Trestle Group Foundation Partners with Voices for Innovation
and the African Centre for Women, Information and Communications Technology
May 30, 2007 – Switzerland – Trestle Group
Foundation (TGF), Voices for Innovation (VFI) and the African Centre for
Women, Information and Communications Technology (ACWICT) today announced an
innovative new partnership designed to empower women entrepreneurs and
create new voices for innovation in Kenya.
“The collaboration with ACWICT and Voices for Innovation demonstrates how
the foundation effectively partners with other like-minded organizations to
provide immediate support to emerging entrepreneurs in developing economies,
said Dana Smith, Managing Director, Trestle Group Foundation. “Working
together, we will help empower women entrepreneurs, promote women’s access
to and use of ICT, and create new voices for innovation that can effectively
communicate the important role technology, innovation and enhanced
entrepreneurial opportunities play in stimulating economic growth,” he
continued.
Based on the foundation’s Empowering Women IT Entrepreneurs Partnership
Program, this new venture will provide direct support to the pioneering
African Centre for Women, Information and Communications Technology (ACWICT).
Through this innovative partnership, business professionals in developed
countries will work directly with ACWICT executives to identify and address
key organizational needs and challenges, as well as support the center’s
vital programs and initiatives. By providing the needed access to networks,
resources, business strategies and practices, the partnership program will
seek to create new opportunities, fulfill potential and help achieve
long-term success for both the center and its women beneficiaries.
Collaborating with Voices for Innovation, the partnership will work to
create new voices for innovation that can effectively communicate their
views to policy makers on issues that directly impact both social and
economic opportunities for women in Kenya.
“Through this collaborative effort, the partnership will support ACWICT to
develop a strong voice that can effectively communicate to decision makers
the goals and benefits of their gender-responsive ICT policy agenda,” said
Julie Ray, Senior Regional Project Lead, Voices for Innovation. “By working
with ACWICT to support these new ‘voices for innovation,’ we can develop
effective spokespersons and champions, with first-hand experience, who are
able to communicate the important role enhanced entrepreneurial
opportunities play in stimulating economies, as well as creating social
change and new economic possibilities for all,” she continued.
Key components of the Trestle Group Foundation, Voices for Innovation and
ACWICT partnership include:
- Implementing an initiative that directly supports women entrepreneurs in
developing countries to overcome the challenges that limit opportunities and
growth.
- Matching business professionals in developed countries with selected
women entrepreneurs from developing countries for coaching and support.
- Creating new voices for innovation that can effectively communicate the
important role technology, innovation and enhanced entrepreneurial
opportunities play in stimulating economic growth.
- Defining success that extends beyond the individual entrepreneurs by
positively impacting the local community and country, as well as the
organisations and individuals who participate in the program.
"Our mission is to promote women's access and use of ICTs as tools for
social, economic and political advancement,” said Ms Constantine Obuya,
Executive Director, African Centre for Women, Information & Communications
Technology (ACWICT). “We work to empower women, improve lives, create wealth
and broaden digital inclusion,” she continued. “We are excited about the
opportunity to partner and participate with Trestle Group Foundation and
Voices for Innovation in this innovative program.”
About Trestle Group Foundation
Developed by a dynamic team of entrepreneurs and international business
professionals, Trestle Group Foundation is an innovative, change-provoking, nonprofit
organization dedicated to creating and expanding sustainable economic opportunities in
developing countries by removing barriers and providing direct support to emerging
entrepreneurs. For more information: www.trestlegroupfoundation.org.
About Voices for Innovation
Voices for Innovation is a global online community in which communication, learning, change,
and innovation are the driving forces. Supported by Microsoft, Voices for Innovation is a
collaboration of professionals comprising business leaders, innovators, and entrepreneurs that
represent a diverse spectrum of knowledge, experience, opinions, and expertise. For more
information: www.voicesforinnovation.org.
About ACWICT
The African Centre for Women, Information and Communications Technology (ACWICT) is a
pioneer Kenyan-based ICT for Development with regional outreach, that works to promote
women's access to and use of ICTs as tools for social, economic and political advancement.
For more information: www.acwict.or.ke.
For more information on this article please download: Press Release May 30, 2007
Contact:
Dana Smith, Trestle Group Foundation
d.smith@trestlegroupfoundation.org
+44 7921 858307
