Philippines Mobile Telecenters
MTC provides itinerant ICT training to students in Manila using mobile telecenters, which are trikes equipped with mobile phones, laptops and printers. The enterprise sustains itself by selling ICT services from that same unit. MTC seeks to cultivate creative, independent, competent and productive young citizens through their ICT training. After the initial training period, the MTC staff will help connect youth with scholarships, and post-graduation, entry level IT jobs. This will help bolster the labor market and contribute to the sustainability of the industry.
1.The New Idea
MTC takes on an entirely innovative approach to ICT skill development. Currently, there is no mobile telecenter unit operating in the Philippines. MCT has engineered a model that allows them to deliver ICT training directly to the schools initially in the urban Manila region.
MCT has created an entirely wireless telecenter that is built completely on a three-wheeled motorcycle, which they refer to as an "eTrike". This eTrike is a fully self-contained mobile, wireless telecenter that travels into urban communities in Manila and provides youth with access to participate in new digital ICT technologies, basic computer lessons and an introduction to the internet. MCT is able to remain financially sustainable through the sale of related IT and Telecommunications services.
2.The Problem
ICT literacy is a necessity for today’s youth, but the majority of Manila’s 43 public high schools, serving 2000 students each, have very little access to computers because of insufficient government funding. Students are consequently at a disadvantage when seeking work in any professional sector and completely impeded from participation in the country’s growing IT, call-center and outsourcing industries.
3.The Strategy
MTC will engage thirty students a day, from forty schools, until 6000 youth (4% of the student population) are trained in ICT skills. The training program includes introductory lessons on basic computer and internet skills as well as a comprehensive introduction to modern digital ICT technologies.
MTC is able to remain financially stable by selling IT and telecommunication products and services, such as cell phones (including repairing services, accessories, and prepaid cards), wireless and land line calls, on-site repair service for personal computers, digital photography and printing, CD burning, business card designing and printing, as well as data downloading.
Services and products are primarily marketed to schools in Manila, but the local government is also part of the marketing strategy.
After two years of ICT training, MTC will help connect trainees with scholarships and entry level IT jobs. This will help bolster the labor market while contributing to the sustainability of the industry.
MTC started its project with USD 1,500 raised from private and governmental donors and investors, and project that through a mix of profits and grants in this early stages, MTC will be finally sustainable by 2010.
4.The Person
Christine S. Lopez grew up in Cainta, Rizal in Philippines. She obtained her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a focus in Management Information Technology and was a scholar of GLOW (Global Learning Opportunity on Web).
Her passion is to teach and serve the youth had guided her throughout her work. Her previous work was in community wherein she’s an agent of transforming the lives of each family through their cooperative.
Her passion and experience in work gave her an idea to combat the country’s lack of support of ICT education in public high schools. She knows and understands the needs of disadvantaged youth living in urban areas in Manila.
