Simon Vass Managing Director E-Tech Uganda Ltd http://www.etech.ug Tel: +256 (0) 312260620 or (0) 312260621 email: [email protected] skype: e-techservicedesk ----- Forwarded Message ----- From: "Evans Ikua" <[email protected]> To: "FOSS certification" <[email protected]> Cc: "fbt" <[email protected]>, "FOSSFA MEMBERS" <[email protected]> Sent: Tuesday, 14 August, 2012 7:48:42 PM Subject: [Certification] LPA Kenya to Host the Software Freedom Day in Kenya Software Freedom Day 2012 - 1 st September 2012 Open Source Developers Challenge - 31 st August 2012 Strathmore University, Nairobi Theme: “An Innovative, Open Future for Sustainable Socio-Economic Development” The success of the Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) development model has made immeasurable contributions to the development of information and communication technology (ICT). FOSS is software that gives the user the freedom to use, to alter and to share it. Since the software source code is readily available, the users are able to make changes to suit their requirements. FOSS therefore has very benefits compared to the proprietary and closed source alternatives. This openness means that FOSS is the embodiment of innovation and collaboration. This leads to better software, and ease of access to technology. The end result is that better and affordable solutions become available to enhance the quality of life of people from all over the world. This is is even more evident in poor countries where the large masses of unemployed youth can easily arm themselves with technology tools that can give them an opportunity to earn a living and improve their quality of life. Today, open source runs most of the technologies that we use. More than half of all mobile devices being sold run the open source Android operating system. More than a 3rd of worlds Domain Name Server (DNS), run on BIND, literally the glue that keeps the Internet together, which is open source. Over 70% of the web pages on the Internet are hosted on the open source Apache web server, while about 95% of the world's super computers run on Linux, arguably the most successful open source project. Nearly all the popular social media applications like Facebook, Twitter, Google, LinkedIn, YouTube etc, are built on open source tools. The Internet would probably not be as pervasive as we know it today if it was not for free and open source software. Today we have a future that promises openness. Kenya is only the first country in sub-Saharan Africa to launch Open Data. The Open Educational Resources and Open Learning are becoming important resources. The Wikipedia (built on open source) is a blazing success in Open Content development and collaboration. The Software Freedom Day 2012 (1 st September 2012) The Software Freedom day is a concept that was started by the Software Freedom Foundation and is aimed to celebrate the FOSS movement and community. It is also meant to educate the public about the benefits of using FOSS. SFD is held every 3 rd Saturday of September and organized by local FOSS communities. However, a team organizing an SFD event in their locality are free to alter the date to suit the local requirements and circumstances. LPA-Kenya last organized the SFD in 2007. We are now planning this event to be a yearly celebration in line with our strategic plan. The conference will also be preceded by various training workshops which are aimed at imparting practical skills in the leading open source tools, which will be facilitated by some of the leading open source experts in Kenya This year´s SFD Kenya will be graced by Jon ¨maddog¨ Hall, the Director of Linux International. Mr Hall, or maddog as he is widely known, is a globally renowned Open Source advocate, having supported the early development of Linux. This involvement brought him to a very close working relationship with Linus Torvalds, the creator of Linux. He has worked for Western Electric Corporation, Aetna Life and Casualty, Bell Laboratories, Digital Equipment Corporation, VA Linux Systems, and SGI. It was during his time with Digital that he initially became interested in Linux, and was instrumental in obtaining equipment and resources for Linus Torvalds to accomplish his first port to Digital's Alpha platform. He resides in the USA The guest of honour will be Dr Bitange Ndemo, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information and Communications. Other distinguished guests will be senior leaders in Government, Academia and from the business community. Open Source Developer Challenge (31 st August 2012) Along with the SFD, the Linux Professional Institute (East Africa) will sponsor the Open Source Developers challenge. This event is targeted at students who are interested in developing software applications and solutions using Open Source tools. This challenge is open to students in all Universities and tertiary training institutions who are studying Computer Science and other related courses. There will be various prizes to be won e.g. laptops, tablets, smart phones, training manuals, LPI exam vouchers and many more. The winners will be announced and awarded during the cocktail that will be hosted on the evening of Friday, 31st August 2012. Conference Objectives: 1. Celebrate the FOSS Movement in Kenya 2. Officially launch the LPA-Kenya strategic plan 3. Raise Awareness about FOSS in the public and private sector and the general public 4. Create interest about FOSS in Educational institutions 5. Present FOSS opportunities suitable to the local industry. 6. Bring the local FOSS community together for networking opportunities 7. Inspire the upcoming generation of Open Source developers and systems administrators 8. Present opportunities for FOSS Business models Participants : The LPA will be inviting participants from the public and private sector mainly: • All Government Ministries • All Government Departments including; • All Government Parastatals • Learning Institutions • Private Companies • NGOs • Small and Medium Sized Businesses • The general Public About LPA-Kenya Who we are: The Linux Professional Association of Kenya was formally registered in February 2007, by the members of the Kenya Linux Users Group, started back in 2002. The association is made up of professionals in the IT industry who seek to further the ideals of Free and Open Source Software (FOSS). As a non profit-making organization, our main aim is to contribute to the development of the IT industry and National development by encouraging the use of FOSS, as a catalyst for social and economic development in Kenya. The Association aims to play a central role in the implementation of free and open source software and technologies and guide the practical migration of the local market to these technologies leading to resource efficiencies, development of the local ICT skills resource capacity and poverty reduction. Our Vision A successful migration of the local information and communication technologies (ICT) industry to Free and Open Source Software and open standards. Our Mission To promote the professional and commercial use of free and open source software in Kenya. For further information, Contact:- The Secretariat Linux Professional Association of Kenya Physical address: Eagle House, 2 nd Floor, Kimathi Street. Opposite Corner House. Tel +254-722-955831 E-mail: [email protected] , Website: www.lpakenya.org -- ---------------------------------------------------- Kind Regards, Evans Ikua, lanetconsulting.com , lpi-eastafrica.org , ict-innovation.fossfa.net , Skype: @ikuae Cell: +254-722-955831 _______________________________________________ Certification mailing list [email protected] http://lists.it-inwent.org/listinfo/certification _______________________________________________ The Uganda Linux User Group: http://linux.or.ug Send messages to this mailing list by addressing e-mails to: [email protected] Mailing list archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ Mailing list settings: http://kym.net/mailman/listinfo/lug To unsubscribe: http://kym.net/mailman/options/lug The Uganda LUG mailing list is generously hosted by INFOCOM: http://www.infocom.co.ug/ The above comments and data are owned by whoever posted them (including attachments if any). 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