HotCity Wireless, a non-profit organization, has been established to promote the use of low-cost wireless technology as a media and tool for economic, social and educational advancement to underprivileged citizens in the Philippines.

The organization is dedicated toward advancing ICT through the participation of underprivileged citizens in Global Collaboration, Distance Education and Knowledge Sharing.

Stockholm Challenge 2006 Finalist

The Stockholm Challenge Jury nominated HotCity Wireless (Project entry: Advancing ICT: Global Collaboration and Knowledge Exchange) as one of the 2006 finalists in the Public Administration Category. The Stockholm Challenge Award ceremony took place in the beautiful Blue Hall, Stockholm City Hall, venue of the Nobel Banquet. To view the promo video of the 2006 Stockholm Challenge click here.

Global Junior Challenge 2007 Finalist

The International Jury are pleased to announce HotCity Wireless as one of the finalists of the 4th edition of the Global Junior Challenge.

The Award Ceremony of the Global Junior Challenge 2007 will be held in Rome on 3rd-5th October 2007. Events will unfold on three historical locations of the Eternal City: the Istituto Tecnico Industriale Statale Galileo Galilei, a multicultural school in the heart of the Esquilino, one of the seven hills of Rome, the beautiful Giulio Cesar Room in the Campidoglio City Hall, and the Quirinale Palace, home of the President of the Italian Republic. There will exhibitions, workshop and seminars, music gigs, the meeting with the President of the Italian Republic and the final award ceremony in the wonderful scenario of the Giulio Cesare Hall in the presence of the Mayor of Rome Walter Veltroni.

OUR MISSION

Establish a low cost wireless infrastructure to be utilized for global collaborative learning, knowledge sharing and community participation.

Our Key Strategies:

Low-Cost Wireless Infrastructure: Our Wire Free Access.

Internet accessibility and affordability was our primary concern. Through the use of recycled computers/servers, and the use of low-cost WiFi equipment, we have created and deployed an outdoor "line-of-sight" wireless infrastructure. This simple propagation method has resulted in a "Hot Zone" wireless connection with a two to three kilometer radius.

By our example, this resulted in 'dissolving the barriers' in implementing cost effective ICT opportunities to economically disadvantage and cash strapped communities in the Philippines.

Community Involvement: Local level Government Participation.

We asked Barangay San Vicente (definition of: Barangay/Barangay Captain) to become involved, and its local leadership (Barangay Captain) has depicted readiness and enthusiasm. Under a local government level of responsibility, he acknowledges the need for promoting this initiative to his local citizens and neighboring communities. He is facilitating this goal by increasing the awareness of existing free public access to the web in their own local public library and increasing the awareness of the benefits and opportunities that ICT can provide.

Community involvement and strong support from its own local government leadership were set as one of our criteria for greater sustainability. Our initiative recently generated the attention of public administrators of Region 4 (Lucena City). Its priority is to adapt the use of low cost wireless infrastructure for purposes of "access for learners" in their public schools.

Global Collaboration and Knowledge Sharing: Empowerment, Inclusion and Participation of underprivileged youth in under resourced communities.

To further advance our goals, we identified and approached organizations that have similar interests and needs in the surrounding community and the world abroad. Through our collaboration with the Education and Development Center (EDC), we selected six youths from the community of Barangay San Vicente to participate in the 1st International Symposium of Power Users of ICT. The Symposium involved exploring the potential of young Power Users of ICT by engaging them in Learning Challenges by way of using a synchronous web conferencing tool designed to address the United Nation's Millennium Development Goals (MDG).

This gave our youth opportunities to access better tools, tap resources, exchange information and acquired more skills which we are now sharing with other members of our community. We continue to use the tool (synchronous web conferencing tool) by collaborating with other developed countries, regions with on-going insurgency issues, share knowledge in achieving a positive Global endeavor and encourage the use of ICT in promoting a culture of PEACE with diverse cultures and religions around the world.