1. DOT RWANDA IN STABILIZING THE
MARKET FOR THE BDCs IN
REMOTE AREAS
‘Case of Interns at BDC of Gasabo’
Jean Claude Ndayambaje
Digital Opportunity Trust,
email:
jndayambaje@dotrust.org
ICT for Rural Development conference, November 1-3,2011 South A

2. Sharing the success of youth
supported work in the community
in the area of effective use of ICT,
how do the stakeholders in ICT
support the work and what to do to
more catalyze the growth of ICT in
RD
DOT RWANDA IN STABILIZING THE MARKET FOR THE FORMER TELECENTERs IN REMOTE
AREAS

3. 1. Overview of ICT in Rwanda, DOT and its
Programs;
2. The Showcase of interns project in BDC Gasabo;
3. Way forward.
DOT RWANDA IN STABILIZING THE MARKET FOR THE FORMER TELECENTERs IN REMOTE
AREAS

4. Rwanda witnesses a good number of challenges, the
opportunities are also considerable and the future is
promising
Synergies identified between DOT
vision and Rwanda’s rural economic
transformation
Vision 2020 national strategy;
PRSP; NICI-2020 Plan;
Integrated ICT-led Socio-
Economic Development Plan
Source:ICT SWOT

5. DOT Rwanda and its Programs
Digital Opportunity Trust is an International Not-for-Profit
Organization
DOT’s Mission: Creating global networks of talented, energetic young leaders who make real
change by educating local communities to apply technology effectively to real life.
DOT’s Vision: To eradicate poverty, vulnerability and gender inequality by giving all people
the skills and knowledge to use technology to achieve educational, social and economic
opportunities.

6. DOT Rwanda and its Programs
cont.
Project Opportunity: bring economic and social benefits to selected
disadvantaged communities in Rwanda by
 Enabling young ICT leaders-interns (50% women)
 Building capacity of CBOs to connect with economic opportunities
 Promoting entrepreneurship with community participants (50% women)
 Sharing knowledge between Rwandan communities and internationally
Project Focus: Capacity development of 180 interns (technology ambassadors)
who work through CBOs to train & coach 30,000+ community members
Programs: ReachUp! & Start Up! to build ICT & Business Skills capacity of
vulnerable groups and young entrepreneurs in selected communities
www.dotrust.org

7. Benefits
 Enhanced self-employment / employment
opportunities for youth
 In selected communities
 Increased access to economic opportunity
 Increased micro-enterprise and MSE development
 Increased household income levels
 Demonstration of ICT access and use
 Enhanced market connections for CBOs

8. Program Model
Technology Application
Through Projects
Schools Enabled
Business, School & Entrepreneurs Mobilized
Community Facilitation Startups Enabled
Businesses Scaled
Train the
Trainer
Community
@
Interns SolutionPartners
Local Program
Team DOT RWANDA IN STABILIZING THE MARKET FOR THE FORMER
TELECENTERs IN REMOTE AREAS ‘Case of Interns at Business

9. ReachUp! Intern Life Cycle
Recruit Training Placement
Interns (4 wks) (9 months)
• Rigorous • Global & local • Intern commitment letter signed
screening & trainers, Orientation, •9 months deployment in
selection of online and face to face communities where they deliver the
interns training to facilitate, ReachUp! Program
consult and inspire
• Stipend, transportation,
• Interns receive communication & modem
training stipend
• Additional training is
also offered every
month – mainly
focused on how to get
a job in the Rwanda
job market
www.dotrust.org

10. Mobilizing Community Entrepreneurs
ReachUp! Curriculum is designed to
empower beneficiaries and to build
business and technology skills
 Objective: Equip disadvantaged community members with ICT & basic
business skills and develop entrepreneurial spirit to spur income generation and
creation of micro-enterprises
 Audience: 1) Disadvantaged groups such as un/under-employed, women,
youth; 2) Community members interested in starting a micro-enterprise and; 3)
Marginalized, remote and rural communities
 Approach: Provide participants with knowledge, tools and skills to help them
leverage economic opportunity in their community through Intern-facilitated
training. Highlights- Business Skills; ICT Skills & Empowerment Skills. .
www.dotrust.org

11. The ReachUp! competency
framework for DOT Interns
 Commits to Excellence
 Manages Projects
 Facilitates Learning
 Coaches
 Conducts Action Research
 Advocates

12. ReachUp! Training Session
Modules
Empowerment/ Technology Skills Business Skills
Livelihood
1 Course Introduction and 3 Meet your Computer 17 Intro to Business
Self Reflection (Windows, Notepad)
18 Business Concepts and
2 Your Strengths, Skills and 4 Computer as Notebook Ideas
Passions (Word – Letter)
19 Intro to Business Planning
6 Computer as Library
5 The Opportunity (Internet Browsers) 20 Marketing Basics
Marketplace
8 Computer as Designer 21 Marketing Materials (Word –
7 Opportunities Around You (Word – Livelihood Flyer) Business Flyer and Resume
9 Tools to Access Information 10 Computer as Scheduler Template)
11 Visioning and Self-Esteem (Word – Calendar) 22 Budgeting Basics and Cash
12 Consolidating Research
13 Computer as Post Office Flow (Word – Business Plan
(Yahoo! Email) Template; Excel – Business
Findings
14 Computer as Analyst (Excel Budget and Cash Flow)
15 Mapping Sustainable – Personal Budget) 23 Record-Keeping
Livelihood Projects
16 Computer as Showcase
(PowerPoint – Presentation 24 Action Plans & Course
Wrap Up
www.dotrust.org

13. The interns project at BDC
Gasabo
 Objective
 Toincrease the number of people that use the
center;
 Raisingawareness about ICT and the benefits
of Business Services opportunities in the
community;
 Results
 An average of 50 persons on waiting list every
month for monthly trainings;
 Surrounding community know the services offered
by the BDC and its partners;
Commits to Excellence, Manages Projects, Facilitates Learning, Coaches, Conducts Action
Research, Advocates

14. The context
 Each District of Rwanda has a
well equipped Business
Development Center
(Telecentre);
 Most of BDCs are located in
remote areas;
 At BDC gasabo, only 2 persons
in 10 were aware of available
Business Support Services
(baseline survey)
 Two Interns mobilize and train
atleast 30 persons every
month;
 Interns are responsible to
mobilize people for trainings;
Commits to Excellence, Manages Projects, Facilitates Learning, Coaches, Conducts Action Research,
Advocates

15. Passions and Creativity. The
solution
Sharing challenges and
successes,
Consultations and
creativity
 Kitchen gardens installations initiated by interns
(Demonstrations)

16. The solution cont.
 In class  Traffic at the center
arrangements increases
Virtual Network Computing
and Screencasting tools in

17. The solution cont.
Interns organize Visits, Walks and community works

18. The Impact
Entrepreneurial culture is instilled into the participants. Participants’ confidence and
ability to take business risks.
Participants overcome cyber phobia, use computer to improve or develop business.
Participants’ skills and passions are enhanced
Participants’ are able to respond to community needs and identify opportunities
around them.
DOT Interns have secured fulltime employed
Coaching and business development services. RU Graduates secured employment,
formed cooperatives & small business :
Linkages- increased awareness of the available business development services ,
Market opportunities, MFI;
At BDC gasabo, the trend in training local people increased from 36 to 84 participants
every month

19. The way
forward
 Applications that target
the low end users;
 To speed up the quality of
services and skills;
 To advocate for youth
with passions and willing
to give back to the
community;
 To involve youth in
various researches and
debates on ICT for RD;

20. Thank
you!