Partners

Thanks to a grant from USAID/Timor Leste, hundreds of students and faculty now have access  to cutting edge tech tools and innovative eLearning content and professional development training. SOLS 24/7 in partnership with SRA International, Inc., a contractor for USAID, established two eLearning centers, each located at National University Timor Leste’s (UNTL) Faculty of Economics and the Faculty Social and Political Sciences. The project goal was to prepare East Timorese college graduates for the challenges and demands of the global economy. A key cornerstone of this effort is project sustainability. SOLS 24/7 is operating a fee-based training and Internet access center at the university’s library. Fixed income from the café is contributed to a pre-paid maintenance fund used to cover ongoing costs related to the eLearning centers. The project sets a high benchmark for future computer education programs in East Timor.

SOLS 24/7 secured USD 50,000 and Microsoft Software worth USD 75,819  from a Microsoft Grant for the expansion into districts in Timor-Leste, after impressing the panel during the the Scale-up Pitching session at YSEF in 2008. Microsoft Unlimited Potential–Community Technology Skills Program promotes workforce development and IT skills training programs that enable young people and adults to realize their potential. Through cash grants, software donations, technology solutions, and specialized curriculum, the program supports community technology centers around the world.

SOLS 24/7 secured a 15,000 grant from IYF (International Youth Foundation) Through a Starbucks Innovation fund. The grant went towards the renovations of SOLS 24/7 Youth Development Center in Melaka, Malaysia.

In 2001, IYF launched a global initiative called YouthActionNet to identify, encourage, and enhance the leadership potential of this emerging generation of young leaders. Over the past five years, YouthActionNet has provided more than 120 young social entrepreneurs with a combination of skills, mentoring, idea-sharing, to enhance their leadership abilities and the impact of their projects in over 50 countries. in 2008 the Starbucks Innovation Fund has provided up to 25 of these YouthActionNet Global Fellows with the financial resources and capacity building resources they need to expand their social projects and reach more beneficiaries.

Youth Social Enterprise Initiative, a special project of the Global Knowledge Partnership supports the Science of Life Systems 24/7 program in Timor Leste. YSEI provides mentoring and funded USD 15,000 for SOLS 24/7’s project in Timor Leste. SOLS 24/7 were part of the YSEI fellowship for 2007.

Idea!s is a youth-led social enterprise based in the Philippines. They are a non-stock, non-profit design and communications consultancy, combining creativity, youth volunteerism and technology in order to provide multimedia and technical services for development organizations.

Anna Filippova, fellow traveler and web-designer. Specializes in Wordpress and dynamic content management systems in general, for both individuals and small organizations.