Inveneo Microsoft Archives
- Posted by Jana Melpolder on April 2, 2014 in the categories: Publications
The refugee camp in Dadaab, Kenya saw a population spike from 300,000 to over 500,000 after famine, drought, and civil war resulted in a humanitarian crisis. In order to serve Dadaab refugees, Inveneo and partners NetHope and USAID identified opportunities to bring better, more reliable Internet and interagency communications to the many humanitarian agencies working in Dadaab.
NetHope recently published a March 2014 DadaabNet Project Report to offer an extended list of the project’s results. Read the report here or find out more about Inveneo’s work within the project here.
The Dadaab Connect project was funded by Inveneo’s Broadband for Good Program, Cisco, Microsoft, NetHope, Craig Newmark, the Orr Family Foundation, UNHCR, and USAID’s Global Broadband Innovations Program.
- Posted by Inveneo on August 9, 2012 in the categories: Education, News, Projects
In Haiti, schools need more than just relief, they need better access to information and communication technologies to improve student and teacher skills and learning opportunities.
Inveneo collaborated with World Vision, Microsoft, HP, SELF and Voila Foundation to create “The Haiti Connected Schools Program” – a solution that brings sustainable computing solutions and Internet connections to 40 schools in rural Haiti.
Inveneo’s Sybille Fleischmann, Inveneo Country Manager Haiti, and Michelet Guerrier, Haiti Project Manager, have been working with Haitian engineers and technicians, to install solar panels, set up computer labs, and connect the schools to the Internet. As part of the program, teachers receive basic computer classes. The classes are delivered by Inveneo trained local technicians.
Inveneo’s approach integrates school administrations, Haitian solar installers and local technicians in the preparation, deployment and long-term support of the computer labs. After a school is selected the school prepares for the future computer lab, adds security measures where necessary and purchases or builds the furniture for the lab.
When the school is ready to receive the lab the solar panels are installed either on the roof or on poles next to the computer lab and the indoor cabling with inverter and batteries are completed. Shortly thereafter Inveneo certified local technicians install the computer lab and set up the Internet access. Once the lab is ready, teachers are the first to receive a multi-day basic computer course. During this training many of the teachers are touching a computer for the very first time.
Local Deployment via BATI
A key aspect of the program is the BATI – young Haitians with information technology (IT) skills who are trained by Inveneo to deploy high speed, broadband wireless networks and new, relevant technology for educational institutions, like schools, in an entrepreneurial business model. During the school deployments, experienced BATI are training newer BATI, on how to connect clients, deploy and support the computer labs. They also receive coaching and experience providing basic computer classes to teachers and the community.
In fact, the program is now entirely run by Haitians and the results have been remarkable. Two computer labs are being installed each week by two BATI teams working simultaneously. The targeted 40 school deployments are on schedule to be completed by September 2012; so far 28 schools have been completed with 12 more to go – each complete with local ownership and local long-term maintenance.
Students throughout the country are now able to access online educational resources thanks to the help of The Haiti Connected Schools Program. Inveneo’s quick response to delivering long-term solutions offers students and school administrators the best combination of sustainable computing for years to come.
- Posted by Inveneo on September 27, 2011 in the categories: Economic Development, News
You may already know Emmanuella Stimphat, who joined our team in Haiti in April. Emmanuella jumped right into the work and in no time at all became the master of our Haiti inventory. She is supporting the rural network roll-out, working with the BATIs and helping with the installation of computer labs in schools.
Now that Microsoft, a supporter of the NetHope Academy Internship program, featured Emmanuella’s story in a video during the Global Microsoft Summit, we figured you should know more about our famous colleague.
Encouraged by her parents and siblings Emmanuella decided to pursue a computer science degree at a top university in her native country, Haiti. Emmanuella’s school, Ecole Supérieure d´Infotronique d´Haïti (ESIH), was totally destroyed in the earthquake in 2010 and the semester abruptly came to an end. To escape the immediate destruction and try to move on, Emmanuella went to stay in Florida, but after a few months returned to Haiti.
Her Masters studies were interrupted by the quake, but another opportunity caught her interest upon her return to Haiti – the NetHope Academy. Emmanuella was one of the few female candidates who were accepted into this coveted program. After graduating from NetHope Academy, she came to the Inveneo team as an IT Technician, where she is an invaluable resource.
Emmanuella joins Jerry Joseph as an Haitian ICT Success Story and we are proud to have her with us.
- Posted by Inveneo on September 21, 2011 in the categories: Education, News
Inveneo is proud to announce that it is now a Microsoft Authorized Education Reseller for both Fully Packaged Products (software in a box for a single user) and Academic Volume Licensing (keys for multiple users in an organization). This means we can offer discounted Microsoft software, like Windows 7 and Office, to Qualified Educational Users (QEUs). In general, QEUs are accredited school staff and students.
Microsoft education pricing can reduce overall software costs for educational institutions, their staff, and students. It does however require a higher level of client engagement to certify user status.
Contact an Inveneo Certified ICT Partner for product and pricing information.
- Posted by Inveneo on August 30, 2011 in the categories: Economic Development, News
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation presented its 2011 Access to Learning Award of $1 million to the Arid Lands Information Network (ALIN), which provides knowledge and information through a variety of innovative channels in remote communities throughout Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania. Microsoft, a partner of the foundation in its efforts to help public libraries connect people with relevant technology and skills, will provide ALIN with a donation of over US$270,000 worth of software and technology training curriculum to help the organization serve the local community.
ALIN’s 12 Knowledge Centers – known as Maarifa Centers – focus on providing practical information, particularly in the area of agricultural development. The vast majority of people in these regions are small-scale farmers who need information about issues such as drought, pests, and finding markets for their crops. The centers offer information geared toward the communities’ specific needs.
Maarifa Centers also address health issues such as HIV/AIDS and malaria, ways to improve people’s daily lives such as how to create an energy efficient biogas stove, and administrative requirements such as applying for an official identity card or getting tax exempt status. Some people have used the centers to create groups for the disabled, earn advanced degrees online, or create thriving small businesses.
In Uganda’s northern regions, Maarifa Centers employ Inveneo High-Performance Computing Stations installed by CLS Limited, an Inveneo Certified ICT Partner, to to help community members gain information to improve their health, increase their incomes, and better their lives.
- Posted by Inveneo on January 5, 2011 in the categories: Economic Development, News, Projects
Jerry Joseph is pursuing a dream – he wants to be an expert in information and communication technology (ICT). Thanks to Inveneo, he’s working toward that goal with Multilink, a Haitian ISP, by bringing broadband Internet to rural Haiti and changing the lives of people in his community.
But a year ago, Jerry’s future wasn’t so clear.
Even though he studied ICT and even took classes at the prestigious Instituto Tecnológico de Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic, he was doing odd jobs to support himself and his family and his hopes for an ICT career were dim.
I wanted to be focused on technology. I don’t want to be doing something that doesn’t improve my ICT skills. Yet, it’s hard to find a job in Haiti – I worked where I could but I was not challenged. I wasn’t using my skills.”
Then, on January 12, 2010, the earthquake hit.
Jerry was in Port-au-Prince at the time, and like many others, his house was damaged and Jerry was rendered homeless, and was forced to live at a friend’s. He was still taking whatever jobs he could find, and one of those positions – as a driver with Save the Children – led him to Inveneo.
Working with us to deploy long-distance WiFi, Jerry gained valuable practical skills and the attention of Multilink. Now Jerry is managing bandwidth and tech support as an independent contractor for Multilink in Léogâne, in the process, he is gaining real expertise in ICT and making an impact in his homeland.
“I believe children in rural communities want to be ICT experts too, but they don’t find anyone to inspire them. I need to be the boost for them. I can’t wait for them to say, ‘Jerry is teaching us ICT!'”
For Inveneo, Jerry is the first of what we believe will be many Haitian success stories. He’s now employed in his chosen profession, and the technologies he’s helping deploy are expanding opportunity throughout the country, beyond Port-au-Prince.
Our 2011 Commitment
Inveneo is committed to bringing real opportunity to Haiti in 2011 through the rural broadband connectivity program Inveneo is deploying in partnership with local Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and Haitian entrepreneurs.
This program is supported by an innovative collective of organizations whose focus is ICT entrepreneurial capacity building, rural economic development, and education through ICTs, including the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund, Craigslist Charitable Fund , The EKTA Foundation, Google, Microsoft, NetHope and the USAID Global Broadband and Innovations Alliance.
Together, we will build a connectivity model that will reach and serve clients (schools, NGOs, enterprises and others) cost effectively, through:
- accelerated deployment of a high speed, broadband wireless network in rural population centers
- training and certification of Haitian IT entrepreneurs (like Jerry) to deploy, operate and support this network
- a sustainable business model of local network ownership and operations for the broadband wireless network,
- deploying new, appropriate technology in education to increase ICT knowledge and usage
The net effect of our efforts will be broadband Internet connectivity that stimulates economic growth and supports decentralization of the Haitian economy. In the process, we are confident that we will see the formation of many Jerrys!
- Posted by Inveneo on January 3, 2011 in the categories: Economic Development, News, Projects
Inveneo Funding to Develop and Document Models of Rural Broadband Network Management and Ownership
San Francisco, CA – January 3, 2011 Inveneo, a non-profit social enterprise dedicated to connecting and empowering rural and underserved communities with information and communications technologies (ICTs) in the developing world, announced today that Google has awarded it $182,000 toward its work in Haiti.
This funding will go specifically to develop, document and implement a model of local network ownership and operations for the rural broadband connectivity program Inveneo is deploying in partnership with local Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and Haitian entrepreneurs.
This connectivity program is supported by an innovative collective of organizations whose focus is ICT entrepreneurial capacity building, and rural economic development and education through ICTs. This collective includes the USAID Global Broadband and Innovations Alliance, NetHope, the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund, The EKTA Foundation and Microsoft.
Google’s award will fund the development and implementation of a locally owned operating model for the high-speed, rural broadband wireless connectivity that will be deployed in 20 regional/rural population centers across Haiti, currently not served by local ISPs. This grant is essential for Inveneo to build a model that will enable local ownership and fair use of the network so that ISPs can reach and serve clients (schools, NGOs, enterprises and others) cost effectively.
The rural broadband program, which is designed to be financially sustainable, will deliver affordable Internet services to a range of organizations. The connectivity will enable these organizations to accelerate Haiti’s rebuilding and better position the rural areas for economic development and improved access to opportunity.
“We are thrilled to be able to empower Haitians with affordable and reliable Internet access, and this support from Google is a vital component in our approach,” said Kristin Peterson, Inveneo CEO and Co-Founder. “Google’s participation in the Inveneo Haiti collaborative will strengthen the reach and sustainability of the effort.”
About INVENEO
Inveneo is a U.S.-based social enterprise whose mission is connecting and empowering rural and underserved communities with information and communications technologies. Inveneo’s model of nurturing and supporting local talent to support technical systems and earn income has been successfully implemented around the world. Since 2006, Inveneo and its partners have delivered innovative solutions to more than 1,500,000 people in over 500 communities in 25 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia and Haiti.
- Posted by Inveneo on November 17, 2010 in the categories: News, Publications
The Inveneo Multiplier Solution is a low cost, energy efficient desktop computing system designed for use where cost is an over-riding factor and electrical supplies are limited or unreliable; locations like underserved clinics, schools, community centers and microfinance offices.
Computer components and software from leading manufacturers have been carefully selected and configured into a single compact system that can serve 2-10 users based on the Inveneo Certified HP Multiseat Server with Inveneo LCD Monitors and Inveneo Certified Peripherals & Accessories.
The Inveneo Multiplier Benefits
- Very affordable cost per user: The Inveneo Multiplier can support up to 10 concurrent users, each experiencing personal, customizable desktops and applications. A single shared PC supports multiple LCD displays, keyboards, and mice.
- Easy to use: The Inveneo Multiplier uses the genuine Microsoft Windows MultiPoint Server 2010 operating system capable of providing a Windows XP or Windows 7 user experience, easy installation of current security patches and updates, and full support of all standard Microsoft software.
- Low power consumption: The Inveneo Multiplier’s power draw can be as low as 15 watts per user (including CPU, thin client keyboards, mice, and LCD screens), because it uses just one multi-core CPU with Inveneo’s ultra low-power LCD display screens.
The Inveneo Multiplier solution has one of the lowest Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) numbers for computing systems, and is designed to be sustainable in most resource-constrained environments. It combines a competitive purchase price with minimal infrastructure requirements and low support and maintenance costs.
The result is a significantly more effective solution, tailored to the needs of organizations operating in low-resource areas worldwide, and with a lower overall cost per user than many traditional computers.
