Last week at the XVIII International AIDS Conference in Mexico City, the discussion came up around how to use digital tools to reach out to youth on protecting themselves against HIV/AIDS. According to a recent study conducted by UNAIDS, 45 percent of new HIV infections last year were among young people aged 15 - 24. HIV/AIDS advocacy organizations such as Taking It Global and Global Youth Coalition on HIV/AIDS showcased how online social networking has created an unprecedented opportunity to mobilize youth on prevention and treatment options. However, a young woman from South Africa showed that sometimes it only takes one person to make a difference in the lives of others.

The major factor that will shape the future evolution of Africa is in the education and sensitisation of the people. A commonly cited example is the AIDs epidemic. Over 20 years after its outbreak, ignorance and stigma still surround the epidemic to the point where AIDs victims are unable to openly talk about their struggles for fear of discrimination or violence. AIDs

The abrupt withdrawal of Zimbabwean opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai from this Friday’s runoff presidential election essentially handed President Robert Mugabe a victory and left Zimbabwe’s future up in the air. However, given the

The announcement by PC manufacturer Acer Computers a couple of weeks ago thatit was going to focus on linux-based PCs, laptops and notebooks presents interesting opportunities for ICT policymakers and users alike in developing countries. Given the low markups that prevail in the PC business, it makes a lot of diffrerence to manufacturers whether they install MS Windows for a charge of up to 100 $ or linux, for close to nothing. Dell has shown the path with Ubuntu on its some of its laptop and desktop models, HP has followed with Novell Suse.

Congratulations Ushahidi! It's wonderful news that this powerful African project came out on top the prestigious Netsquared Challenge competition on "remixing the web for social change". Read on at the White African blog and add your comments to the growing list of congratulatory messages!

We WON!

Wow, we’re absolutely stunned, but we just won first place at the NetSquared Challenge! That means we have a check for $25,000 that we can spend on further development of the Ushahidi Engine (version 2).

(excerpt from Renewed attacks force IDPs back to camps)

Fresh attacks reported in Molo over the weekend have forced some of the former displaced people to return to camps. At least 47 families who had returned home in Jogoo-Rironi Farm went back to the Sawmill camp in Molo town after two people were hacked to death at Kibunja, near Sachangwany.

Successful research results globally indicate that there is no doubt "Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) improve rural people's livelihoods" (IDRC/Acacia Prospectus 2006-2011).

In a rural community context, this phrase is widely understood to mean traditional and modern electronic tools that include telephony, both mobile and fixed, community radio transmissions, Television broadcasting, cinemas, computer hardware, software and the Internet that help to access and

Daily Monitor - Uganda's leading daily Newspaper

A concern for equity – a key principle required for any developing society, means that comprehensive, relevant and timely information should be accessible to all individuals in order to realise real social, economic and political development impact.

The purpose of the new Kabissa site is to create an online community where members working in African civil society can work together, share ideas and support each other. One important way we do this is through facilitating online information sharing and discussion through the Kabissa blog. Since we launched the site in February, we have been very pleased to see a regular blogger community emerge.

To help to bring together this blogger community and encourage more interaction and dialogue through the blog and comment system, Tobias and I have created a group on the site called Kabissa Bloggers. You will want to participate in this group if you are interested in joining an ongoing discussion with fellow bloggers in the Kabissa network. Click here for more details and to join the group.

As an approved member organization, you can log into the Kabissa online community website and begin adding content (online information) to tell the world what your organization is doing and your needs and priorities.The best content is selected by the Kabissa team for inclusion in the monthly Kabissa Gong Gong newsletter.

One of the primary features of the new Kabissa is that it enables members to write and publish their own content directly to the site by blogging, posting an event and updating organisations's profiles. This guide explains how Blogs can help promote your organisation, help in campaigns and advocacy.