The results of the first Central Asian Social Innovation Camp which was held in the village of  Bosteri, Issyk-Kul oblast, from May 27 to May 29, 2011, were summarized.  The camp brought together over 80 specialists from different regions of Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

The purpose of the SICamp was to unify people, ideas and digital tools to create the web-based social innovations, from the software to business models.  The SICamp was organized by the public association “Internet traffic” with financial support by the Information Program of the Soros Foundation — Kyrgyzstan, TOL (Transitions On-Line)  and UNDEF.

SICAMP.org, Internews, Hoster.kg, Sun People were partners to the project.

On the first day, the participants having qualified for the final presented their ideas.  Then, together with the teams established during the camp and experts they were working for two days to review the projects in details.  Upon completion, 8 teams made presentations of their projects: “Adolescence racket”, “Give Good”, “Zdorovo”, “Elaman Public Portal”, “Recycle”, “Synthesis” Community Internet Radio, “SMS kelsin”, “Human Rights Internet portal.”  All in all, Central Asian contest SICAMP received 60 ideas related issues of social development, health, environment, and high technologies.

The idea of Zebonisso Tadzhibayeva from Tajikistan “Give the Good” won the first place and received the cash prize of 1,500 USD and site hosting for 1 year.  The idea of ​​the project involves creation of a site for those who want to help and who need help.

The idea of Azim Kazakbaev from Kyrgyzstan to create a website “No Racket!” To combat teenage racketeering, won the second place and received the cash prize of 1,300 USD.  “We want children were friends and were together!” was the motto of the project developers.

Isa Ibragimov won a special prize of 200 USD for an animated film for children “If you want a new toy — Sort!” under the “Recycle” project.  The “Recycle” project is based on the idea “Recycling is the Second Life” which is relevant for the whole Central Asia.

The project “Zdorovo” by Jafar Asimov aimed at promoting healthy lifestyle, raising awareness about the epidemic and the exchange of information among patients, received Site hosting for one year.

The “Civil Initiative of Internet Policy” PF awarded the prize of 1,000 USD to project “SMS, and 500 USD to the Kyrgyzstani team for the project “Give the Good”.

Title of the project by Rahat Sabyrbekov from Kyrgyzstan “SMS ketsin” during the camp, was transformed into “SMS kelsin”.  It is based on creating a site where people receive an effective tool for assessing the quality of public services and state agencies receive alarm information, where they can improve their  performance.   It is possible to inform about problems in any area via SMS.

“It was a real SICamp, because everyone has shown their interest and was involved in the process.  It is possible that these projects are not perfect, but it does not matter. Each project of the camp can be used in real life.   No one can tell which of these projects will be able to make changes in society.  The only way to test this is to try making them work.  We must exploit new technologies and try to make changes.  We enjoyed the results of the camp, and we would like to see these projects in Internet.  Perhaps, they will inspire other people to solve social problems”- Den McWillan, the Co-founder and Director of SICAMP.org. said in his speech at the camp closing ceremony.

The jury included Den McWillan, the Co-founder and Director of SICAMP.org; Ivana Skalova, Project Coordinator of the People in Need’s projects; Alex Lavonchik, Ivan Pravdin, Larissa Balanovskaya,  TOL experts; Tattu Mambetalieva, Director of the “Civil Initiative of Internet Policy”; Adel Laisheva, Program Dorector of Internews; Lira Samykbaeva, Coordinator of the Information Program of the Soros Foundation — Kyrgyzstan.

More information is available at:

http://sicamp.asia

http://www.facebook.com/SiCamp