Summit 2010

Members of the network are drawn from more than 80 organisations, which represent 25,000 telecentres between them. Telecentres help disadvantaged people to benefit from technology, an estimated 12 million people each year.

The key theme of the event will focus on how telecentres can maximize their contribution towards a successful European digital agenda.

During the summit, participants will be able to explore exciting and challenging topics including:

• Achieving European eCitizenship
National networks of telecentres are catalysts of eInclusion across the European nations. Telecentres are facilitating eGovernment and eParticipation services for communities and people that need them. Closer relationships between Governments and telecentres will increase the understanding, the acceptance, and the reach of these services.

• eSkills for everyone
eSkills are important for all Europeans. Telecentres help the hard to reach day-by-day to improve their chances for a better quality of life, for employability, and for social inclusion. Telecentres’ services rely on tools developed by IT companies. Amplified cooperation between companies and telecentres would result in diversified services and increased benefits for the digitally excluded.

• Building telecentre capacity
Telecentres need skilful and motivated operators to perform at their best. It is estimated that around 300,000 people currently work in different types of telecentres across Europe. Specific formal education opportunities could boost the chances to professionalize the telecentre/eInclusion workers.

The summit will also witness the first General Assembly of the newly formed Telecentre-Europe a.i.s.b.l. For the last two years, Telecentre-Europe has worked informally with networks and organisations to promote digital inclusion across Europe. A voluntary “Steering Committee” has worked to develop opportunities and run projects.

At our Summit in 2009, delegates confirmed that we should expand the scale and scope of our work by formalising into a legal entity. The Steering Committee have worked since then to identify the best legal form and location for such an entity.

During the summer of 2010 Telecentre-Europe will become established as an AISBL – an Association Internationale Sans But Lucratif (a Non-Profit International Association), based in Brussels, Belgium.