Foundation

The ASEAN Foundation itself was established in 1997 as an initiative of the ASEAN Leaders. The Foundation has a two-fold mission embodied in the Memorandum of Understanding:

• The Foundation shall promote greater awareness of ASEAN, and greater interaction among the peoples of ASEAN as well as their wider participation in ASEAN's activities inter alia through human resources development that will enable them to realize their full potential and capacity to contribute to progress as productive and responsible members of society;
• The Foundation shall also endeavor to contribute to the evolution of a development cooperation strategy that promotes mutual assistance, equitable economic development, and the alleviation of poverty.

Specifically on ICT related activities, in 2003 the Foundation established the ICT4D ASEAN Collaboratory, supported by the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) of Canada , with an objective of reducing the digital divide within a country and between countries in the region, through human resources development in technical, managerial, and training of ICT capacity.

About Microsoft

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq "MSFT") is the worldwide leader in software, services and Internet technologies for personal and business computing. The company offers a wide range of products and services designed to empower people through great software -- any time, any place and on any device.

2005-08-19

News 17 of 50