Paz Concha's Page

By Constanza Varela
ATACH

It has been three days of pain and destruction after the earthquake that hit south-central Chile. The death rate is more than 700 people and the disappearance of many others. Hard testimonies of survivors, waves of violence and looting, have transformed Chile into a stage of crisis and uncertainty.

Faced with this harsh reality, telecentres implemented by the program Quiero Mi Barrio, driven in partnership between the Ministry of Housing and the Department of Telecommunications, have helped with access to Internet for seeking information about relatives, missing persons, places of aid for the areas most affected and updates on what is happening in the country after the disaster.

One of the telecentres implemented by Self Management Networks Corporation, ATACH partner within the government program Quiero Mi Barrio, MCT Central Valley – Elqui Valley in the community of Renca in Santiago, these days has become one of the most important access point for information and assistance to the community after the earthquake happened last Saturday.

After hearing about the tragic incidenet, Nerina Rivas, operator in charge of the MCT telecentre came to the telecentre to see whether it has caused damages to the telecentre. Damages around the community had made them imagine the worst scenario for the telecentre. However, she was fortunate to found out that it had fallen only a few screens and some cracked walls,
but the telecentre was generally in good working condition.

since Saturday she has managed to open the telecentre for the community in days and nights to make room for communication and access to information at this time of vulnerability and crisis for the community. With the facilities available in the telecentre Nerina was able to help the community in finding their lost relatives, assisting people to check information and communicating with their loved ones in affected areas, to search help pages, to convey the stories, experiences and needs to media such as radio and web Internet, etc

"The telecentre has not closed during these days, we open from 11 to 2 pm, after 4 to 6 and in the evening from 7 to 9, as the requirements of people. I could help the people in many ways in this disastrous situation"said Nerina.

The telecentre Central Valley, which is often visited by children and youth as a form of entertainment and Internet access, today has become a major source of connectivity. The community has achieved in solidarity and understanding the importance of the MCT after the disaster, as people use computers moderately, not more than 20 minutes if need exclusivity. So youth who are more easily manage the use of technologies, at all times have helped the villagers to seek information or send messages to their closest relatives.

"We try to keep people stay glued watching news. We try to navigate through the channels that are helpful in search of lost relatives of the people or delivery of basic resources, "adds Nerina.

The extraordinary stories like this operating in Renca, give account of how the implementation and efficient use of telecentres can make a major contribution when the community experiences states of emergency. The main objective of telecentres is bringing technology to the people and solve their daily problems. Today the telecenter Central Valley has been able to meet these objectives and has largely left little doubt that any form of support is essential for the Telecentres can operate and contribute within your environment.