How Video Conferencing Can Help Your Community?

Video Conferencing can make a huge impact on the way that communities can interact together, learn, lobby and develop new projects. Six Learning Centres in Donegal and Omagh will host video conference facilities that your group or community association can access.

The centres will also increase local people’s access to the latest educational technology – classes for students, individuals, businesses and community groups alike. A wide range of training courses can be delivered via video conferencing  and Core Digital Network can assist your organisation in accessing training that you may be particularly interested i.e. Peace and Reconciliation, Conflict Resolution/Management, Finance, Governance, ICT Skills, Languages etc.

Video Conferencing can also assist your organisation for networking purposes. Whether it is having meetings with other similar type organisations within Tyrone, Donegal or nationally and internationally, these locally available video conferencing facilities can help your organisation save travel costs, reduce staff absences from the office and allow your organisation to form and/or maintain key strategic alliances.

Regarding lobbying, the Learning Centres can provide people in isolated rural communities, face-to-face contact with key decision makers with the power to help them – on their own doorstep. It gives local people and groups the opportunity to contribute to discussions on how services including health, education and community safety should be developed and delivered throughout their districts. The potential to revolutionise the way that local people can lobby Government, Statutory Bodies and share views is immense. We all have a role to play in shaping our community – whether you are a student, parent, employed, unemployed or retired, already active in your community or happy to let others take action – you can be involved, even if it’s in a small way, to help shape your community.

If you would like to avail of this service, please do not hesitate to contact us on 048 8224 5259 or email: info@coredigitalnetwork.com.

Finally by accessing the video conferencing centres, your group will be able to access the Global Digital Learning Network, an online global learning resource that highlights community and anti poverty projects and good practice on an international scale.

What is the Global Development Learning Network (GDLN)?

The Global Development Learning Network is a partnership of more than 120 distance learning centres and other public, private and non-governmental organisations around the world committed to development learning and development dialogue for lasting poverty reduction. More than 30,000 people participate in GDLN events every year. Dialogue and learning exchanges among developing countries is a common feature. GDLN currently interconnects 60+ centres spanning 50 countries, 9 time zones and more than 30 different languages.

In addition to the co-ordination with the World Bank, Tyrone Donegal Partnership will be developing its own links for the centre. These will include working with community and voluntary organisations, educational establishments, local government, small to medium enterprises and businesses to promote the usage of Video Conferencing as a cost effective method of communication and networking.

By linking information providers to communities through interactive video-conferencing and the Internet, GDLN provides a cost-effective, high-impact alternative to traditional methods of knowledge exchange. Interactions range from a single video-conference to complex multimedia learning programs delivered over several months. The aim and focus of all such programs is to enhance the evolution of practical and pragmatic solutions to development problems and build the intellectual capacity necessary for successfully implementing change.

Uniqueness of GDLN
Users have access to a secure and encrypted broadband line ensuring confidentiality and reducing the risks of conversations being hacked by third parties; By being affiliated to the GDLN and World Bank, Community Organisations will not have to undergo a lengthy vetting process to authorise their access to the GDLN hub;
Community Organisations will be able to use high quality video streaming and equipment at no extra costs to their organisation;

If requested, Video Conferencing Calls can be recorded for future reference and the sharing of good practice;

Please visit www.gdln.org to find out more information.