Fusion - Sarvodaya ICT4D Movement
Encyclopedia
Fusion is the ICT for Development (ICT4D) movement of Sarvodaya
, Sri Lanka
, the leading NGO
, serving over 15,000 villages. The name Sarvodaya is taken from the Sanskrit
meaning of 'awakening (udaya) of all (sarva)', and roots back to the Gandhian ideals. Fusion
, as implied by the true meaning of the word, envisages the fusion of the vision and mission of Sarvodaya into the broader development scenario, using Information and Communication technologies (ICT) as a common fabric. Thus, Fusion is identified as the ICT for Development (ICT4D) movement of Sarvodaya.
Fusion primarily, but not exclusively, works with the villages that have already been socially and economically
uplifted through diverse community development programs carried out over a period of time. Thus they are better prepared to connect with the information age
. For instance a community having a registered society, with a healthy track record of micro-finance activities is recognized as better prepared to interact with digital technologies.
Fusion partners with multiple institutions including the State (Information and Communication Technology Agency of Sri Lanka
), corporate, academic and civil organizations.
Fusion's broader mission is founded on the following three pillars;
) of Ratnapura
District, Sri Lanka
.
Since it started it has progressed through a remarkable learning curve;
VICs are initiated by the youth leaders (volunteers) of rural villages. They are housed within low cost rural buildings, donated by the community. Some are maintained adjoining Sarvodaya Village Banks.
VICs accumulate and manage basic livelihood information related to health, transport, agriculture, education and governance.
There are VICs having enormous indigenous resources such as Traditional Medical Recipes (on Ola leaves), Indigenous crop harvest equipment, Storage systems, Traditional songs and books. Some VICs gather information related to local bio-diversity (birds, plant species etc.).
The majority of the telecentres with which Fusion partners are owned by rural communities, (mostly sponsored by the State sponsored eSriLanka program). Fusion maintains a small network of telecentres to carry out pilot projects, the knowledge obtained from which can finally be adopted by the wider community.
Sarvodaya Shramadana Movement
The Sarvodaya Shramadana Movement is a self-governance movement in Sri Lanka, which provides comprehensive development and conflict resolution programs to villages. It is also the largest indigenous organization working in reconstruction from the tsunami caused by the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake....
, Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
, the leading NGO
Non-governmental organization
A non-governmental organization is a legally constituted organization created by natural or legal persons that operates independently from any government. The term originated from the United Nations , and is normally used to refer to organizations that do not form part of the government and are...
, serving over 15,000 villages. The name Sarvodaya is taken from the Sanskrit
Sanskrit
Sanskrit , is a historical Indo-Aryan language and the primary liturgical language of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism.Buddhism: besides Pali, see Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Today, it is listed as one of the 22 scheduled languages of India and is an official language of the state of Uttarakhand...
meaning of 'awakening (udaya) of all (sarva)', and roots back to the Gandhian ideals. Fusion
Nuclear fusion
Nuclear fusion is the process by which two or more atomic nuclei join together, or "fuse", to form a single heavier nucleus. This is usually accompanied by the release or absorption of large quantities of energy...
, as implied by the true meaning of the word, envisages the fusion of the vision and mission of Sarvodaya into the broader development scenario, using Information and Communication technologies (ICT) as a common fabric. Thus, Fusion is identified as the ICT for Development (ICT4D) movement of Sarvodaya.
Fusion primarily, but not exclusively, works with the villages that have already been socially and economically
Economic development
Economic development generally refers to the sustained, concerted actions of policymakers and communities that promote the standard of living and economic health of a specific area...
uplifted through diverse community development programs carried out over a period of time. Thus they are better prepared to connect with the information age
Information Age
The Information Age, also commonly known as the Computer Age or Digital Age, is an idea that the current age will be characterized by the ability of individuals to transfer information freely, and to have instant access to knowledge that would have been difficult or impossible to find previously...
. For instance a community having a registered society, with a healthy track record of micro-finance activities is recognized as better prepared to interact with digital technologies.
Fusion partners with multiple institutions including the State (Information and Communication Technology Agency of Sri Lanka
Information and Communication Technology Agency of Sri Lanka
The Information and Communication Technology Agency of Sri Lanka Limited is a company owned by the Government. ICTA was established to develop the economy of Sri Lanka through information and communication technologies...
), corporate, academic and civil organizations.
Vision
The project's vision is the e-Empowerment of rural poor communities.Fusion's broader mission is founded on the following three pillars;
- Practice: keeping 'Community' first, and listening and recognizing the needs of the people, Fusion plans and implements programs as a response to their needs.
- Partnership: Fusion trusts and values the interdependence, sharing and sense of cooperation of the donors, educational establishments, state and corporate institutions that are carrying out the programs.
- Research: Fusion updates its development tools deriving information from the research. For instance, on one hand it seeks to adapt North-born technologies to the less well developed South. On the other hand, it strives to add value to indigenous wisdom and amplify the voices of the voiceless people of the South.
History
The program builds on the pioneering telecenter, that has been trialled by the Social Empowerment Program of Sarvodaya, in 1997, at a remote township (KahawattaKahawatta
Kahawatta is a town in the central mountains of Sri Lanka, elevation 710m. Kahawatta is known for its vast tea plantations and the gem industry present in the area.- External links :*...
) of Ratnapura
Ratnapura
- Floods :The town of Ratnapura is situated in the flooding plain of the river Kalu. The town experiences regular floods usually in the month of May. There is no large dam across the Kalu, so this leaves the city at the mercy of nature's forces every year. Several proposals have been made to reduce...
District, Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
.
Since it started it has progressed through a remarkable learning curve;
- Pilot testing and setting up of first ever TelecentreTelecentreA telecentre is a public place where people can access computers, the Internet, and other digital technologies that enable them to gather information, create, learn, and communicate with others while they develop essential digital skills...
in Sri Lanka - 1997 - Formulation of Village Information Centre (VIC) concept and replication around the country - 1999
- First donor funded ICT program (by UNESCOUNESCOThe United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
Appeal) - 2003 - Initial partnership with Governments ICT program (eSriLanka) - 2003
- Developing Subsidy Voucher for the eSriLanka program - 2004
- Expansion of telecentre program with introduction of community scholarships (with Microsoft-UP) - 2004
- Beginning of ICT4D Research Program - ‘Virtual Villages; Socio-anthropological and technological study on last mile’ - 2004
- Setting up Telecentre Family Network (in collaboration with eSrilanka program) as an apex telecentre alliance - 2006
- Design and implementation of Agri-clinics as a farmer centric information delivery mechanism - 2006
- Sarvodaya-Fusion being elected as the Regional Coordinator for GKP (Global Knowledge Partnership) South Asia - 2006 May
- Launch of Sarvodaya-Fusion as a specialized ICT4D program of Sarvodaya - 2006 May
Village Information Centers (VIC)
Village Information Centers are simple community based libraries. Their unique features include:- Simple, locally appropriate model
- Ability to adapt to diverse rural demands
- Community participation and ownership
- Ability to build community aspirations towards the digital age.
VICs are initiated by the youth leaders (volunteers) of rural villages. They are housed within low cost rural buildings, donated by the community. Some are maintained adjoining Sarvodaya Village Banks.
VICs accumulate and manage basic livelihood information related to health, transport, agriculture, education and governance.
There are VICs having enormous indigenous resources such as Traditional Medical Recipes (on Ola leaves), Indigenous crop harvest equipment, Storage systems, Traditional songs and books. Some VICs gather information related to local bio-diversity (birds, plant species etc.).
Telecentres
Telecentres are small units having a few computers and other ICT equipment located in rural districts. They provide internet access, ICT education and other IT services to rural communities.The majority of the telecentres with which Fusion partners are owned by rural communities, (mostly sponsored by the State sponsored eSriLanka program). Fusion maintains a small network of telecentres to carry out pilot projects, the knowledge obtained from which can finally be adopted by the wider community.