APC's WOUGNET soars high in the use of SMS to share information

frederic — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 15:34:15 -0300

(WOUGNET) -

WOUGNET has explored the use of SMS in information sharing and carrying out SMS campaigns around different themes. In a test of Mobile Advocacy Tools a campaign on ICTs and poverty reduction, was successfully carried out in April/May 2008 and proves that SMS is a powerful tool of information sharing. WOUGNET members, partners and interested persons discussed questions sent out by the secretariat on the theme, ‘ICTs: Is your wealth a click away?

Job vacancies Computer Aid Nairobi

analia — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 13:24:24 -0300

LONDON (CAI) -

Read about two positions with APC member Computer Aid International’s office in Nairobi. Deadline for applications is 10 July.

PROTEGE QV celebrates the 2008 internet day in Cameroon

analia — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 16:27:05 -0300

YAOUNDE (PROTEGE QV for PROTEGE QV) -

PROTEGE QV talks about the celebrations of the internet day in Cameroon. They were busy organising workshops, exhibiting new tools and helping young people how to find new jobs through the net.

The wireless school connectivity project... a concrete outcome

frederic — Wed, 21 May 2008 21:22:10 -0300

HARARE (Muroro Dziruni for Connect Africa) -

The wireless school connectivity project is an initiative that has connected a secondary school in a poor township of Harare to the internet, using wireless technologies. The genesis of this project was a result of the wireless skills training workshop, which took place in Pretoria, South Africa in 2005 and was facilitated by APC. Muroro Dziruni of Connect Africa in Zimbabwe tells the story of how wireless technology can work in Africa, when everyone joins in and cooperates.

South Africans against xenophobia, racism and tribalism assert themselves on Facebook

frederic — Wed, 21 May 2008 19:11:46 -0300

JOHANNESBURG (FD for APCNews) -

News reports from South Africa are shocking. Violence unseen in years was unleashed in the poorest districts of Johannesburg, a city where APC counts four of its member organisations and many staff. From neighbouring Pretoria, Tshepo Thlaku of member Ungana-Afrika decided to act, using what he knows best: technology. He started a group on the social networking website Facebook called South Africans Against Xenophobia, Racism & Tribalism. “The group is growing fast like wild fire and there is a number of people from NGOs and church groups sharing contacts and project ideas,” Tshepo declared.

Copyright and education in Africa: Launch of the ACA2K network

frederic — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 18:54:48 -0300

JOHANNESBURG (Asma Hassan for ACA2K) -

As the global community marked World Intellectual Property Day 2008, last 26th of April, an eight-country African research network was launched with a mandate to investigate the relationship between copyright and education in African countries.

Multimedia resource kit presented to radio broadcasters

frederic — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 13:10:51 -0300

YAOUNDé (Olga Balbine for PROTEGE QV) -

PROTEGE QV, APC’s Cameroun civil society group, released a multimedia kit late last year. Accompanied by full training of radio broadasters, this tool is meant to provide the general public and professionals with the means to exploit and use technology to create micro enterprises. Called the MMRK is increasingly being recognised as flexible tool which can be used in a variety of contetx, including rural.

APC statement - ICASA hearings on draft essential facilities regulations

webmaster — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 00:00:00 -0300

JOHANNESBURG (APCNews) -

The APC stated its whole-hearted support of the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) for the drafting of regulations prescribing a list of essential facilities for electronic communications which will create conditions of open access on a non-discriminatory basis to undersea-based submarine cables. APC also called on ICASA to take immediate action to counter anti-competitive behaviour of Telkom, the dominant fixed line operator. Read the full statement.

Software: free West Africa?

webmaster — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 00:00:00 -0300

OUAGADOUGOU (Ramata Soré) -

The use of free software in West Africa would represent an opportunity to reduce the digital divide with the South. In this region, the low level of free software production goes hand in hand with marginal usage. Free software is present in certain businesses, in education, etc. but there is mistrust, as a result of the fact that free software is developed rapidly and is proliferating. It causes fear because there is a belief that “whatever is free is not of good quality”. IDLELO3, a panafrican conference on free software, will look at these questions and beliefs from March 16 to 20 2008 in Dakar, Senegal.