Digital Divide Data

In February 2001, Jeremy Hockenstein (co-founder and CEO of DDD) travelled to Angkor Wat and was struck by the mix of poverty and progress in Cambodia. Though there were computer schools offering training to young people, there were still no jobs for the students once they graduated. Recognizing the opportunity to make a difference, Jeremy assembled a group of friends, who all saw an opportunity for growth: applying India's outsourcing model to Southeast Asia could provide jobs and contribute to the region's development. The group returned to Cambodia during the summer and founded Digital Divide Data, (now known as DDD) with a plan to start a data entry operation in Phnom Penh.[2]

DDD opened for business in July 2001.[3] The enterprise began as a single small office in Phnom Penh, digitizing the Harvard Crimson.[4] In 2003, Digital Divide Data opened an office in Vientiane, Laos, which in early 2004 was followed by a third office in Battambang, Cambodia. The Battambang operation was merged into the Phnom Penh office in 2012. A fourth operations center was opened in Nairobi, Kenya in April 2011.

DDD currently operates three offices with over 1000 staff.[5] It is currently the largest technology employer in Cambodia and Laos.[6]

The innovative work/study program that is core to DDD’s social enterprise enables young women and men from very poor families to gain work experience plus access to higher education. As a result, they secure professional jobs and earn lasting higher incomes, breaking the cycle of poverty. Since 2001, the projected increase in lifetime earnings for youth in DDD’s program is more than $250 million.

DDD recruits disadvantaged high school graduates, ages 17–24, including young women and men, and youth with disabilities. Recruited youth participate in a work/study program which offers training, employment, and the opportunity to complete higher education. A rigorous recruitment process ensures that the youth who join DDD have the skills, commitment and maturity to succeed in the work/study program.

Participants typically work 36 hours a week providing digital content services to clients. After a one-year probation period, they are eligible for a scholarship package to support their university education. Once enrolled in university, they continue to work, enabling them to study and complete their degrees in 4–5 years. [7]

Since 2001, DDD has trained over 2000 youth, employed more than 1500, and graduated over 500 to better paying jobs. Graduates of DDD earn more than four times the average annual income in Cambodia and Laos.[8]

Irving Levin, Board Chair
Michael Chertok*
Dianne Doherty, Board Secretary
Walter Fust
Jeremy Hockenstein, CEO*
Deborah Kops
Sari Miller
Anish Nanavaty
Howard Neff
Koji Osawa
Jaeson Rosenfeld*
Dina Bitton

Asterisk denotes co-founder of DDD [9]

• Research services include: market research, web research, and digital marketing.
• Data entry and conversion services include: academic data entry, database content and support, survey digitization, and direct marketing support.
• Digital publishing services include: XML enhancement/conversion, eBook conversion, magazine conversion, journal digitization, and newspaper conversion.
• Digital libraries services include: digitization of archives, newspaper digitization, EAD conversion, and OCR assessment.[10]

• ICT Association of Kenya 2013 Value Award for Excellence in Digital Content[11]
• The Global Journal's List of World's Top 100 NGOs, 2012 and 2013[12]
• Vision 2030 Award for Best Business Process Outsourcing Firm in Kenya[13]
• eAsia Award for Best Employment Creation Initiative in Asia, 2011[14]
• Skoll Foundation Award for Social Enterprise in 2008[15]
• World Bank Development Marketplace Award[16]
• IFC Grassroots Business Initiative[17]
• Global Knowledge Partnership[18]
• 2008 Clinton Global Initiative panelist and participant[19]
• Siemens Non-Profit Global Impact Award for Supplier Excellence, June 2009[20]
• Member of The New York 100 for business, July 2009[21]

• The homepage of DDD