This CLIC (Community Learning Information Center) was inaugurated on May 3, 2004. The village of Bougoula, where this CLIC is located, in the Commune of Safe, is the smallest and one of the most remote villages where CLICs have been established. This small farming village with about 1,500 residents has no electricity, no running water and no phone access. The CLIC uses a gas-powered generator for electricity and an evaporative cooler to keep the CLIC physically comfortable. There are eight computers in the CLIC, five that were purchased with USAID funds and three used computers that AED contributed. Microsoft provided the software for refurbishing them. In addition to MS Office, one of the most important pieces of software at the CLIC is the French-language version of Encarta.

At this CLIC we are piloting the use of RBGAN technology to enable access to Internet-based e-mail resources. I-LINX is providing all the equipment on loan and contributed 100 MB of bandwidth to launch the pilot. The RBGAN technology we employ includes a VoIP gateway to allow for emergency phone calls. I-LINX and AED will study the impact of access to the Internet and its resultant effects on the demand for CLIC services in the village. The project also involves the development of a pricing plan for connectivity that will allow the CLIC to sustain use and make a small profit to support other community and educational uses of the CLIC.

Mustapha, the Sustainability and Outreach (SO) Coordinator, funded by a Microsoft grant, is working with the Community Advisory Committee and two CLIC managers to develop effective mechanisms to promote fee-based and free use of CLIC resources. The Bougoula community recognized that there was not a sufficient critical mass of possible CLIC users in their village and therefore has been promoting the use of this resource in several nearby villages. As you can see by the sign, they named the CLIC to encompass the whole Commune of Safe, including Bougoula and other villages. There have also been a variety of preparation meetings with people and leaders from these other communities. The Project's voucher program will also make it possible for people in these surrounding villages to benefit from subsidized use.