South Africa
Economic DevelopmentProject WorldTalk - WorldTalk - information over any phone
Address
Project WorldTalk
Tyrells End Farm Tyrells End
Eversholt,
Bedfordshire
MK179DS
United Kingdom
+44 (0)1525 288 768
http://www.worldtalk.org
Mission
To provide interactive and on-demand information and communication services to poor communities, using basic telephones - fixed and mobile - to help to improve people's living conditions in a sustainable way. The communities we aim to reach have bad infrastructure, little access to relevant information, and sometimes low levels of literacy.
Programs
In the future we will set up similar enterprises in other countries. These CountryTalk businesses will comprise a technology development and hosting center, a call center with information helpers, a marketing group, an audio contact group and a sales team that sells to the hosting clients. WorldTalk will help to establish each enterprise and co-ordinate the technology development.
Personnel Overview
Richard Tarboton - Managing Director
Richard has experience in building business operations in Africa, with expertise in internet messaging and voice applications. He was a founding director of Syntonica, to build the first voice portal services in the UK. It was during this time he recognized the potential of such services for rural people. Richard holds an MBA from Cranfield and a degree in Industrial Engineering from WITS, SA.
Nathalie Muller - Program Director
Nathalie worked as management consultant for the Chemicals and Petroleum practice of Arthur D. Little UK. She has experience in running project teams and in strategy consulting to major chemical, energy and healthcare companies. She holds a PhD in theoretical physics from the University of Amsterdam.
Shirley Sutherland - Technical Director
Shirley is a technology consultant. She led Accenture's integration team for the launch of internet and email access on Digital Cable TV. She brings 5 years of experience in Africa, and was also coordinator of the Computer Studies Department of a Polytechnic in South Africa. She holds an honours degree in Computer Science and postgraduate diploma in Adult Education.
Personnel Statistics
Richard Tarboton, Managing Director WorldTalk
Founded in 2002
Employees: 0
Volunteers: 7
