Posted on: Wednesday, January 28, 2015

DreamBuilder Elearning Initiative Supporting Women Entrepreneurs in Chile and Peru

St. John's, NL, Canada - Bluedrop Learning Networks Inc., a subsidiary of Bluedrop Performance Learning Inc. (Bluedrop) (TSX-V: BPL) continues to receive accolades for excellence in learning technology.

Bluedrop has received the coveted Brandon Hall Group Silver award for excellence in the category of Best Advance in Unique Learning Technology. The Brandon Hall Group Excellence Awards Program is the most prestigious awards program in the learning and human capital management industry. The award is in partnership with Thunderbird School of Global Management (Thunderbird) and Freeport-McMoRan Inc. for the "DreamBuilder - The Women's Business Creator" (DreamBuilder) initiative delivered in Chile and Peru.

DreamBuilder breaks new ground in its delivery method, teaching methodology, distribution model and networking capabilities. The program helps women build their dream of starting or growing their own business. Practical, convenient and fun, this unique online business training leads women step-by-step through the basics of business. In addition to the interactive courses, students are given access to helpful tools and templates they can use in their own ventures. An innovative Business Plan Generator guides the learner in the creation of a business plan throughout the program. Following the completion of the program, access to an online forum will connect women with a community of like-minded entrepreneurs that they can network with for support, to source information and to build their supply chain. www.dreambuilder.org

"Bluedrop was honoured to work with the Thunderbird School of Global Management and Freeport-McMoRan in the creation and implementation of DreamBuilder. This unique elearning initiative is helping disadvantaged women entrepreneurs in Chile and Peru to discover, develop and reach their potential. It was a great stroke of luck for the three groups to come together as members of the Clinton Global Initiative and help make magic happen for some very deserving women. "

-Emad Rizkalla, Founder and CEO of Bluedrop Learning Networks

"Thunderbird has worked for ten years to create practical business education curriculums for women entrepreneurs in emerging markets, but being able to incorporate this level of innovative elearning technology into our work is a game-changer. Our reach has now increased exponentially."

-Kellie Kreiser, Executive Director, Thunderbird for Good, Thunderbird School of Global Management

 "The award-winning initiatives and the skill and strategy that went into them are inspiring. The innovation represented by these winners can serve as models for success for many others that strive to push their organizations to the next level."

-Rachel Cooke, Chief Operating Officer of Brandon Hall Group

Bluedrop

Bluedrop Performance Learning (TSX-V: BPL) is an innovator in workplace training for individuals, corporations, military personnel and the public sector. Launched in 2004, Bluedrop leverages its expertise in workforce development and has been recognized as a thought leader globally. From this recognition, Bluedrop has made commitments to work with organizations such as the Clinton Global Initiative.

Bluedrop Learning Networks, a subsidiary of BPL is a global leader in upgrading regional workforce skills.  The Bluedrop 360 Training Management and Delivery platform, which hosts and manages Dreambuilder, is focused on helping governments, associations, unions, and NGOs to reduce unemployment/underemployment, expand apprenticeship and strengthen business competitiveness.

The Bluedrop Learning Network platform offers a completely tailored solution designed to meet the demands of each Government, Workforce Board or NGO. Delivered as a Software Service solution, the scalable platform is designed to be easy and cost-effective to implement.www.bluedrop.com

Brandon Hall Group, Inc.

With more than 10,000 clients globally and 20 years of delivering world class research and advisory services, Brandon Hall Group is the most well-known and established research organization in the performance improvement industry. They conduct research that drives performance, and provides strategic insights for executives and practitioners responsible for growth and business results

Now entering its 20th year, the Brandon Hall Group Excellence Awards program is the most prestigious awards program in the industry. Often times called the "Academy Awards" by Learning, talent and business Executives, the program was one of the first of its kind in the learning industry, which was pioneered in 1994.www.brandonhall.com

Thunderbird School of Global Management

Thunderbird School of Global Management Thunderbird is one of the world's leading schools of international business with nearly 70 years of experience in developing leaders with the global mindset, business skills and social responsibility necessary to create real, sustainable value for their organizations, communities and the world. Through the "Thunderbird for Good" initiative, the school has provided business education to over 107,000 women entrepreneurs across 26 different countries. Thunderbird School of Global Management is a unit of the Arizona State University Knowledge Enterprise.  www.thunderbird.edu

Freeport-McMoRan Inc.

Freeport-McMoRan is a premier U.S based natural resource company with an industry leading global portfolio of mineral assets, significant oil and gas resources and a growing production profile. The Freeport-McMoRan Foundation fully sponsored the development of DreamBuilder and is committed to supporting the education and growth of women entrepreneurs in the communities where they operate and beyond. www.fcx.com

Media contact:

Lynn Hammond

Bluedrop Performance Learning

lynnhammond@bluedrop.com

709-330-1260

709-570-5691

BACKGROUNDER

What is DreamBuilder?

DreamBuilder was designed specifically to serve women entrepreneurs who lack access to traditional classroom learning.  Based on Thunderbird's curriculum and research, the reality of the women entrepreneurs in Latin America was considered and addressed during program design.  This included tackling the challenges of low bandwidth, the lack of digital literacy, the cultural importance of relationships, and the overall need for practical, easy-to-understand business instruction.

DreamBuilder's design takes into account the lack of high-speed Internet access found in many areas of Latin America.  By leveraging the new advancements in streaming technology from cloud-based providers, coupled with geo-local caching of multi-media resources, the videos and animations are incorporated directly into the courseware with minimal impact on bandwidth.

To ensure that all learners, including students that are new to computing, could take advantage of DreamBuilder, the program uses simple, straightforward navigation with an appealing design.

How is Freeport-McMoRan providing opportunities for women with DreamBuilder?

Freeport-McMoRan is committed to investing in sustainable community development efforts, especially those that increase education and economic opportunities for citizens in their operating communities.  Through community partnerships in Chile and Peru, Freeport-McMoRan provides women, with the unique opportunity to participate in the DreamBuilder entrepreneurship program. 

More information regarding Freeport-McMoRan's community sustainability initiatives and support for women's development is available at www.freeportinmycommunity.com

How is DreamBuilder unique from other online learning programs?

People make time for things they enjoy. By leveraging the use of interactive games and videos, online learning becomes fun for the women who take time out of their busy schedules to participate. Using a TELL, SHOW, DO, APPLY teaching methodology for DreamBuilder ensures the participants understand and use their new skills. 

When will DreamBuilder be available in North America?

In June 2013, the decision to create an English-language version of DreamBuilder for the North American market which was announced by Secretary Hillary Clinton at the Clinton Global Initiative America.

In September 2013 at the White House's Equal Futures meeting, US Secretary of State John Kerry announced that the Small Business Administration would be piloting DreamBuilder in its Women's Business Centers.

DreamBuilder in Spanish is currently available in the United States.  An English version of the program will be available in March 2015.

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