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CONTENTS

1. Just Announced! Pro Bono Mentoring Opportunity from Cable & Wireless

2. Project Spotlight: Jhai Foundation

3. New Projects in the Digital Dividend Clearinghouse: SERRV (worldwide), CEMINA Internet-Empowered Radio Network for Women (Brazil)

4. Make the Clearinghouse Work For You! Starting to Communicate with Other Members

5. Discussion Spotlight: A "Killer App" for Rural Connectivity?

6. Funding Opportunity: Digital Partners

1. Pro Bono Mentoring Opportunity from Cable & Wireless

We're about to kick off a new volunteer mentoring program with Cable & Wireless, a major global telecommunications business. Its employees have teamed up to offer free mentoring services, via e-mail and telephone, to projects registered in the Digital Dividend Clearinghouse. Cable & Wireless offers a full range of telecommunications, IP and data services in 33 countries around the world, and its employee-volunteers have expertise in areas like system design and implementation; network management; procurement; project design, implementation, and management, communications and writing; and general business administration.

These professionals have the potential to make a significant contribution to the organizations they work with. Does your organization have projects or plans that could benefit from some expert advice? To get involved, please e-mail us

Still need to register your project with the Clearinghouse? For project submission guidelines and submission form, click here

2. Project Spotlight: Jhai Foundation

This is a take-off year for the Jhai Foundation. Its first five Internet Learning Centers (ILCs) in Laos are taking in a minimum of $385/mo apiece, in a country where the average per capita income is $280/year, and anticipate reaching self-sufficiency by October. Plans are underway to take this one step further by connecting five villages that lack electricity and phone lines altogether, and then expanding the reach of the ILCs based on the results. Jhai is committed to taking related village coffee and weaving initiatives to new levels, and is seeking to develop the micro-financing and banking capacity of several villages.

According to its chairman, Lee Thorn, two principles underlie the organization's success so far: the leadership of the Lao people, and a built-in commitment to sustainability. Read more

3. New Projects in the Digital Dividend Clearinghouse: SERRV (worldwide), CEMINA Internet-Empowered Radio Network for Women (Brazil)

20 new projects have been added to the Clearinghouse since our last newsletter. Among the highlights...

SERRV is taking fair trade principles to the Web and truly enabling artisans and farmers to generate digital dividends. A founding member of the International Federation for Alternative Trade (IFAT), it offers advanced payments to its producers prior to production and ensures them a fair share of all sales. SERRV has started an online shop to market these small producers' goods worldwide. Read more

CEMINA's Radio Fala Mulher (Woman Speak Up) has been delivering news and addressing issues of current interest to disadvantaged women in Brazil for over 13 years. Building on its success in reaching this audience, CEMINA launched RadioFalaMulher.com last month to introduce women to the Internet in a less intimidating context. Read more

*You can view and comment on these and other projects when you visit the Clearinghouse

4. Make the Clearinghouse Work For You! Starting to Communicate with Other Members

Have you ever wanted to share information with friends and colleagues directly from the Project Clearinghouse? Or to start communicating with other members? The "Send to DropBox" function, located at the top of every project capsule, enables registered users to send interesting projects and ideas to other members' Desktops, with personal messages. No need to type e-mail addresses... just search the registered users list, select your friend or colleague's name, and click the "send" box! Can't find friends' or colleagues' names on the list? Encourage them to register in the Clearinghouse! Registered users can use the "Share Via E-mail" function, also located at the top of every project capsule, to send interesting projects and ideas directly to friends' and colleagues' e-mail inboxes. Simply enter the recipient's e-mail address, add your personal message, and click "send."

To try this feature, log in here
Check your Desktop to see new capsules sent to your DropBox

5. Discussion Spotlight: A "Killer App" for Rural Connectivity?

Two of Digital Dividends' What Works case studies, "Grameen Telecom's Village Phones" and "N-Logue's Rural Connectivity Model," point to a breakthrough business strategy for providing connectivity to rural villages in many developing countries. The two studies demonstrate that poor communities will eagerly make use of and pay for communications access, devoting 5-7% of their income. With costs dramatically lower than conventional telecom or ISP costs, very high willingness to pay, and high equipment utilization because of shared access, wireless franchise models are beginning to look like a killer app--a profitable way to end rural isolation and link untapped rural markets to the global economy.

What do you think? Does your experience suggest a different interpretation? Read the case studies and share your insights!

6. Funding Opportunity: Digital Partners

The Digital Partners' Social Enterprise Laboratory (SEL) is now accepting applications from for-profit and non-profit social entrepreneurs and organizations that use information and communication technologies to serve disenfranchised communities in developing countries. Selected entries will receive business development assistance and be eligible for up for up to $100,000 in grants, loans, or equity investments from Digital Partners. For applications and additional information, click here

The deadline is midnight, September 1, 2002.