| Fast Facts |
- City: São Paulo, Brazil
- Population: approximately 130,000 people
- 50x15 Learning Lab location: Heliopolis, the largest favela in São Paulo
- Impact: Potentially hundreds of thousands
- Implementation: September, 2007
- System overview: Ten AMD Athlon™ processor-based desktop PCs, provided by Semp-Toshiba, a local Brazilian OEM, were made available for the training center.
- Power: A local power company, AES Eletropaulo, provides electricity to the Heliopolis neighborhood.
- Connectivity: Landline, broadband-based connectivity is available provided by Telefonica.
- Financing: Financing is the most important component of the Heliopolis learning lab, as the chief goal of the deployment is to develop a micro-credit operation that will allow small businesses to obtain PCs. A local bank, ABN AMRO, already had microfinancing programs in place for the purchase of consumer products and was seeking to expand into the purchase of ICT products. It was hoped that the Heliopolis deployment would validate their micro-credit model and allow for replication in São Paulo and throughout Brazil.
- Content: Locally-relevant software was supplied by Microsoft Brasil.
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The first phase of the Heliopolis Micro-Credit Learning Lab was completed in 2007 in the Heliopolis neighborhood of São Paulo, Brazil. The objective of the project is to develop a micro-credit lending operation that would allow small businesses in the Heliopolis favela to purchase computers to improve their business operations. The first phase involved setting up a training facility where trainers could educate small- and micro-business owners in the favela on computers and how they could use them to enhance their businesses.
A computer lab and training center with Internet access showcases the advantages of using PCs for small- to medium-sized businesses in the Heliopolis neighborhood and explains the micro-credit model.
Challenge
Heliopolis is the largest favela in São Paulo. Its inhabitants typically live in poverty and many do not work in the formal job market. As the majority of the Heliopolis residents lack paychecks, they have no access to traditional bank loans for purchasing information and communications technology (ICT) products for their small and informal businesses.
Solution
The development of a micro-credit model was needed, with the backing of a financial institution, technology providers and local organizations that would enable small- and micro-entrepreneurs to obtain ICT products for their enterprises. In addition, creating a computer lab and training center with Internet access could showcase the advantages of using PCs for small- to medium-sized businesses in the neighborhood and explain the micro-credit model.
Who Benefits?
- Neighborhood entrepreneurs benefit by having access to a computer and the Internet.
- Other favelas benefit by having the micro-credit model validated and replicated.
- Small business owners in the neighborhood gain the ability to empower their own businesses through access to a PC and appropriate software tools.
- Area youngsters are taught to replicate PC training, which empowers them to start their own enterprises.
Deployment Environment
Covering an area of one million square miles, Heliopolis is not only the largest slum in São Paulo, but the second largest in Brazil and Latin America. There are approximately 130,000 inhabitants of Heliopolis, with 49% of the population consisting of young people who range in age from newly born to 21 years old. Most of the people residing in the neighborhood migrated from the northeast of Brazil. Unemployment rates are very high in Heliopolis, but there are thousands of informal, small- and micro-businesses serving the community.
Expertise
Microsoft Brasil provided each PC buyer with training on how to use their PC to enhance their businesses operations. In addition, Microsoft provided training for the youth of Heliopolis so that they could teach others. Additional training was provided by Instituto de Technologia Social, a Brazilian non-governmental organization (NGO) that works with Microsoft, and has experience training communities on social technology.
PC installation and community support was provided by the local association, UNAS. UNAS (União de Núcleos, Associações e Sociedades dos Moradores de Heliópolis e São João Clímaco – Association of the communities, NGOs and society dwellers of Heliopolis and Sao Joao Climaco region) is an NGO comprised of Heliopolis residents whose goal is to improve life for residents by organizing community forces. UNAS was also responsible for selecting and training youth to oversee the neighborhood training courses.
Learning Lab Partnership
This learning lab is a joint development between AMD and the 50x15 Initiative along with Microsoft, ABN AMRO bank, Semp Toshiba and local 50x15 partners in the Heliopolis community. The project would not be possible without each entity playing a critical role.
- AMD: 50x15 Learning Lab methodology
- Microsoft: Software and teacher training
- Semp Toshiba: PCs
- ABN AMRO Bank: Microfinancing
- UNAS: Community support
Deployment Results
A local computer lab, housed in a UNAS preschool facility, has been set up in the Heliopolis favela that showcases the advantages of using PCs for small- to medium-sized businesses in the neighborhood. In November, local entrepreneurs were invited to a workshop to learn about the advantages of the micro-credit program. During the workshop, Microsoft Training Certificates were awarded to the volunteers who had attended the training sessions, and who will assist community business owners in taking advantage of the micro-credit program.
If the program proves successful, ABN AMRO and Semp Toshiba plan on expanding the micro-credit program to other neighborhoods across Brazil.