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NetCorps () was a volunteer-organizing coalition consisting of nine Canadian
non-governmental organization A non-governmental organization (NGO) is an independent, typically nonprofit organization that operates outside government control, though it may get a significant percentage of its funding from government or corporate sources. NGOs often focus ...
s (NGOs), funded by the
Canadian International Development Agency The Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA; in French: ''Agence canadienne de développement international''; ''ACDI'') was a federal Canadian organization that administered foreign aid programs in developing countries. The agency was me ...
(CIDA) and managed by the NetCorps coordination unit."NetCorps Frequently asked questions"
''NetCorps-Cyberjeunes Canada International'', Retrieved: October 17, 2008.
Through the program, the organizations created international
information and communication technologies Information and communications technology (ICT) is an extensional term for information technology (IT) that stresses the role of unified communications and the integration of telecommunications (telephone lines and wireless signals) and compute ...
(ICT) internships in developing countries around the world. Interns typically participated in six-month programs, leaving between August and November for host organizations in the placement countries. Positions were limited to 19–30-year-old Canadian citizens or landed immigrants who had "appropriate information and communication technologies skills". Typical duties included creating webpages, developing databases, computer networking, setting up hardware, preparing manuals and other documentation, and general-to-advanced computer instruction.


Program


Objectives

* To strengthen the ICT capacity of civil society and public-sector organizations to contribute to development goals in governance, education, health, gender equality and
environmental sustainability Sustainability is a social goal for people to co-exist on Earth over a long period of time. Definitions of this term are disputed and have varied with literature, context, and time. Sustainability usually has three dimensions (or pillars): env ...
* Increase the professional skills and capacities of young Canadians aged 19 to 30 to contribute positively to Canadian international development efforts and secure meaningful employment * To increase the awareness and promote greater engagement of young Canadians with respect to international development issues


Budget

During the 2007-2008 season, the program placed 240 interns and was funded by the
Canadian International Development Agency The Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA; in French: ''Agence canadienne de développement international''; ''ACDI'') was a federal Canadian organization that administered foreign aid programs in developing countries. The agency was me ...
(CIDA) and Human Resources and Social Development Canada (HRSDC) at a cost of C$4.6 million. The program covered all travel and accommodation expenses for the interns, provided a modest living allowance and a completion bonus.


History


NetCorps creation

NetCorps Canada International was conceived in 1996 by Dr. David Johnston (Governor General of Canada as of 2011 and former President of the
University of Waterloo The University of Waterloo (UWaterloo, UW, or Waterloo) is a Public university, public research university located in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. The main campus is on of land adjacent to uptown Waterloo and Waterloo Park. The university also op ...
), a prominent lawyer and adviser to the federal government on information-highway issues.


Phase I

In 1997
Industry Canada Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED; ; )''Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada'' is the applied title under the Federal Identity Program; the legal title is Department of Industry (). is a department of the G ...
, in partnership with the Special Initiatives Division of Canada's
International Development Research Centre The International Development Research Centre (IDRC; , ''CRDI'') is a Canadian federal Crown corporation. As part of Canada's foreign affairs and development efforts, IDRC champions and funds research and innovation within and alongside developi ...
(IDRC), funded a NetCorps-style test project that sent two residents of Cape Breton to Angola for Internet and
Geographic Information System A geographic information system (GIS) consists of integrated computer hardware and Geographic information system software, software that store, manage, Spatial analysis, analyze, edit, output, and Cartographic design, visualize Geographic data ...
s projects. This NetCorps conceptualization and placement was done through the Centre for Community and Enterprise Networking (C/CEN) and Dr. Michael Gurstein, Director of the Centre and (at the time) Chair in the Management of Technology Change at the University College of Cape Breton. An initial NetCorps training program and manual were produced as a result of this program. Notably, the two placements in Angola were of previously unemployed young adults from Cape Breton; they were provided with training in
Linux Linux ( ) is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an kernel (operating system), operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991, by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically package manager, pac ...
through C/CEN as part of a demonstration program in the economic benefits that could be achieved through local investment in Information and Communications Technologies in economically marginal regions.


Phase II

In 1998 the efforts of Industry Canada, the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) and a consortium of Canada’s largest international development volunteer-sending agencies secured 14 internships in Africa, Asia and Latin America.


Phase III

Further collaboration with Industry Canada and the consortium of international development agencies in 1998 saw the Canadian International Development Agency offer 30 internships in the Americas. This phase was announced by the Prime Minister at the 2nd Summit of the Americas in Santiago, Chile in April 1998.


Phase IV - NetCorps Canada International

From 1999 to 2006, the NetCorps consortium sent more than 1700 NetCorps volunteers overseas, due to the collaboration of Industry Canada and the Youth Employment Strategy financed by Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC).


2006–2007 – Transition Year

In 2006–2007, the consortium successfully organized the placement of 236 volunteers in collaboration with Industry Canada and the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA). 2006-2007 was the last year that Industry Canada would be involved in the NetCorps program.


Phase VI – 2007–2008

For 2007–2008, (CIDA) replaced Industry Canada as funders of the NetCorps program. The 240 placements offered that year were once again part of the Government of Canada’s youth-employment strategy."A history of NetCorps Canada International"
''NetCorps-Cyberjeunes Canada International'', Retrieved: October 17, 2008.
The program was discontinued indefinitely as of the 2008–2009 season."NetCorps News"
''NetCorps-Cyberjeunes Canada International'', Retrieved: October 17, 2008.


Member organizations

* WUSC * Canada World Youth *
Alternatives Founded in 1994, Alternatives, Action and Communication Network for International Development, is a non-governmental, international solidarity movement, international solidarity organization based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Alternatives works ...
* CUSO
Oxfam Québec

VSO International

Canadian Crossroads International

Canadian Society for International Health
* International Institute for Sustainable Development * Human Rights Internet


See also

* eCorps * Geekcorps *
Geeks Without Bounds Geeks Without Bounds (informally known as GWOB) is a humanitarian organization of technologists, first responders, policymakers, and volunteers that work towards improving access to communication and technology. With a focus on working with commun ...
* ICVolunteers * Inveneo *
NetDay NetDay (1995–2004) was an event established in 1995 that "called on high-tech companies to commit resources to schools, libraries, and clinics worldwide so that they could connect to the Internet". It was developed by John Gage (then-chief scienc ...
* One Laptop per Child *
Peace Corps The Peace Corps is an Independent agency of the U.S. government, independent agency and program of the United States government that trains and deploys volunteers to communities in partner countries around the world. It was established in Marc ...
* Random Hacks of Kindness * United Nations Information Technology Service (UNITeS)


References


External links


NetCorps homepage
(page no longer belongs to NetCorps)
CWY - NetCorps Program


* ttps://web.archive.org/web/20071029154510/http://www.oxfam.qc.ca/html_en/stages_jeunes/cyberjeunes.asp Oxfam-Québec - NetCorps Program
HRI - NetCorps Program Description

"Future of CIDA Internship Program Up in the Air"
Lee Berthiaume, ''Embassy Newspaper'', August 20, 2008. {{DEFAULTSORT:Netcorps Development charities based in Canada International volunteer organizations Organizations established in 1996 Internship programs Digital divide
Charities A charitable organization or charity is an organization whose primary objectives are philanthropy and social well-being (e.g. educational, religious or other activities serving the public interest or common good). The legal definition of a cha ...
Charities A charitable organization or charity is an organization whose primary objectives are philanthropy and social well-being (e.g. educational, religious or other activities serving the public interest or common good). The legal definition of a cha ...