Within the framework of Login Initiative we help young Romany people to get access to the Internet and also support their education, their chances to work and organize their community via the possibilities of the Internet. The programme is to transfer the experiences of similar programs intended to the Third World to special circumstances of Europe. We built our concept on the ideas of the Bottom of the Pyramid approach. Our partner sells recycled desktop PC-s under fair trade conditions, for EUR 80.
Foundations of the participating villages purchase these computers and then resell them to local Romany people under a 4-month leasing plan. These PCs run Linux and users are instructed to use Google's web applications (Gmail, Docs & Spreadsheet). The Internet access is provided via Wi-Fi network and the entire project is based on the deployment of the latest technologies. However, providing the network and desktop infrastructure is just the first step: on the long term we are planning to provide education and working possibilities. European Roma Forum has declared its full support to the programme in April. Mr. Ivan Ivanov, member of the European Parliament, the head of the forum has highlighted that 10 million Romany people live in Europe, which is more than the number of inhabitants in the Czech Republic, Slovakia or Switzerland. In addition Ms. Katalin Levai, member of the European Parliament called our attention to the fact that in the Third World similar initiatives fight against social inequalities with a success, while in Europe there is no programme to assist the access of households to the Internet and PC under fair trade conditions. The first pilot has already been launched: we installed a wireless network and leased 10 desktop PCs in Tomor village (Borsod county, Hungary). Based on the experiences we will extend the pilot in June: in Alsószentmárton village (Baranya county, Hungary) 60 persons have already signed up to the programme. The project is just three months old, therefore based on the first positive experience we are currently seeking for partners and supporters to extend the programme. We are planning to base the financing primarily on funds of the European Union, but we also expect the key players of the IT business to participate.