CDI Chile
Santiago, Chile
The Committee for Democracy in Information Technology (CDI) is a non-governmental organization with the mission of fostering the social inclusion of less-privileged social groups by using Information and Communication Technologies as tools to encourage active citizenship. CDI works in low-income communities and with institutions assisting individuals with special needs including, among others, the physically and mentally disabled, the visually impaired, homeless children, prisoners, and indigenous populations. Learning new technologies not only creates job opportunities, but also expands access to knowledge and encourages social interchange. CDI believes their efforts contribute to changing the lives of individuals and has a profound impact in the community development.
CDI opens Information Technology and Citizens Rights Schools in partnership with community-based associations, providing free computer equipment, software and implementing educational strategies for a continuous training of local instructors. Through periodic visits, CDI coordinators monitor it’s performance identifying key challenges and opportunities. Schools coordinators work together with CDI representatives to find creative ways of addressing problems, formulating and sharing solutions. Each school is an autonomous unit, self-managed and self-sustainable through a symbolic contribution collected from its students. This fund covers the maintenance costs, and the payment of instructors, in an authentic “social enterprise.”
CDI developed a socio-educational approach to teaching information technology. Students learn how to use computers and software while discussing issues of particular interest to their community, such as human rights, environment, sexual education, health and non-violence. The model is based on the concept of helping people help themselves. CDI trains the future teachers of the schools, who, in turn, will train others back in their communities.
CDI Chile is part of the CDI network, a “complex learning system” with regional offices in 20 Brazilian states and in 10 other countries on three continents. CDI’s Brazil headquarters has developed a completely non-profit “social franchise” defining quality standards.
Contact Information:
Director: Eugenio Vergara
Address: Dr. Barros Borgoño 217
Providencia, Santiago
Chile
Phone: (562) 236 8703
(562) 236 8247, ANEXO 12
E-mail:
eugenio@cdichile.org
Website:
www.cdichile.org