CARACAS, November 6, 2008 – Last month, AME, an innovative education program belonging to the Fundación Cisneros, participated in the Global Innovation Forum for Education and Development in Yerevan, capital of Armenia.
The event was organized by the United Nations Global Alliance for Innovation and Development and its Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) Task Force. It was co-sponsored by Athgo International, an Armenian nonprofit organization dedicated to providing practical entrepreneurial training to young people as a way of launching and developing new socially conscious initiatives in their local community.
Attending the four-day forum from the Fundación Cisneros were Ms. Irene Hardy, AME program Director, and Flor Borelli, Director of the AME Digital Literacy Program for Indigenous Teachers. Working together with young people and experts from 22 countries the directors considered opportunities to develop Information and Communication Technology centers to stimulate economic and educational development in the communities of their respective countries. The aim is for these centers to forge a link with the global economy in those communities, as well as develop educational programs for local teachers and provide employment opportunities for young professionals. Projects proposed at the event will be evaluated for possible implementation.
“It was a wonderful opportunity to introduce AME´s mission in Latin America and the usefulness of ICTs as a tool for success in any educational work today,” said Ms. Borrelli.
"During this event,” Ms. Hardy said, “it became clear that beyond geographical borders we share the same cultural and educational needs, such as the need to develop ICTs in rural and urban communities to stimulate educational and economic development on a global scale".