Chasquinet
Chasquinet uses technology as a tool for community development and to satisfy concrete needs. It works with street kids and in Quito’s shantytowns, always in collaboration with other NGOs.
In Quito, Chasquinet has promoted and helped to construct many “Telecentros,” a sort of community internet café/ community center. The program has worked in three different poor neighborhoods -- Ichimbía, Tocteuco, and Huacharaca -- in collaboration with strong community associations. The neighborhoods emerged from “invasions,” where poor people took over public or private land, so generally the people have a strong political conscience but very little technological savvy. In many cases, community organizations have developed small businesses, but they have not been able to find a market for their products.
Chasquinet works as a consultant for this community organizations, training them in the use of technology and in business practices. In one case, after receiving a donation of 3 computers from the world bank, it created a Telecentro in the shantytown -- the computers are used for tutoring, computer science classes, and to understand the world through the internet. The technology must have a pragmatic use: now that a community business wants to sell recycled paper, Chasquinet is showing them how to market to businesses and individuals over the internet. Another small business that makes roof tiles would now like to model itself on this successful initiative.
Remembering that community development isn’t just about the economy, Chasquinet also runs workshops in self esteem, couples therapy, and family and community relations. In some cases, the workshop corresponds with a computer class, but in other cases it happens during a neighborhood meeting.
The most important aspect of Chasquinet’s work is that it always insists on the protagonism of the community. Chasquinet is a tool and an advisor, never the actor.
Two Chasquinet projects have become so independent that they will be treated as separate NGOs: click here to read about Somos Telecentros, a network of community internet cafés, or here for The Street Kids Internet Project.
Fundación Chasquinet
Hernando Sarmiento N39-65 entre Portete y Hugo Moncayo
Quito- Ecuador
