PROJECT PRESENTATION

The E-Caravan-Phœnix is a fully equipped mobile computer and internet school, aimed to empower the local communities in the formerly occupied areas of South Lebanon through teaching computer and IT skills, especially for youth, women and persons with disabilities. In January 2006, Fondation Saradar in partnership with UNESCWA launched the E-Caravan project. The project builds on the original E-Caravan project the vehicle which was destroyed on 29 July 2006 while parked at the Intermediary School of Ayta Al-Shaab in South Lebanon.
The new E-Caravan is equipped with a network of ten PCs with flat screens, one laser printer, one LCD projector with screen, two satellite connection modems, an air-conditioning system, a water dispenser, and other accessories. The E-Caravan-Phœnix also includes a ramp that facilitates the access of physically disabled persons and special software to provide the blind and the visually impaired with the necessary IT knowledge. The content of the different training sessions is based on the needs of the target population. The courses range from ones specifically for beginners to courses for future trainers and for small and medium enterprises. Sessions will be offered 6 days a week, Monday to Saturday, and will last for two to four hours. Sessions will include up to eight participants at a time, allowing for a close learning relationship between the trainer and the participants. The project is implemented in partnership with private companies involved and in collaboration with the concerned municipal councils, existing local and international organizations and UN agencies.

The project will be managed and executed by Fondation Saradar in cooperation with UNESCWA, Italian NGOs operating in South Lebanon, UNIFIL, and other potential partners which could provide additional resources to the project. The main local partners of the project will be the municipal councils of the various villages. The municipal councils are expected to provide administrative support, coordination and networking with the selected participating municipalities, security arrangements and power supply. Partnerships will also be created with private companies and existing local and international organizations.

As a mobile computer school the E-Caravan-Phœnix will travel to remote areas and villages that lack IT centers, technical institutions or adequate telecommunication infrastructure. Furthermore, satellite Internet connection will be provided for areas that have no Internet access. The E-Caravan will be able to cover the entire Southern region during the life of the project, with a target of participation of 65% women and 5% disabled persons.
The E-Caravan-Phœnix will hire an IT training institution, Formatech Integrated Learning Centers, which is a Certified Technical Educational Center for Microsoft, Oracle, CIW and CompTIA as well as the largest Prometric Authorized Certification Testing Center in Lebanon. Formatech will utilize its experience gained from Fondation Saradar’s ‘Saradar IT Programme’ (SITP) and the former E-Caravan in delivering a customized training package suitable for rural areas and targeting subjects such as rural tourism, women, disabled persons, Training of Trainers, supporting small and medium enterprises and others.