 ITeM is a citizens'
organization that works for civil society. ITeM
carries out information, communication and
educational activities at national and
international levels on issues related to
environment and development. ITeM fosters civic
participation in global decision-making
processes.
Citizen education
ITeM's
first project was the production of The World Guide (formerly "Third
World Guide"), a reference book designed to
be used as supplementary material in education.
The World Guide has been published every two
years. ITeM's second project was research and
development in electronic communication networks
(through Chasque, started as a BBS and now an
Internet Service Provider, member of APC). All subsequent projects continue
this focus on information and communication as
the basis for education and democracy.
Products
and Services
ITeM
publishes books and magazines which are sold all over
the world. It has also branched out from paper to
CD-Roms and Web pages. However, not all of what
ITeM does is for sale. A great part of its
activity is dedicated to the promotion of citizen
networks around the world to defend the
environment, foster policies which favor social
development and train groups and people with
special needs.
ITeM aims
at*:
- building democracy by
strenghtening the citizen organizations
that are its basis. ITeM focuses mainly on
organizations from the South and is
especially supportive of the interests
and aspirations of the world poor, women
and indigenous peoples. Through
networking activities and the sharing of
information and knowledge, ITeM
contributes to building democratic,
equitable and environmentally sustainable
societies.
- promoting respect for human
rights, especially encouraging free
expression and access to information. ITeM was a
forerunner in the identification of
electronic networks as an appropriate
tool to attain these goals in developing
countries.
- contributing to research,
diagnosis and resolution of problems that
affect the Third World. ITeM carries out
research, disseminates findings and
fosters the adoption of policies that
work toward proposed solutions.
(* Excerpts from
ITeM's by-laws and plans of action)
ITeM
is a non-profit association, not affiliated to
any religious group nor political party. It is
based in Montevideo, Uruguay. ITeM achieved legal
status in July 7, 1989, and became exempt from
Uruguay taxes by an act of the Uruguayan
president in 1994.
NGO in
Special Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council
of the United Nations.
ITeM projects are
made possible thanks to grants provided by
persons and institutions from all over the world,
such as Novib from the Netherlands, the Ford Foundation
from the United States and the United Nations
Development Program (UNDP), among others.
| Half of ITeM's income
derives from the sale of its products and
services. |
Contact:
Instituto del Tercer Mundo - ITeM
P.O. Box 1539
Montevideo 11000
Uruguay
Visiting address:
Jackson 1136
Montevideo 11200
Uruguay
Phone: +598 2 419 6192
Fax: +598 2 411 9222
e-mail: item@item.org.uy
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