Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communication Promoting Communication Technology for a Fairer World Shidhulai Swanirvar Sangstha, a Bangladesh NGO, today received the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation's annual Access to Learning Award and US $1 million for its innovative approach to providing free public access to computers and the Internet Shidhulai Swanirvar Sangstha, a Bangladesh NGO, today received the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation's annual Access to Learning Award and US $1 million for its innovative approach to providing free public access to computers and the Internet. Through the use of indigenous boats converted into mobile libraries, schools, and the Mobile Internet Educational Units on Boats program, Shidhulai Swanirvar Sangstha provides educational services, access to technology, and computer training to poor communities in a Northern Bangladesh watershed. The boats, which anchor at remote villages, rely on generators or solar energy and mobile phones for Internet access. Abul Hasanat Mohammed Rezwan is the executive director of Shidhulai Swanirvar Sangstha and founder of the boat project. The project's web site is www.interconnection.org/sss/ Relying on skilled volunteers, Shidhulai Swanirvar Sangstha educates men, women, and children on issues ranging from agricultural practices and to micro enterprise and literacy. Farmers learn about strategies for productive and sustainable farming and the ecological hazards of pesticides. Throughout the year, they are able to connect with educators via onboard e-mail and check current farm prices online to remain competitive in the local market. Students who would otherwise be unable to attend school during the monsoon season continue their education through the year using the libraries' onboard field staff. With literacy rates in Bangladesh at only 42 percent, Shidhulai Swanirvar Sangstha is making a significant impact on educating young people, especially girls. In fact, over 70 percent of the program's beneficiaries are women. The annual Access to Learning Award, now in its sixth year, recognizes the innovative efforts of libraries, organizations or library agencies outside the United States in providing no-cost public access to this technology. For more information, visit www.clir.org http://www.clir.org/ or www.gatesfoundation.org http://www.gatesfoundation.org/ .   Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communication Promoting Communication Technology for a Fairer World Shidhulai Swanirvar Sangstha, a Bangladesh NGO, today received the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation's annual Access to Learning Award and US $1 million for its innovative approach to providing free public access to computers and the Internet Shidhulai Swanirvar Sangstha, a Bangladesh NGO, today received the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation's annual Access to Learning Award and US $1 million for its innovative approach to providing free public access to computers and the Internet.  Through the use of indigenous boats converted into mobile libraries, schools, and the Mobile Internet Educational Units on Boats program, Shidhulai Swanirvar Sangstha provides educational services, access to technology, and computer training to poor communities in a Northern Bangladesh watershed.  The boats, which anchor at remote villages, rely on generators or solar energy and mobile phones for Internet access.   Abul Hasanat Mohammed Rezwan is the executive director of Shidhulai Swanirvar Sangstha and founder of the boat project. The project's web site is http://www.interconnection.org/sss/ www.interconnection.org/sss/    Relying on skilled volunteers, Shidhulai Swanirvar Sangstha educates men, women, and children on issues ranging from agricultural practices and to micro enterprise and literacy. Farmers learn about strategies for productive and sustainable farming and the ecological hazards of pesticides.  Throughout the year, they are able to connect with educators via onboard e-mail and check current farm prices online to remain competitive in the local market.   Students who would otherwise be unable to attend school during the monsoon season continue their education through the year using the libraries' onboard field staff.  With literacy rates in Bangladesh at only 42 percent, Shidhulai Swanirvar Sangstha is making a significant impact on educating young people, especially girls.  In fact, over 70 percent of the program's beneficiaries are women.   The annual Access to Learning Award, now in its sixth year, recognizes the innovative efforts of libraries, organizations or library agencies outside the United States in providing no-cost public access to this technology. For more information, visit http://www.clir.org/ www.clir.org < http://www.clir.org/ http://www.clir.org/

or http://www.gatesfoundation.org/ www.gatesfoundation.org < http://www.gatesfoundation.org/ http://www.gatesfoundation.org/ .