Microsoft continues 'NGO Connection Day' activity

Microsoft (Thailand) has organized 2nd ‘NGO Connection Day’ activity in Chiang Mai, after June 2011 in Bangkok to offer ICT knowledge and Microsoft technology training to local NGOs to increase their IT skills, which can be used to benefit masses of Thai people, in a bid to accomplish Microsoft Thailand’s 2012 vision ‘We Make 70 Million Lives Better’.

 

Birathon Kasemsri na Ayudhaya, Managing Director, Microsoft (Thailand) Limited said, “Under ‘We Make 70 Million Lives Better’ vision launched in FY 2012, Microsoft Thailand has been working closely with various parties to offer Microsoft technologies to all groups of Thai people to enable them to efficiently gain benefits from technology in various aspects and for multiple purposes. We are also working with NGOs, which aim to improve the quality of life for Thais. Consequently, increasing NGOs’ IT skills is one key essential factor to maximizing their capacity to benefit others. IT training for NGOs in this year focuses on Cloud Computing, in response to the current technology trend to enable NGOs to access technology anywhere and anytime.”

 

NGO Connection Day is one of several annual projects, which is in corporation between Microsoft Thailand and Kenan Institute Asia. The main objective is to increase IT and technology skills of local NGOs through continuous and exclusive training, with real hands-on experience. Following the successful NGO Connection Day held in Bangkok in June 2011, Microsoft and Kenan extended the activity to NGOs in provincial area with the second NGO Connection Day held in Sansailuang Municipality in Chiang Mai in September 2011.

 

Training courses in Bangkok and Chiang Mai are concerned with knowledge and information on various Microsoft Cloud Computing technology - Windows Live as Public Cloud Free Services, which include Hotmail and SkyDrive; Live@edu as well as tips and techniques for Microsoft Office 2010 and Windows 7.

 

Jarun Songkrasin, officer from Ban Phak Dek Khao Dee in Chiang Mai who joined NGO Connection Day in Chiang Mai, said “IT training from Microsoft is highly useful to my work, especially work that involves documents. Prior to this event I did not know that documents and files can be shared to other people through SkyDrive free of charge. Such efficient Microsoft technology enables me to work faster and more effectively.”

 

There were a total of 154 officers from 73 NGOs who joined the activity in Bangkok while the one in Chiang Mai received a total of 93 officers from 41 NGOs. The majority of participants were highly satisfied with the training and saw great value of IT for generating following benefits to their work:

 

Make day-to-day operations easier

Communicate with supporters and donors more effectively

Able to source new supporters easier

Manage donors and donations easily

 

In addition to training courses such as ‘Computer demonstration for people with disability and technology for education’, ‘One Note for community development’, ‘Microsoft Office tips’ and other courses that enable NGOs to spend less time on document work, Microsoft extends IT benefit to NGO work to the greatest level with licensed software donation to NGOs under specified qualifications. Interested NGOs can contact Supahrat Juramongkol, Community Affairs Manager, Microsoft (Thailand) Limited at [email protected] to verify qualifications.