Microsoft NGO Connection Day: Utilizing Technology for Improving Social and Economic Development

On May 15th 2013, Microsoft Indonesia with ASEAN Foundation collaborated together to hold Microsoft NGO Connection Day to bring together developmental advocates to advance NGO programs through increased access and use of ICT with this year’s theme: “Utilizing Technology for Improving Social and Economic Development.” Through this program, local NGOs were able to learn from other NGOs on what is the best approach to use Information and Communications Technology (ICT) for the greater good.

YCAB Foundation as one of Microsoft Indonesia’s strategic partners for Citizenship Program was also invited in this event and this was the second year that we were invited to share how we use ICT in our foundation. This year, the speaker from YCAB Foundation is our Head of Information System (IS) Development, I Wayan Linggawa. Paired with a Microsoft Solution Specialist, Felix Wira Putera, they presented the topic: “Data Collection, Project Management, and Collaboration”. There, they introduced the benefits of using SharePoint, a Microsoft’s web-based collaboration tool.

Mr. Linggawa said, “I believe that Microsoft SharePoint would be the best solution for NGO to collect data, collaborate, or even manage projects because all of features that needed are already available. These available features are also out-of–the-box on which there is no programming skill needed to build the solution. YCAB Foundation has started developing our Microsoft Sharepoint Solution to support collaboration between the staff since the beginning of this year. Hopefully, we will be able to finish the project by the end of this year.”

There was also a table discussion session on which participants sat in round tables and shared their backgrounds and what have they done in regards to a specific topic. YCAB also become one of the moderators in “Online Fundraising” topic. In this table discussion, we shared about how YCAB Foundation do Online Fundraising in website and discuss about other NGOs’ difficulty and concern about raising money online.