Totopara Internet Connectivity Project

The Totopara Internet Connectivity Project, led by the Digital Empowerment Foundation (DEF) with support from 48 percent.org, aims to bridge the digital divide in the Totopara village, home to the Toto Tribe in the Alipurduar District of West Bengal, India. The project is designed to establish internet connectivity, enhance digital literacy, and provide access to STEM education and essential services through a Community Information Resource Centre (CIRC).

Objectives:

  1. Internet Access: Enable internet connectivity in the village using LTE Internet Boosters and the PM Wani scheme.
  2. Digital Literacy: Train community members in using digital tools and accessing online services.
  3. STEM Education: Equip children and adolescents with STEM learning tools and opportunities.
  4. Service Provision: Facilitate access to government schemes and services via the CIRC and a trained SoochnaPreneur (Information Entrepreneur).
  5. Cultural Preservation: Digitize and document the language, oral history, and culture of the Toto Tribe.

Impact:

    1. Establishment of a fully equipped CIRC with essential tools and internet access.
    2. Training programs for 500 community members on digital literacy and government service access.
    3. STEM education workshops for children and adolescents.
    4. Baseline and endline studies to measure project impact and community progress.


Key Activities:

    • Establishment of a fully equipped CIRC with essential tools and internet access.
    • Training programs for 500 community members on digital literacy and government service access.
    • STEM education workshops for children and adolescents.
    • Baseline and endline studies to measure project impact and community progress.