After spending two and a half weeks here at Nica HOPE, I am happy to announce that one of our main projects, turning the back room into a “ciber café” is finally near completion (thanks to a lot of help!). The idea behind the project is to have a long-term impact on the local economy that is both sustainable and progressive. The name of the project is “Cyber +” or “Cyber y más” (Cyber and more). The cyber café will offer internet, photocopies, black and white as well as color printing, scanning, computer repairs, and more.Nica HOPE has had the major elements of a cyber café in place for some time now: four computers, a server system for cyber cafés that can monitor computer use, fans, and desks. What Liz, Scott, Gilmar, and I have been working on over the last few weeks is the interior and exterior design, the marketing, and advertising of the cyber café.
We painted the inside, decorated the walls with paintings from the La Chureca art program, painted the logo outside the building, installed a board for community members to post advertisements, announcements, etc., and searched out free tech posters for a vacant wall. We also commissioned Luis and Elizabeth, cousins who are both in the Chureca art program, to paint a mural on one wall of the cyber café’s interior.
We want the cyber café to promote to the humanitarian and social aspects of Nica HOPE, while maintaining the professionalism and advanced services of a cyber café. Indeed, as the cyber gets ready to open we are optimistic the business will reflect well on Nica HOPE’s commitment to sustainable development by providing a service that can help a community transform itself.
-David
David WescottNica HOPE intern
Wake Forest University
No comments:
Post a Comment