January, 2011

Kristin Peterson, Inveneo CEO and Co-Founder

The Haitian education system had its challenges before the January 12, 2010 earthquake. Eighty percent of schools were private. Both public and private schools were under-resourced in basic infrastructure – from classrooms to teachers – and had little, if any, access to information and communication technologies (ICT).

"It wasn't easy for young people to get an education in Haiti, and forget ICT. Haiti didn't offer it formally, we had to leave the country to learn," explained Jerry Joseph, a young Haitian ICT expert.

 
A temporary classroom in post-earthquake Haiti

After the earthquake, what educational infrastructure that did exist was decimated – half the nation's schools and the three main universities in Port-au-Prince were destroyed or badly damaged in the earthquake. While other organizations focus on repairing basic school infrastructure, Inveneo and Microsoft are working closely together to build Haiti back better.

We've partnered to build a model for future school computer lab deployments at 40 schools throughout Haiti, combining Microsoft's innovative approach to expanding educational access and Inveneo's technical know-how in implementing ICT in schools cost effectively over the long term. In fact, we've already started with school site assessments to gauge the readiness of educational organizations to incorporate ICT into their existing infrastructure.

Our 2011 Commitment

At Inveneo, we are committed to bringing real opportunity to Haiti in 2011 through a rural broadband connectivity program we are deploying in partnership with local Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and Haitian entrepreneurs.

Our partnership with Microsoft is one component of this program, which is supported by an innovative collective of organizations whose focus is ICT entrepreneurial capacity building, rural economic development, and education through ICTs. The collective includes the USAID Global Broadband and Innovations Alliance, NetHope, the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund, The EKTA Foundation, and Google, in addition to Microsoft.

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, develops stable professional jobs, and supports decentralization of the Haitian economy. We also believe that the innovative tools and solutions we are offering in partnership with Microsoft will together transform education in Haiti, bringing about a brighter future for Haiti's youth.

Kristin Peterson is a co-founder and CEO at Inveneo.

Frank Schott, Global Program Director, NetHope

One year later, another chance to reflect upon the international humanitarian response to the earthquake’s devastation in Haiti. There are many stories to tell; some that are filled with inspiration and courage and others that are filled with disappointment and failure. Though there will undoubtedly be a great deal of focus on the latter this week, I’d like to share at least one story of hope and promise in Haiti.

This story begins with a young man named Jude Antenor. On January 12, 2010, Jude’s life was rocked by the destructive earthquake that racked his city. Jude was lucky to be in a building that did not collapse, but his cousin had her leg severed. He also lost many friends and some of his teachers from his school, Ecole Superior Informatique d'Haiti (ESIH). Prior to the earthquake, Jude had distinguished himself as a bright computer science student at ESIH but struggled to find his first job in the IT field due to a lack of work experience.

As Jude struggled to find full-time employment, in other parts of Port-au-Prince and surrounding regions, it was becoming very clear to NGOs that there was also a significant lack of qualified IT professionals in the country. The IT shortage had been a problem prior to the earthquake and was only exacerbated after the devastating quake. To address this problem, NetHope – a collaboration of 32 NGOs working in more than 150 countries – launched the NetHope Academy training initiative in September in partnership with Haitian organizations, other humanitarian groups and large tech companies including Microsoft, Cisco, Accenture and Voila.

The NetHope Academy provides IT skills training and on the job work experience to unemployed Haitians, like Jude, to build in-country technical expertise. NetHope Academy interns spend three weeks in intensive boot camp-style classroom trainings, and then they’re placed within IT teams of NGOs working to rebuild devastated areas of Haiti.

Back to Jude, who heard about the NetHope Academy last summer. After competing against 300 applicants for 36 coveted spots, Jude earned a spot in the program. He was assigned as a part time intern to CHF International, one of the largest humanitarian organizations in Haiti and a NetHope member. Jude’s first weeks on the job were good for Jude and even better for CHF. Jude worked hard, often staying several hours past the time that his part time shift was supposed to conclude. That hard work paid off when CHF International asked Jude to move to a full-time position where he will be paid for the long hours he is putting in.

Jude is only one story. The NetHope Academy has 36 interns working at 14 large NGOs, with a goal of providing full-time employment for every intern upon completion of the program in March. Thanks to great partners like Microsoft and other organizations, Jude and others like him are getting a chance.

Frank Schott, Global Program Director, NetHope

Frank has spent almost 25 years in the technology sector. Since 2005, Frank has served as a NetHope Global Program Director in charge of the Field Capacity Building and Emergency Response initiatives.  During his time with NetHope, Frank has worked closely with member agencies, corporate partners and NetHope staff to design, develop and deliver ICT related programs which are shared by the humanitarian sector.