News
THE WINNER OF THE APC AFRICA HAFKIN COMMUNICATIONS PRIZE 2004-5: Global Education Partnership - Wundanyi, Kenya
For young people living in poverty in coastal Kenya, surfing the internet and learning how to use computers make most sense when these skills mean better economic opportunities and work-readiness. In recognition of this, APC announced on May 26 that the winner of the APC Africa Hafkin Communications Prize for 2004-5 is the Global Education Partnership – Wundanyi in Kenya.
"If it were not for GEP, I would not have learned to use a computer," Jostinah Wawasi, a former GEP student told APC. "After GEP I joined a local university and majored in Economics. As a young woman living in Wundanyi, Kenya, this was not a usual career. My GEP experience helped me understand my talents and abilities. After graduation, I became a consultant in Wundanyi for a major agriculture project where I have helped my community members to set up savings and credit societies."
From India, hackers look at another freedom... to collaborate
Free software offers various ‘freedoms’. But in India, enthusiasts are working on a new one — the freedom to build bridges to potential partners from half-way across the globe, and facing similar developmental concerns or challenges.
FOSS in Upper Egypt: virgin territory
APC members in Cairo, ArabDev (http://www.arabdev.org) is taking Free and Open Source Software to the disadvantaged south of Egypt. Students ask "who and how" made the software programmes. When shown a long list of names, they ask, "All these?" Thinking of programmers as normal people, not masters of some secret magical lore, could make a differnce to the thinking of these citizens of tomorrow.
GEM sparkles among IT4D practitioners in Cairo
Where does gender intersect with information and communication technologies (ICTs)? Such issues are far less theoretical and abstract than they first seem, if you go by how participants responded at a Cairo workshop on a methodology called GEM. A report from APC WNSP.
Training the trainers, Nodo TAU seeks to surf over Argentinian challenge
Rosario — one of Argentina’s three most-populous cities — sees computer literacy as its citizens’ passport to accessing the job-market. Residents of its western district voted to finance a computer training project, and APC member Nodo TAU was handed the challenge of training the trainers.
APC-linked Multimedia Training Kit found "meeting unmet need"
First released two years ago, a toolkit created by a partnership initiative led by UNESCO and coordinated by APC, has been found useful in "meeting a previously unmet need" by 87.4% of users questioned. It focusses on the needs of those working in grass-roots communication and information activities.
In more ways than one, ICTs do help to harm women
By itself, the internet itself isn’t creating new forms of crimes against women and children. But, it is sure generating powerful new ways and means for these crimes to be perpetrated. Women’s movements are now having to deal with the issue of cyber-stalking, pornography on the internet, SMS harassment, and what one research paper calls ‘teledildonics’. Can the intersection point between ICTs and violence against women be redefined, or at least better understood? Join this three-week online discussion — which runs from May 29 to June 12 — began on organised by the APC womens’ programme to find out…— APC WNSP
Job opening: Information and content facilitator for the APC Latin American and Caribbean ICT Policy Monitor
APC is seeking an information and content facilitator to manage APC’s Latin American and Caribbean policy website and newsletter. The successful candidate will be based in the region and work with APC members and other groups and experts on ICT policy issues. Deadline for applications: May 31 2005.
Slovak public WiFi networks seen to be in danger
The Slovak Telecommunications Office has published a draft of its new general licence for operating radio devices in the public 2.4 GHz frequency band. But if the wordings of this new policy remain unchanged, it could "effectivelly put ban on thousands of devices around the country", warns the Bratislava-based CHANGENET.SK network.
New CATIA report: “Absent voices, missed opportunity: the media’s silence on ICT policy issues in six African countries”
“Journalists in the six countries surveyed for this report are lucky to enjoy conditions of media freedom in greater or lesser degrees. But what this study shows is little sign of media deepening its democratic role by becoming a vital link in the processes of public policy with regard to the African Information Society,” says Guy Berger in his preface to a new research report just published. The report evaluates the nature of ICT policy coverage in policy-influential media in Kenya, Mozambique, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Nigeria, Ethiopia and Senegal.
Developers tell us about their favourite ActionApps-based site and the benefits for them of using APC's free software
*Oliver Zielke of Web Networks, Canada on AttavikApps, a derivation of ActionApps which allows the Inuit to publish online in their own language. *Jaime Torres of Peru on SIA an agrarian system for Peruvian farmers developed by CEPES in Lima *Sarah Escandor-Tomas on the “Voting Campaign for the Presidential Elections Centre for Migrant Advocacy” developed by WomensHub, Philippines. * And more! Audio interviews now ready to listen to.
Building human networks without wires: First community wireless workshop in East Africa
Most internet access relies on the availability of a reliable fixed telephone line and that can be a struggle to find in many parts of rural Africa. Wireless technology can by-pass the fixed-line problem. APC’s Anna Feldman has just returned from a wireless training workshop on Zanzibar where thirty five trainees learned how to set up their own connections and eventually – using antennas made out of recycled tin cans – were able to wirelessly connect an atol two kilometres across the sea from the workshop venue.
APC’s new “Community Wireless Connectivity” project: Starting work in Africa
APC’s latest initiative is looking to connect communities who don’t yet have internet access by skilling them to build their own wireless networks. The project covers the development of training materials in English, French and Arabic and workshops that will be adapted for different environmental, regulatory and climatic conditions. With four regional workshops in Africa in 2005, we’ll be training up to 100 possible future trainers. Plans are also afoot in Latin America and Asia-Pacific.
GenderIT.org - a new gender and ICT policy website helps women make ICT policy a priority
Information and communications technologies (ICTs) can assist in bringing food to the table or promoting a reproductive rights agenda and more women need to be involved in the drafting of technology policy. GenderIT.org is a new portal for women and policy-makers just launched by the APC WNSP, APC’s women’s programme. GenderIT.org is a practical tool for women’s organisations so that ICT policy meets their needs and does not infringe on their rights. Visit GenderIT!
Interview with Ayesha Hassan, leader of the business sector at WSIS
When Ayesha Hassan contributed to the Open Consultations on Internet Governance in the run up to WSIS, it was clear that the business sector’s concerns were in competent hands. This stylishly suited lawyer, a Senior Policy Manager on ICT for the International Chamber of Commerce, leads the CCBI – the Co-ordinating Committee of Business Interlocutors at the conference. Maud Hand hears how this business interlocutor stays in command of her committee during PrepCom 2.
The internet governance debate is one where civil society advocates can make a real difference
Internet governance brings together two largely impenetrable realms for the average WSIS delegate: the nuts and bolts of the internet – what it is, how it works- and who manages those nuts and bolts. It is too early to predict what the final impact of the Working Group on Internet Governance (WGIG) will be. But there is no doubt that it has created a much-needed space. “At a time of global malaise, indifference and lack of faith and legitimacy in many of our global and national governance institutions, the internet governance debate is one where civil society advocates can make a real difference,” concludes APC in this new report which covers the main developments in the internet governance debate.
Markus Kummer, coordinator of the internet governance working group – Diplomacy at the cutting edge
As executive coordinator of the Secretariat of the Working Group on Internet Governance (WGIG), Markus Kummer prepares sessions, facilitates their work and writes up their reports after meetings. But, as he explains to Maud Hand in a quiet moment prior to PrepCom 2, Phase 2, unlike the classical secretariat tasks of any international working group, the multi-stakeholder make up of WGIG makes for a very different job.
WSIS PrepCom 2: A South Asian perspective
A divergent discourse between what governments say in Switzerland and what they say at home, the almost complete lack of interaction between government and civil society representatives and an absence of civil society voices from the non-technical sector, characterised the South Asian presence in Geneva conclude Bangalore activists, IT for Change.
WSIS PrepCom 2: A Latin American civil society perspective
Olinca Marino from LaNeta, APC member in Mexico, has been following the WSIS process since its beginning. In this report she comments on the united front shown by Latin American governments at PrepCom 2 but notes that the front begins to fall apart significantly in two areas that civil society activists care passionately about – free software and community radio.
IL FAIT BON VIVRE EN TUNISIE? The state of human rights in Tunisia, host of the next World Summit on the Information Society
Attendees at the recent phase of WSIS couldn’t fail to notice the prolific presence of Tunisian delegates. From civil society plenaries through gatherings over coffee to the government sessions, they had their say in preparation for the November summit. But can a country whose government censors journalists, curtails web access and imprisons internet users without trial, be a fit host for the UN’s World Summit on the Information Society? Maud Hand seeks answers to one of the hottest questions of Prepcom 2 for APCNews.
