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Openmind Projects (OMP), located in Nong Khai Province, Thailand is a developmental aid organisation focused on helping communities in Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Nepal through the creation and management of grass roots projects in the areas of e-learning, education and environment. The main focus of the organisation is using information and communication technologies (ICT) to educate individuals in schools, orphanages, national parks and villages. Projects rely on volunteers to facilitate change within these communities. OMP was founded in 2001 by Swedish management consultant Sven Mauleon and Gaweechat Joompaula, the first local volunteer in the pioneering "IT in Isan", a self-taught computer wizard from a rice farmer family. In 2001 Gaweechat began helping orphans to use computers and designed the organisation's first website. Since then OMP has supported some 60 schools, orphanages, national parks and villages in Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Nepal. Openmind Projects acts as a private aid organization, bringing essential knowledge about computers, English and conservation to developing countries in the Mid Asiatic Region. ==History== 2001 - Openmind Projects, then called IT in Isan, pioneered computer training projects in poor Thai villages in an effort to see how the digital divide could be bridged. Computers were placed in homes and schools in villages and villagers given unlimited access to the resource. The idea was to give children and teenagers a chance to learn how to use computers and to learn other subjects with the help of computers. 2002 - Openmind Projects introduced computer and Internet based learning to Thai villages, orphan homes and schools (where teachers and education material are scarce) to inspire students to use computers and Internet to learn English and other subjects. Openmind Projects started inviting volunteers to teach in remote villages, schools, and orphan homes. 2004 - Openmind Projects started supporting responsible eco tourism and community development projects in Laos and Thailand, to help local people and to protect nature and wildlife. In fall of 2004 Openmind Projects expanded to south Thailand, the Satun, Krabi, and Phang Nga provinces. In December 2004 the first workshops with local schools, and national parks took place. On December 26 the tsunami hit these regions. Openmind Projects was one of the first organizations whose volunteers helped local tsunami-hit schools. 2007 - Openmind Projects started supporting community, eco projects in Cambodia and Nepal. Openmind Projects was a pioneer in arranging local teacher training workshops for Thai teachers together with international volunteers and in sending qualified volunteers to help teachers improving education at their own schools. It was one of the first organisations to advocate team teaching as a way to improve English teaching at Thai schools. 2007 - Openmind Projects was chosen by CNN for their "Be the Change" initiative. As part of the program CNN selected volunteers from eight organisations in various countries to report on their experiences. CNN recommends these eight organisations as part of the initiative, of which Openmind Projects is one. Openmind Projects begins supporting health projects in Thailand and Nepal. 2008 - Openmind Projects was a finalist in the prestigious Stockholm Challenge in April, 2008 for its work on ICT for development. 2009 - Openmind Traveler, a new ecotourism organisation was created as a sister program by Openmind Projects to promote sustainable tourism and travel in Laos and Thailand. 2010 - Openmind Projects began supporting community projects in Karen villages, schools and refugee camps along the Thai-Burmese border. Also community projects in conjunction with Nong Khai Aquarium and Khon Kaen University. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Openmind Projects」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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