Close the Gap Newsletter Issue 7 – September 2010
Posted on 30/09/2010
Dear Friends of Close the Gap, dear Reader,
Close the Gap is very pleased and proud to share the recent activities that kept the organisation busy over the summer.
Indeed, Close the Gap has been very active during this holiday’s period.
First of all, on an international level, Close the Gap is as from now a proud and happy partner of the United Nations Department of Public Information. This means, that after a severe selection process, Close the Gap has been recognized as being a United Nations recognized NGO.
On a communication level, we are very glad to share the release of the annual report 2009 and the new strategic partnership with Emakina for a brand new website for Close the Gap.
This summer also allowed the organisation to work with innovative IT solutions – like tablet laptops - for projects partners.
Last but not least, as from now this newsletter will also allow us to request funds for specific projects in developing countries.
For sure and as usual, this newsletter will also give you a round-up of relevant hot topics, new partnerships, new projects and news on key issues, research and ideas across our sector.
Feedback is very welcome and suggested improvements will be incorporated in future issues.
Kindest regards,
Olivier Vanden Eynde
Close the Gap Managing Director
HOT TOPICS
Close the Gap, proud member of United Nations Department of Public Information.
It is not without any pride that Close the Gap’s team is delighted to announce that the organization had just been recognized as a member of the United Nations Department of Public Information (DPI). This means, Close the Gap can as from now, be considered as an NGO recognized by the United Nations.
Indeed, the Committee of Non-Governmental Organizations of the Department of Public Information met late in June to consider the new applications from non-governmental organizations for association with the UN-DPI. Close the Gap has been selected amongst several other worldwide organizations.
About NGO association with the United Nations?
This association constitutes a commitment on the part of Close the Gap to disseminate information and raise public awareness about the purposes and activities of the UN. Indeed associated NGO’s are expected to focus a portion of their communication activities on the work of the UN. Also, Close the Gap is expected to keep the UN-DPI’s organizations informed of its activities.
Non-governmental organizations have been partners of the DPI since its establishment in 1947. Though associated NGO’s, DPI seeks to reach people around the world and help them to better understand the work and aims of the United Nations. The DPI/NGO Section is part of the department’s Outreach Division and acts as its liaison between the United Nations and NGOs and other civil society organizations. It oversees partnerships with associated NGOs and provides a wide range of information services to them. These include weekly NGO briefings, communication workshops, an annual NGO conference and an annual orientation program for newly associated NGOs.
Currently, there are 1,588 NGOs with strong information programs associated with DPI. In Belgium, only 26 organizations are members. In the Netherlands, 21 organizations are members and in France, 59.
Close the Gap annual report 2009
Close the Gap team is pleased to present its sixth Annual Report, which will inform you on the previous year’s activities and show you how the organisation has been fulfilling its mission and goals.
Despite the crisis that hit the world in 2008, the year 2009 has been a year of consolidation and strength for Close the Gap organisation. Indeed, thanks to your tremendous support, 2009 has been marked by significant progress towards realising plans and aspirations.
On one hand a significant growth of strategic partners and material donations in Europe. Another hand, strong increase of supportive partners, projects and material implementation in developing countries.
This Annual Report will give you a summary of the many projects carried out by Close the Gap during the year 2009: the organisation’s structure; the key events; the green perspective with the recent launch of WorldPC; the activities and projects in developing countries; the activities and CSR projects in Europe; partners’ feedback on their relation with Close the Gap ; the recent relations with the United Nations; the financial report on the year; the vision for the future…are topics that you will be able to find in this sixth annual report of Close the Gap organisation.
Through this medium Close the Gap team wishes to warmly thank you as a partner, a donor or a sympathizer for all the efforts made during the past year. It is you who ensured that what stands here, written in ink, could be realised. It is you who made a difference to many passionate people in the South, and you can be confident that they are immensely grateful for the support given to them in 2009.
This year, the work won’t have been possible without the support of several key partners: many partners wrote quotes, some developed forewords for specific chapters and others answered interviews; Leo Burnett, took care of the layout; Stars Graphic made the artwork and photoengraving; Mr. Filip Leyssens’ pictures have been used; Mrs. Rozan Jongstra made the English adaptation and re-reading of the whole document. All this work was coordinated to a good end by Close the Gap’s operations director, Mrs. Aurélie Dupont.
Have a pleasant read.
Thanks to Emakina, Close the Gap has a brand new website!
We are living a digital revolution; new technologies have given birth to new means of interaction. Every day new digital tools open new ways of expression for brands, it is chaos. Native to this world of complexity, Emakina fuses imagination and innovation, orchestrates the relevant touch points to build brand experiences that engage consumers… brand experiences that combine stories and emotions to create attention, interest and ultimately desire.
In the context of a brand new strategic partnership with Close the Gap, Emakina Foundation created, developed and produced a brand new website for Close the Gap.
The briefing was quite open in order to express Emakina’s best creativity. The final result is available on www.close-the-gap.org
Close the Gap supported projects with tablet laptops.
Close the Gap is constantly looking for innovative IT-solutions for its project partners. Thanks to a donation from Microsoft, a first experience has been done in working with tablet laptops for educational projects in the developing world.
In partnership with IICD some 100 high-end tablet laptops have been sent to Zambia to support in the development the capacity of teachers. By this, the teachers will be able to enhance their skills like presentations or production of teaching material. Through its flexible touch screen and touchpad technology, its powerful processor and memory, these tablet mobile tools proved to be excellent laptops to cover the needs for good educational training in Zambia.
STRATEGIC PARTNERS
An organization like Close the Gap wouldn’t exist without the strong, supportive and dedicated commitment of “Strategic Partners” helping the organization on a daily basis via their core business.
Acerta The ARC Group Computer Task Group CharITy Deloitte Belgium Deloitte Netherlands DNS BE Emakina Essent Flection Hostbasket KBC Bank KLM Leo Burnett PKF International Ricoh SAS Institute Vintage Productions VLIR-UOS VUBEmakina
We are living a digital revolution; new technologies have given birth to new means of interaction. Every day new digital tools open new ways of expression for brands, it is chaos. Native to this world of complexity, Emakinafuses imagination and innovation, orchestrates the relevant touch points to build brand experiences that engage consumers… brand experiences that combine stories and emotions to create attention, interest and ultimately desire.
FRIENDS OF (donors)
Close the Gap’s donors assist with IT equipment supplies. These donors have been kind enough to donate computers to Close the Gap to be used for social and educational projects in developing countries. Some of the donors have become structural donors while others prefer to donate on an ad-hoc basis. Close the Gap is grateful for both types of assistance and would like to thank all its donors for their generous donations.
ABN AMRO | Acerta | Adecco | Aegon | AFAS ERP | Ahold | Academisch Medisch Centrum | Amnesty International | Anthos | AZC Utrecht | BCC Elektro-Speciaalzaken | Caridian BCT Europe | Christelijke Hogeschool Windesheim | Coditel – Numericable | Cofely-GDF-Suez | CRI Catalyst Company | DAF | De Lage Landen | Deloitte |Essent |ETAP Lighting | Exact | Fabricom – GDF Suez | Gemeente Heerlen | Gemeente Maasmechelen | Gemeente Overpelt | Instituut Voor Natuur- en Bosonderzoek | Immobel | IP Globelnet | Katholieke Universiteit Leuven| KBC | KLM | KPN Telecom | Keuhne & Nagel | Leaseplan | Meeus | Microsoft | Mobistar | Nationale Bank van België | Navteq | Nederlandse Spoorwegen | NXP Semiconductors | OCE | Panasonic | Philips | Prorail | Provincie Vlaams-Brabant | Ricoh France | Ricoh Nederland | ROC Van Twente | SAS Institute | Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics | Sigedis | Stad Bilzen | Stad Hasselt | Stad Leuven | Steria | Stichting Zorgcentra De Betuwe | Stork | Tennet | Toerisme Vlaanderen | Toyota | Transmeat | Universiteit Gent | UK Embassy Belgium | UTi | Vrije Universiteit Brussel | WE Europe | Wolters Kluwer | Wonen Zuid | Wyeth Pharmaceuticals
SUPPORTIVE & SERVICE PARTNERS
Close the Gap’s projects couldn’t be realized without the support of strong “Supportive Partners” and “Service Partners”. Indeed, thanks to its numerous partnerships, Close the Gap has been able to continue providing project partners with all-embracing IT solutions to ensure the sustainability of the projects.
Current supportive partners
Current service partners
Computer for School Kenya Computer for School Uganda Medical Knowledge Institute Promotic Burundi SchoolNet Uganda Uconnect ViAfrica Tanzania World Link ZimbabweNEW PROJECT PARTNERS
World Link Zimbabwe, a new service partner for Closer the Gap
Close the Gap has created a dedicated partnership with World Links in Zimbabwe.
Over the years, World Links created a comprehensive model that integrates all aspects of technology into the education system. Through the creation of public-private partnerships, World Links works with Ministries of Education to provide programs that show teachers how to integrate technology into their lessons. The teachers, in turn, will impact youth by enhancing the quality of education they provide.
A first shipment of 300 computers has been done to support World Links Zimbabwe achieving its goals in ICT4Education.
An overview of all Close the Gap project is available on Close the Gap website: Project Overview
FUNDING REQUEST
PROJECT
Close the Gap has a partnership with Computers for Education and Development Ghana. CFED’s vision is to assist in ushering Ghana into a knowledge economy through its educational system. CFED provides computers to educational institutions and the development sector in Ghana. They support sustained use to facilitate technical infrastructure provision for productive use of computers. Furthermore they also provide training and capacity support to users in schools; provide software and content support; facilitate internet connectivity, e-learning, monitoring and evaluation services; and provide research and innovation in ICT to support Educational development.
First of all, Close the Gap and CFED aim to implement capacity-building programs in the field of ICT for secondary school education in Ghana. This goal has 4 components: an infrastructural component (computer hardware), a training component, a maintenance component and a technical component.
Secondly, this project wants to link educational institutions and share best practices between ICT innovation in education in Europe and in Ghana.
Thirdly, the consortium also wants to take up its environmental responsibility throughout the whole process. Wherever possible, through partnerships with local technical and recycling parties, local refurbishing and recycling will be stimulated for computer equipment, stimulating employability and collection and dismantling of e-waste.
REQUEST
Co-funding is requested as CFED has calculated that schools can only contribute maximum 127€ per pc in order to get access to the program. If CFED wants to offer a broad framework of services to schools, this is not enough.
NEWS
Donation for Case Logic: 15 pallets of laptops bags
As last year, Close the Gap received a generous computer bags donation from Case Logic.
Indeed, the charity projects in developing countries – requesting laptops – will also receive computer bags which are always more than welcome for material protection.
Case Logic, a brand within the Thule Group, is a leader in developing and delivering intelligent organisation solutions for busy lifestyles. The company continues to create unique and intuitive products designed to transport, organise and protect everyday essentials. Today, the Case Logic product range includes over four hundred storage and organisation solutions for personal and professional needs, as well as mobile accessories: Mobile Computer, Backpacks & Messenger Bags, Luggage, DVD, Media, Automotive, Photo/Video and Portable Electronics. Case Logic holds more than 100 patents for its innovative design and product technology.
For more information: www.caselogic.eu
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