Microsoft has been collaborating with the Aga Khan Rural Support Programme (AKRSP) India since 2005 to set up Community Based Technology Learning Centres (CTLCs) across the states of Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Bihar, providing underprivileged people with better access to Information Technology (IT) training.

The collaboration is part of Microsoft's Community Technology Skills Programme, which was launched in India in August 2004 as Project Jyoti. As part of the initiative, Microsoft India partners with non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to support various programmes aimed at empowering under-served individuals through the use of IT. The establishment of more than 1,400 CTLCs, in partnership with 14 NGOs in 27 Indian states, is one of the cornerstones of Project Jyoti’s success.

More than 450,000 people have been trained at the CTLCs — out of which, more than 300,000 people have been placed in jobs or were helped to start their own enterprise through the initiative. At the CTLCs, rural residents are equipped with IT and non-IT related skills to secure employment in urban areas, thus helping to narrow both the digital divide and the technology skills gap between urban and rural residents.

The growing number of people who have benefited from the services of the CTLCs established by Microsoft and AKRSP India illustrate the positive impact on marginalised communities across the three Indian states.

“Computer training from the CTLC has helped me make a decent earning,” said Yatin Kumar, an employee with the Union Bank of India in Bihar. “I was toiling as a labourer until I enrolled in computer courses with the CTLC. Today, my life has changed and improved significantly, and I am helping to spread the word about the benefits of computers.”

Sangeetaben Ramanbhai Vasava is another rural resident whose life has been enriched after joining a computer course at the CTLC. A widow in need of financial support to raise her two children, Ms Sangeetaben was recruited as a part-time IT trainer at a CTLC in Gujarat state and later secured a stable job at the International Rural Education & Cultural Association (INRECA).

"The CTLC has given a new life to me and my children, helping me to find a means of livelihood when I needed it most," Ms Sangeetaben said. "I hope the Centre will continue to help people like me for years to come." 

TechSoup partners with Microsoft to deliver technology donations and supporting services to the Asia Pacific region. Over the past year, we have been bringing donated technology from Microsoft and other tech companies to Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and the Philippines through www.techsoup.asia. In the coming months, we’ll be extending our reach to Indonesia and Vietnam as well.

Now we are pleased to announce an exciting addition to our programmes that will facilitate international grantmaking in Asia.

On 24 September, the US Department of the Treasury and Internal Revenue Service put forth a significant rule change designed to reduce the effort and cost for US foundations to make grants to international NGOs. Traditionally, foundations had to independently research each grantee in order to comply with U.S. tax laws; now, they will be able to rely on the opinion of a qualified third party provider. TechSoup has partnered with the Council on Foundations to provide this service, which will be called NGOsource. The launch for this new programme is currently slated for early 2013. Foundations that support this endeavor include Rockefeller, Hewlett, Bill and Melinda Gates, and many others.

“TechSoup is committed to serving the needs of NGOs in the Asia Pacific region. The addition of this service will significantly increase our value to the community and the benefits of participation for NGOs. We encourage all NGOs to sign up at www.techsoup.asia or their local country site,” said Mike Yeaton, Vice President of TechSoup Asia.

It will now be easier than ever for foundations to make grants to NGOs in the Asia Pacific region. When a foundation wishes to make a grant, they will enter a request through a grantmaker portal. TechSoup and its partners will then work with the recipient NGO to complete and evaluate the required documentation, a process known as ‘equivalency determination’. Once this is complete, the documentation will be valid for any other participating foundation wishing to make a grant to the same NGO during a qualifying period.

“NGOsource will make global giving more accessible to the entire grantmaking community. Our collaboratively-developed process will save grantmakers and grantees valuable time and resources, enabling increased focus on mission-related work and scaling impact. We are thrilled that the US Treasury’s recent guidance now enables us to launch this pioneering venture,” said Sheila Warren, Director of NGOsource for TechSoup Global, and an attorney with expertise on tax-exempt law.

To keep up to date on the programmes and plans, we invite all interested NGOs to sign up for the newsletters at www.techsoup.asia and www.ngosource.org.

More information about TechSoup Global and our partners can be found at www.techsoupglobal.org.

In early August, a group of 14 Microsoft Korea volunteers accompanied seven young children from the Amsa Rehabilitation Center on a trip to enjoy the natural environment of Namhansansung.

The Amsa Rehabilitation Center in Seoul provides specialised care and medical treatment for young children with special needs in South Korea. Many of the children at the Amsa Rehabilitation Center face considerable constraints in travelling outdoors because of their disabilities. The volunteer team from Microsoft Korea, named “Together”, took the initiative to organise a trip to Namhansansung, providing these children the chance to experience the wonders of nature during the summer season.

For more than five years the “Together” team of 35 employees has been volunteering at the Amsa Rehabilitation Center on the first Saturday of each month. The volunteers usually get together to plan ahead for their monthly visit in order to create a series of enriching programmes that the children can actively participate in. Past activities have included cooking and origami sessions, which were greatly enjoyed by the children.

On the trip, each child was accompanied by two volunteers, who were assigned to take care of their needs. The children were clearly in high spirits, as they spent a fun and relaxing morning at a mountain stream near Namhansansung. After swimming for three hours, they ended the trip on a high note with an enjoyable outdoor lunch before heading back to Seoul.

“The children were very excited about the occasion, and their excitement really showed when they all started singing together with us on the bus trip to Namhansansung,” said Bryan Do, DIR BG Lead of Microsoft Korea.

The dedication and teamwork displayed by the “Together” volunteers were duly recognised when the Social Welfare Society put up an appreciation plaque for Microsoft Korea in honour of their activities. 

“We are delighted to have the opportunity to spend time enjoying the outdoors with the children, and we hope to continue promoting the spirit of volunteerism.”

- Bryan Do, DIR BG Lead, Microsoft Korea