The Community Empowerment Network (CEN) is a US-based non-profit organization which empowers rural communities and individuals in developing countries to harness information and information technology to become more self-reliant and break out of poverty. CEN provides computers and computer skills along with mentoring individuals and communities to develop knowledge, skills, the mindset and networks necessary to successfully address (drive) their development priorities (improve their lives or, improve their living conditions, maintain a vibrant culture and preserve their environment).
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CEN promotes these activities and assists with entrepreneurial development and income-generation initiatives. It is currently applying its methodology to several small communities in the Brazilian Amazon, which has resulted in the communities’ increased confidence and ability to drive and execute their development initiatives. CEN is helping to create more vibrant and independent communities.
History
CEN was founded by Robert Bortner in November 2004. Between 2002 and June 2004, Robert was managing the USAID-funded Rio Tapajós (Brazil) Telecenter Installation Project, which installed solar powered community operated telecenters in the communities of Suruacá and Maguari. After completion of this project, Bob continued to work with these communities and with the community of Xixuau, located approximately 500 km north of Manaus along the Rio Jauaperi, and he mentored key activists in the communities. Encouraged by their significant progress in addressing community challenges and becoming more independent, Bob launched CEN and continued this work as the Amazon Pilot Project. In April 2008 CEN began the implementation of the Creating a Culture of Learning and Empowerment in the Amazon (cCLEAR) Project. Angela Viehmayer, Director at Brazilian NGO ( Link Social) and serving on the CEN board, is the Field Manager for the project to add a sustained presence to the communities.
The CEN Amazon Pilot Project
CEN is working on a pilot project consisting of three communities in the Brazilian Amazon. In two communities located along the upper Tapajós River, it helped manage the installation of solar-powered, internet-connected telecenters, which was completed by mid-2004 The InfoCentro Comunitário contains information that is closely tailored to the specific health, education, civics and entrepreneurial needs and skills of the communities. The third community, located 500 km north of Manaus along the Roraima state border, already had computers and Internet access. CEN is now working with the three communities to use this infrastructure to become more autonomous.
Several promising results have been seen within a relatively short period of time. For example, one of the communities in project, Suruacá, has made considerable progress on a project to provide adequate electricity throughout the community using a microhydroelectric dam. They have driven the process, identified partners, and prepared a project plan with only very modest assistance from CEN or any other outside organization. CEN is now working with them to help them secure funding; however they continue to drive the process. In another example, one of the communities in the pilot project, Xixuau, has been quite successful with eco-tourism, while many residents of Suruacá were very anxious to understand how eco-tourism – and the cash it would bring in – might impact their way of life. By discussing these concerns with Xixuau, Suruacá is more firmly united behind eco-tourism efforts.
The exchange of Xixuau's experience is also proving useful in helping Suruacá avoid some of the problems faced by other communities who have pursued eco-tourism. It is anticipated that such helpful exchange of ideas will continue through the Rede Amazônia, a network established by rural communities in the Brazilian Amazon.
During this project CEN achieved the following:
This project was selected as a finalist in the 2006 Stockholm Challenge
cCLEAR Pilot Implementation Project
Today CEN is focusing its resources on communities in the Amazon, where its operating a pilot project in three communities. Although the tools and methodologies CEN has developed targets the specific needs of the communities where it is currently engaged, its approach addresses needs that are nearly universal among poor rural communities and is transferable to rural communities worldwide. This pilot implementation of first phase of the Creating a Culture of Learning and Empowerment in the Amazon Region (cCLEAR) Program is scheduled to run until April 2009.
30 learners will directly benefit from the pilot project. Half of the participants will come from the community of Suruacá and half will come from Maguary. All residents of both communities, each of which has approximately 5001, will indirectly benefit from the project, as participants will apply the knowledge and skills they gain from the program to carry out development initiatives that will benefit larger groups or, in some cases, the whole community. Thus, 1,000 individuals will benefit indirectly from the pilot of the cCLEAR program.
Objectives for this project are to:
Future plans
In 2009 CEN intends to replicate Phase 1 of the cCLEAR Program in a new set of communities in the region through another local partner, and to implement Phase 2 in the original Rio Tapajós communities as well as the community of Xixuau. Phase 2 includes an integrated entrepreneurship development program. CEN will work with the communities to leverage the skills they have learned in order to generate additional income. Although entrepreneurship development has been an important emphasis for CEN programs, CEN intends to enhance opportunities available to the communities by improving access to markets and capital through this integrated entrepreneurship development program.
By 2010 CEN hopes to replicate to other regions, such as Mozambique or South Asia, where it has received a lot of interest and there are many potential synergies with its current work. CEN hopes to disengage from the original communities through Phase 3, while leaving behind a sustainable infrastructure.
The work CEN does will scale by partnering with select local organizations which have compatible values and have gained trust with communities in the region. CEN will work closely with the local partner on the first set of implementations, help them adapt CEN's methodologies to local realities, and build their capacity. After a defined period CEN will disengage this intensive level of interaction, but leave behind a set of infrastructure, including social networks, to ensure their success at replicating the methodology throughout the region they serve.