With 2012 fast approaching, let’s bid farewell to our 10th Anniversary year with a recap of the best NetHope moments of 2011.
Building the Next Generation of IT Leaders in the Developing World
In March 2011, NetHope Academy Haiti graduated its first class of 39 interns. Eighty percent (80%) earned full-time employment within six months of graduation and had an average annual salary of $14,000 a year.
Building on the success of our first intern class in Haiti, NetHope and our partners announced a Commitment To Action at the Clinton Global Initiative. NetHope Academy will train 1,000 interns over the next three years in African and Latin America through IT vocational courses and six-month internships coordinated with in-country humanitarian organizations. The second class of Haitian Interns (coined “Haiti 2.0”) started their program in September 2011 and is due to complete the program in March 2012.
Demonstrating ICT’s role in Emergency Response and Preparedness
NetHope released a case study on how ICT was used in the 2010 Pakistan Floods and uncovered the need for openness and data standards. The study was possible with funding by the Intel Foundation and Microsoft Corporation. https://www.nethope.org/images/uploads/casestudies/ICTin2010PakistanFloods.pdf" target="_blank">Read the study here ››
Celebrating Ten Years Together
NetHope celebrated ten years of collaboration at its special 10th Year Anniversary Global Member Summit in County Kildare, Ireland, hosted by Intel Ireland and member organization Concern Worldwide. We packed five days with Working Group sessions, updates from our programs and special appearances by leaders in the IT and nonprofit world. The summit successfully brought together new and old members to set the bar high for our work in the year ahead. We are glad our newest member organizations Compassion International, Grameen Foundation and Conservation International were in attendance!
Using ICT to Help Stop Trafficking
NetHope joined USAID and the Demi and Ashton Foundation to launch the Stop Human Trafficking App Challenge (https://www.nethope.org/appchallenge), which asked technology developers in the Russia, Eastern European and the region to create a video featuring a mobile application idea that prevents trafficking, raises awareness or provides services to victims. Tomasz Florczak of Poland was the grand prize winner and won $20,000, and the first place winner was Andrei Marinescu-Appscent of Romania and won $15,000. The winning app is currently being built by Google.
Mapping for the Win
The International Association of Emergency Managers (IAEM) recognized NetHope and its partners — UN OCHA, the Stand-By Volunteer Task Force and a group of UN volunteers led by Andrej Verity — by awarding them first place in the Technology and Innovation category of its 2011 awards program for their work on the Libyan Crisis Map. The project showcased how resourceful relationships can be in crisis situations and how ICT offers innovative solutions for creating comprehensive, real-time assessments during emergencies.
Connectivity to Save Lives
A far-reaching, long-standing draught caused devastation through out the Horn of Africa this year, forcing many families to leave home to find safe haven in massive refugee camps. NetHope worked with NGOs, the United Nations and technology partners to develop better Internet and enterprise connectivity in the Dadaab camp complex to improve aid work, information sharing and collaboration. The result was a robust reliable WiMAX, WiFi and mobile network to allow over 20 humanitarian assistance organizations share connectivity in the area to better coordinate relief efforts for this crisis, and emergencies in the future.
What NetHope news sticks out in your mind from 2011? Comment below or share your thoughts on our Facebook page.
