At the end of 2005 a group of Italian managers working in the information technology sector decided to give an answer to this important message and to use their knowledge to help bridge the digital divide. They founded Informatici Senza Frontiere, a non-profit organization with the objective of using IT knowledge and tools to provide practical help to those who live in a situation of poverty and marginalization.

For the founders and members of Informatici Senza Frontiere, having access to information and communication technologies represents an essential prerequisite for social and economic development.  We are convinced that information technologies should be considered as essential goods. Developed countries often waste their technology –  they are throwing away a lot of hardware they consider obsolete and they are also wasting unused expertise.

Through Informatici Senza Frontiere we realize projects, both in Italy and in the developing countries, aimed at filling this gap by providing the opportunity to acquire IT knowledge and by offering the advantages that technology, even if limited, can bring to hospitals, prisons, reception centres and schools.

On the one hand we organize computer literacy courses and we supply computer tools. In prisons, in hospitals and among people who live in poor and marginalized circumstances having computer access means to have a chance for the future, a hope to have a better life.

On the other hand we create small information systems in particular environments such as the long-stay ward of the children’s hospital in Brescia, or computer networks that allow, with limited resources, to improve the management of daily basic operation, to enable communication and to gain access to knowledge in complete autonomy.  While installing these information systems we often develop specific, user-friendly, open-source software such as Open Hospital, a program for the management of daily operations in small rural hospitals that has already been already installed in ten hospitals all over the world.

Informatici Senza Frontiere has ten regional sections and more than 300 members, men and women, computer experts and not, who are giving a hand to the association.

The experience acquired during this period has taught us that information technologies can really provide real opportunities for growth and improvement.   This is why we are committed to developing and following projects and ideas, as we are convinced that even the smallest contribution can be a step towards a better world.

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Informatici Senza Frontiere is an ONLUS (non-profit association), founded in 2005.

Our   mission is to help the weakest people of the world to get more freedom through the practical application of ICT (Information and Communication Technology).

While doing this we’re trying to:

- be a good example for the whole civil society by demonstrating that “we can do it”, thus stimulating other similar initiatives;

- become a place where the people involved in our activities can exchange ideas and help promoting initiatives and stimulating real commitment

- promote a sustainable and open use of ITC, based on solidarity.

According to our vision Informatici Senza Frontiere will grow, while retaining its basic values, as a reliable association and as a place where it’s nice to meet. It will acquire visibility and a reputation. It will acquire an “economic dimension” which will guarantee continuity and sustainability to current and future projects.

In order to achieve these objectives we’re going to keep to our original values:

reliability of the association and of its members; use of ITC as a driving thrust for development and information access; respect for diversity and for different cultures; transparency in all the steps of our initiatives; an identity with no political and religious connotations

The current members of our management committee are:

Girolamo Botter, president

Claudio Pieri, vice-president

Andrea Rudelli, segretario

Maurizio Da Ros, tesoriere

Rainer Battisti

Alessio Capanni

Roberto de Nicolò

Dino Maurizio

Fabrizio Montino

Antonio Savarese

Claudio Tancini

Since 2008, Informatici Senza Frontiere has an office in Treviso, via Fonderia 47/a.

For further information on the association structure, please download ISF’s statute (Italian).

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