Deep in the Ecuadorian Amazon, 2.5 hours by motorized canoe from the nearest small city, people are happily checking their email, conducting research for school projects and taking hotel reservations.

An impressive bunch benefit from the network. The Yachana High School, founded in 2005, offers a degree in Ecotourism and Sustainable Development. Being online provides an incredible educational benefit for the students and teachers in every subject and helps them to bridge the digital divide.

The Medical Clinic that FUNEDESIN, built in 1997, benefits as well. Through Tele-Medicine, medical residents who spend a year doing rural service can now conduct live consultations from this remote clinic with experts in the Metropolitano Hospital in the capital city of Quito, or anywhere in the world.

Guests who stay at the Yachana Lodge, an award winning eco-tourism destination, can stay connected during their time in the hotel. Historically, FUNEDESIN and Yachana have run an office in Quito to handle their administration, bookings, accounts and other functions. Now that there is an internet connection throughout the jungle site, all of these functions are moving from Quito to Yachana, saving money, time and travel costs. Having universal internet access lets the foundation run all of their office functions from Yachana.

Further down the river the Bio Science Field Station is run by Global Vision International. Recently a new species of frog was discovered at the GVI Bio Station. Being online allowed the centre to confirm their discovery and upload photos to the internet whereas without being online these activities would have taken weeks. 

Via Jon Anderson at Locust World