However, MISTICA has been much more than just a virtual community. The project was articulated in active relationship with different ingredients that can be classified under the following categories:

• Communication: as mentioned before, an active virtual community agreed with a set of rules which allow to achieve a discussion level which was respectful, democratic and focused on particular issues of common interest. As a consequence, knowledge creation based upon the structuring of the content of in depth discussions of key issues related to ICTs in the LA&C region and the sharing of relevant information has been a major output of this project. In addition to MISTICA’s virtual community, in 1999 an initial face-to-face meeting (Samaná¹) run in parallel and articulated with the CV in order to build up from what if was initially discussed in the electronic forum. The objectives of the meeting were to prepare the human network for collaboration and to prepare collective documents reflecting the vision of the group as regard to the issues of ICT social impact. A final meeting for MISTICA is still due which will represent an opportunity to insure continuity and smooth transition between MISTICA and its follow-up OLISTICA.
• Information: of cornerstone importance for MISTICA, the structuring² of relevant information has been a major achievement of this project. MISTICA web site³ can be accessed in 4 different languages (Spanish, French, English and Portuguese) and offers about 70 Mb of information in more than 700 different pages. Until the end of August 2000, the Website was hit more than 1,000,000 times, reaching now an average of 5,000 visitors a day⁴. More than a static warehouse of information, MISTICA provides with a well organized memory of the Virtual Community contributions (about 15% of the total volume of information) plus comprehensive access to many different documents, resulting from the research and dissemination components of the project, that are available on the website. Last but not least, MISTICA’s clearinghouse⁵ offers a friendly interface to a complex data base of various type of URLs relevant to the project thematic. In its current pilot stage, it provides sample information (about 100 entries) related to the social impacts of ICTs in the region: a list of researchers, practitioners, and related institutions; projects; events; and other relevant Internet resources. Additionally, a set of more than 1000 bibliographic references has bet collected and presented in the website. In the future, if the required support is provided, it is very likely that the clearinghouse will become a unique international Internet resource center with information about these topics (the database has been designed in such a way that each contribution is first checked by a moderation team in order to screen and organize the information in different fields).
• Action: Yanapanako⁶ (Pilot Applications), A novel small-grants modality to fund ICT related research projects supportive of collaborative work was implemented among the members of MISTICA. Nine different proposals were evaluated by a MISTICA jury, following a transparent and precise scheme intended to foster collaboration, and 6 of them selected for funding (about US$ 10,000 each). Projects in Argentina, Bolivia, Brasil, México, Nicaragua and Venezuela⁷ explored a full range of thematic diversity, all in connection to a social vision of ICT in the region: children’s rights, indigenous communities, public health, e-governance & public participation, post-graduate studies in development issues, and participatory action research in telecenter activity. Not all projects are completed to date (and the deadline extended until the final meeting) and more interaction between them and the VC is expected in the next months. In addition to Yanapanako, the hardly quantifiable added value of information exchanged out of MISTICA’s virtual spaces will be worth examining. This rich and voluminous exchange of messages and references about MISTICA are building strong human capital and providing fertile ground for further empowerment of different social actors.

¹No political or "hidden" criteria were used to select participants different than the level of interest and participation in the virtual forum as well as gender, region and thematic balance. See: http://funredes.org/mistica/castellano/eventos/samana/
²The information has been structured in the web using a variety of patterns and methods, from original contributions with search capacity, minutes of discussions, collective documents of synthesis, process oriented reports, indexes and data base supported clearinghouse.
³Seer: http://funredes.org/mistica
⁴For updated information see: http://funredes.org/internet/stats/en/statistics.html
⁵See: http://funredes.org/mistica/metasitio/
⁶"Helping each other" in Quechua language
⁷See: http://funredes.org/mistica/english/pilot_applications/