Papou Coulibaly is young boutique owner in Ouélessébougou. Previously, Geekcorps partnered with Papou to create a Cybertigi - an Internet access point for the local community via a wireless link to a Community Information & Learning Center (CLIC).

The Cybertigi proved to be a very successful experiment, becoming popular with first time Internet users who found Papou’s mini-cyber both affordable and accessible. Unfortunately, after several months of Cybertigi operation the CLIC lost its Internet connection and Papou returned his equipment back to the CLIC.

Undeterred, Papou Coulibaly saw the potential for offering offline ICT services in Ouélessébougou and went about creating a unconnected cyber café at his boutique. Using the Geekcorps’ Cybertigi design, Papou acquired three computers, a laser printer, scanner, digital camera, photo printer, a Bluetooth adapter, speakers and a headset, even building a permanent metal shelter for his cyber café boutique.

He has now created a very active technology center that provides a myriad of services:

• photocopying,
• creating and printing documents,
• access to moulin, Geekcorps’ offline encyclopedia on CD,
• digital photography,
• photo developing,
• video games,
• CD burning,
• and transferring music from cassette tapes to CDs or mp3

He is even expanding his services to include a music and video file transfer service to copy files from his computer to people’s cell phones via Bluetooth technology and digital photography sales are so strong, he is preparing to buy a second digital camera.

Papou is a great example of how the right technical assistance to the right entrepreneur achieves the Geekcorps goal of expanding private enterprise with innovative, appropriate, and affordable information and communication technologies.

You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.