A project of American IT web developer Frederick Lewis, HopeNet is an Internet platform in 42 languages for the youth to develop their hope, knowledge, citizenship and peace-building skills.
The project co-founded by Australian businessman Bob Murray was launched on Friday at Maximo Estrella Elementary School in Makati as pilot area due to the availability of IT infrastructures in many of the city’s elementary schools, which are necessary in the implementation of the project.
HopeNet is the world’s first collaborative, immersive, multipurpose, social-evolution software for children and delivered in 42 languages, its creators said.
Murray invested over P100 million for the project, which was conceived in the last five years. It aims to establish a global community of online volunteers.
The Department of Education will lead the pilot testing of HopeNet project initially to three public elementary schools in Makati and eventually to all the 28 public elementary schools in the city.
HopeNet will also be launched in China, Australia, Iraq, and other countries.
It will also introduce a Cybrary (cyber library) that can be accessed by members called as “Hopefuls.” The Hopefuls are pre-screened members, mostly pupils enrolled in public elementary schools.
Hopefuls cannot just access the HopeNet to find answers for their homeworks. They have to purchase the information using virtual money earned through their Kindness works. Kindness works are measurable “good deeds” done by the Hopefuls for their family and relatives, schools and the community. By simply throwing washing dishes, watering the plants and feeding pets, Hopefuls earn their E-cash and can purchase the information needed.
“HopeNet merges the virtual world with the real world to provide the Hopeful’s with the optimum learning, growing and life skills experience,” said Lewis who, together with Murray, created HopeStreet.
Lewis explained that HopeNet provides virtual world services, such as the Knowledge Portal, eTutoring and eMentoring; and on a case-by-case basis, qualified Hopefuls will receive, school books, uniform and scholarships through HopeNet Sponsors.
Lewis pointed out that HopeNet would also provide real-time, one-to-one contact between the Hopefuls and their sponsors using e-mail, chat messaging, 3-D virtual worlds, and video and voice conferencing.
The information on the Cybrary will be totally different from the information on the Internet particularly Wikipedia because these are works of global community of researchers mostly from the academe who will lead the Hopefuls in the “right links” for the reliable information for their studies.
Makati Mayor Jejomar Erwin Binay, former Senator and now Manila Economic Cooperation Office Director Leticia Ramos-Shahani, and Makati Schools Division Superintendent Elena Ruiz were the guest speakers at the launch.
