4.6. Case Study: Committee for Democratization of Information Technology, Brazil(7) —A Social Franchise Approach for Urban Areas

The Comitê para Democratização da Informática (Committee for Democratization of Information Technology, or CDI) is a nongovernmental, nonprofit organization that has pioneered bringing information technology to underprivileged groups in Brazil. Through its Information Technology and Citizenship (Escola de Informatica e Cidadania, or EIC) schools, CDI develops educational and vocational programs in Brazil and throughout the world to integrate marginalized groups, especially children and youth, into their communities. The EICs (described in more detail in Box 7) also promote civic participation, formal education, literacy, ecology, health, human rights, and nonviolence. Specific CDI objectives are to:

• provide access to new information and technologies;
• develop marketable technical skills, especially in youth, to increase their employability;
• foster community involvement and civic awareness; and
• develop community leaders.

Local ICT Environment

CDI works with disadvantaged youth in favelas (urban slums) to address issues of equity of access in urban areas rather than access per se. It targets specific groups within a geographic area where access already exists but may be too expensive.

Organizational Model

Each EIC is a result of a partnership between CDI and the community, typically via a community center or some other social organization active in the community. Communities prepare a project proposal detailing why they want the EIC and how they will use the computers. Once a community is selected as a site for an EIC school, CDI helps with the initial organization of the school (hardware, software, wiring, training, etc.) and provides technical, pedagogical, and administrative assistance. The community is responsible for EIC management and maintenance.

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