A Visit to Digital Divide Data

As part of PEPY's effort to learn more about what other organizations are doing in Cambodia, this morning most of our staff visited Digital Divide Data (DDD), a non-profit social venture based in Phnom Penh.

DDD provides high quality, cost-effective data-entry and digitalization services to both international and local clients. DDD aims to use technology to improve lives of some of the world's least developed nations by bringing well-paid technology jobs to countries where they didn't previously exist and to groups who struggle just to survive.

Founded in the summer of 2001 by a group of North American volunteers, DDD opened its first facility in Phnom Penh, Cambodia by hiring a pair of local managers and a group of 20 initial employees. These employees came from Wat Than's disabled persons training program (for Polio and landmine victims) as well as the Cambodian Volunteers for Community Development's youth training program.

DDD now employs more than 150 people in their Phnom Penh office, who not only benefit from having a job experience and a wage income far above local standards, but they also receive scholarships for education, health benefits, and work in a safe, ergonomic environment. Many of the employees are enrolled in university as well so they can proceed from data-entry jobs to more advanced positions in the IT and business world.

We at PEPY think DDD is a responsible organization which is not only meeting a business need, but providing opportunities for Cambodians to support and develop themselves.

To learn more about DDD, please visit www.digitaldividedata.org.