About OrphanIT
We're a capacity building, non profit organisation, created to provide an effective and results driven consultancy services to telecentres and ICT groups in developing nations and communities.
Our primary focus areas are: Training, Mentorship, Jobs, Social Impact, Sustainability.
SolvePoverty.com, GLOW & OrphanIT – Background
2000 – Launched education media company – Edmedia (See HyperStudy.com)
2000 – Simultaneously launched SolvePoverty.com fundraiser at Oxford University
2001 - Built 1st Pilot ICT ‘GLOW’ Telecentre school in Manila, PI. 4 groups trained
2002 – OrphanIT.com launched as youth powered web development service.
2004 - 100+ small web development jobs completed in 12 countries - work ongoing
2005– OrphanIT begins programming on array of new open source software for telecentres
2006– OrphanIT partners with Youth Social Entrepreneurship Initiative (YSEI)
2007– OrphanIT launches mentor program
2007– OrphanIT partners with GoldenLotus Web Design and prepares for launch of Open Source Software Platform for telecentres
Our Inspiration
The inspiration for our programs has come from the pioneering and highly successful micro enterprise development model of David and Carol Bussau and Microfinance organisation - Opportunity International Australia.
In 2000 we were fortunate to be able to engage with David, Denis Perry, Leigh Coleman and a number of their team on the deployment of a 3 year pilot telecentre and microfinance program.
This project created the Philippines first ICT Telecentre for disadvantaged youth in Ermita, Manila with CMED partners CCT as well as the creation of www.SolvePoverty.com.
The Pioneering Work of Opportunity International
Although we are no longer involved with Opportunity International we continue to be inspired by their work and methodology.
Opportunity International is a global leader of microfinance and enterprise development, and in 2006 they celebrated their 35th anniversary.
The pioneering work of David Bussau and the late Al Whittaker began in the 1970's during the earliest days of the microfinance revolution. Opportunity International continues today through the commitment and shared vision of five support partners and 44 implementing partners throughout Asia, Africa, Latin America and Eastern Europe.
OrphanIT is a fully incorporated non profit, non stock entity.
We are registered with the Philippines Securities and Exchange Commission and with the Australian Government as a non profit entity.
OrphanIT - Key Team Bios
Simon Healy CEO (Board) is a specialist in web development, online marketing and remote services, having worked with leading Australian and international corporations, aid organisations and educational institutions in the field since 1993. Simon is currently Managing Partner of Edmedia which is a leading provider of marketing services to over 250 Universities and Colleges internationally. Simon is the founder of SolvePoverty.com, GLOW (our 3 year pilot telecentre in PI) and OrphanIT
Dale Pillars - COO (Board) Dale is a multi-channel solutions consultant working for OrphanIT, dedicated to solving today's most challenging business problems. He began his career in 1993 in advertising and design, then by the mid-nineties was running a VA-ISP offering internet services. Since then he has worked in a range of IT businesses, culminating in the wireless space around 2000. At that time he was a developer of one of the first wireless marketing systems to be launched into the telcos. His industry experience includes interactive marketing, creative media design and application development for financial services, supply chain management, consumer marketing services, e-commerce, Internet services, travel services, education services and telecommunications. He enjoys film production and designing/developing multimedia in his spare time. Dale is also a co-founder of SolvePoverty.com, GLOW (our 3 year pilot telecentre in PI) and OrphanIT
Boysie Sabino - Secretary (Board) - Boysie has been actively involved with SolvePoverty.com, GLOW (our pilot telecentre in PI) and OrphanIT since their inception, and heads our growing team of specialist mentors/trainers in the Philippines. A development practitioner for over 12 years now, Boysie's involvement in NGO work ranged from being a researcher, trainer for local and international training programmes, project manager, youth facilitator and development communicator. Boysie also currently heads the programmes and resource development department at ASKI, a top Microfinance organization based in Central Luzon, Philippines
Miss Feri Lumampao (Board) – Ms. Feri is currently Executive Director of the APPROTECH Asia, a network of NGOs in Asia region. She has published numerous studies and research on various topics such as sustainable development, energy, women issues, ICT development, health, among others. An excellent trainer, Ms. Feri has handled training programmes sponsored by both local and international funding institutions. Ms. Feri, a member of OrphanIT's Board, lends her years of experience as NGO manager and professional support to OrphanIT.
Miller Lagunzad (Board) - Miller was our original teacher/trainer/mentor at GLOW and was instrumental in the implementation and ongoing success of the OrphanIT and SolvePoverty.com programs. Miller is a specialist telecommunications expert and continues to work closely on the advisory committee for our new programs in Manila, Philippines.
Mr. Jochen Tewes - Jochen, a German Engineer, is heading the Indian Organization Inter-Mission Industrial Development Association, which has been involved in SolvePoverty.com, GLOW and OrphanIT since it was started. He is a postgraduate engineer from the University of Dortmund, Germany. He lives in Chennai, the South Indian Capital of Tamil Nadu, with his wife Johshy, an Indian National. Both have recruited thousands of girls and boys from the slums of Chennai and from orphanages and trained them in various computer skills. South India, being the part of the country with the highest IT involvement, is the place that has the capacity to give opportunity and hope to countless young people to prosper. Many IIDA students have been involved in outsourcing work done for www.Hyperstudy.com and have benefitted from the income gained.
Peter Young - Peter is a social entrepreneur with more than 35 years of hands on local and international Project/General Management experience in a broad range of industry disciplines. He specializes in skills based mentor/training processes for young people, and his sole focus in recent years has been the creation of a number of successful programs that specifically mentor and empower the young leaders of our world to create effective and sustainable social enterprises. Peter has been actively involved with OrphanIT and SolvePoverty.com since their inception, and heads our growing team of specialist mentors/trainers, all of whom are totally committed to the innovative use of ICT for youth development (ICT4D).
Jon Rodrigues - Jon is recently graduated from Santa Clara after pursuing studies in Marketing. Inspired by a passion from travel, Jon has lived and worked for short periods of time in Uzbekistan and Bangladesh, while traveling in Africa and Europe. These experiences have molded a desire to change the world which has transferred to his interests academic and otherwise. Jon is excited to work on the OrphanIT mentorship program while be mentored by some of the best. He hopes to be a valued addition to the team
Owen Matheson - Owen has worked in business development, youth development and as an accelerated learning trainer with students of many backgrounds for the past 10 years. Owen has been involved with Edmedia in both NSW and QLD. A presenter in radio and television and an MC for key youth, church, government and corporate events. He is currently being mentored as a property developer. Owen is a member of the founding team of SolvePoverty.com and OrphanIT
Cris Gillegao - Chris is 22 years of age and in training to become our new intern and junior web master. Born and raised in Pateros, Metro Manila, Philippines he graduated from high school and was picked as one of the 23 scholars of GLOW 1st Batch of students. Chris completed our Web Page Designing Course at GLOW and also won the “Most Helpful Student of The Year Award”. When Glow Batch 2 started in 2002 Chris became a volunteer assistant of Miller Lagunzad (original GLOW teacher/trainer/mentor).
Chris said recently "Working with OrphanIT has enabled me to share what I've learnt with other students whilst earning money so that my family will overcome poverty. I continue to accumulate new learnings in Computers and ICT so that I can share and teach to my friends and relatives so that they can also have the opportunity to earn money and overcome poverty as well.
Before, I was not interested in computers because my dreams were to be a pilot or a seaman because I'd like to travel around the world. But when I started studying at GLOW and have familiarized myself with computers, it was like a whole new world was opened up before me. I studied, watched, listened, asked questions and practiced the information I've collected to expand my computer capabilities.
OrphanIT is a multi award winning, cause related, non profit, social business you can trust. Using our web development services helps SolvePoverty.com
