1. We have finally managed to put some of our communication infrastructure in place thanks to Kwindla at All Africa who is maintaining our server. The new list <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> is a mailing list which includes the FOSSFA council members and partners/observers who are interested in open source issues in Africa.
2. We have also developed the FOSSFA database which will allow practioners to directly input the data into the portal dynamically and be able to maintain and update the specific projects they are undertaking. Kindly visit <http://fossfa.org/database/> for more information. We shall also be developing a chat room on the portal so that we can be having maybe a general meeting once in a month. We shall inform you when this is done.
3. The secretariat is also strengthening and we are talking to USAID and DFID in helping us especially maintain the portal and recruitment of a research assistant who will be harvesting important lessons from what will be reported and constantly updating information on the portal. The portal beginnings can be viewed at <http://www.fossfa.org>
4. FOSSFA in conjunction with the University of Western Cape (AVOIR Project) and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) is organising for the first open source meeting to be dubbed 'The Digital Commons Forum' to be held in the University of Western Cape in South Africa. Prof. Derek Keats and Mabaso Nhlahla (CSIR) are taking the lead in this forum and the organising committee with comprise ECA, FOSSFA focal points and team leaders of the various committees. More information on the forum will be following shortly.
5. The Capacity Building and Training Committee is also intensely engaged in developing the first resource and training centre in Accra, Ghana and premises and equipment has already been procured. Their immediate need currently is to get support for trainers. A comprehensive proposal will be developed in conjunction with the fund raising committee on how the center (FOSSREC) will become a reality. Mr. Gideon Hayford Chonia is taking the lead role in this project.
6. The education committee is also developing a concept on open source solutions (hardware and software) with a pilot project proposed in Kenya which is one of the countries that has not experienced a roll out of ICTs in schools. Messrs. Victor Kyalo, Lawase Akpolou and Denis Brandjes are taking the lead role in collaboration with DFID Imfundo.
Let me take this opportunity to thank you for your patience and support and look forward to our work moving smoother from this point onwards. I also look forward to receiving input from the Health and Government Committees soon.
With kind regards, Bildad Kagai Coordinator Free Software and open Source Foundation for Africa (FOSSFA) P. O. Box 919 Nairobi 00100 Kenya Suite B2, Tetu Apartments, State House Avenue Email. [EMAIL PROTECTED] URL. http://www.fossfa.org Tel. 254 20 272 8332 Fax. 254 20 272 6965 Cell. 254 722 379 409
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