Business Description

For local communities around the world, Community Technology Learning Centers (CTLCs) are critical information hubs for pursuing lifelong learning opportunities. There is currently no coordinated, global initiative to support these centers, their long-term sustainability and their efforts to improve the lives of millions of citizens by providing access to relevant information and learning opportunities.

The CTLC Global Support Network (GSN) is envisioned to be a locally driven, internationally connected support system that provides CTLCs with access to practical and relevant services that enable underserved populations to pursue lifelong learning and better meet their daily needs. The coordinating body of the GSN is the Global Support Center (GSC), a nonprofit organization. The GSC refers to the physical organization and staff responsible for implementing the strategy of supporting CTLCs around the world. The GSN refers to the entire global network of local CTLCs, Regional Support Networks (RSNs), support organizations and global stakeholders involved in using Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) for development, including the GSC.

The mission of the GSC is to support and build the capacity of local CTLCs around the world. The GSN’s target community is any CTLC user, operator or stakeholder seeking to improve the livelihood of individuals by providing access to information and new learning opportunities. Members of the GSN will include local CTLC users, operators, Regional Support Networks and the global community of experts and practitioners from funders, governments and other organizations using ICT for community and social development.

Because the CTLC sector is geographically diverse and has region specific needs (e.g. language, level of infrastructure, etc.), the GSC is relying on RSNs to ascertain the needs of CTLCs within the region and deliver tailored services to meet those needs. The GSC will generally play a coordination role in the collection and dissemination of information while the RSNs will be crucial to both assessing the specific CTLC needs of their particular region and delivering specific services such as training and networking events to local CTLCs.