Enterprising ICT for Development in Ecuador

The experiences rewarded were: 

First place: "Waita Community Telecentres" of the Foundation Jatun Sacha

Second place: "Project to Sail" of the National Union of Educators

Third place: "Connectivity and radio communication centers in the Andes" of Radio Latacunga and OFTELSAT

Mention of honor in Undertaking: Digital newspaper Poncho Gazette by its history "PuyoGaceta, a virtual window for the emigrants"

Mention of honor in Photography: Center of Investigation Enrique Añamisi by the collage of photographs on its project of teaching literacy in computers for adults. 

The three first places deserve the recognition of Good Practice in the use of ICT for Development on the part of UNESCO, IICD and Infodesarrollo. Besides this recognition, the first place received $500, the second place a digital camera and the third a digital voice recorder.  All the initiatives of the honor roll also received memories sticks of 2GB. 

The experience Waita Community Telecentres, is implemented since 5 years in the quechua communities called New Paradise and Chichico Rumi, located in the zone of the High one Napo. The communities are taking advantage of access to the Internet and ICTs and have managed to improve the quality of education through a virtual degree. They also improved their civil participation, their access to services, and they have put their customs and culture in the spotlight to the world. 

The Project to Sail of the National Union of Educators won the second place by implementing ICT in the Simón Bolívar School of the city of Quito. This experience, applying ICT in education, has qualified teachers and students to use these tools to improve education. 

The third place was won by Radio Latacunga and OFTELSAT with their project "Connectivity and radio communication centres in the Andes". Through wireless networks, children, youngsters and adults of communities of the province of Cotopaxi are stimulated through radio programmes to not only consume contents, but also to be creative contributors. The products carried out by the communities are transmitted through Radio Latacunga. 

More on this:

• Red Infodesarrollo Ecuador
  National ICT4D Network of Ecuador, Sra. Paula Carrión: Oficial de Información y Comunicación, Red Infodesarrollo (info@infodesarollo.ec )
• UNESCO
  Co-organiser awards