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 --- On Wed, 7/2/08, Cindy Lemcke-Hoong <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: From: Cindy Lemcke-Hoong <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: [DDN] Introductions what we do and how we contribute to close digital divide To: "The Digital Divide Network discussion group" <digitaldivide@digitaldivide.net> Date: Wednesday, July 2, 2008, 6:29 PM Hello Alan, You wrote: << I told them, they are trying to reach out to the poor (where EFA is trying to reach out to the poor) with rich men's tools/platforms i.e CDs or flash online platforms(requiring online broadband). Any attempt at ICT in mass Education will never work using current tech.>> Well written. That has always been my argument, not just on this platform. Cindy ============= [EMAIL PROTECTED] --- On Wed, 2/7/08, Foo HK <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: From: Foo HK <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: [DDN] Introductions what we do and how we contribute to close digital divide To: "The Digital Divide Network discussion group" <digitaldivide@digitaldivide.net> Date: Wednesday, 2 July, 2008, 6:07 PM Dear Marlene, Thank you for your kind words. As you can see, we are providing a unique solution to close the digital divide using practical technology rather than high tech. I have the opportunity to discuss this in the UNESCO forum about the failure of Technology to close the digital divide and why UNESCO's goal of achieving EFA by 2015 will be a big challenge. I told them, they are trying to reach out to the poor (where EFA is trying to reach out to the poor) with rich men's tools/platforms i.e CDs or flash online platforms(requiring online broadband). Any attempt at ICT in mass Education will never work using current tech. We further have developed a tool to be given free to Ministries of Education and schools to enable any teacher to go to the next level from blackboards to digital enabled saving lots of money in papers and chalks. At the moment we are operating in Malaysia and our Ministry of education has helped us to distribute to their schools free use of our tools and contents especially the rural schools. As for Africa, we met a few finalists of Stockholm Challenge 2008 from Zambia and Uganda and they have expressed interest to introduce our solution to their countries' Ministries of Education. We wish to reach out to Ministries of Education of third world countries to have our tools and contents for free and see how using our solution what normally cost hundreds of millions in software development and distribution would cost pennies! Yes, using our platform,we are able to allow 380 million modules to be downloaded per month for only US5-00 per month! Try that with flash systems or CDs ...not possible. Imagine what the MOE can do and reach for almost nothing universal reach of contents relevent to their country. By being able to reach out to the most remote areas, equitable education can become a reality until now impossible no matter how much any govt spend. If you would look at our site at www.paperlesshomework.com and see the number of contents we are able to provide to the entire Malaysia (or world) and at the cost of less than US30,000 spent so far would give you an idea how our AGE can overcome the digital divide. We are funded by two small Malaysian government grants. We have been encouraged to apply for larger funds for contents development after this grant matures. Since you do come in contact with NGOs all over Africa and sponsored by Microsoft ( we were sponsored by Microsoft Malaysia too ), perhaps you can get them to help us to reach out to schools in their areas to use our contents/tools for free? We can empower their teachers to the next level for free and raise funds for them too. We would be going to China, India and Indonesia which together represent 2.7 billion people ie. nearly half the world population and get their schools to use our AGE to save money and go green by using less paper. This we would achieve in one stroke... 1. A greener world with hundreds of millions of Ambassadors of Mother Earth 2. Bring better access and education to the rural poor 3. Enables these three countries with huge rural poor schools up to rich urban schools.levels for free 4. Empowering teachers with a tool to create their own contents for free 5. Saves hundreds of millions for their government in ICT implementation 6. For the first time ICT in mass Education can work. 7. Ideal for volunteer field workers ...seconds of download ...hours/days of usage Btw we are offering any school registering two free licences for their library and for a teacher. This way we can enable every child access to our contents free. We believe no child should be left behind. This is our contribution to digital divide. Regards Alan --- On Wed, 7/2/08, Marlene Bramley <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: From: Marlene Bramley <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: [DDN] Introductions To: "The Digital Divide Network discussion group" <digitaldivide@digitaldivide.net> Date: Wednesday, July 2, 2008, 12:39 AM Hi there Alan Thank you for bringing up this point:) I agree with you that much talk and little doing is the order of the day when it comes to these issues. What we are doing to bridge the gap is the following: 1. Create a web platform (in this case a collaborative website) where NGOs (who work directly with people that suffer from effects of digital divide) can engage, collaborate and connect - what this means practically for an NGO is the following. They can come to the site, register, read about any one of the following areas: a) how to get ready (e-readiness - why use technology, what to use it for, and where to start); b) get started (this section helps NGO's look at hardware, software, training and support) not only what it is but where to find it either online or offline (ie. refurbished computers and software grants) c) get training (there is a world of online downloadable curriculum out there, the site aims to summarize and provide links for users to gain different levels of skills, from basic computer training to more advanced network maintenance for instance) and lastly www.ngoconnectafrica.org will offer a program of support for users of the site. This means putting a network of support organizations in place to support from hardware to software to online support for more ad hoc issues. The site further offers forums where NGOs can discuss issues and learn from each other, two organizations might be doing exactly the same thing and can exchange knowledge and experiences with each other to promote learning. I think the most important objective should be sustainability when it comes to digital divide issues. One should deliver real value, with real benefit for a sustainable period - and the outcomes should be measured. I like what you are doing on the paperlesshomework site by the way and can see how it contributes to closing the digital divide. Do you have much uptake in Africa? Specifically South Africa? What are your experiences? Marlene Bramley Ngoconnectafrica.org -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Foo HK Sent: 27 June 2008 07:53 PM To: The Digital Divide Network discussion group Subject: Re: [DDN] Introductions Perhaps all members can enlighten the rest of us what measures are we taking to close the digital divide. Many people, like global warming tend to talk and talk only but no action. We call them NATO ...No Action Talk Only. In the end, the artic summer would be without ice anyway (latest news)...first time in history there may not be any Artic ice in Summer. Similarly when we are in digital divide, what concrete actions we know of to overcome such other than just talk? Perhaps each member can contribute to this? Alan _______________________________________________ DIGITALDIVIDE mailing list DIGITALDIVIDE@digitaldivide.net http://digitaldivide.net/mailman/listinfo/digitaldivide To unsubscribe, send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the word UNSUBSCRIBE in the body of the message. _______________________________________________ DIGITALDIVIDE mailing list DIGITALDIVIDE@digitaldivide.net http://digitaldivide.net/mailman/listinfo/digitaldivide To unsubscribe, send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the word UNSUBSCRIBE in the body of the message. _______________________________________________ DIGITALDIVIDE mailing list DIGITALDIVIDE@digitaldivide.net http://digitaldivide.net/mailman/listinfo/digitaldivide To unsubscribe, send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the word UNSUBSCRIBE in the body of the message. _______________________________________________ DIGITALDIVIDE mailing list DIGITALDIVIDE@digitaldivide.net http://digitaldivide.net/mailman/listinfo/digitaldivide To unsubscribe, send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the word UNSUBSCRIBE in the body of the message. _______________________________________________ DIGITALDIVIDE mailing list DIGITALDIVIDE@digitaldivide.net http://digitaldivide.net/mailman/listinfo/digitaldivide To unsubscribe, send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the word UNSUBSCRIBE in the body of the message.
