Missions

ICT to help bridge the digital divide in Nicaragua's remote and rural communities

Near the northern border of Nicaragua, Telpaneca is a district populated by indigenous populations. In the eponymous town of 20,000 inhabitants, the economy relies mainly on the production of bananas and coffee. The IT Cup centre opened by TSF in partnership with the PIT facilitates access to ICT for students, teachers, farmers and local NGOs. It also enables residents to learn about the uses of the internet, to improve their daily lives.

In order to strengthen the support given to the thousands of Malians fleeing the violence in their country, TSF provided high-speed, reliable and fast satellite communications for the improved coordination of organisations in the field.

A new community telecom centre was inaugurated in July 2010 in the remote village of Abalak in Niger. In partnership with Delta Partners, the center offers an internet connection and computer training for the inhabitants of the region, as well as for local development organisations.

In partnership with the IT Cup and Vétérinaires Sans Frontières Belgium, TSF opened its first community telecom centre in Dakoro, Niger, one of the most remote regions in the world.

TSF organised a capacity building programme to strengthen the humanitarian response system through the optimal use of technologies

TSF contributes to narrowing the digital divide in some of the world’s most remote and vulnerable areas. For the past 10 years, TSF, from its regional base in Nicaragua, has been providing computer and Internet training sessions to the inhabitants of the San Bartolo area. This region situated in the northwest of the country, far from the other main cities, is characterized by its poorly developed rural areas.

Between August 2010 and February 2011, TSF trained 102 staff members from organisations and humanitarian agencies in Asia and Central and Latin America to improve effective use of telecommunications service in emergency situations.

Hurricane Ida swept the coasts of Nicaragua and El Salvador in November 2009. At the request of UNDAC, TSF teams traveled to both countries to provide communications to the United Nations assessment teams.

Following Hurricane Felix, TSF installed three emergency communication centres for the United Nations and the humanitarian community in the Puerto Cabezas region, in partnership with the European Commission Humanitarian Aid Office (ECHO).

TSF restores family ties amongst relatives separated during the dry season.

Just after having returned from their mission in Guatemala, TSF Latin America teams are again called upon by Managua's authorities.