Message-ID: <AHyH-Aomz3@dobrich.uspc.bg> Date: Tue, 3 Sep 1996 10:55:40 +0300 From: paul <mailto:paul@DOBRICH.USPC.BG> Subject: Re: community access centers for information technologies To: Multiple recipients of list DEVEL-L <mailto:DEVEL-L@AMERICAN.EDU>
Mr. Benjamin,I read with great interest your posting about the above subject line. What you are doing is almost exactly what I have been trying to put together for almost a year. I have all the necessary skills to make this happen. I even have a tentative (contingent) promise of a central machine to operate as a server for such a lab/center. I lack hardware for the rest of the lab/center.
I would like to hear more about what you are doing and how it works for the community. Such information access-based uses are essential in many aspects of development: economic, social, political, etc. I believe they are crucial in former communist countries where information was one of the -- if not the -- prime resources of which the people were deprived. Without easy access to information, the development (or redevelopment, perhaps an even more difficult task) of these countries will take many times longer than it should. Unfortunately, these countries do not fit the definition of "developing countries" and so do not get the attention they could. This, so far, has been my greatest problem.
I need as much help as possible finding assistance for a community lab/center. I seek grants, donations, investment, cooperation agreements, anything you can think of short of loans because the community does not have the resources to repay them. If you can help in any way or suggest someone else I can contact, I would appreciate it greatly.
Thank you for your time.
Good work and good luck, Paul Swider US Peace Corps Dobrich, Bulgaria mailto:paul@dobrich.uspc.bg