Lesson Learnt: Grameen Cyber Society

Abstract

Grameen Cyber Society, a non- profit organization has initiated an effort to reduce the economic gap between the rich and the poor through embracing ICT as a means of providing education. It implemented its pilot project through the establishment of a multipurpose Telecenter in Beraid, Badda that provides:

• Basic primary education using edutainment applications,
• Basic computer training,
• Internet access,
• Vocational training,
• Social issues awareness training through leveraging existing ICT in innovative ways.
  

The pilot community of the program initially comprised of the illiterate or neo-literate adult women of Beraid, who received training on the areas mentioned above. After having imparted appropriate knowledge using ICT, Grameen Cyber Society aim to cater to their need for recruitment or self-sustaining facilities in the community.

In the course of its action, Grameen Cyber Society learnt that there is tremendous untapped potential to harness ICT for collective use. The presentation intends to shed light on the lessons learnt, the barriers faced as well as the opportunities present.

Biography

Ghulam Mohiuddin, Project Coordinator, Grameen Cyber Society
Mailing Address: House 1, Road 80, Gulshan 2, Dhaka 1212, Bangladesh
E-mail: mohi@citechco.net, URL: www.grameentelecenter.org

After successful completion of M.Sc. in Chemical Engineering and Mechanical Engineering from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Cambridge, Mr. Mohiuddin returned to Bangladesh with a view to build the infrastructure of Information Technology, which Bangladesh was very much lacking. Under his dynamic leadership, CITech Company Limited was established in the year 1989, as the pioneer in information technology in the country. It was soon recognized as the biggest computer firm and the sole distributor of Apple Computer Inc. and Digital Company Ltd of USA. To further enrich the platform of information technology in the country, Mr. Mohiuddin successfully established Grameen Cybernet Ltd, with active support from the Grameen Group. At present, Grameen Cybernet Ltd is the largest Internet service provider and IT organization in Bangladesh as well as only Fiber Optic Broadband Internet Cable Service Provider.

In the year 2003, Mr. Mohiuddin embarked upon the community development initiative to provide basic education through the use of ICT for rural women and established Grameen Cyber Society. As the Project Coordinator, he has been actively managing the project's day to day affairs including financial management and monitoring performance of the working team. He is also the
Chairperson, Executive Committee, of Bangladesh Development Gateway Foundation.

His professional experience also includes working as a Research Scientist at the Energy Laboratory, M.I.T Cambridge, Part time lecturer at the National College of Engineering and Technology and has a number of publications to his credit.

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