Lebanon

Post-Conflict Socio-Economic Rehabilitation of South Lebanon

Technology Access Center in Bint Jbeil

The Technology Access Center (TAC) in Bint Jbeil is part of the overall programme for socio-economic development in South Lebanon jointly financed and implemented by CDR and UNDP. It is intended as a platform for electronic information and learning, providing affordable public access to information services, specifically targeted to the youth of the region. The center serves both as a training center for the youth on information technology, and more importantly as a "cyber café'" where youth can meet and connect with the outside world. The overall aim of the center is community socio-economic development through information and communications technologies. Such centers constitute an innovative approach to community development, to networking and social communication, and to disseminating information on local services, recreational and educational information, programmes and data, in addition to promoting non-formal education.

The establishment of the center is a joint intervention between the Government, UNDP and the private sector. The computers were donated to the center by Cisco Systems Management; the actual operation of the center, including the costs of instructors, electricity, and maintenance expenses is ensured by the Ministry of Social Affairs that houses the center in its Community Development Center of Bint-Jbeil.