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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Community Informatics Newsletter No. 1, January
2004 <BR>*************</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>EDITORIAL</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>-----------------</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=Arial size=2>We take
this opportunity to welcome you all to the first issue of our e-newsletter
"Community Informatics". We hope that through the newsletter update and the
CINSA site, notices for new resources, products and opportunities, among
other things, we will forge a stronger network of community informatics in
the SADC region.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=Arial
size=2></FONT> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=Arial size=2>We look
forward to receiving your contributions for announcements, events,
opportunities, relevant community ICT resources and research reports. In
addition, we offer free advertising from civil society organisations
(engaged in community ICTs in one way or another) and businesses throughout the
Southern African sub-region. We intend to expand in future and carry more
sections, as may deem fit.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=Arial
size=2></FONT> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=Arial size=2>We
thought it is appropriate for subscribers who are new to CINSA, to give them a
bit of background information. The Community Information Network for
Southern Africa (CINSA) is a pilot project designed to support community ICT
projects in the SADC region through networking, training, service brokerage,
technical support, creating a resource base and assisting with project
evaluation.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>In particular, CINSA
aims to address the problems of sustainability, access to information and
expertise, access to resources, and training. The direct beneficiaries will be
community ICT projects, which in turn will better be able to serve their
communities.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=Arial><FONT
size=2> <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns =
"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"><FONT
face=Arial size=2>For more information kindly please visit CINSA's portal <A
href="http://www.cinsa.info/"><FONT
color=#000000>http://www.cinsa.info/</FONT></A> .</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"><FONT
face=Arial size=2></FONT></SPAN> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"><FONT
face=Arial size=2>I wish all of you the best of luck,</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"><FONT
face=Arial size=2></FONT></SPAN> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"><FONT
face=Arial size=2>Ngunga Tepani</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"><FONT
face=Arial size=2>CINSA Project Manager</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"><FONT
face=Arial color=#000000 size=2><A
href="mailto:ngunga@sangonet.org.za">ngunga@sangonet.org.za</A></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"><FONT
face=Arial size=2></FONT></SPAN> </P>
<DIV><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"><SPAN
class=130000311-23012004>***********</SPAN></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"><SPAN
class=130000311-23012004></SPAN></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV>ANNOUNCEMENTS <BR></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=130000311-23012004>CINSA is Looking for Community ICT Projects
to Assist</SPAN></DIV>
<DIV>------------------------------<SPAN
class=130000311-23012004>--------------------------------------------------</SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=130000311-23012004></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV>ICT is a very useful tool for development, but the usefulness is sometimes
lost in the technology. Where<FONT color=#0000ff>as</FONT> everyone seems
to believe that you need the newest and best hardware and software, there are
many initiatives prospering on less. Maybe we need to readjust our
ideas. Technology can be a funding black hole, the trick is to get more
out of the technology you already have.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>CINSA is attempting to help community ICT initiatives do just that, with
online tools and resources and soon a CD-ROM of materials, we help organisations
empower themselves. We also provide specialised project management and service
brokerage services and would like to invite interested parties to contact
us. We are looking for new members for our network (no membership fee is
currently payable) and want to help community ICTs with research, training,
skills exchange, service brokerage, facilitating technical support and project
management assistance.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>***************</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>NEW ADDITIONS TO THE CINSA PORTAL:</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Advocacy tools<BR>--------------------------<BR>We've included an article
with the TOP 10 OPEN SOURCE TOOLS FOR E-ACTIVISM<BR>There are a number of
Application Service Providers (ASPs) providing external eActivist applications
that can be integrated with the look and feel of an organization's existing
website, but we will not be evaluating ASPs in this article. Instead, we want to
discuss eActivist applications that can be run from the same server as the
organization's existing website. Furthermore, we will be looking at Free
Software applications that can be downloaded, modified, and distributed by the
users of the software.<BR><A
href="http://cinsa.info/portal/index.php?option=articles&task=viewarticle&artid=91&Itemid=60">http://cinsa.info/portal/index.php?option=articles&task=viewarticle&artid=91&Itemid=60</A>
</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>For <SPAN class=130000311-23012004>other </SPAN>new additions, please
go to <A
href="http://www.cinsa.info/portal/index.php?option=displaypage&Itemid=59&op=page&SubMenu">http://www.cinsa.info/portal/index.php?option=displaypage&Itemid=59&op=page&SubMenu</A>=
</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Research pieces<BR>-------------------------</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>SATELLITE COVERAGE IN AFRICA</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>'Every square inch of Africa is covered by satellite bandwidth, but
restrictive telecom policies stop this from supporting Africa's development.
There are 48 satellites with coverage, pointing 36 Ku-band frequency beams and
28 C-band beams over Africa which can be accessed to provide international and
national voice calls, broadcasting, data and Internet services.' <BR><A
href="http://www.cinsa.info/portal/index.php?option=articles&task=viewarticle&artid=99&Itemid=3">http://www.cinsa.info/portal/index.php?option=articles&task=viewarticle&artid=99&Itemid=3</A>
</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>-----------------------------------</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>APPROPRIATE EVALUATION METHODS FOR ICT INITIATIVES</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>The introduction of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in
mainstream societies affects the way in which the societies interact,
communicate, produce, assess, adapt and access vast amount of information at
reduced costs. ICTs are not just about technologies, they are more about
information transfer and communication. While poor countries grapple with
the problem of high investment costs, it is widely acknowledged that convergence
of 'old' and 'new' ICTs is still relevant to poor communities, which lack basic
infrastructure such as road, water, electricity and telephones. However, there
are arguments that with the rapid expansion of these technologies in the western
world, the gap between the poor and the rich is widening. It is also
recognized that even within the 'information poor' countries, the poor are
further marginalised. Despite these arguments, attempts are being made at
a global level to empower poor people with access to ICTs and enable them to
cope up with the new challenges posed by the increasing competition through
globalization. Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) have demonstrated their
capabilities to use ICTs to advance their businesses in the recent years.<BR><A
href="http://www.cinsa.info/portal/index.php?option=articles&task=viewarticle&artid=98&Itemid=3">http://www.cinsa.info/portal/index.php?option=articles&task=viewarticle&artid=98&Itemid=3</A>
</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>For <SPAN class=130000311-23012004>other </SPAN>new additions, please
go to <A
href="http://www.cinsa.info/portal/index.php?option=articles&Itemid=3&topid=5&Itemid=3">http://www.cinsa.info/portal/index.php?option=articles&Itemid=3&topid=5&Itemid=3</A>
</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Resources<BR>------------<BR>New sections have been added to the Resources
on the CINSA site, sections are now:</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>* Sustainability ;<BR>* Community Radio ;<BR>* Telecentres ;<BR>* ICT and
education ;<BR>* Open Source ; and<BR>* e-Governance<BR>For new additions,
please go to <A
href="http://www.cinsa.info/portal/index.php?option=displaypage&Itemid=70&op=page&SubMenu">http://www.cinsa.info/portal/index.php?option=displaypage&Itemid=70&op=page&SubMenu</A>=
</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Gender and ICTs<BR>---------------------<BR>ITs HOT FOR GIRLS!: ICT AS AN
INSTRUMENT IN ADVANCING GIRLS' AND WOMENS<FONT color=#0000ff>'</FONT>
CAPABILITIES IN SCHOOL</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>The application of ICTs as a tool for effective enhancement of learning,
teaching and education management covers the entire spectrum of education from
early childhood development, primary, secondary, tertiary, basic education and
further education and training. This paper however focuses on attempts at
introducing ICTs in formal primary and secondary school education in
Africa.<BR><A
href="http://cinsa.info/portal/index.php?option=articles&task=viewarticle&artid=90&Itemid=64">http://cinsa.info/portal/index.php?option=articles&task=viewarticle&artid=90&Itemid=64</A>
</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#0000ff><FONT color=#000000>For new additions, please go
to</FONT> <A
href="http://www.cinsa.info/portal/index.php?option=displaypage&Itemid=63&op=page&SubMenu">http://www.cinsa.info/portal/index.php?option=displaypage&Itemid=63&op=page&SubMenu</A>=</FONT></DIV>
<DIV>*********************<BR>ADVERTISEMENTS
<BR>------------------------------<BR>Do you want to advertise with this
newsletter (click throughs) or on the CINSA portal (banners, sponsored links,
etc)? CINSA is introducing free click-through and banner ads offer for three
months only effective the date of this posting, on the e-newsletter and the
website, respectively. We welcome applications from businesses with social
responsibility programmes and other interested parties. This is a chance
for you to showcase your work to a SADC-wide community ICT audience, as well as,
academicians and ICT practitioners. If you are interested please email <A
href="mailto:ngunga@sangonet.org.za">ngunga@sangonet.org.za</A> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><BR>****************</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>UPCOMING ICT EVENTS:</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><BR>Dutch academic Dr Leo Van Audenhove will speak on Transnational Civil
Society in the Networked Society: the relationship between ICTs and the rise of
a transnational civil society. This first LINK seminar takes place at 5pm
on Wednesday 4 February 2003 at the Graduate School of Public and Development
Management, Wits University, in Classroom 9, Albert Wessels Building, No.
2 St David's Place, Parktown, Johannesburg South Africa. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>--------------------- <BR>The Tactical Technology Collective has announced
a five-day meeting for experienced Free and Open Source Software (F/OSS)
developers from across Africa, to be held March 15th - 19th in Namibia. During
the five day event, participants and facilitators will share technical skills
and experiences, discuss key challenges in realising F/OSS projects, and develop
concrete strategies for strengthening the nascent community of F/OSS
technologists working in African contexts. This event is organized by the
Tactical Technology Collective, the AllAfrica Foundation, and SchoolNet Namibia,
in cooperation with the Free and Open Source Software Foundation for
Africa.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>For more information go to <A
href="http://www.tacticaltech.org/?q=node/view/22">http://www.tacticaltech.org/?q=node/view/22</A>
</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>**************</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>DATABASE<BR>----------------<BR>The CINSA portal will soon have a
database of CICTs, ICT practitioners and ICT service providers, if you
wish to appear on this valuable publicity resource, please email <A
href="mailto:sandra@sangonet.org.za">sandra@sangonet.org.za</A> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=290004708-23012004>**************</SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=290004708-23012004>Applications for CINSA's advisory board are
currently being accepted. Please email your application to <A
href="mailto:ngunga@sangonet.org.za">ngunga@sangonet.org.za</A> </SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=290004708-23012004></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV>**************<BR>FEEDBACK</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>We would to hear from you please send your opinions about the newsletter
and how best can we improve it. Send your feedback to <A
href="mailto:sandra@sangonet.org.za">sandra@sangonet.org.za</A></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>If you would like any of the items mentioned in this newsletter and have no
access to the internet, please email <A
href="mailto:cinsainfo-owner@lists.sn.apc.org">cinsainfo-owner@lists.sn.apc.org</A>
including the title of the item you wish to receive. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
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