Inveneo The EKTA Foundation Archives
- 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 January 29, 2010 in the categories: News, Relief
Inveneo has been on the ground less than a week, and we’ve already deployed long-distance WiFi links between ten NetHope member organizations, bringing high-speed Internet access – critical communication capacity – to relief agencies making a difference in Haitian lives.
We’re creating a robust network that’s spanning the entire city – quite a feat in the cluttered urban landscape. But Mark Summer, Andris Bjornson, and the rest of the Inveneo team could not have done this alone. We’ve had amazing support from the entire technology and relief communities.
Helping Us Succeed
First, we’d like to thank the outstanding team at NetHope and their member organizations. Working together to do everything from finding the GPS coordinates of various offices, providing transportation to get us there, and even duct taping sandbags to stabilize our antennas, the NetHope response has been impressive. To quote one satisfied customer, “NetHope really has become a synonym for ‘teamwork’!”
Next, the outpouring of volunteer talent and resources has truly been amazing, helping organize our deployment, to hacking code for our in-country work, to getting the word out on our progress. Of specific note are OpenStreetMap and Open NMS.
OpenStreetMap volunteers are turning post-quake satellite images into street maps that we can load onto handheld GPS units. This is an immense help in finding sites and our way back home in the Port-au-Prince chaos. Remember, most street signs and landmarks were destroyed in the earthquake, so navigation is challenge – even for Haitians.
OpenNMS is a critical aspect of our WiFi network, because it allows us manage the load across fifteen different sites spanning a dozen organizations. Using it, we’re able to throttle or expand bandwidth where necessary to keep vital Internet data flowing. The OpenNMS team has volunteered many hours of time already and even created an account for us in their commercial support system – generosity we truly appreciate.
To quote Andris, “OpenNMS has been awesome, allowing us to stay on top of problems even before they develop.”
Long-distance WiFi links to relief
Expanding Our Impact
As we complete the initial NetHope network, we’re receiving requests for assistance from other organizations in Haiti to rebuild and expand their ICT infrastructure. Haitian ICT entrepreneurs are also eager to build their own skills, and participate in the reconstruction of their country.
This is an opportunity to increase our impact, help Haitians rebuild their businesses, and build lasting capacity in Haiti by expanding our innovative technology model into the country.
You can stay involved in these efforts by following us in real-time via RSS, Twitter, or Facebook.
Contribute To Our Response
We also hope you’ll join NetHope, the EKTA Foundation, Aruba Networks, the Orr Foundation, Steve Okay and Andrea Longo, and many of your friends and colleagues in supporting Inveneo’s Haiti response.
We are appealing for donations to cover the basic costs associated with this expansion of our Haiti relief efforts, including equipment, logistics and on the ground expenses. Please considerdonating to Inveneo using PayPal or Google Checkout below.
Inveneo is a US-based 501(c)3 non-profit charitable organization. If you are a US resident, and donate before February 28th, your donation may be tax deductible for the 2009 tax year.
All donations through February 28, 2010 will be used only for Haiti relief efforts, including the project to get connectivity to the major NGOs in Haiti.
Donate via Google Checkout
You can make a donation through this Google Checkout link:
Donate via Paypal
You can make a donation through this Paypal link:
Donate via Check or Money Order
Or send a check to Inveneo:
972 Mission Street, Fifth Floor
San Francisco, CA 94103 USA
- Posted by Inveneo on January 19, 2010 in the categories: News, Relief
When we first heard about Haiti’s massive earthquake we worried about the local organizations and entrepreneurs we’ve been talking to. Over the last six months Inveneo had been exploring expansion into Haiti, building relationships with nonprofits and the technical community to expand our innovative technology model into the country. But our worry soon became action.
Inveneo’s Haiti Response
Inveneo is not usually set up for emergency response, but we do have deep experience in deploying ICT in difficult resource-constrained environments and we know that reliable communications are a huge need in post-disaster relief efforts. We also had developed strong relationships with organizations working in Haiti, like NetHope and the EKTA Foundation and the Clinton Global Initiative.
So we were able to develop a targeted, actionable objective with NetHope – to restore communications to many of their members who operate in Haiti. Together, we have devised a plan to deploy long-distance wireless network connectivity from VSAT links being put in place by NetHope to their in country member NGOs.
This network will support Internet access in and out of the country, carry voice communications until the cellular networks are repaired and allow for collaboration and sharing of resources among NGOs. Establishment of networks like this is a cornerstone of our core competency and provides an avenue for us to deploy additional ICT infrastructure and participate in longer-term capacity building and reconstruction opportunities in country.
Brian measuring boxes
Our Current Status
Over the past 72 hours we’ve accomplished what usually would take us 2 to 3 weeks of work. We’ve been able to:
- Identify and source 1,500 pounds (3/4 ton!) of computer and networking equipment and construction tools – enough supplies for a wireless network of 15 to 20 nodes – from our trusted suppliers
- Organize flights for all that equipment and two staff (Mark Summer & Andris Bjornson) to Haiti
- Confirmed in-country logistics with Haitian partners
- Secured support from NetHope, the EKTA Foundation and generous individual donors
- Developed volunteer registration, project request database and equipment donation systems
Mark and Andris are currently en route to Haiti and we’d like to give a big thanks to both United Airlines and Airline Ambassadors for making this happen – at one point, both staff and their 3/4 ton of gear were booked on four different flights just to make sure they get to Haiti.
The Real Work Starts Now
Planning for Inveneo’s Haiti earthquake response is very exciting, but it’s just that, planning. In many ways we are just at the beginning of the journey: Tomorrow we face the real challenge and start the real work – implementing a communications network under emergency conditions in a disaster zone. And the need is great.
We’ve already received requests for assistance from other organizations in Haiti. As we gain a better understanding of local conditions and local partner resources, we hope to expand our impact and establish lasting ICT capacity in Haiti. We still have the long-term goal to expand our innovative technology model into the country.
In these efforts, we’d love for you to stay involved. We’ve already launched a central point for communications, and you can follow us in real-time via RSS, Twitter, Facebook, or Youtube.
How you can help
NetHope has agreed to provide funds to cover the cost of equipment and the EKTA Foundation has generously supported the initial deployment. We are making an appeal for donations to cover the quickly escalating costs associated with our Haiti relief efforts.
Please donate to Inveneo using PayPal or Google Checkout below. Inveneo is a US-based 501(c)3 non-profit charitable organization. If you are a US resident, your donation may be tax deductible.
All donations through January 31, 2010 will be used only for Haiti relief efforts, including the project to get connectivity to the major NGOs in Haiti.
Donate via Google Checkout
You can make a donation through this Google Checkout link:
Donate via Paypal
You can make a donation through this Paypal link:
Donate via Check or Money Order
Or send a check to Inveneo:
972 Mission Street, Fifth Floor
San Francisco, CA 94103 USA
- Posted by Inveneo on January 15, 2010 in the categories: News, Relief
Haiti Update: Inveneo’s earthquake response has begun!
Over the last six months Inveneo had been exploring expansion into Haiti, building relationships with nonprofits and the technical community to expand our innovative technology model into the country. In the face of this catastrophic earthquake, Inveneo feels an even stronger sense of commitment to improving the lives of the Haitian people. We wanted to offer our services and expertise to help however we can.
Inveneo’s Response
Much of the telecom infrastructure in and around Port-au-Prince has been severely damaged or destroyed by the earthquake. There is a great need for expertise in ICT to support the relief efforts – dependable communications infrastructure is vital in emergency relief operations to help coordination of recovery efforts.
We have been asked by NetHope, a collaboration of 28 of the world’s leading humanitarian organizations, to work with them on restoring communications to many of their members who operate in Haiti. Together, we have devised a plan to deploy long-distance wireless network connectivity from VSAT links being put in place by NetHope to several of their member NGOs operating around Port-au-Prince.
This network will support Internet access in and out of the country, carry voice communications until the cellular networks are repaired, and allow for collaboration and sharing of resources among NGOs. Establishment of networks like this is a cornerstone of our core competency and provides an avenue for us to deploy additional ICT infrastructure and participate in longer-term capacity building and reconstruction opportunities in country.
How you can help
NetHope has agreed to provide funds to cover the cost of the equipment that will be needed to establish these links. With the generous support of our partners in Haiti, the EKTA Foundation, Inveneo will initially send two of our staff engineers to conduct the wireless network deployment starting the week of January 16th. We are making an appeal for donations to cover other costs associated with our Haiti relief efforts.
Please donate to Inveneo using PayPal or Google Checkout below. Inveneo is a US-Based 501(c)3 non-profit charitable organization. If you are a US resident, your donation may be tax deductible.
All donations through January 31, 2010 will be used only for Haiti relief efforts, including the project to get connectivity to the major NGOs in Haiti.
Thank you for your generous support,
The Inveneo team
Donate via Google Checkout
You can make a donation through this Google Checkout link:
Donate via Paypal
You can make a donation through this Paypal link:
Donate via Check or Money Order
Or send a check to Inveneo:
972 Mission Street, Fifth Floor
San Francisco, CA 94103 USA
