Parque Nacional da Gorongosa Moçambique

Park, Partners Open New Community Computer Center in Gorongosa Town

Sep 5, 2007 - Gorongosa National Park

On July 13th, local community leaders and representative from Gorongosa National Park celebrated the inauguration of the new Telecenter in the town of Gorongosa just outside the Park. The Telecenter, made possible by the Carr Foundation and the Last Mile Initiative of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), will expand community access to information and communication technologies and train community members in these technologies.

The Telecenter is located in the Teachers Resource Center under the administration of the District Director of Education and Technology, Mrs. Joaquina Figueredo. Mrs. Figueredo cut the red ribbon and welcomed guests into the Telecenter, which is currently equipped with four computer workstations and one scanner/printer. Lab developer Scott Kipp (Carr Foundation) also explained the battery back-up system installed in the Telecenter that will prevent equipment damage and inactivity during power outages.

The Telecenter, through its connection to the Carr Foundation and Gorongosa National Park, will also serve as a means for the Gorongosa community to stay up-to-date on all Park happenings and news events.

The lab will be managed by two Gorongosa community members, Emilio Raiva and Francisco Mupar, both of whom will teach basic computer skills to Telecenter students and make use of Microsoft's Digital Literacy and Unlimited Potential course material. Telecenter students, upon completion of the course material, will have the option to take an online aptitude test and be awarded authentic Microsoft-approved computer literacy certificates. The Telecenter will be supplied with Internet via a generous partnership offer from TDM (Mozambique Telecommunications), and will offer other basic services in photocopying, digitalization, and basic media production.

Community leaders present at the ceremony included various school principals and administration officials. Carr Foundation staff in attendance included Mr. Greg Carr (President), Mr. Vasco Galante (Director of Communications), Ms. Katherine Raphaelson (Director of Fundraising), Mr. William Wright (Last Mile Initiative Program Director), Ms. Sandra Giroth (Supervisor, Department of Community Relations) and Ms. Mónica López (Director of Conservation Education).