[GKD] Women of Uganda Network Newsletter - March 2002
Dear GKD members, I wanted to provide an update on our activities at the Women of Uganda Network (WOUGNET) that you might find interesting. Best regards, Doroty Okello EXCEPTS FROM: WOUGNET Update Newsletter - March 2002 * The following is a list of what's new at the Women of Uganda Network (WOUGNET) website - http://www.wougnet.org that are related to the use of ICTs. For comments or queries, please contact [EMAIL PROTECTED] Youth Network on ICTs and Digital Opportunities Young people can and are harnessing the power of information and communications technologies (ICTs) to assure opportunity, empowerment, and inclusion for all. The Youth, ICTs and Digital Opportunities portal was launched on 1 February 2002 to enable young people from around the world to share their experiences on how ICTs can further development. The site features news, people, events, organizations and online discussions about closing the digital divide. http://www.wougnet.org/Links/ictresources.html#YIDO Youth for Technology Foundation (YTF) Youth for Technology Foundation (YTF) is an international non-profit organization. The mission of YTF is to bridge the digital canyon in Nigeria, West Africa. Our programs are structured to provide access to technology, training and resources for underserved youth (with focus on the girl-child) in grassroots communities in Nigeria. The goal of YTF is to reduce poverty, empower youth and create self-sustaining communities. http://www.wougnet.org/Links/ictresources.html#YTF ***GKD is solely supported by EDC, an NGO that is a GKP member*** To post a message, send it to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To subscribe or unsubscribe, send a message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED]. In the 1st line of the message type: subscribe gkd OR type: unsubscribe gkd Archives of previous GKD messages can be found at: http://www.edc.org/GLG/gkd/
[GKD] Donated Computers to be Distributed in Goa (India)
*** GOALOG: Computers are getting set for distribution in Goa *** Green Hill, despite its name, is a dusty hillock between Porvorim and Sangolda. It's just one of the many new urban centres coming up to cope with the regionally-imbalanced pattern that Goa has been seeing. At one corner, in the midst of an obviously low-income colony, sit some 360 computers that were sent in under the Goa Schools Computers Project. On Thursday evening, eight-to-ten kids crowded around one computer, near the entrance to the godown where these were temporarily housed. He's not giving us a turn, complained the smaller ones of one elder boy who seemed to be hogging the keyboard. They all came from the nearby poor homes, and this was their chance to play around with a real toy -- a computer. One girl, the only one visible nearby, hung around at a respectful distance, near the entrance gate. To one's surprise, at least the elder ones among them seemed confident with the Red Hat 7.2 (a distribution of the Free Software/Open Source Linux operating system) that was installed on it. One of the eldest later informed he was in the seventh standard (this would put him at around 12 years of age, assuming he joined school on schedule and wasn't detained at any point). He could be seen logging in as a 'student'. Sometimes he typed in 'Student' instead of 'student'. And in Linux, like in any other case-sensitive Unix flavour, that makes a big difference. Tom Fernandes, half-German and half-Goan, a Linux enthusiast who's also working on the Goa Schools Computers Project, tried to explain the difference. But do concepts matter, as long as things get going? What's going to happen to these computers? the gang of boys wanted to know. On being told that they would be distributed to schools, they seemed a trifle disappointed. Which kid likes to lose a new-found toy? Okay, someone continued, which schools are they going to? Someone wanted to know if Janta High School in nearby Mapusa town would get any. Another asked if Holy Family in Porvorim was on the list. A chirpy young lad said he learnt that government schools would be getting priority. And yes, he himself studies at the Guirim government school. In the background -- that's not what it was intended to be though -- a shirtless Ashley Delaney struggled at setting up Linux on about half-a-dozen PCs at the same time. To make his tall task somewhat easier Arvind Yadav and Animesh Nerulkar have worked on a stick-the-CD-in solution that does a standard-instal easily on the type of PI donated earlier-generation systems that have been shipped in from New York. Daryl Martyris was away in Panjim. He had phoned me earlier in the evening, sparking off guilt for not being anywhere around the project after getting my 'stories' on the same. In the state-capital of Goa, his mission was trying to get fixed the ten computers that reached Goa in a non-working condition. (Once he's done with the distribution of the PCs in schools, he's dreaming of a project to take relevant info to the commonman through an ICT-based initiative.) Cut to the youngsters fooling around with the Linux-loaded PC. They're a more interesting story than the 'real thing' A tenth standard student from the nearby Vidya Prabodhini looked around tentatively. What actually comes on a floppy-disk, he wanted to know. Try explaining the concept that a floppy could contain text, photos or software... to a young man in a province which has long been dreaming of building itself up as a IT paradise. His eyes lit up, as the inadequately-explained concept seemed to make some sense. Uncle, could you give me a floppy? he asked speaking in the local Konkani language, maybe I could ask the teacher to try it out... Others fighting for the computer keyboard were focussing on launching some Linux-based games. Just the introduction to the section of 'graphics' programs egged on some to experiment. But journos are not the best of teachers; we didn't have any photo-on-a-CD just then to demo what we meant either. While driving home on a two-wheeler, my daughter Riza (3) was grappling with the idea of what so many computers were doing, all packed tightly into one small godown. One tried to explain that these were to be distributed to schools, for free. Even to Lourdes Convent? she wanted to know. That's the village school where she's just got admission to the pre-primary It was the struggle to get computers for this not so down-and-out school five years ago that might have sparked off the feeling that citizens need to make efforts to help Goa's schools get access to computers faster. Before leaving, we clicked a few photos. Not because, as many believe, donor-driven projects need photographic 'evidence' to justify their operations. But because it underlines the point that the computer is a tool for
[GKD] RFI: Need ICT Assistance for Somaliland Maternity Hospital
Dear GKD List Members, I would like take this opportunity to gather resources and information on how to help the first maternity hospital in Somaliland. This hospital is a non profit hospital and would serve the children of Somaliland who have no other maternity facilities available whatsoever in the country. I appeal to anyone who can help us with this project to contact us. As part of Somaliland Forum ICT task group we are trying to research on how to help with expertise and resources to help this hospital take advantage of the ICT resources available world wide. Gogosurfer.com has kindly came forward to help us with volunteers to train the staff and students. Also to host the project on their website and help us with any resources they can offer. The hospital has no IT facilities whatsover apart from using old recycled computers not networked though. Due to the cost of the internet usage it is not possible for the staff to use it on a daily basis. Also the staff and trainee students have minimum or no IT skills. Al Arthur, the director of gogosurfer.com, has kindly come forward to help Somaliland bridge the digital divide by providing Edna Maternity Hospital and Hargeisa University with resources and skills. We are very grateful for their assistance and surely it will go a long way. The hospital has a library, training and research facilities with no IT facilities. This is an area that can be expanded to include IT facilities. We appeal to the International Community and organisations to assist us in helping Edna Maternity Hospital with the resources it needs. Any ideas and assistance is greatly appreciated. The hospital is run mostly by women who desperately need training in IT as well as resources for education. Gender education is important if this hospital is to succeed in its mission. Please visit the following urls for more information about the hospital: Hospital Documents: http://www.angelfire.com/mn2/ednahospital/Hospital_Document.html Hospital Appeal: http://www.angelfire.com/mn2/ednahospital/hosp_appel.html Another url about the overall situation in Somaliland: Welcome Home to Nothing: Refugees Repatriate to a Forgotten Somaliland http://www.refugees.org/pub/somaliland.cfm Jamhuriya Newspaper selects Somaliland Forum as the 'Organization of the Year' and Ms. Edna Aden Dhakhtar as 'the Woman of the Year'! http://www.somalilandnews.com/Edna1.html Somalilanders are known through history for their poetic expressions: A poem: Published on The Somaliland Times Issue 7, February 23, 2002 Sweet Child At A Crossroad http://www.somalilandforum.com/Sweet-Child-Poem.htm Map of Somaliland: http://www.iandrinstitute.org/international/slmap.pdf Somaliland is restarting its history after 40 years and hopefully the International community will open their hearts to help Somaliland organisations who are doing their best in rebuilding the country. Thanks for your assistance. Mrs. Lulu Todd Somaliland Forum ICT Task Group [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.somalilandforum.com http://www.tawakal.co.uk ***GKD is solely supported by EDC, an NGO that is a GKP member*** To post a message, send it to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To subscribe or unsubscribe, send a message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED]. In the 1st line of the message type: subscribe gkd OR type: unsubscribe gkd Archives of previous GKD messages can be found at: http://www.edc.org/GLG/gkd/
[GKD] Linux Aid Server Mailing List Now Available
Dear GKD Members, The Linux Aid Server Mailing list now running, after hours of work that also involved a server OS upgrade, and lots of work reconfiguring the WWW server. You can subscribe to the mailing list by going to: http://lists.anathoth.gen.nz/aid-server or sending a plain-text email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] with: subscribe as the ONLY thing in the message. (Signatures are fine if they start with the standard '--'). You will then have to send a confirmation email. To post to the list, you must subscribe to it, and only members can list who is on the list. The archive is publicly viewable. Progress on the project is proceeding well. The above part of the project support infrastructure is now in place and it will easy to create new lists as they are needed. The next part of this that will be done will be a revamp of the Web site (heading for a frames based page), as well as a project logo, and a diary of what I am up to. The preliminary file serving and printer side of the Aid server is almost complete, and work this week wiill be concentraing on e-mail setup and virus scanning, as well as smoothing the WWW admin interface. Chritoph Lameter [EMAIL PROTECTED] has kindly given us the use of his Debian CDROM installation work. This will help the project along quite a bit. I will be posting more to the list next week as things progress. Best Regards, Matthew Grant Matthew Grant/\ ^/\^ [EMAIL PROTECTED] /\ A Linux Network Guy /~~\^/~~\_/~\___/~~\/**\ ***GKD is solely supported by EDC, an NGO that is a GKP member*** To post a message, send it to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To subscribe or unsubscribe, send a message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED]. In the 1st line of the message type: subscribe gkd OR type: unsubscribe gkd Archives of previous GKD messages can be found at: http://www.edc.org/GLG/gkd/
[GKD] Audio of Extending the Information Revolution Online
I am pleased to announce that the audio of the Athena Alliance press conference (National Press Club Feb 12) on the release of the report 'Extending the Information Revolution' is now available at our web site www.athenaalliance.org. Speakers are: Richard Cohon, Chairman, Athena Alliance Kenan Jarboe, President, Athena Alliance Karen Kornbluh, Markle Fellow, New America Foundation John Horrigan, Pew Internet and American Life Project Bonny Bracy, Christa McAuliffe Educator, National Education Association Samuel Leiken, senior policy consultant, Council for Adult And Experiential Learning Mark Troppe, National Center on Education and the Economy Ken Jarboe Kenan Patrick Jarboe, Ph.D. Athena Alliance 711 10th Street, SE Washington, DC 20003 (202) 547-7064 [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.athenaalliance.org ***GKD is solely supported by EDC, an NGO that is a GKP member*** To post a message, send it to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To subscribe or unsubscribe, send a message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED]. In the 1st line of the message type: subscribe gkd OR type: unsubscribe gkd Archives of previous GKD messages can be found at: http://www.edc.org/GLG/gkd/
