As more children become exposed to computers and to information communication technology (ICT), others are left behind as they do neither have a home nor someone to introduce them to ICT. The Lions Club of CyberCare project is created to benefit underprivileged children. A network with 51 orphanages and 2,500 children is already established and CyberCare hopes to reach 114 homes soon. Mentor programmes, foster programmes and youth programmes are also established to help these children and youngsters achieve more socially balanced lives and to exploit their potential. It is the hope that the children thereby achieve the same level of exposure to ICT as other children. So far, more than 700 children have been trained in computer usage.

History

The idea to set up CyberCare was created among a group of friends. The founders wanted to create a project, which could change the world as they knew it, explains co-founder Mr Cheong. Several among the founders had professional experience in working with ICT and had ambitions to use their knowledge to "do something good". They found that communities in a physical setting generally were well supported whereas virtual communities were unexplored territories. They came up with two main guidelines for their community: One, to regard children as the future of our planet; the other is that ICTs for the first time in history makes it possible to change the world within a lifetime. Their ambitious goal became to connect the children of the world to nurture a global culture of infinite possibilities.

Beneficiaries

Children living in homes became the beneficiaries of the community because the founders believe that especially children at homes have much unexplored potential, which could be expressed through the Internet. From early stages in their lives these children have experienced many disappointments. Through the Internet, the founders hope that the children can find new belief in themselves and in the world around them. Though children at homes are prime beneficiaries, all children are potential beneficiaries of the community

Organisation

CyberCare started as an independent group but quickly they decided to partner with Lions Club. CyberCare joined Lions Club as a separate programme. Soon afterwards sponsors and grants started to support their activities, which have helped them to concentrate on developing their activities. A national project coordinator was hired to manage the activities but most work is still carried out by volunteers.

Training

The volunteers train the CyberCare children in areas such as: Basic computer, electronic artwork, creative writing, emailing, educational research, online chat, video conferencing, create and maintain website, access to internet, graphics and multimedia. The training is given through three day seminars, which has appeared as a fun and more educating form of learning for both volunteer and child as their progress easily can be measured. Just as important as the training results, the seminars also create strong bonds between the volunteers and the children, which can be maintained electronically and by visits after the workshop has ended. At the conclusion of the seminars both children and volunteers are asked to evaluate the training. The evaluation is always taken into consideration by the organisers when planning new seminars and is displayed on the CyberCare web site.

Through CyberCare's virtual community environment, the children have a chance to maintain their relationships with their friendes. The project offers these children an opportunity to create their own network and provide others with an opportunity to look into their world.

Technical Infrastructure

CyberCare is organised around an office network. The technical infrastructure basically consists of a server in CyberCare's office which is connected to the hardware, which is installed in the orphanages. The orphanages are also equipped with software, Internet connection and multimedia facilities etc. Advice and assistance on web designing, equipment maintenance and technical services is also required in order to provide the children and the people taking care of them with the right tools. CyberCare has made agreement with sponsors to deliver all necessary hardware and software. They have also made agreements, which give them access to free training facilities etc.

Lessons Learned

The children have shown a general improvement in the computer skills they have acquired. The training has also resulted in a higher self esteem, self confidence, personal acceptance and social skills among the children. Some of them have even started to express a belief in their ability to- and an interest in helping other children in a similar situation as they have been in.

The training would of course not have been possible without the facilities provided by the sponsors. Mr Cheong Yuk Wai stresses that finding the right partners and sponsorships has taken up much time and effort. "If I was to do it over again, I would have concentrated on achieving founding right from the start", says he. To balance between creating the content of the programme and providing funding for the project has been exhausting for him and the other involved in the programme. Mr Cheong also gives huge credit to the work done by the patrons of CyberCare. "I would happily have used energy on finding more patrons for CyberCare right from the projects start", says he.

Replicability and Sustainability

The core of CyberCare is off course the volunteer corp. and project coordinator. The only expense not covered by sponsorships is the budget for the project coordinator. The
volunteer corp. has proven to be self sustainable after CyberCare found a working model, which was beneficial for both volunteers and kids

According to Mr Cheong the CyberCare is very easy to upgrade and replicate. However it needs a strong commitment and focus once a team decides to do so. CyberCare bits likeminded organisations welcome to join them and take advantage of their online services. They can be contacted on the email address below.

Additional Information:

Prasanna Raman - New Straits Times / Computimes. February 11 th 2002
Newsclips about CyberCare can be found at: http://www.lion-cybercare.org/newspaper/html/news%20article.htm

CyberCare Office
Lions Club of CyberCare Kuala Lumpur
28, Jln. BK 5/5
Bdr Kinrara Puchong
47100 Subang Jaya
Selangor
Malaysia

Tel. (603) 8075 9909
Fax. (603) 8076 2592