World Computer Exchange Update
[mentions activities in india and pakistan; with thanks to KABISSA-
FAHAMU NEWSLETTER - 15 December 2000]
... World Computer Exchange Update
http://www.worldcomputerexchange.org
I'd like to update you about the Computer Exchange work. We've added
another country to the program (making 34) and another 38 schools
(making 458). As you may recall, each school agrees to connect its
students with students in US schools and help its students develop
websites to share their rich history & culture. This month, we
learned that SDNP India (within the Ministry of Environment and
Forests of the Government of India) decided not to fund the
Exchange's shipment to SEWA planned for the middle of December. We
are now working to secure alternative funding and encouraging the
Exchange's NGO Partners and Allied Organisations in India to seek to
involve SDNP in all of their ICT planning. It looks like this may
delay this first shipment into January. Any advice would be most
welcome!
We would like to extend special thanks to those organizations that
have made commitments of computers and monitors during November,
including Ford Motor Company, Fidelity Investments, Think Detroit,
and the Riecken Foundation. Alex Mbianda, our Programme Officer for
Cameroon, has secured computers, monitors, and printers from Keyspan
Energy Delivery. Thanks for help in recruiting computers to two of
our Allied Organisations: Asha for Education and Kabissa-A Space for
Africa on the Internet.
This month, the Exchange will enter into a standard agreement with
the Ministry of Technology of the Government of Pakistan to provide
computers for Internet access for schools in Pakistan. This
agreement is contingent on their providing $15,000 to cover the
Exchange's costs for this shipment and $5,000 for the shipping costs.
The Exchange has now approved fifteen partner agreements.
A completed Plan of Implementation and draft list of schools has been
received from the Agency for Sustainable Development Initiatives in
Uganda. It reflects their work in cooperation with several other NGOs
to recruit schools and funding to cover the Exchange's shipping
costs. We are also expecting a cooperative Plan of Implementation and
draft list of schools jointly from the Foundation for Economic
Development and SDNP in Bangladesh working with several other NGOs.
It is wonderful that these two efforts are fully cooperating! This
shipment is contingent upon the SDNP/UNDP directly paying the
shipping costs.
We would greatly appreciate any and all help in building a flow of
donated computers for our NGO Partners and the schools that they have
recruited! Your suggestions and comments welcome.
Regards,
Timothy Anderson
President
World Computer Exchange, Inc.
936 Nantasket Avenue
Hull, Massachusetts 02045 USA
781.925.3078 FAX: 509.752.9186
http://www.WorldComputerExchange.org
