By Terry Timm Moos, News@Cisco

Cisco's social investments are having a significant impact around the world, and it is evident that the tremendous efforts of Cisco employees are paying off.

Recently, Cisco received a 2007 Corporate Citizenship Award for International Community Service, in recognition of the company's participation in the Least Developed Countries initiative. The initiative is a collaborative program with the U.S. Agency for International Development, the International Telecommunications Union, United Nations Development Programme, and United Nations Volunteers.

The award was presented by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Business Civic Leadership Center (BCLC). Cisco was praised by BCLC executives for being an outstanding leader, and for working in 40 Least Developed Countries to help promote socioeconomic development.

"Cisco is proud to win this award for international community service," said Tae Yoo, Senior Vice President, Corporate Affairs. "The award reflects not only our company's vision for improving education and opportunities for people, but also reflects the sustainable work that Cisco employees are doing to help make this vision a reality."

Leveraging the Cisco Networking Academy, the Least Developed Countries initiative uses a blended online and classroom learning model to deliver training opportunities in networking and IT. The program promotes digital opportunities, encourages female inclusion in the IT industry, and contributes to the advancement of developing nations.

The vision at work around the world

Evaluation results show that the Cisco Networking Academy is having a strong, positive impact on Least Developed Countries such as Uganda and Cameroon by supporting the development of IT career skills, improving job opportunities, promoting self-confidence among women who are entering the IT field, and raising the overall education level within LDC communities. Cisco donates the curricula, e-learning infrastructure, and lab equipment, while USAID, UNDP, and ITU provided funding for instructor training and support. Through the partnership with UNV, volunteers have been trained to promote female recruitment and sustainable practices within the program.

Yoo has traveled to Africa and has seen firsthand the creativity that emerges when people have access to technology and innovation. "We are making investments through the Cisco Networking Academy and there is a real sense of commitment to development from both the private and public sectors to development," she said.

Cisco invests in local IT capacity, training people so that they can sustain the infrastructure. "We are seeing a great deal of energy around ICT (information, communication, and technology), and people are realizing what technology can do to enhance the quality of life-through education, better healthcare, and more job opportunities," said Yoo. "We need to help train these students, so they can design networks that are sustainable. "

"We are seeing a great deal of energy around ICT, and people are realizing what technology can do to enhance the quality of life-through education, better healthcare, and more job opportunities." Tae Yoo, Senior Vice President, Corporate Affairs

Cisco recently launched a new Networking Academy in Kibera, Kenya,one of the largest slums in the world, and Yoo described the launch as uplifting. "The students were teaching us," she said. "But we could not do this without the dedication of the volunteers." The Cisco Networking Academy continues to grow as the Internet becomes more pervasive, and Cisco will continually track metrics for effectiveness.