This group is meant to provide a home for discussions about the use of the telecentre as a tool for development.

Contributions on related issues, such as the connection between development and I.nformation and C.ommunications Technology (ICT), are also welcomed.

Please feel free to share past experiences, ideas, opinions, links to resources, or anything else you think would be helpful.

The following is excerpted from "What is a telecentre" in the FAQ at telecentre.org.

What is a telecentre?

A telecentre is public place where people can access computers, the Internet, and other technologies that help them gather information and communicate with others at the same time as they develop digital skills.

Telecentres exist in almost every country, although they sometimes go by different names — village knowledge centres, infocentres, community technology centres, community multimedia centres, information kiosks, or school-based telecentres.

There’s no one single model for creating a telecentre — they are as diverse as the communities they serve. Some are stand-alone, nonprofit institutions. Others have integrated community access to computers and the Internet into public facilities, such as schools, libraries, municipal buildings, and social service agencies. Still others have encouraged and supported small-scale entrepreneurs to set up independent computer kiosks in rural areas.

[Edited by Jon A - small edit of group name to add emphasis]