I-twinnings are decentralized cooperation projects that aim at facilitating the use and appropriation of ICTs. The principle is very simple: each organization that wishes organizes with a twin organization an action that meets his own needs while using communication technologies.

I-twinning consists in building through Internet a long term link between two local actors - cities, schools, community actors, libraries... -, one being in Europe, the other in Latin America. The twining will facilitate the sharing of experience, the transfer of knowledge and know-how between the two actors, in order to contribute to local development, social integration, reduction of the digital divide and democratic life.

The I-twinning dynamic has three main objetives : 1) Support cooperations between Latin America and Europe, 2) Enable social actors to use the communication tools to facilitate these international cooperation, 3) Promote experiences and exchange between local actors carrying innovation in regards of technologies serving democracy and social fabric.

At the beginning of Juanary 2005, a first group of 11 i-enlaces is starting up. These are: Comunidad Tribal - AR; Correspondencia entre jovenes de liceo - FR; Difusion d la cultura Maya -GT; Troca de practicas entre jovenes rurais - PT; Intercambio de Corales - CAT; Hebergement coperatif - FR; Promocion del Jongo - BR; Portal Virtual para madres adolescentes - PE; Escuelas hermanas - PE; Radio Rencontre -FR; and Centro de mujeres Masaya - NI.

For more information please visit (www.vecam.org/i-j/).

This component is run by VECAM (www.vecam.org), for more information contact fsultan@vecam.org.