Vision
Education is not just about creating productive workers, it is about the well rounded development of the individual so that this individual is empowered to function in a free society for both his/her benefit and the benefit of the common interest. The effective use of human intellectual capital is vital to our success. A vision of a better world can only transform if it becomes a integral part of our lives. As we realize our potential as human beings and in the process help others to realize their own potential all over the world this will have a cascading effect on the larger social movement of which we are part. To meet the unprecedented challenges of our age, we must develop educational systems that bring together collective knowledge and expertise to promote sustainability and social justice.

Current Reality and Challenges
Educational systems are pushed to the limit in emerging economies. The demographic transition is bringing more children into cities than most governments are capable of managing, while many in rural regions do not have even the most basic educational services available to them. Many schools and not properly equipped and teachers are not adequately trained or compensated for their work, while at the same at overburdened with huge expectations. Conventional approaches involve continuing to focus investment on urban areas and to develop and import educational approaches and content from developed countries.

Education Divide

	Education in many parts of the world is a luxury
	Approximately 120 million primary school aged children do not attend school globally
	2 percent of Africa's school children go to college
	80 million African children out of school
	150 million drop out after five years of education

Approach
This pillar will demonstrate on a practical level the compelling nature of an integrated approach to sustainable development. The major fields of this integration will be involve a complex level of interaction. The idea is to bring together innovative thinkers in an holistic educational program that offer hands on learning experiences promoting technology transfer and training to developing regions that most need these technologies.

We will mobilize development resources through a cooperative networked effort committed to advance education in non-affluent parts of the world as rapidly as possible. To reach the extremely ambitious MDC goals, a whole systems approach is needed that goes beyond urban regions to provide high quality social and economic services to people in all types of human habitats:

	Human capacity building at the community level
	Provide safe and healthy schools and play environments for children
	High quality education for high quality jobs

	Ecological Design—Develop sustainable organizational models, approaches and technologies necessary to promote this type innovative type of economic growth—including business, planning and sustainable design
	Ecological Economics—Refine the economic models and theories needed to sustain the expansion of the restorative economy—economics and finance
	Integrative Studies—Promote an interdisciplinary approach to sustainable development based on a comprehensive, whole systems approach—integrative studies
	New Professional Model—Cultivate a new mind set based on an expanded global social and ecological consciousness—public and governmental relations, advertising and marketing

Goals:

	Train students on how to effectively convert ICT and appropriate technologies into sustainable economic value
	Emphasize process and the design of thinking processes rather than the accumulation of knowledge through memorization
	Promote experiential Learning - educational experiences people can use in their everyday lives
	Create channel and forums to enable global wisdom & knowledge exchanges
	Empower Youth on IT education, entrepreneurial training and develop platform for Youth to apply their skills

Pillar Implementation
OVF's ICT augmented educational program will involve a series of web-based Open and Distance platforms focusing on ICT training on the one hand and an integrated approach to learning on the other. These will better explain the key role of ICT in teaching us to “think like an ecosystem.”

As we realize our potential as human beings and in the process help others to realize their own potential all over the world, this will have a cascading effect on the larger social movement of which we are part. Open Digital Villages & Unity Centers have the potential to become practical hands on vehicles for social change. In this process, we will reconfigure educational systems to promote new understandings and new systems of development dedicated to social and cultural revitalization that is locally based but globally aware.