The business component was established to support the Units with a coherent business strategy adapted to the needs and circumstances of the community. The need to obtain financial resources to cover the monthly operating expenses potentially limits the benefits LINCOS can generate. For this reason the business component aims to develop a structured offer of services that can adequately respond to the community needs and cover operating expenses.

This component includes the following aspects:

• Development of e-business models
• Methodologies for community e-commerce
• Information services
• Training courses
• Production of radio and audio-visual materials
• Redefinition of the Business Agent’s role to sell services in the community

This component also considers the following elements:

• Financial sustainability of the Unit in the short term
• Offer of quality services to meet the community needs
• Empowering LINCOS to act in close relation with the community.

Our past experience has shown that not all the members of the community approach LINCOS to benefit from its services.

That is why the Business Agents visit all the community members and deliver a portfolio of services that includes:

• Courses directed to the whole family on Windows, Office and Internet applications.
• Courses for children
• Courses for elderly people and housewives
• Electronic mail, to communicate with family members who live or work abroad.
• Support and counselling to local companies for the development of e-business solutions
• Development of community e-commerce models, based on the exportation of local products.

The presence of Business Agents in the LINCOS communities helps the development of strategies for sustainability and generation of resources.

The surplus from the sale of services is reinvested in the community, as partial or total scholarships, visits to remote schools, new courses and cultural activities for the community to enjoy.

Information and Business Center

The financial sustainability is critical to the continuity and impact of LINCOS in each community. Therefore, one of our objectives is for the unit to become a small local enterprise, that generates income from the sale of services such as:

• FAX
• Photocopies
• Graphic design for companies and individuals
• Telephone calls
• E-commerce and E-banking
• Radio publicity
• Family videos
• Information searches
• Courses on specific computer applications