[Kictanet] Fwd: Africa Source II Announcement

[Florence Etta]

>FYI
> >
> >======================================================================
> >
> >Africa Source II - Free and Open Source Software for Local Communities
> >Kalangala, Uganda - Jan 08-Jan 15, 2006
> >
> >Africa Source II will be an eight day hands-on workshop aimed at
> >building the technical skills of those working with NGOs on the
> >continent. It will take place in one of the most beautiful parts of the
> >Kalangala Island on Victoria Lake during the beginning of January 2006.
> >
> >Africa Source II will bring together more than 100 NGOs and NGO
> >technology support professionals working at the local level across the
> >region, together with a handful of field leaders from Africa, Europe,
> >North America and Asia. Africa Source II will be a free and open source
> >software (FOSS) event. It's primary goal will be to increase the
> >practical use of FOSS desktop applications and tools amongst the non
> >profit sector in Africa.
> >
> >Specifically, Africa Source II will focus on how Free and Open Source
> >Software (FOSS) can be integrated into the mission-critical work of
> >NGO's. We will be bringing together nearly 100 NGO Support Professionals
> >and NGO Staff from across Africa to learn new skills, exchange tips, and
> >share experiences. All participants will have a history of work with
> >service and advocacy NGOs, educational organisations, NGO resource
> >centres, community centres and health information organisations.
> >
> >Participants with a range of experience will learn from one another
> >about how FOSS can help make their NGO's more efficient, build capacity
> >and assure that they are complying with software licensing laws. They
> >will be given an opportunity to develop their understanding of FOSS,
> >including exploring the challenges and the future potential of FOSS
> >adoption. There will be a range of sessions for participants to take
> >part in and will include:
> >
> >      * How to help NGO's plan for, migrate to and adopt FOSS applications
> >      * How to use FOSS applications to handle information, publish
> >        content using citizen's media tools and engage constituency
> >      * How FOSS can increase accessibility through localization,
> >        translation into local language and dialects
> >
> >During these sessions participants will get an opportunity to learn from
> >peers about how FOSS has impacted their work through case studies and
> >skill shares. The workshops will be lead by a range of facilitators from
> >the respective region with strong experience in deploying free and open
> >source solutions and of working in the non-profit sector. They will be
> >joined by a handful of others with relevant experiences from developing
> >and transition countries, as well as a select number of leaders in from
> >specific fields
> >
> >The camp will focus on learning by doing, rather than by listening. We
> >aim for a "workshop vibe" as opposed to a "conference vibe"; we hope
> >that elements like the location, shared housing, and the nature of the
> >sessions keep the energy level high and the interest in active
> >participation over passive learning strong. Like other source events,
> >Africa Source II will be intentionally designed to foster community
> >building, this creates an atmosphere conducive to learning, but more
> >importantly is essential if longer term relationships are to be built.
> >
> >Building on the previous Africa Source event (Namibia, March 2004),
> >which brought together African FOSS developers working in the social
> >sector, Africa Source II will work at the next level to bring together
> >those working at the complimentary intermediary level. Besides new
> >ideas, skills and contacts that participants will gain they will also
> >leave the workshop equipped with an event specific version of
> >NGO-in-a-box, a collection of Free and Open Source Software that will be
> >relevant to their work.
> >
> >The Association for Progressive Communication APC (regional network),
> >Fantsuam Foundation (Nigeria), Schoolnet Africa (regional network),
> >Translate.org.za, WOUGNET (Uganda) and The Tactical Technology
> >Collective (the Netherlands) will collaborate to organise the content of
> >the workshop and to build strong relationships between the participants.
> >The project partners are committed to examining the challenges of
> >implementing FOSS in the African context, stretching its potential to
> >fit the needs on the ground, and building local capacities to realise
> >this. Our local partners there are East African Center for Open Source
> >(EACOSS), Linux Solutions and WOUGNET.
> >
> >We are able to organise Africa Source II thanks to generous support from
> >   IDRC - The International Development Research Centre
> >(http://www.idrc.ca/), OSI - Open Society Institute Information Program
> >(http://www.soros.org/initiatives/information) and OSISA Open Society
> >Initiative for South Africa (http://www.osisa.org/).
> >
> >Previous source events have taken place in Croatia - September 2003,
> >Namibia - March 2004 and India - February 2005. As well as in Middle
> >East & Northern Africa future source events will take place in Central
> >Asia (http://www.tacticaltech.org/fossroad) and Middle East. Interaction
> >and learning between these regional events is facilitated through the
> >exchange of project models and individual expertise.
> >
> >For more information please visit http://www.tacticaltech.org/africasource2
> >
> >We are now accepting applications! The deadline for sending in
> >applications is October 15th, 2005. Please find the form here
> >http://www.tacticaltech.org/africasource2/applications
> >
> >Participants will be selected by the Advisory Group based on their
> >interest and experiences. There will be a small registration fee for the
> >event. A limited number of travel and registration fee scholarships will
> >be available and may be applied for on application. If you would like to
> >receive an application form or have any questions please write to
> >africasource2 at tacticaltech.org
>
>Adel El Zaim
>Senior Program Specialist / Administrateur de programme principal
>Connectivity Africa-Acacia
>
>Centre de recherches pour le développement international (CRDI) /
>International Development Research Center (IDRC)
>ICT4D
>aelzaim at idrc.org.eg
>Le Caire, Égypte / Cairo, Egypt
>
>
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