Mona participates in World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS)

December 10-12, 2003

As a part of a contingent of 14 non-profits who were the recipients of Microsoft Unlimited Potential grant, Mona Foundation was invited by Microsoft Corporation, expenses paid, to participate in WSIS to showcase the projects we support including the establishment of the Community Technology and Learning Center in the Chiriqui region of Panama. Mona Foundation's booth, provided by Microsoft within its pavilion at the Exhibition Hall, was visited by more than 4 thousand people, including Mrs. Kofi Annan. Below is a brief account of this exciting event submitted by individuals representing the Foundation at this event.

The experience of sharing a very active week at the World Summit of the Information Society (WSIS) was nothing less than awe inspiring. Groups from every continent have shared their unique attire, enterprises, experiences and expectations with willing listeners. Most attendees came to exchange information with government representatives, community groups and civil society programs, scientific representatives, and the public sector. The World Summit in Geneva 2003 and Tunis 2005 address a broad scope of issues surrounding the development of the information society globally and the potential of ICTs (Information and Communication Technologies) to contribute to development and poverty alleviation.

Three years ago, at the UN Millennium Summit, world leaders committed themselves to a series of ambitious targets. These goals included eradicating extreme poverty and hunger; achieving universal primary education; promoting gender equality and empowering women; reducing child mortality; improving maternal health; combating HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases; and ensuring environmental sustainability and developing a global partnership for development. Information and communication technologies alone will not solve the world's problems, though they are an important tool, the question posed is how can this tool be used in the service of sustainable development, to improve the lives of people and meet the Millennium Development Goals, a question aptly put by Mr. Y. Utsumi, Secretary-General International Telecommunication Union.

"Information and communication technologies are the driving forces of globalization with great potential to help people improve their lives," Mr. Kofi Annan said at his opening speech at the Summit. We saw this in action as participants shared with passion and dedication the focus of their purpose in attending. Several major global targets appeared to emerge:

The commitment to ensure that by 2015 at the latest,
more than half the world's inhabitants have ICT's within their reach.

The target of bringing ICT's to all educational, medical and
scientific establishments, as well as the commitment to provide
all government departments with websites and email addresses.

Commitments to connect public places, to revise school curricula,
to extend the reach of TV and radio broadcasting services, and to
facilitate and use the different languages of the world on the Internet.

There was a surprising emphasis on gender equality awareness, coming from many sectors. It also must be remembered that with the awareness of the technological gap that exists, other imbalances between men and women will become apparent, such as jobs, salaries, educational opportunities, etc. However, as these opportunities increase for females, males must not be slighted so that equal needs are not ignored in the pursuit of achieving a balance. Mr. Annan also referenced the need to balance not just the digital divide but racial and economic disparities as well.

This summit, bringing together such a diverse international community, proved to be fertile ground for the Mona Foundation. Daily we were inundated with vibrant exhibits staffed by personnel dedicated to their individual causes and the din of more than 14,000 participants involved in information sharing sessions. All of this left us overwhelmed with information but excited with all the possibilities opening to us as each day ended.

People were drawn to our area, we believe, by the Microsoft name which is prominent worldwide. Once there, the fourteen projects showcased under their program 'Unlimited Potential" which focuses on improving lifelong learning for underserved young people and adults by providing technology skills through community technology and learning centers were available to be shared with those interested. Most were intrigued by the "solar powered" lab and future wireless connectivity aspect of the Centre in the Ngobe Bugle area. When they heard about Mona's 97% return-to-projects of donation money and the fact that we operate mainly with volunteers, they were doubly impressed. We have compiled a long contact file, including businesses, other NGOs (Non-Government Organizations) and individuals who expressed sincere interest in partnering with the Foundation in various ways.

Contact was made with Spanish speakers sharing information on indigenous peoples and opportunities available for them to network on-line. In Latin America a hub for developing countries is the community radio network. ALER (Association Latino Americana de Educacion Radiofonica) is one such radio network. We were also informed that a Conference for Indigenous Peoples is held in Geneva every year in the last week of July. Helping to make attendance possible for some developing community leaders from our projects might be something to be considered.

It was stimulating and refreshing to see so many generous individuals and groups from various sectors all working toward the improvement in balance of the world's opportunities and resources. The new ICTs are creating fundamental changes in the way the world works, vastly altering the traditional balance of organizations and institutions. Our radios, TV, PCs, laptops, cell phones, internet and websites should connect all people-helping to produce, record, process and disseminate information-regardless of where one is located. However, 19% of the world's population accounts for 91% of internet users in wealthier countries, illustrating the developing countries' lack of participation. Creating possibilities for developing countries to participate in their own languages in the world information society is a huge challenge. Mona Foundation is one of many groups dedicated to these goals of empowering others for change, educationally, economically and socially. With the networking accomplished this week, our work certainly should have much greater support in the near future. Point to remember: Technology does not possess the ability to transform society; it is people that bring change.

Judy Rector and Rosemary Baily