Nata Village Blog in Botswana

The Nata Village Blog is a web and video blog that focuses on the battle to control HIV/AIDS in the village of Nata in Botwana. While the organisers hope to use the website as a fund raising tool, they also aim to give its visitors a chance to meet the people of Nata, learn their stories and get an intimate look at how they live. The website documents the spread and impact of HIV/AIDS in the village and shares the stories of People Living with AIDS (PLWA).

The initiative was born when world traveller Jon Rawlinson met up with Melody Jenkins who serves as a U.S. Peace Corps Volunteer in Nata. ?¢‚Ǩ?ìBoth were frustrated with the fact that enormous amounts of money are pouring into Africa yet little money is getting to the village level and to those who need it most.?¢‚Ǩ¬ù Jon made three visits to Nata and filmed a documentary about HIV/AIDS in the village. The documentary led the way to the website.

The website shows the Nata Clinic, featuring PLWA?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s, village life, youth groups, the Kgosi?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s (chiefs) and the professionals involved in the fight to stop the spread of HIV/AIDS. The site hopes to profile the specific needs of the village and give its visitors an opportunity to help.



Linux Radio Suite Powers Independent Broadcasters

Community radio stations in Sierra Leone and in other emerging democracies may well soon be powered by Campcaster 1.1, free and open source software that turns a PC running the free Linux operating system into an essential tool for radio broadcasting.

Campcaster 1.1, code-named "Freetown", was released last week by developers Media Development Loan Fund (MDLF). This week members of MDLF are in Sierra Leone providing training to community users.

MDLF's Douglas Arellanes says Campcaster 1.1 was built with conditions in difficult environments such as Sierra Leone in mind. It provides very stable playout and, because it runs on Linux, there are fewer problems with viruses, spyware and malware.

"In a user-friendly way, it enables both automated broadcast at preset dates and times, as well as allowing 'live' playout from the studio. At the same time, it also enables the exchange of radio programme material both online and off-line, and provides a stable, secure, extensible archive server for storing, searching and retrieving program content," says MDLF.




Kabissa gains supporters at events throughout the US

In November and December, Kabissa has been gaining supporters for its work through several exciting events. Receptions were held in Washington DC and New York with Kabissa Board members John Githongo and Peter Eigen, respectively, which raised awareness about the importance of civil society in Africa, and about Kabissa?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s work. In addition to two other celebrations in Washington DC, more events will be held in Seattle early next year, all to build a base of support for Kabissa?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s work.

Winners of Nigerian video stories competition

In September, Kabissa?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s Co-Executive Director Kim Lowery was in Nigeria and captured short videos on a webcam from members on how they, together with Kabissa, were making technology a force for change in Africa. Out of 17 submissions, 3 were selected as the best. Check out these inspirational videos:

Kabissa's Holiday Fundraising Happy Hour!

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If you are in Washington, DC this Thursday December 14, we hope you can join us at Adams Morgan hotspot and help support space for change in Africa! We will have a private room upstairs from 6pm to 9pm and a portion of the proceeds for the evening will go to Kabissa (so bring lots of friends too!). We will have alternative gifts for sale, drink specials, African music, and much more! December 14, 6pm-9pm

Nigerian Internet Exchange Set to Come on Stream

Nigeria will spend about 30 million naira (R1.9 million) on the construction of a national Internet Exchange Point (IXP). The exchange point, which is expected to be commissioned by Nigerian president Olusegun Obasanjo within days, will make it possible to keep local internet traffic within the country. An exchange is a physical infrastructure that allows different ISPs to exchange internet traffic between their autonomous networks by means of mutual peering agreements, which allow traffic to be exchanged without cost.

Kabissa Member Meetups in Lagos and Abuja

Last month, Kabissa's Co-Executive Director, Kim Lowery, had the pleasure of meeting with 17 Kabissa members from throughout Nigeria as part of our first Kabissa Member Meetups in Lagos and Abuja, Nigeria. We learned more about the work members are doing, discussed the pressing issues facing Nigerian civil society, answered questions about Kabissa's services, and brainstormed ideas about Kabissa's future activities in Nigeria.

Kabissa Community Participates in the Digital World Africa Conference in Nigeria

Digital World Africa 2006The Kabissa community was well represented at last month?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s Digital World Africa conference, held from 11-13 September in Abuja, Nigeria.?Ǭ† The conference brought together representatives from civil society, private sector, and government to discuss the future of ICTs in Development and Education in Nigeria, with particular focus on the One Laptop per Child Project. Kabissa member and partner Growing Businesses Foundation co-organized the conference, along with the Club of Rome and the Nigerian Communications Commission.?Ǭ† Kabissa's Kim Lowery attended, as well as representatives from 9 other Kabissa members.


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