The time has come to raise funds to keep the children of the Women of Kireka in school. We raised enough money in our last fundraiser to keep them in school through the first term of 2010. However now the 2nd and 3rd terms must be addressed as well. There are currently 58 children enrolled in school and we are raising the funds with a combination of sales of the beads made by the women and donations. We have been covering our work with the women here on the blog for quite some time. So if you are a regular reader you know the story, however if you are not here is a quick recap:

One of our projects involves a fantastic group of women who were displaced during the war in Northern Uganda and fled to a town called Kireka outside the capital city of Kampala. They live in what is called an IDP camp (internally displaced persons) and work in the rock quarry there. For the last year or more we have been working with them to transition them out of the quarry an into more profitable and safer work. We currently have a team of interns working with them on job skills training, business training, working to get them counseling and health services and more. Just this week we were able to get them a small two room office, where they can meet and get training. Their ultimate goal is to create beautiful handmade crafts. They are currently making jewelry and will begin their training as seamstresses very soon. So it has been a very exciting time.

However in the midst of all of this it is time again to raise money for the children’s school fees. This year we are looking at a total of $4000 that needs to be raised. This will cover cost of school for 58 children through the end of the year. I will have a small quantity of necklaces made by the women for sale, the proceeds of which will go to the school fees. I expect to receive that shipment any day. Donations are also welcome in any amount via paypal.

Here are a few links that you may find interesting!

Three Days Earnings

Last Year’s Fundraiser, with videos!

A Conversation with Grace Lamono

An Intern’s Story

African Union to host ‘Building and maintaining peace and security through sports’ workshop in Addis Ababa on Africa Day (May 25th 2010)

Event: ‘Building and Maintaining Peace and Security through Sports’ Workshop
Date: 25th May 2010
Venue: African Union Headquarters, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Time: From 10.00am

Among those Attending the event will be:

The event is the latest in a series of fora across Africa to promote the African Union Year of Peace and Security. The workshop will provide information and share experiences on the role of sports in peace and security, as well as explore the opportunities presented by the Year of Peace and Security to further enhance the use of sports in peace-building both in 2010 and beyond.

The workshop will be held alongside other events including the Peace and Security Operations Division exhibition, Photo exhibition and the official flagging-off ceremony of the “Peace Journey”: an expedition across Africa aimed at creating awareness and spreading the message of peace amongst African citizens.

The Year of Peace and Security peaks on Peace Day, 21 September 2010, a day focussed on promoting non-violence and humanitarian assistance across Africa. All Year of Peace and Security activities build up to and follow on from Peace Day.

More about The African Union Year of Peace and Security
On 31 August 2009, the Heads of State and Government of the African Union (AU), meeting in Tripoli, on the occasion of the Special Session on the Consideration and Resolution of Conflicts in Africa, declared 2010 to be the Year of Peace and Security on the continent; proclaiming in paragraph 9 of the Tripoli Declaration:

“We are determined to deal once and for all with the scourge of conflicts and violence on our continent, acknowledging our shortcomings and errors, committing our resources and our best people, and missing no opportunity to push forward the agenda of conflict prevention, peacemaking, peacekeeping and post-conflict reconstruction. We, as leaders, simply cannot bequeath the burden of conflicts to the next generation of Africans”.

During the AU Summit held in Addis Ababa in January 2010, all 53 African Heads of State and Government reaffirmed their commitment to the Tripoli Declaration and the objectives of the Year of Peace and Security in Africa.
The overarching message for The Year of Peace and Security in Africa is Make Peace Happen.

I was stopped in my tracks tonight by this ad:

Which is intentionally playing on fears of identity theft, unsecured data transmission and Nigeria’s unfortunate reputation as being full of internet con men. This on the heels of highly touted District 9′s portrayal of Nigerians as backward, criminals, whores and cannibals. The roots of which are discussed in Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie great op-ed for the Guardian “Why Do South African’s Hate Nigerians”. These recent examples are part of a long trail of really negative portrayals of Nigerians in film and television. The recent X-men Movie Wolverine has an extended segment set in Lagos Nigeria… where yet again Nigerian criminals are at the forefront… this time Diamond traffickers. In October of 2008, even Saturday Night Live got a jab in when Anne Hathaway, fresh from discovering that her boyfriend was a con artist/criminal opened with a joke about her new boyfriend the Nigerian Prince… sigh. Hilarious.

We have all heard the jokes, seen the emails, heck, we’ve all been in conversations where in the conversation turns to internet crimes or con men, Nigeria is sure to come up. Clearly brand Nigeria is suffering. The question is… who will defend it?

After Sony released a commercial that played on the Nigerian criminal stereotype in order to sell a few more games, the Minister of Information forced Sony to apologize and edit the ad.

More actions like these certainly help control the damage, but do nothing to turn the tide. If the Nigerian Minister of Information is responsible for brand Nigeria what is being done to change the story? The Ministry launched a new website in May that is intended to help improve Nigeria’s brand… when I went to visit it, I got a malware warning… yeah, no matter how good the content on the site, not many folks are going to visit it with that window popping up. Not only that, but the Daily Trust article that reported on it also mentions how Nigeria’s own Government site was inoperable due to a conflict with its ISP. Way to build that brand guys.

So who can take the bull by the horns and turn this brand around? Ah, well that is the trick isn’t it? Nigeria has a booming music and movie industry why not use it to tell the west stories of Nigeria that are not out in the public view? If District 9 proved anything it proved and a well made African film can succeed in the West. So how about it? Who is writing the next book, song, movie, tv show that turns these stereotypes on their head and telling the whole story. Not just he seamy bad side (which every nation shares lets not forget) but also the stories of triumph over adversity, hope, friendship, family, love and loss, joy, humor and all the rest? Where are those stories? Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, has been accused of writing stories for the West instead of for African’s and maybe her critics are correct… but its only more people like her that will be able to turn the tide and present the World with the true face of Nigeria. So what do you say? Are you ready to defend brand Nigeria?

This November, motivated young Kenyans will create the first public digital map of Kibera, widely known as Africa’s largest slum. Map Kibera is a collaborative project lead by Mikel Maron of the Humanitarian OpenStreetMap Team and supported by JumpStart International. Partners include
Jubal Harpster of WhereCampAfrica, the Social Development Network (Sodnet), Pamoja Trust, Hands on Kenya, Carolina for Kibera and others.

Kibera remains a blank spot on the Kenyan map, though it holds as many as one million inhabitants according to UN-HABITAT. Its limited health and water resources, traffic patterns, and housing layouts remain largely invisible to the outside world and to residents themselves. Though many organizations have collected data on Kibera, the information is not yet shared as a resource for all to use. Map Kibera will fill in this gap by producing free, open-source digital map data using the techniques of OpenStreetMap, a user-edited map of the world. The resulting information will be freely available to residents, NGOs, private companies, and others interested in working with and for Kibera.

Twelve young residents of Kibera will first be trained on current mapping techniques during a two-day workshop. Individuals from the growing Nairobi technology scene will help train and network with the larger community. The group will then map all of Kibera over a two-week period in mid-November and share the results through OpenStreetMap, joining a growing global community of tech-savvy grassroots mapmakers. “The project will provide open-source data that will help illustrate the living conditions in Kibera. Without basic knowledge of the geography of Kibera it is impossible to have an informed discussion on how to improve the lives of residents of Kibera,” said Mikel Maron.

Following the completion of the map, raw data will be made available at no charge to upload into
collaborative mapping platforms. A workshop with local interested civic organizations will introduce them to the final map, and spark follow-up initiatives. The new group of mappers will share the information with their own communities by distributing paper maps, and will be able to keep information current as conditions change in Kibera.

For more information, please visit www.mapkibera.org.

OpenStreetMap, is a web project to create a free and open map of the entire world, built entirely by volunteer map-makers.

The Humanitarian OpenStreetMap Team, applies the principles and techniques of OpenStreetMap towards humanitarian response and economic development.

JumpStart International, promotes sustainable economic development and self-sufficiency through active projects that focus on building livelihoods and rebuilding communities to overcome effects of conflict, disaster, and systemic poverty.

Ok guys, we are heading headlong into phase 2 of this little experiment of ours. So this is a fantastic time for us to get ideas from you. We have been traveling a bit no matter where we have gone we have fantastic conversations and we want to hear more!

What topics do you find interesting?
What do you wish we were talking about but are not?
What kind of information do you wish you had?
What kinds of tools and resources make sense to you?

This is your chance to influence the shape of things to come, so talk to us! Let us know what you want to see more of… and for that matter what you want to see less of. Come on everyone, what are you thinking?

Submitted by: Gannon Gillespie of Tostan.org

October 5, 2009

In Puntland, Somalia where an estimated 98% of the population practices FGC, this declaration provides new way forward. 14 villages in this Northeast Zone of Somalia, made history on Monday as they became the first group of communities in the region to collectively pledge to abandon the practice of female genital cutting (FGC).

These communities participated in an empowering three-year education program implemented by the NGO Tostan in collaboration with UNICEF and the Government of Puntland. The Minister of the Interior of Puntland and the country representative from UNICEF Somalia presided over the ceremony. Also present were the Director General of the Ministry of Women (Puntland), the Director General of Justice (Puntland), the Governor of Puntland, the Mayor of Garowe, representatives of the religious leaders of Puntland, and representatives from women’s organizations in the region.

Approximately 2,000 people attended the declaration held in a soccer stadium in the city of Garowe. FGC is estimated to be practiced in 28 countries in Africa and can result in serious health complications, including pain, hemorrhage, increased difficulties at child birth, infertility, incontinence, infections, and even death.

Participants read poems and performed a play on the harmful effects of FGC depicting a father who was against practicing FGC on his daughter. Two former cutters from Sunijiif also addressed the large audience and shared why they had decided to stop the practice. The declaration to announce the decision to abandon FGC, signed by participating communities, was read aloud by a woman leader from the village of Burtinle.

Following the declaration, the Puntland Director General for Women spoke in support of this historic decision and a respected religious leader from Garowe cited verses from the Koran and explained that FGC is not an obligation in Islam.

Since January 2007, over 700 participants in 14 communities have been directly involved in the Tostan Community Empowerment Program (CEP) in the Nugaal region of Puntland. The program, which is implemented over a period of 30-months by local facilitators and managed by village-elected Community Management Committees (CMCs), includes modules on democracy, human rights, problem-solving, hygiene, health, literacy, small business management, and microfinance. Teaching methods are participatory and learner-centered, based on positive Somali oral traditions such as poetry, story-telling, theater, and song.

Tostan believes that the reason for the success of the CEP in catalyzing communities to end FGC is its respectful, non-directive, and holistic approach. During the program, communities are empowered to make informed decisions on a range of critical issues, including FGC. Tostan’s program is inclusive – it recognizes that social norms, such as FGC, involve all members of society, including men, women, adolescents, and elders, as well as religious and traditional leaders. In Somalia the involvement and assistance of respected religious, government, and community leaders was critical to the program’s success.

Over the course of the program, program participants in Puntland organized a comprehensive social mobilization campaign. They traveled to surrounding rural villages where they dialogued with relatives and respected local religious leaders. In collaboration with the Puntland Government’s Ministry of Women and Ministry of Health, they facilitated information sessions at which community members engaged with health agents and religious leaders. On August 5th, 2009, community representatives met in Sunijiif and organized a peaceful march calling for a unified decision to abandon FGC.

Since its founding in 1991, Tostan has implemented the Community Empowerment Program in 10 countries in West and East Africa. In addition to improvements in community health, respect of human rights, understanding of democratic principles, economic growth, literacy, and environmental protection, the program has led to communities pledging to abandon FGC and child/forced marriage in Senegal, Guinea, Burkina Faso, The Gambia, and now Somalia.

The particular circumstances in Somalia – namely, the near universal practice of FGC – makes this declaration of abandonment particularly significant. The villagers from Puntland join a growing movement in which over 4,000 communities have followed a similar process of education and community outreach, followed by a public declaration for the abandonment of this harmful traditional practice. It is anticipated that similar public declarations will be made by neighboring communities in Somaliland in the coming months.

“The Garowe Declaration represents an important step forward for women and girls in Somalia,” said Molly Melching, Executive Director of Tostan. “This is a critical new development in the movement for the abandonment of harmful social practices in Africa, led by community members themselves.”

Tostan is a US 501(c)(3) nongovernmental organization based in the West African country of Senegal. Tostan works primarily in rural regions to promote basic education and increase community engagement in projects related to health and hygiene, child welfare, human rights and democracy, the environment, literacy, and economic development. Tostan is currently implementing its program in Djibouti, The Gambia, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Mali, Mauritania, Senegal, and Somalia. For more information about Tostan, please visit www.tostan.org.

Well, we have returned from Africa and a wonderful visit with the Women of Kireka. There is much exciting news with regard to the women and their transition to sustainable work that will get them out of the Kireka quarry. We have a firm order for 100 bracelets, both leather beaded ones and ones made out of paper. That is hopefully the first of many orders for hand-crafted items from the women. They have also brainstormed several really unique ideas and we are really looking forward to the prototypes. However in with the good news and the forward momentum there is still some gritty reality that must be addressed.
Before we get into that I thought I would share a bit of the celebration we had with you. They really did make us feel welcome!

A Performance by the Women of Kireka from Project Diaspora on Vimeo.

The Children of Kireka from Project Diaspora on Vimeo.

The children are due to start school and we just discovered that there are no monies at all to send them to school. Actually like Mother’s every where their very first order of business was to talk to us about the children’s schooling. For these ladies keeping their kids in school tops out any interest they had in their own training program! The costs to send a child to school in Uganda are nominal, but when you don’t have it… well you don’t have it. School starts on September 7th and it is our hope that we can raise enough funds to make that happen for all the Kids of Kireka. If you are interested in helping these children get to school this term please donate via the Women if Kireka donation button to the right.

If you are interested in sponsoring a particular child or family please let us know and we will keep you up to date on the child’s progress in school and other details. I know the mother’s and children would love to thank you for your support.

Here is a break down of the families and the needed fees (US Dollars):

Mother:
Alice Ajok
Children:
1. Patrick Ochora, 14 yrs
Sponsored in full by David Sisaki 9/6/09 THANK YOU DAVID!
$27.00/55,000 ug sh

2. Nancy Adongo, (Dreams of being a Nurse) 8 yrs
Sponsored in full by Sandy Wickberg. 9/6/09. THANK YOU SANDY!
$27.00/55,000 ug sh

3. Patricia Achiro
Sponsored in full by Tammy Theis. THANK YOU TAMMY!
$27.00/55,000 ug sh

4. Innocent Odutuka
Sponsored in full by Tammy Theis. THANK YOU TAMMY!
$27.00/55,000 ug sh

Mother:
Sabina Layet
Children:
5. Susan Aceng, 15 yrs
Sponsored in full by Melanie Spiegel. THANK YOU MELANIE!
$103.93/210,000 ug sh

6. Daniel Okema
Sponsored in full by Vickie Barcomb 9/5/09 THANK YOU VICKIE!
$49.40/100,000 ug sh

Mother:
Angella Alwoch
Children:
7. Ocuc Alwoch, 13 yrs
Sponsored in full by Jeff Stephens. THANK YOU JEFF!
$27.70/60,000 ug sh

8. Ayaa Alwoch, 8 yrs
Sponsored in full by Jeff Stephens. THANK YOU JEFF!
$27.70/60,000 ug sh

9. Aber Alwoch, 16 yrs
Sponsored in fill by Jill Humphries. THANK YOU JILL!
$153.43/310,000 ug sh/font>

10. Ayon Alwoch, 14 yrs
Sponsored in full by Doug Dawson. THANK YOU DOUG!
$44.54/90,000 ug sh

Mother:
Agnes Aneno
Children:
11. Juliana Laker, 4 yrs
Sponsored in full by Judith Cannon. Thank you JUDY!
$27.70/60,000 ug sh

12. Samuel Bitek, 8 yrs
Sponsored in full by Judith Cannon. Thank you JUDY!
$27.70/60,000 ug sh

13. Amone Aneno, 12 yrs
Sponsored in full by Judith and Lisa Cannon. Thank you JUDY and LISA!
$27.70/60,000 ug sh

Mother:
Christina Aloyo
Children:
14. Thomas Aloyo, 12 yrs
Sponsored in full by Robert Jones. THANK YOU ROBERT!
$27.70/60,000 ug sh

15. Stella Aloyo, 13 yrs
Sponsored in full by Robert Jones. THANK YOU ROBERT!
$27.70/60,000 ug sh

16. Achan Aloyo, 8 yrs
Sponsored in full by Heidi Pickering. THANK YOU HEIDI!
$27.70/60,000 ug sh

Mother:
Gloria Achan
Children:
17. Stuart Nsingwire, 16 yrs, S.4
$222.72/450,000 ug sh

18. Stefan Alinda, 11 yrs, P.6
Sponsored in full by Mike Martin. THANK YOU MIKE!
$98.98/200,000

19. Vicky Aol, 12 yrs
Sponsored in full by Mark Fleitman. THANK YOU MARK!
$49.40/100,000 ug sh

20. Prisca Acayo, 5 yrs
$79.19/160,000

21. Michael Ochira, 3yrs
$79.19/160,000

Mother:
Scovia Arach
Children:
22. Junior Okello, 11yrs
$42.07/85,000 ug sh

23. Godfrey Odongo, 9 yrs
Sponsored in full!
$27.70/60,000 ug sh

24. Cosmos Otim, 7 yrs
$42.07/85,000

25. Bonny Opinyo, 3 yrs
Sponsored in full!
$27.70/60,000 ug sh

26. New Lady Acen, 3yrs
Sponsered in full by Barney and Barbara Boeder. THANK YOU BARNEY AND BARBARA!
$27.70/60,000 ug sh

Mother:
Gertrude Abo
Children:
27. Geoffrey Obo
$44.54/90,000 ug sh

28. Sarah Akot
Sponsored in full by Sarah Meaders 9/6/09. THANK YOU SARAH!
$39.59/80,000

Mother:
Sarah Abonyo
Children:
Awaiting information

Mother:
Santa Akech
Children:
29. Nancy Aneno, (Dreams of being a Nurse) 19 yrs, P6
Sponsored in full by Vickie Barcomb. THANK YOU VICKIE!
$49.40/100,000 ug sh

30. Edward Ojara, (Dreams of being a Doctor) 16 yrs, S1
$227.67/460,000

31. Gerald Pekorom, (Dreams of being a Business Man) 13 yrs, P6
$49.40/100,000 ug sh

32. Barbra Lanyero, (Dreams of being a Teacher) 10 yrs, P4
$49.40/100,000 ug sh

33. Mercy Achiro, (Dreams of being a Police Woman) 8 yrs, P2
$49.40/100,000 ug sh

Mother:
Grace Lamunu
Children:
34. Innocent Alimochan, 17 yrs, S1
$183.12/370,000

35. Denis Lubangakene, (Dreams of being a Driver) 14 yrs, P5
$79.19/160,000

36. Brenda Anena, (Dreams of being a Teacher) 10 yrs, P5
$79.19/160,000

37. Gloria Abalo, (Dreams of being a Police Woman) 7 yrs, P2
$44.54/90,000 ug sh

Mother:
Hellen Anyek
Children:
38. Denis Okwera, 17 yrs, S1
$242.51/490,000

39. Isaac OKello, (Dreams of being an Engineer) 14 yrs P7
$54.44/110,000

40. Nelson Onenchan, (Dreams of being a Lawyer) 10 yrs, P5
$49.40/100,000 ug sh

41. Carlo Langoya, (Dreams of being a Doctor) 7 yrs, P2
$49.40/100,000 ug sh

42. Geoffrey Opwonya
Nursery next year

Mother:
Christine Auma
Children:
43. Beatrice Lanyero, (Dreams of being a Teacher) 17 yrs, P5
$44.54/90,000 ug sh

44. Nancy Akello, (Dreams of being a Teacher) 14 yrs, P2
Sponsored in full by Dinah DeLuca. THANK YOU DINAH!
$39.59/80,000

45. Fiona Apio, 10 yrs
Sponsored in full!
$39.59/80,000

46. Bob Nyeko, 7 yrs
Sponsored in full!
$39.59/80,000

Mother:
Milly Auma
Children:
Awaiting information

Mother:
Jennifer Achiro
Children:
47. Daniel Akemkwene, 9 yrs, P3 Sponsored in full by Lisa Cannon, Thank you LISA!
$48.01/97,000

48. Ronnie Okot, (Dreams of being a Doctor) 8 yrs, P3 Sponsored in full by Lisa Cannon, Thank you LISA!
$48.01/97,000

Racheal Apio, 1 yrs

Gabriel Ochen, 1 yrs

Dr. Adebayo Discusses the partnership between Kennesaw State University and 2nd Kenyan Diaspora International Conference & Investment Forum

Akanmu G. Adebayo, Ph.D.
Executive Director
Institute for Global Initiatives
Kennesaw State University
Interviewed by Benin Brown

Benin: Can you tell us a little bit about the background of the KSU Institute for Global Initiatives?

Adebayo: The Institue for Global Initiatives was established to be Kennesaw State University‘s office to coordinate all of the university’s global learning initiatives. The institute was established in 2003 by merging a number of autonomous global learning units. So it was created with the idea of creating an international programs one stop shop for faculty and students where they can go for any international program related issues. So the Institute for Global Initiatives is the coordinator of both grants and programs that promote international learning amongst students and faculty alike.

Additionally, it has become the place where several regional centers are all housed. Those regional centers help KSU coordinate degree programs/to bring services to university that help to promote univesity’s involvement in those regions of the world. i.e. the center for African & African Diaspora Studies where we coordinate programs for Africa and the African Diaspora.

Also, we have the Center for Hispanic Studies where we coordinate programs about Hispanics in the US and also about Spain and Latin America. And last year we added the Confucious Institute, which is fully funded by Chinese Government, as place where Chinese culture and language will be learned by members of the KSU community. In nutshell the institute helps KSU and surrounding commuyntity become more aware of whats happening around the world.

Benin: Very true, Atlanta has been the international city of the South. One of the interesting things about Kennesaw State University is that although it is situated in Kennesaw, Ga; which is a suburb of Metro Atlanta it is not in actually located within the city limits of Atlanta. So my question is how was KSU able to do what it did, in terms of becoming an international city, outside of inner city limits of Atlanta?

Adebayo: You hit the nail on the head about location. In Business School we hear the adage that talks about location being a key element in marketing. Such is the case with KSU. The location is good because Kennesaw is a suburb of Atlanta, but also because it is within a short distance to the interstate, so you can get there very easily. And we have also heard from some of our students who are from the greater Atlanta metropolitan area that they like the campus because they consider it to be more convenient and safe than the Atlanta city limits. So what this means is that some of our students are provincial in their thinking and this gives us the opportunity to make an impact by bringing the world to Kennesaw.

In addition to location Kennesaw has foresight of a strong administration. They have taken internationalization as a top priority for the university. This is part of the reason that we have over 1500 international students from 140 countries and are able to send over 500 students per year abroad. In these harsh economic times, this is quite significant.

Benin: Why do you think that the first Kenya Diaspora Investment Forum was so successful?

Adebayo: In the 1990′s Kenya was the top country for sending intl students to KSU. And this is one of the reasons that the first conference was so successful-KSU’s large Kenyan student community. Interestingly, at that time, we were not doing any recruiting in Kenya. But I think that what happened is that the first group of Kenyan students to arrive were treated so well that those students told their brothers, sisters, and other members of their families-who upon hearing became students at KSU also. And these initial students increased our interest in KE.

Another reason is that each year at KSU we choose one country to highlight through lectures, cultural shows, classes, and etc. We had selected the 2006-2007 school year to be the Year of Kenya. The entire year we continued to feature activities about Kenya and soon enough the entire community became accustomed to the fact that every Thurs there was something special going on that focused on Kenya.

Additionally, the level of participation from the Kenya community all over the US was tremendous. And the Atlanta Kenyan Professionals Association (AKPA) worked with us to help plan the conference. Likewise, the majority of the attendees attended because they had been invited by friends or family.

Benin: So how do you explain affinity on the part of Kenyans for KSU ?

Adebayo: Well in the academic world we know that you get international students through many ways-recruitment, public awareness, and etc. But nothing is as assured as having students from the country that you want to recruit. That person becomes your biggest exposure to that particular market that they represent. Word of mouth even from just one student is very powerful. And we treat our students very well. Even as far back in the 90′s we’d already established an international center and today we now have an office of international student retention. So KSU does not leave anything to chance. We were very intent on creating programs to take care of students welfare. KSU is one of few Atlanta univeristys that makes health care insurance available and mandatory for its intl students. The Institute Global Initiatives continues to promote the academic welfar of its students.

Benin: What can you say about this years focus on ICT?

Adebayo: Well this year with the 2nd Diaspora conference on Kenya, we chose to focus on building the knowledge community. And this is because we’d like to have some impact on the way in which policies are determind in Kenya. Having a positive impact on the processes of economic development in Kenya is something that is important to us.

The focus on ICT is very timely. Kenya is just completing its fiber optic program, which will allow millions in KE affordable access to the internet. Kenya’s strategy is to be Africa’s main ICT center outside of South Africa.

What it also means is that we are able to dicuss these things and propose ideas about what needs to be done from a policy standpoint; we are able to propose ideas in a way that means we arent just talking about general business in Kenya. But we also view this as an awareness opportunity to expose American business people to Kenya as well. And what we are saying is that as a result of new technological developments there are new business opportunities that represent amazing potential for business people and investors.

You see…I often hear many of my counterparts in America referencing the potential for call center operators in Kenya, but the opportunity is so much larger than call centers. In fact, one could say that centers are just the tip of the iceberg. One of the areas that we see really huge potential in KE is in software development and distribution. You see, Kenya can derive revenue from sources outside of tourism. And again, with the economic climate that we are facing right now it is very important that this happens.

Benin: What do you think is the impact of Kenya’s Diaspora population on business in Kenya?

Adebayo: The Diaspora population increases the awareness of Kenya abroad. And with President Obama’s roots in Kenya, he has also done a lot to increase global awareness of Kenya. I think that the Diaspora community also provides Kenya with a unique opportunity to look beyond tourism. Because although tourism is great and there is nothing wrong with it, it does allow many opportunities to corrupt the local environment through pollution. Finally, the diaspora community also contributes to Kenya’s economic development as a source of funding.

Benin: I see and how does the partnership between KSU and The Kenya Diaspora Forum work?

KSU donates the entire venue to the forum which includes world class rooms, facilities, conference equipment and a safe environment. The Computer Science department takes the lead in helping with the presentation & etc. Likewise, KSU benefits because it allows the school to increase its awareness in Kenya to potential students

Benin: Is there anything else that you’d like to add?

Adebayo: We are looking forward to the conference and are very excited about the investment opportunities that will be discussed there, as well as the busines people that will be able to take part in this event. We are also excited because we have the chance to meet Kenyans who are planning to go back to Kenya for retirement because we know that we might be able to make an impact on what businesses they might be able to pursue once back in Kenya.

For more information on the upcoming conference, readers are encouraged to visit the official site-kenyaopen4business.com.

Not too long ago we covered the fact that the first ever WherecampAfrica was being held in Nairobi. Well, I neglected to follow up and there are some cool things that have come out of that event.

Firstly…. WHERECAMP KAMPALA!!!

WhereCamp Africa: Kampala is tentatively planned for Friday October 30th at the same venue as the Africa GIS 2009 conference. (I had to look it up, GIS= Geographic Information System) The event will occur on the final day of the conference and should allow plenty of opportunity for traditional GIS folks to interact with local developers.

A little about the GIS Conference:

AFRICAGIS is the premier conference and exhibition focusing on geo-information technologies and applications in Africa. The principal objective of AFRICAGIS is to provide a platform for geo-information professionals from Africa to learn about geo-information technology and its applications. It provides a forum for geo-information professionals to meet, interact, and be updated on new developments, products and emerging trends and issues.

There is more information coming, so stay tuned and well let you know about all the WhereCamp developments.

And if that is not enough mapping fun for you…. also in the works:
WhereCampAfrica Bamako!
In the planning stages for April 2010 during the 2nd annual African Geospatial week. During which the annual CGIAR-CSI (The Consultative Group for International Agriculture Research- Consortium for Spatial Information) meeting will take place. Keep your eyes peeled!

Along with all the camps the team at WhereCampAfrica in conjunction with Open Street Map and Development Seed is also planning a potential Open Source Mapping Project in East Africa: AfricaGIS Participatory Mapping Project.

From their Prospectus

The opportunity is immediately available to leapfrog the African mapping community into the latest accessible practices of the GeoWeb, utilizing open data, open standards and open source software for application and systems development.
This project aims to catalyze a dormant but otherwise very motivated African geo community through local, community based, but scalable participatory mapping

With four ambitious phases, this project works hard to get the participatory part right:
We have already told you about phase 1:
WhereKampala – An informal un-conference focused on mapping and spatial technology where participants set the agenda.

The rest of the phases include:
Map Kibera – Mapping the Kibera slum area of Nairobi to raise awareness, catalyze a community and test open data licensing with major vendors and initiatives

Mapping Parties – Expand on mapping Kibera and hold mapping parties in and around East African capitols including Nairobi, Kampala, Lilongwe and Kigali.

Open Source Geo Workshop - Train in the use of Open Source Geo technologies, including PostGIS, GeoServer, GeoWebCache, GeoNetwork and Open Layers immediately before or After the AfricaGIS conference.

This all volunteer project is looking for funding to get off the ground… so contact them if you are interested in giving this important project a helping-hand.

Find Jubal Harpster:
via e-mail: jharpster@wherecampafrica.org
Jubal on Twitter

WherecampAfrica on Twitter

For those of you looking for more information on the first WhereCamp:
One of the main objectives of the original camp was to showcase the opportunities that rapidly changing Information and communication technologies offer. The hope was to really leverage the media to raise awareness especially in the area of agricultural production and productivity. Media represented at the event included BBC, IPS, UN IRIN, Nation TV and Newspaper as well as the Africa Science News Service. The complete list of media outlets that covered the event is impressive. WhereCampAfrica Coverage Report_June2009

Recently was contacted by their event manager and was impressed by what I saw on their site. This looks like a fun event, totally worth checking out! So all you folks in London, stop on by and then let us know what you think!

Afrika Art is a family event that celebrates the diversity of the African
Caribbean culture through its Arts, its Crafts and its Flavours. While
listening to live bands with warm African vibes, scheduled or open mic,
you can browse through the vibrant market to find a rich selection of
creative objects ranging from fashion to crafts.

Afrika Art is every first Saturday of the month from 12pm till 7pm in the Africa Centre, 38 King Street, Covent Garden, London WC2E.

For more info you can visit the afrodiva site or call 07949 652 757. The next Afrika Art will be
on Saturday 01st August.
Free Entry

Just found out today the the flood of African BarCamps has added another member! BarCamp Cameroon is in the planning stages so if you are interested in lending your support please let them know! Join the Google group:

BarCamp Cameroon Google Group

BarCamp Cameroon Official Event Page

BarCamp Cameroon Blog

Follow Barcamp Cameroon on Twitter!

Dear Mr. Studio Executive from A Library In Iga on Vimeo.

Posted by Tracy for Anita Adoba of A Library In Iga

The biggest challenge faced in the fight against AIDS, at least from my perspective, is the sheer size of the problem. Problem solving in Africa seems always to be a gargantuan task. As a native it fills you with helplessness. But giving up is not an option. I have come to realize as I’ve grown older and wiser, that a gargantuan task can always, always, be broken up into lots of smaller tasks; and thus the AIDS challenge can be met, a little at a time, one step at a time. This letter is an attempt to make that 1st step in this thousand-mile journey, for a community that I know well; my own. I hope that it catches your attention, and that you help us in our quest to make a difference one person at a time, one village at a time.

____________________________________________________________________________________________

Dear Mr. Studio Executive,

I am writing this letter to a number of studio executives like you, in the hope that it may strike a chord with someone who is willing to help in trying to make a difference.

It is unlikely that you will read this letter yourself – but in the event that your PA or whoever reads letters on your behalf decides that this is something you might be interested in – here is what I am after. Yes – I am after something – aren’t we all?

My parents will be celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary in 2008. There is probably nothing unusual in that you might say – but here is the kicker – they will be doing this in Nigeria. That is probably still not unusual enough for you – I daresay you’ve had filming locations that are more remote – and probably more exotic. I see from my visits to various zoos around the world (San Diego Wild life park is one of my favourites) that my particular part of Nigeria is probably home to several lions and possibly a few elephants but I have to tell you I‘ve never actually seen one in the wild. Which makes my part of the country a little dull in that regard. But it does kind of grow on you – sort of like a hangnail – but I digress.

My father is the chief of my village – called Iga Okpaya. You should probably just stick to calling it Iga (Ee-GAH – emphasis on the last syllable – and it sort of goes up a whole note Ee would be a C – middle C – and GAH would be an E). I have yet to meet a white person (I don’t mean to offend but it is true) who can make the ‘kp’ sound, as it doesn’t exist in English phonetics. I’m digressing again.

As part of the celebrations I will be putting together a sort of photo documentary of their life together, our lives really. I am putting together a list of items that I will be shipping to Iga in preparation for this auspicious event (I live in Dallas). Items that I probably won’t find readily in Nigeria, at least, not without paying an arm and a leg for it. For the photo documentary I am going to need a projector, and a screen to project onto. Fortunately, technology has put these items within my reach. (Had you going there didn’t I? You thought I was going to ask you to give me a projector and a screen). I did however get to thinking about what would be done with the projector and screen once the party was over. This is when I hit upon what I believe to be an absolutely sensational idea!

My village has a village square that is used for events that generally involve my father making a long speech, followed by his children and all our relatives (immediate family does not mean quite the same thing as it does over here in the States) being asked to dance. We do dance, but in a very self-conscious manner (except for our numerous relatives – they are very enthusiastic dancers) to special music – it’s a special drum and a special beat that is played only for a chief. I generally find it excruciating – I do it though because it makes my father happy and it makes the villagers happy to see how badly we dance (except for our relatives – see above).

My brilliant idea is to turn the village square into a ‘drive-in movie theatre’ with said projector and screen. It would be just like a ‘drive-in’ here, except it would be more of a ‘walk-in’, as generally speaking everywhere in my village is within walking distance and people drive only to show off their cars – which is a little asinine as we really have no roads to speak of so driving on anything other than the main thoroughfare is really like putting the cars’ suspension and gears through a gruelling rally – actually driving on the main thoroughfare is rather like a rally – especially in the rainy season. Main thoroughfare is probably a glamorous description for what is really a two-lane dirt road for most of the time. I’m digressing again.

Let me first of all assure you – there is no danger whatsoever of this ‘walk-in movie theatre’ ever making any money. There is no real employment in my village to speak of – most people farm either to earn a living or to feed themselves usually both. A lot of people work elsewhere and return to the village every so often. The farming is also quite rudimentary, old-fashioned hoes (real hoes not the four letter kind in the street vernacular) to till the soil – no tractors to speak of – not even the mule pulled variety.

Movies are a way to lose oneself – to free people from the tedium and destitution that their lives consist of, for a few hours, so that they can face another day. If this could be provided to my village, such that they can dream, escape their demons for a short while; it would be a great humanitarian service. I have no idea of how one goes about obtaining a distribution rights from movie studios. I imagine it involves a lot of money, which I assure you I have no hope of ever obtaining. If however, this letter has caught your attention, perhaps this is something your studio could do, that could bring some relief to some people who are in dire need of it.

My brilliant idea does not stop there – my brilliant idea also involves using this ‘walk-in theatre’ as a means of providing some much needed education about HIV and AIDS.

I have tried to make this letter humorous – but I will be serious about this particular topic. I truly do not know how many people have HIV and/or AIDS in Africa, or in Nigeria, or in my village. We do not speak about AIDS. If a person dies unexpectedly, or loses a lot of weight, or seems different in any way, AIDS is suspected, but never talked about. There are lots of billboards in the large cities in Nigeria with messages about HIV and AIDS – but I have to tell you they do absolutely nothing – from an education perspective, and certainly not from a tolerance perspective. They basically proclaim ‘abstinence’ as being the key – however there are women of my mother’s generation who contracted HIV from their husbands and subsequently developed AIDS– what does abstinence do for them? When in fact has abstinence been used successfully as a means of achieving anything? The Christian right has tried that and I believe it’s successful only among the home-schooled – until they get to college any way. I have nothing against the Christian right (well actually I do but this is not the place; I should add I am a Christian, it is probably relevant I think) but we live in this world; we need to provide people with the information with which to make the right choices, and that involves providing them with accurate information of the disease, the means by which it is contracted and spread, and the reality of living with AIDS. In Nigeria today, and probably Africa as a whole, there are girls and women who are contracting AIDS because they are too frightened to insist that their husbands, boyfriends, etc use condoms. To pretend that people are going to ‘abstain’ and thus the epidemic will stop is a dangerous lie. As Christ himself said, ‘ I have come to save the world, not to condemn it’. Present the information, with no moral subtext that implies that if you get it, it is somehow your fault for not abstaining! And please provide them with information that allows them to have some semblance of a quality of life, if they do have HIV or AIDS.

One of the key things about HIV and AIDS in Africa, is the fact that all the drugs, all the progress that has been made in holding the disease in abeyance, is singularly out of reach for most of the individuals that need it most. The drugs, even priced at only a few dollars, are far beyond what the people of my village can afford, and the myriads of people in Africa like them.

I do not have all the answers, but I do believe the right information is the beginning. Studios like yourselves could perhaps fund scholarships and/or offer prizes to students of schools of film and drama, to produce low budget documentaries or dramas, that chronicle the lives of people living with AIDS around the world; of real preventive measures, and factual information about the disease delivered with no moral agenda. Such documentaries could be shown at the ‘walk-in theatre’ before, after or during the ‘real’ show.

I do not have HIV or AIDS; the good Lord in that way has blessed me. It is certainly not because I have abstained; I lived through the eighties and nineties and I do not claim any moral high ground. I do however, have a great sense of ‘there but for the grace of God go I’; and thus feel compelled to do something.

This letter is my attempt at doing something. If I have caught your attention, then please let me know, and we can discuss how to make the ‘walk-in theatre’ a reality for the people of Iga Okpaya.

Sincerely yours,
Anita Adoba
Daughter of Och’Iga, Chief Peter Sule Adoba
Native of Iga Okpaya,
Currently living in Dallas, Texas
Employed by Oracle Corporation

Ato Ulzen-Appiah On BarCamps Ghana and Diaspora from Project Diaspora on Vimeo.

BarCamp Diapora is coming up fast. For those of you living in our near DC sign up and join the conversation! Admission is free… What a DEAL!

When: July 25
Where: Kenney Auditorium, School of Advanced International Studies – Johns Hopkins
University, 1740 Massachusetts Ave., NW
Washington, DC
Why: Investing Our Talents Where it Counts!
Who: Organized by GhanaThink

I was fortunate enough to have a chance to talk to Ato not only about BarCamp Diaspora, the first Barcamp intended to bring together Ghanians living in the diaspora and people interested in Africa, but also what it took to put on GhanaThink’s first effort: BarCamp Ghana. Barcamp Diaspora is not about a keynote speech and big name speakers but instead about Ghanians who are doing interesting and innovative things worth discussion. It is for anyone who is interested in using their skills, talent, and resources to benefit Africa. Which pretty much means anyone who is interested and has something to contribute to the conversation is welcome.

If you are interested in attending, Registation is FREE and you can sign up at the Barcamp Diaspora EventBright page.

Remember these events are only as good as the participants who engage with them. If you are planning to attend be ready to organize a breakout session, and be a part of what will make this Barcamp the best one yet! What to expect as Barcamp Breakout Organizer

These great folks all contributed to making BarCamp Ghana a great success and setting the bar for the next team. Plus check out your BarCamp Diaspora organizers! Be sure and let them know about your ideas and be ready to have an experience you won’t forget!

BarCamp Ghana team
Henry Barnor, Nii Simmonds, Ato Ulzen-Appiah, Shirley Somuah, Henry Addo, Kwesi Smith, Ashifi Gogo, Emmanuel Akrong, Worlali Senyo, Eugene Kofi Tandoh

BarCamp Diaspora team
Ato Ulzen-Appiah, Henry Barnor, Reginald Amoa, Seyram Avle, Christine Yieleh Chireh, Kobina Aidoo, Kwabena Amporful, Julia Mensah, Emmanuel Mensah, Abena Sackey, Nana Yaw Kwadade, Denise Twum, Emmanuel Akrong

The 2nd Kenya Diaspora International Conference and Investment Forum

So pleased to discover this event.
The 2nd Kenya Diaspora International Conference and Investment Forum

Big thanks to Mariam Ali Mucheru who not only participated in our survey but also took the time to drop us a line and let us know about this event.

The purpose of this Conference is to provide a forum for multiple stakeholders to engage the Kenya Diaspora and potential foreign investors on effective initiatives to build productive partnerships in support of Kenya and her development agenda.

Scheduled to occur Thursday, Aug 20, 2009 – Saturday, Aug 22, 2009
at Kennesaw State University just outside of Atlanta Georgia, its theme is “Building a Knowledge-Based Economy in Kenya: The Role of the Kenyan Diaspora” . They are still accepting proposals for the event until June 15th on the following themes:

ICT Mini-Conference Themes
1. Outlook of the ICT sector in Kenya: A Highlight of the Policy framework, infrastructure and Market Potential.

2. Broadband Access For All: Reaching the Masses with ICT – Strategies and Tactics.

3. Business Process Outsourcing: Kenya the destination for Business Process Outsourcing.

4. Geographic Advantages: Kenya As The Launching Pad For A Revolution In Ict In East And Central Africa

5. E-governance solutions: Improving transparency and Public Sector service delivery through technology.

6. Training and education for the ICT industry in Kenya: Meeting the human capital needs for a knowledge-based Economy.

7. Harnessing innovation, creativity and entrepreneurship: Opportunities for youth

8. Mobile Telephone in Kenya: A Case study for innovation & transformation

9. Application of ICT in health care delivery system: development of e-health solutions in Kenya

10 Protecting ICT Production: status of Intellectual Property Rights in Kenya

Investment Forum Themes
1. Investment and Business Climate in Kenya: Supporting Innovation and Entrepreneurial Culture

2. Mobilizing Capital for an Emerging Economy: Alternatives to Donor Funding- The Role of the Diaspora and Capital Markets

3. Banking and Financial Services Sector in Kenya: Establishing a Center of Excellence

4. Investing in Infrastructure and Real Estate Development in Kenya; harnessing the resources from the Diaspora

5. Meeting Energy Demand for a Growing Economy: Opportunities for Investment

6. Investing in Tourism and Hospitality Industry in Kenya: Opportunities and Challenges

7. Public-Private Partnership (PPP): Engaging the Diaspora

Conference organizers include:
Kennesaw State University, Institute for Global Initiatives
Association of Kenyan Professionals in Atlanta (AKPA)
Ministry of Information and Communication, Republic of Kenya
Kenya Development Network Consortium (KDNC) (actual site being revamped at the moment)
East Africa-American Business Council (EAABC)

Inspired by Barcamp Ghana, the first technology Barcamp in the last monarchy in Africa, will take place June 27th, 2009 in Mbabane, Swaziland. Organizers include Sabelo Dlamini of YouthAssets, and Wandile Nxumalo, CEO of Maestro IT. Stay tuned for interviews with them coming up on www.barcampswaziland.org. Follow them on twitter @barcampswaz

As part of our mission here at Project Diaspora, we are collecting data on the African Diaspora and its activities with regard to development and support. This survey will take less than 10 minutes and will help us get a better picture of the African Diaspora. Thank you very much for your time!

These folks are headed to Mozambique in June. They are very interested in connecting with any members of the Diaspora in preparation for their trip; as well as after. Drop us a line if you are interested in connecting with them.

The Kujilana Project: Trailer from Kujilana on Vimeo.

Visit their project: Kujilana

Well, right now it is sexy to be worked up about malaria. It is a problem that the developed world has beaten and the developing world still struggles with it everyday. The solution to malaria seems to be so simple, when in fact it is fairly complex. All this talk about malaria and malaria nets got me to thinking about the less sexy, more practical and simple problem of water and sanitation… That’s right there is nothing less sexy than poo. Who would the celebrity spokesperson be? Johhny Knoxville?

Water, the most abundant natural resource on the planet and one which more than 1.1 billion people cannot count on accessing safely. Not only that but 2.6 billion people lack access to basic sanitation.

What does having reliable access to safe water mean?
How near is the water source to your home
How protected from pollution and human (or animal) excreta is it?
How private is it?

When water does not come flowing out of all the faucets in your house what are the consequences?
Well, for the 1.1 billion I mentioned above it means, huge portions of the day spent traveling back and forth from the communal well/borehole/stream/waterhole what have you to their homes so they can drink, cook, bath, water their gardens or crops, and animals. Often carrying a bucket on their head that weighs the equivalent of a checked bag at the airport or about 44lbs (20kg). Ever tried to carry your suitcase on your head? In Africa the amount of time spent transporting water is estimated to be 40 billion hours. That’s billion with a “b” per person about 26% of people’s time is spent carrying water… and those people are mostly female. If the time spent going back to get water exceeds 30 minutes, studies have shown that the amount of water transported is not adequate to their needs. Which means that using water for washing often is sacrificed as the lowest priority need behind drinking and cooking. Additionally, the more time is spent transporting water, the less time there is available for other critical tasks. Girls are also affected in other unexpected ways. Many girls do not have access to schooling because the schools lack adequate toilet facilities. Often dropping out of school after puberty when privacy becomes a critical issue.

Time and dignity is the least of the concerns associated with unimproved water and sanitation. When water comes from an unprotected source it becomes a health-risk. Not just any health-risk mind you. Water related diseases are the leading cause of death in the world, with 2 billion people affected per year. Ahead of HIV (35 million affected) and Malaria (251 million affected)… not only that, unsafe water is a leading contributor to the spread of malaria and is a factor in decreasing life expectancy in people living with HIV/AIDs.

Water borne disease include:
Diarrhea: About 4 billion cases of diarrhea per year cause 1.8 million deaths, over 90 per cent of them (1.6 million) among children under five.

Arsenicosis: Long-term exposure to low concentrations of arsenic in drinking-water causes painful skin lesions and can result in cancers of the skin, lungs, bladder and kidney. There is no reliable estimate of the extent of the problem worldwide. WHO is presently collecting information in order to make such an estimate.

Cholera: In 2002, over 120,000 cholera cases were reported worldwide. It is estimated that 450,000 children per year die from Cholera and it accounts for 30 – 50% of hospitalizations in children under 2 years.

Fluorosis: Essentially fouride poisoning which effects the bones caused by high concentrations of fluoride found in groundwater. The total number of people affected is not known, but a conservative estimate would number in the tens of millions.

Guinea worm disease: These parasites cause debilitating ulcers when the mature larve leave the body. In 2002 there were 50,000 cases reported 13 African countries.

Intestinal worms: This infestation leads to malnutrition, anaemia or retarded growth. About 400 million school-age children are infected by roundworm, whipworm and/or hookworm. In fact, roundworm and whipworm alone are estimated to affect one-quarter of the world’s population

Malaria: There are 300-500 million annual cases of malaria throughout the world and about 1 million child deaths. Improving drainage and eliminating uncovered water tanks is an important factor in reducing malaria cases.

Schistosomiasis: Parasitic worms penetrate the skin of people swimming, bathing or washing in contaminated water, These worms lead to the Schistisomiasis infection which can damage the liver, intestines, lungs and bladder. About 200 million people are infected with schistosomiasis, 20 million of whom suffer severe consequences

Trachoma: An eye infection that can lead to blindness; currently approximately 6 million people are blind due to trachoma infections.

Typhoid: Characterized by headaches, nausea and loss of appetite. About 12 million people suffer from typhoid every year

So what are the solutions?
Here is where the lack of sexiness of the issue really shows. I don’t see many people getting excited about drilling a borehole, covering a well, soap, hand washing, latrines, water pipes and faucets. Which is a shame, because this is a problem we know how to solve, no fancy technology needs to be developed. We don’t need to tap the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation for research money to cure all the diseases listed. We know how to fix it… the will needs to be there to do it.

What is the cost?
In Uganda a new borehole costs between $7500 and $10,000 US dollars (source: Uganda Water Board). One borehole can serve the water needs of over 4000 people. That is $2.50 per person! Cheaper than a malaria net, and a multi-tasker… What a deal!

Hygiene education is inexpensive and does not require tremendous skill or technology to provide. Letting people to know what carries germs and how to avoiding contaminating the water they worked so hard to transport home goes a long way toward reducing the incidence of disease.

Relative costs of Sanitation projects

Granted its not as easy to sell sewer pipes as it is malaria nets. It’s not as easy to spin or hang a viral campaign on. Nobody’s bragging about how many toilets or feet or water pipe they are buying in Africa… Never mind a latrine. So yeah a full on construction project that includes water treatment, recirculation, pipes, adding toilets to homes, bringing in water to a village center is complicated… but here is the thing. This complicated project creates jobs, a skilled labor force, opens up time for children and adults to get an education, take on additional income generating projects and more… along with the health and wellness benefits. PLUS, if it is built, run and maintained by local labor the project does not require on-going external support. Unlike a malaria net that at best needs to be replaced in 5 years. Let’s work at getting to the root of a problem rather than slapping a band-aid on it. So if all this attention on malaria and malaria nets protects a large portion of the population for 5 years, why not take that time to address some of the fundamental issues that lead to malaria infestations including water and sanitation?

Statistics and Charts Courtesy of The World Health Organization

Under the heading Information is power. I am excited to see the focus of this new event is mapping technologies and how it can be leveraged for the good of the continent. Ushahidi has shown the power of crisis mapping so I am excited to see what develops from this first of its kind event in Africa!

WhereCamp is the free unconference for geogeographers, mobile location experts and social cartographers and all kinds of folks interested in place. We run shortly after the annual CGIAR-CSI meeting and bring together software developers, artists, geographers and academics for a one day extended discussion.

Topics might include:
Mobile location
Remote Sensing
Geoinformatics
Mapping and Agriculture
Food Security and Location
Community Mapping
Local Search
social cartography
Crisis Mapping
Iphones Androids and the way the web is falling into mobile
Expect to participate in conversations on the nature of place as described in pixels, with rays, on paper, and by social practice!

I was lucky enough to catch organizer Jubal Harpster and find out more about the world of mapping in general and this camp specifically.

Wherecamp Africa: Interview with Jubal Harpster from Tracy Pell on Vimeo.

Check out these other great mapping projects that Jubal shared with me.
Africa Soils
Harvest Choice
Crop and economic modelling for the whole contintent

And look for a new Water project (Agriculture Water Management) in a few weeks. I promise to post an update as soon as that is live.

WhereCamp Africa
Saturday April 4th
John Vercoe Conference Room, at the ILRI Headquarters in Nairobi.

Sponsored by:
CH2M Hills, AG Commons, CGIAR-CSI, Harvest Choice, ILRI, ict-km, and Ushahidi

Well, when Teddy tagged me for this Meme I have to say I was alarmed. I just was not sure that I could verbalize why I blog about Africa. I am not African. I am a White/Latina with only the most tenuous connection to Africa. If you look at me, it makes no sense. For a while it actually made no sense to me. What am I doing spending so much time working on African issues? Why suddenly from a place of active disinterest bordering on disdain have I suddenly become engage; enamored even, of Africa? Like all things it starts with people.

Although not my only friend from Africa, Teddy sparked my interest in Africa through his stories of Uganda. His ideas for paradigm shift that will lead to significant change in Africa. It resonated with me. I know first had the disdain that local populations can have for well meaning aid projects. Growing up in Central America, I remember visiting Peace Corps projects that failed because the locals had no understanding of the benefits of the new well that the gringos had worked so hard to dig. I remember visiting housing projects that even at the age of eight seemed like disasters of poor planning and lack of understanding. Even I thought… “what in the world would make a campesino leave a farm for this? Only a homeless, family-less, friendless, person would ever live here”. Well intentioned failures like these run rampant in the developing world. Sadly, no where are there more misguided, well intentioned disastrous projects than in Sub-saharan Africa.

As I began to talk to people… not surface social chatter, but actual, meaningful conversations with people I met along the way. People like Fred Mutebi, and countless others. Intelligent, passionate, determined, innovative people who want to make a difference in their homelands. People who spend their own meager funds; people who use their talents, time, skills and money to envision, create and implement programs that will address real, urgent needs. This energy, this dedication, this passion while not unique is stronger and just MORE with every single African that I have met. Many people I run across in the the American Hispanic community seem myopic, and in many ways they have lost the hope. They don’t look for home-grown solutions or demand significant change… Africans in contrast are often optimistic, passionate and problem solving in a way that inspires me and makes me want to play my part. I hope that I can take a bit of that passion and creative energy back to Central America, where the sparks of change are burning but need a bit of a jump start.

So, in a year of awesome amazing tech conferences in Africa the last on of 2008 was BarCamp Ghana. Today Ato Ulzen-Appiah sent out this letter to all his Facebook friends.

Hello folks,

The first BarCamp Ghana event came off as scheduled and was a success.
Check out pictures from the event here
flickr
here are a number of blogs about the BarCamp event as well
Mighty African

Accra Books and Things

Genius Ghana
if you took notes for any of the breakout sessions, please post them to the group so that we can collate and make available for the attendees and the many others who’ve been asking about them.

Tsooboi!

PS: if you are in Ghana and you still want a T-shirt, contact Henry Addo at addhen at gmail dot com

So check out the links, check out the pics and send Ato some love for a job well done.

A little bit of Hollywood is coming to the suburbs of Nairobi. Animated:Kenya will be held December 6th at Sarit Center, Westlands. Their mission?

To break the myths about Kenyan Animation.

It is time to break the myth, that highend animation is a foreign art skill

It is time to break the myth that all highend animation seen in Kenya is done “down south”

It is time to break the myth that you need big expensive fancy computer to do worldclass animation

It is time to break the myth that animation is “not a valuable skill set” and is for “kids”

If the one video I could find from their panel of speakers (Jim Chuchu) is any indication, attendees can look forward to a fun day full of smart people who have alot of great information to share.

This free one-day seminar promises inspiration, networking and a full panel of speakers including:
kwame nyong’o
celestine wamiru
gado & james kanja
daniel muli
majiqmud & gado
mike onyango
jim chuchu
wesley kirinya
alfred muchilwa

For those you living in the US this Thanksgiving, you maybe wondering what Thanksgiving has to do with you. Nelima, of MinneAfrica asked this question on Twitter today:

“What should Thanksgiving mean to Africans (foreigners) in the US beyond a day off work? Dunno. All I see is parties, turkey & Macy’s parade”

Which got me thinking… of all the Holidays this one is the most inclusive, most relevant to the immigrant experience. This day is about alot of things. Some of it is the Myth of America. A myth that given some of the realities for Native Americans and African Americans is a bit hard to embrace fully. However, I would like to make a case that there is more to it than just a blind acceptance of the Pilgrim Indian story.

The story of Thanksgiving is in fact an immigrant story. The pilgrims came to the New World for some of the same reasons we do today. They were looking for a new life, a chance to change their circumstances, escape persecution, and more than that, to start over. How many of us (or our parents) came here for one or all of those reasons?

When they got here, they faced a raw, foreign, unwelcoming landscape. They suffered, they died, and they also built a new life. The Native Americans they met, had no reason anticipate the change that this would bring to their culture and way of life. They shared what they could with this ragtag group. A group I am sure they doubted would survive the winter.

Immigrants to America have always faced a harsh reality once they got here. On this occasion the Pilgrims got a warmer welcome from the American population, than we offer today. How many of us came here and were lost? Not knowing how we should behave, look, talk, eat? Where to go, how to survive? How many of were given a helping hand by the communities we met when we got here? In my case it was my family, and the handful of friends I made at school. For others it is groups like Catholic Charities, or the diasporan communities they join when they arrive. In any case we are all repeating the same pattern: arriving somewhere new and learning from those that got here before us or being here and reaching out to those who are alone and lost in a new unwelcoming land.

This is what Thanksgiving is about; thanking God for those that have helped us make it through the year. Thanking those that helped us, acknowledging how valuable and important they have been to our lives. The food, the football, the shopping, its all fun. We can share that fun together, but don’t forget that at its core, just like America is about the immigrant experience… Thanksgiving, the uniquely American holiday, is all about our experience in a New World.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!