Help the POETA Social Franchise (PSF) strengthen and expand our network of 162 technological centers in 22 countries across the hemisphere. We focus on building capacities and providing tools and knowledge to organizations that promote the social and economic inclusion of vulnerable populations in the Americas. What started as a pilot program has evolved into a model with a 90% sustainability rate. We need your help to keep strengthening key actors and achieve a more inclusive region!
Latin America and the Caribbean is the most unequal region in the world, home to some of the largest disparities that generate inequality of opportunity, exclusion, and discrimination. Some of the most vulnerable populations include people with disabilities (about 15% of the population) and youth (over a quarter of the region's population). Around 66% of the homes in the region lack access to the internet, which reduces opportunities for most. We want to change that.
The POETA Social Franchise is an online, free of charge platform that offers local organizations a comprehensive methodological guide to capacity building, focusing on four key areas: institutional strengthening, training materials, partnership resources and seed-fund support. Its ToolBox is comprised of 38 courses, 6 manuals, all step-by-step guides on how to set-up, manage, and implement technology-related programs, and roadmaps to ultimately support a network of local partners.
POETA has a two-dimensional approach designed to provide access to vocational training and economic opportunities for both individuals and local organizations. As the appropriation of ICTs and computer literacy are both vehicles for socioeconomic development and inclusion, the PSF uses Information and Communications Technologies (ITCs) to empower beneficiaries in personal and professional settings. Over 100,000 have been empowered through training, and we want that number to keep growing.
