[EN] Community Computer and Education Centers - Grand Opening

Responsible Business Institute, togethet with the Polish subsidiary of Microsoft - has inaugurated a new project "Building a Knowledge Society. Fight with IT exclusion in the Podlasie region". The project targets the unemployed and those in danger of losing a job, so that, by acquiring basic computer/ Internet literacy skills, they improve their qualifications and consequently their employment possibilities. To realize this goal 6 Community Computer and Education Centers are being opened in Podlaskie voivodeship. About 1500 persons will get free training in basic computer skills. This is an unprecedented example of effective cooperation between non-governmental organizations, corporate partners involved with CSR and local authorities.

The project is being realized thanks to Microsoft Unlimited Potential grant awarded to Responsible Business Institute as part of Unlimited Potential grant making initiative. Community Computers and Education Centers are set up in 7 locations in the Podlaskie region: in Augustów, Białystok, Łapy, Rudka, Sokółka, Zambrów and in Zawady. The overall idea is to provide equal opportunities to all members of local Podlasie community in access to knowledge and ICT skills.

Several partners are contributing to the success of this project. The hardware for Community Centers was supplied by the World Bank/IFC, Association of Second Hand Bank (Stowarzyszenie Bank Drugiej Ręki), local company - PWTK ATLAS. Antivirus software was provided by MKS.

The 11^th of October 2006 marked the project opening with a press conference that took place in Gymnasium nr.1 in Łapy ? the location of one of the Community Centers.

The conference participants included representatives of the local authorities, of Institute of Responsible Business and Polish subsidiary of Microsoft, the supervisors of the particular courses, media and the guest of honor ? State Undersecretary in the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Administration (MSWiA) ? Grzegorz Bliźniuk. During the meeting Grzegorz Bliźniuk presented the following words of gratitude to General Manager of Microsoft Polish subsidiary, Marek Roter, on behalf of vice-premier and Minister of Internal Affairs, Ludwik Dorn:

?When in February this year Premier Ludwik Dorn met Bill Gates, they promised to each other that Microsoft will devote special attention to Poland. They promised two things: firstly that Microsoft will support the development of information society in Poland and secondly, they will support investments and development of Innovation Centers. And it is all in progress now. Just recently I have participated in opening of the Microsoft Innovation Center in Poznan ? the first such place in Poland. And today I am in Łapy to symbolically open 6 internet community centers in Podlasie. I would like on this special occasion to thank Mr. President [Marek Roter] and Microsoft for keeping its promises, I thank also on behalf of the Premier. This is a very important step, proving how efficient cooperation and synergy between the Polish government and private sector can be.?

Grzegorz Bliźniuk, State Undersecretary in MSWiA together with Marek Roter, General Manager of Polish subsidiary of Microsoft celebrated the grand opening of the Centers by cutting the ribbon and inviting all the guests inside.

After the ceremony of opening the guests met and talked informally at a banquette. It was then that Microsoft passed gifts of keyboards and mouses to the Center supervisors.