Mbao, I have been building a database of Chicago tutor/mentor programs on a formal basis since 1993. I started networking with leaders of other programs in 1976. Thus, my first message is that this is a long-term, and on-going process, not something that someone should do as a short term project.
We began building the Internet library in 1998 and created the on-line directory in 2004. Last year our total visit count on all of our web sites was 100,000, with over 1 million page views. Since you have a Ning.com page, I encourage you to connect with me at http://tutormentorconnection.ning.com Ning allows individuals and/or organizations to set up their own personal profile within a larger umbrella. Thus, if you set up a page titled "Africa Tutor Mentor Connection", or a group with this title within our page on Ning, we can work together to attract others from Africa and encourage them to create their own profiles. As the number of profiles grow, this can lead to greater interaction among the programs, and greater visibility on search engines that might be used by volunteers and donors who are looking to help youth and families in Africa or the US. This can also lead to help from volunteers who will use their talent and time to help. This is an important message to you and others. Most of my technology support has come from volunteers and I've supplemented this with whatever dollars I could find for higher level tech work. I've never had a huge budget for this. For instance, the map gallery at http://www.tutormentorprogramlocator.net/programlocator/default.asp is hosted by a volunteer from Wisconsin. I'm in Illinois. The OHATS at http://www.vattsystems.com/ohats/Home.aspx was built by a volunteer in Maryland, supported by a volunteer in California. Our http://www.tutormentorconference.org and http://www.cabriniconnections.net web sites were also created by volunteers. Thus, some of the ideas you see on my site, or that you see in other places, can be incorporated in your own work if you can recruit volunteers or partners to build these for you. To do that you need to create enough visibility via the type of on-going actions I take, to attract such people to you. This type of work offers unlimited opportunities for Digital Divide technologists to contribute time and talent to make life better throughout the world. Dan Bassill Tutor/Mentor Connection Cabrini Connections > Dan, > > I am *GREEN* with envy! To answer your question, not quite. We are currently > exploring possibilities with AED who are are working toward a similar goal > largely with teacher training.* *http://zambia.glp.net/home > and http://zambia.glp.net/web/communityschools But I have been hard pressed > finding one. The links are Country specific but one can access information > about other participating Countries as well. I am almost certain there is > stuff out there, Trouble is much of it is fragmented and scattered across > the Continent. And because there is no way of getting accurate information > on what is going on in what Country(not that I know of at least) it's really > hard to know. Perhaps this something for Dan of DDN to initiate...Thinking > out loud here Dan. > > I very much like the program locator feature on your site (of course now my > mind is racing...see what you did:-) Anyway, curious to know what the > response has been to your program? How long has it been operational? It is > folly of course to try and compare usage between the U.S and Zambia but I am > really curious as to how the students are responding to it. Last year we > started our Circle of Friends, a program that was designed to facilitate > linkages between Zambian students and their counterparts around the world. > We managed to get students in the U.S and Zambia partnered up largely > through the help of Challenge 20/20. The partnered schools communicate > through an exclusive social networking site on Ning and it is interesting to > see how students from both ends respond to social-economic issues. > > We are hoping to introduce a mentoring component soon and I'd like to call > you sometime soon and see if we can draw from your experiences. > > Thank you. > Mbao. > > On Tue, Jul 8, 2008 at 11:51 PM, [EMAIL PROTECTED] < > [EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > >> Looks like Project EDUCATE is doing some pretty good work in Africa. >> >> Do you know of any organization that seeks to aggregate information about >> the different organizations working throughout different countries but with >> similar purposes? In Chicago I've been building a knowledge center, with >> information related to volunteer-based tutoring/mentoring programs throught >> the city. You can view this at http://www.tutormentorconnection.org and >> see how we act as an connector, trying to help the programs connect and >> learn from each other, while trying to connect volunteers and donors with >> programs throughout the city, rather than with just the single program we >> operate in one neighborhood. >> >> I've been contacted by groups from Africa often in the past few years, each >> asking for help in one way or another. I've always suggested that someone >> create a hub, connecting the different programs, and showing where they are >> located, so that the programs themselves might work together to draw needed >> resources to Africa, then to all of the different programs. >> >> Is anyone doing this that you know of? >> >> Dan Bassill >> Tutor/Mentor Connection >> Cabrini Connections >> Chicago >> >> Original Message: >> ----------------- >> From: Project EDUCATE [EMAIL PROTECTED] >> Date: Sat, 5 Jul 2008 08:01:40 +0300 >> To: [email protected] >> Subject: Re: [DDN] Introductions what we do and how we contribute to >> closedigital divide >> >> >> Richwell Phinias, >> >> Just saw you post and wanted to make contact. I run a non-profit that does >> educational work in Zambia with an emphasis on the digital divide. We >> currently have a team from Carnegie Mellon visiting who are field testing >> both the reading and Braille tutors with our community partners. >> >> We are very much interested in further exploring ways in which we can >> engage >> relevant technologies as well as make practical use of technology to >> address >> issues in the context in which they exist in communities. >> >> Among other things, we are currently looking into internet access, open >> source technology and all of that good stuff. >> >> Very much interested in hearing more about your work and exploring >> possibilities for synergies. >> Please contact me directly. >> >> Kind Regards. >> www.project-educate.org >> >> >> On Fri, Jul 4, 2008 at 12:34 PM, Richwell Phinias <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >> wrote: >> >>> Hi >>> I have seen interesting articles within this list in years. Seeing the >>> progress that has been made by others in this group, i would also want to >>> let open my future plans and hopefully u will consider partnering with >> me. >>> >>> Currently am based in Zimbabwe and has been consulting with NGOs on their >>> Internet Information/Content Development strategies with the highlight of >> my >>> work being the INternet Strategy of Zimbabwe's Coalition for all NGOs >>> www.nango.org.zw >>> >>> I have also worked with rural schools and groups on ICT related projects. >>> >>> BUt i am moving to Zambia where field operations can be done. If u have >> any >>> projects and products related to bridging the digital divide that you >> feel i >>> can assist setting up and maintaining while in Zambia please do get in >>> touch. I have also done workshops and seminars on the subject on various >>> platforms in Zimbabwe. u can check my profile through Google. My first >> paper >>> was Building an Informed Africa: A time to act, delivered in 2003. >>> >>> Hope to hear from you guys >>> >>> Richwell Phinias >>> e-Marketing Consultant >>> Dariro Business Solutions >>> just for today, think big! >>> website development, graphic design, e-marketing, ict skills training >>> Website: http://www.dariro.co.zw >>> Cell: 011 539 706 >>> >>> >> >> -- >> Diogenes - "What I like to drink most is wine that belongs to others." >> _______________________________________________ >> DIGITALDIVIDE mailing list >> [email protected] >> http://digitaldivide.net/mailman/listinfo/digitaldivide >> To unsubscribe, send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] >> with the word UNSUBSCRIBE in the body of the message. >> >> >> -------------------------------------------------------------------- >> mail2web.com Enhanced email for the mobile individual based on >> Microsoft(R) >> Exchange - http://link.mail2web.com/Personal/EnhancedEmail >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> DIGITALDIVIDE mailing list >> [email protected] >> http://digitaldivide.net/mailman/listinfo/digitaldivide >> To unsubscribe, send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] >> the word UNSUBSCRIBE in the body of the message. >> > > _______________________________________________ DIGITALDIVIDE mailing list [email protected] http://digitaldivide.net/mailman/listinfo/digitaldivide To unsubscribe, send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the word UNSUBSCRIBE in the body of the message.
