Selection Criteria
Criteria for WCE Partner Selection
Agreement with WCE MISSION:
To act as a partner and ally in bridging the global digital divide for youth, promoting cultural understanding between students in developed and developing countries, and facilitating the use of technology in education.
- Commitment that computers will be used for free Internet access for economically disadvantaged youth in the age range of primary and secondary school students. (university students may be included if they are demonstrated to be helping to maintain the computers and/or train the teachers in the primary and secondary schools. A modest membership fee may be charged to youth.)
- Demonstrated stability in the country so that the computers will be generally secure.
- Availability of adequate infrastructure in the country to provide needed electricity, phone service, and Internet service to connect area youth to the Internet.
- Capacity of the partner to secure the necessary government commitment, support, and approvals via a ministerial letter or other means to get the computers through customs, off the dock, and delivered to get disadvantaged youth online.
- Commitment to recruit schools, orphanages, and learning centres and to have each sign an agreement to partner with a technology-savvy school and to maintain and protect the computers (providing a/c, dust control, UPSes and line conditioners as needed).
- Demonstrated synergy between ongoing work of the potential partner and the mission of WCE.
- Demonstrated capacity to distribute and install a large number of working Internet-accessible computers including evaluation of security, facilities, personnel, familiarity with distribution mechanisms and tools (trucking, forwarding, insurance, other).
- Commitment to directly provide or to contract for sustainable training, maintenance, and connectivity support services. (Fees may be charged for adult use of the computers.)
- Ability to secure WCE fee plus shipping cost for each 40-foot (12-meter) container shipment.
- If potential partner and schools opt to participate: Commitment to assist with logistics for technology-savvy students who visit as part of WCE’s "Internet Ambassador" program.
Revisions VOTED by the Board of Directors on 14 June, 2000
Initially VOTED by the Board of Directors on 4 February, 2001
