History of Yam Pukri

Philosophy

Objectives

Enterprise

History of Yam Pukri

In the beginning, the idea was to provide students with information about computers and take action by opening their minds to the possibilities of technology. Because the demand for computing knowledge was great, it quickly became clear that the association needed to establish itself as a not for profit organization.

Yam Pukri is a modest collaboration with a number of partners from across the globe. Included among these partners is Professor Pierre MOOR from the University of Lausanne who, through the donation of second hand computers, has contributed much to the launching of our activities. A very big thank you goes to Professor Moor for the gesture of support.

Currently working with multiple organizations, Yam Pukri has signed conventions of collaboration with:
Terre Des Hommes (Switzerland), an initiative that involves the training young people in data processing and the creation of online youth forums that address the issues of child rights and child labour, as well as problems surrounding immigration, intolerance and water.
l’Institut International pour la Communication et le Développement (The Netherlands) , a partnership that resulted in the launch of Burkina NTIC. ,a network that focuses on the exchange and sharing of information on NTIC. The Computer Book and Djembé projects were carried out within this framework.
Coopération Solidarité Développement aux PTT (France), a collaboration that works to provide teacher training as well as the installation of telephones in rural areas.

Development Gateway Association (International) this accord, signed in August 2007, has resulted in the realization of the web based portal faso-dev.net

Philosophy

Yam Pukri, stemming from the local Moore language, refers to the emergence of intelligence from an unconscious place… as if it is something that was asleep but has now been awakened.
Therefore, the philosophy of Yam Pukri can be expressed with the following words:

“Open your mind, take what is rightfully yours and participate in the progress of the world”

New information technology, in particular computer processing and the Internet, are regarded as a luxury for Africans.

It was in view of this situation that Yam Pukri decided to help young people understand the new dynamic environment that they had been plunged into and, for a low cost, introduce them to information technologies.

Objectives

Yam Pukri has these following objectives:

 to stimulate the appreciation of, and skill development in, computer processing and new information technologies among young Africans
 to make new communication technologies available to underprivileged youth by setting up community access points and preparing them for the job market
 to support local associations and NGOs while they conceptualize and actualize NTIC for development
 to carry out information technology training sessions in rural and urban areas across Burkina Faso

A Strategy Based On Offer, Not Demand: Relationships with the Partners

Within the framework of its research tasks and the execution of certain programs, Yam Pukri maintains relationships with several types of partners. If the partner is interested in what is available, but wants to modify the activities, Yam Pukri is open to negotiation.

That being said, Yam Pukri does not need to rely on external funding alone. It is capable of self-financing by offering basic activities and selling specialized services.

More specifically, the strategy is to offer a number of small scale activities.

Some examples of these undertakings include, but are not limited to, the creation and hosting of an ICT museum, web site development for associations and NGOs, the retailing of locally made products (hand crafted bronze statuettes that feature people working with computers, batik art, creams and soaps made from shea butter, etc.), as well as the development of media relations to publicize various activities.

If a partner is interested in one of the initiatives (ie. website development), and would prefer something that is tailored to their specific needs, Yam Pukri is uniquely positioned provide the expertise that is necessary to develop and facilitate a new project.
This strategy functions best when the partner is results focused and not particularly choosey about the steps taken to achieve them. The majority of the partners that approach Yam Pukri have had little or no exposure to the new fields they would like to explore.

The Sulga Concept

After accumulating a significant amount of experience as a self-financing, profitable business, Yam Pukri is now in the position to sell its operational framework to associations that are unable to function under traditional commercial parameters. Hence, the Sulga Concept is a business model that provides the basis of Yam Pukri’s entrepreneurial component.

Through sale of the Sulga Concept, Yam Pukri can generate funds. A part of the profits are reinvested into community development. For example: training is available at a reduced price, memberships to the cybercafé are offered at a significantly lower rate than usual and admission to the information technology museum is free of charge.