Initiatives of e-inclusion and raising awareness by Jean-Luc Manise, Social Media Expert CESEP

Wallonia Digital Public Spaces (DPS)

DPS (Digital Public Spaces) have been created to act as a main tool to fight digital gap

Digital gap ? What's that ?In Belgium, 67% of Belgian families are connected to Internet, which means that a third of them is not connected...

The digital gap means social exclusion through digital exclusion.

Why is it important ?

ICT are used more and more largely, in an increased number of fields (private and professional), such as :

Job search, but also, as a job skill Social activities Citizen's activities Consumption activities Cultural and creative activities Information and training activities Etc…

An DPS (Digital public space) …

•is open to the public •is non-profit making •offers the public access, initiation courses and support programmes •is dedicated to ICT.

« A digital public space is a place to learn digital use and mediation, aiming at encouraging a citizen's participation of all to the Information Society. »

How were these spaces created ? 2002 : Reflecting and writing of the White paper « Digital public spaces, driving

force of a participative Internet"2004 : regional declaration and « Courard Plan»2005 : study and feasability mission 2005 : calls for projects > 40 municipalities

2007 : calls for projects > 29 municipalities and CPAS (public assistance

social centres)Since 2008 : extension of the label (volontary membership)2011 : 134 labelled DPS (or 92 municipalities)2012 : 140 labelled DPS (or 97 municipalities)

Where does the funding come from?

In 2005 and 2007, subsidies have been granted to create 69 DPSIn 2009, refinancing through thematical actions (Packs) was put in place, up to maximum 15000€/DPSEn 2010, no subsidies but regional and private actions via « Papy et Mamy surfers », The King Baudouin Fondation, Close The Gap, etc…2011, « Papy et Mamy surfers 2 » and « Jobs, ICT is for me »2012 ?

A balanced territorial policy

The LABEL

•Endorsed by the government of Wallonia•Non-profit making and with a social pricing policy •Open 16 hours per week•With a qualified multimedia facilitator •DPS, as meeting places, use technology as a tool for dialogue

Types of DPS…4 mobile DPS et 8 mixed ones16 DPS linked to CPAS (public assistance social centres)41 DPS linked to libraries72 « independant» DPS…

2011 results134 DPS labelled / 1500 PC / +/-170 facilitators92 municipalities (+ than 30% of Wallonia municipalities)30 recognised in ICT mobilization planSeveral easi-e-spaces / federal DPSHalf of them with a strong local involvement A quarter with a strong social significance

55 000 participants165 000 training or access hours

Preponderance of young and senior people

A network and a resource centre as support

•Mission delegated to Technofutur TIC•Frequent contacts with the Wallonia public service •Missions of watching, informing, training, supporting, assessing, promoting •Daily activities •A yearly assessment of the scheme •National and international partnerships

Tools...

•A social network with 205 members, with a forum, pictures, vidéos•A blog with 105 000 single visits in 2011•A watching platform on Facebook and Twitter•A distance training platform Vodeclic•The training centre Technofutur TIC in Gosselies•2 DPS facilitators meeting

Work in progress…

•Job sustainability and professionalisation (Reinforcing training programmes, distance learning and reference documents)•Link to social orientation•Micro-projects financed by the Wallonia region : more tools for the facilitators (AV, presence on the Web, etc…)

Thank you for your attention !