Case Study: São Paulo Telecentres Project
casestudy_GCA
This case study is about the
involvement of RITS (Rede
de Informacão para o Terceiro Setor) – a Brazilian civil society
organisation involved in ICT policy monitoring and advocacy – in
setting up community access centres (telecentres) in São Paulo which
inspired various policies to roll out telecentres in Brazil.
The São Paulo Telecentres Project was selected for inclusion in this
toolkit as a successful example of how practical ICT demonstration at a
local level can support national advocacy for policy change. This
partnership-based project mobilised policy, investment and technical
support leading to the establishment of 128 community-based
telecentres. The São Paulo model was based on free public access to
facilities and training, community participation in management, free
and open source software, and development of the community telecentre
as a venue for social organisation.
RITS provided support for the São Paulo telecentres right from the
conceptual stage. RITS was instrumental in pioneering new and
innovative approaches and ensuring results were widely disseminated.
The project has influenced national policies on digital inclusion and
free and open source software and has inspired proposals to roll out
community telecentres across Brazil.
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