Organisers
Africa Source II - Partners
The Africa Source II project partners have a mutual history of working on the ground to promote and realise the use of new technologies within the non-profit sector. Together, the partners have a wide range of project implementation skills, best practices, partners and experts, as well as a breadth of experience working on these issues in the African context. The project partners have complimentary expertise and interest, their work is focused around technology use within education, rural and community access, and social justice NGOs. Partners are:
ORGANISATIONAL PARTNERS
Linux Solutions
Linux Solutions prides its self in being East Africa's leading specialised Information and Communication Technology (ICT) solution provider, implementing Open Source Software (OSS) across small, medium and large networks of computers. Over the time Linux Solutions has developed capacity to design and install Local Area Networks (LAN), Virtual Private Networks (VPN) and Wide Area Networks (WAN) installations, IT Support and maintenance. Their experience can be shown through projects implemented for Government, Education, Corporate, the NGO and other sectors. Linux Solutions supports such local organisations as Schoolnet Uganda, Uganda Women's Effort to Save Orphans , Africa Online and others.
EACOSS
The East African Centre for Open Source Software (EACOSS) is the first specialised Free and Open Source Software training centre focusing on the East African region. The centre was founded in April 2004 and opened its doors in August 2004 in Nakawa - Kampala Uganda. Through the use of Free and Open Source Software, EACOSS believes that the digital gap between the advanced nations and the developing nations can be bridged and poverty reduced. Lower costs, access to software for all and improved capacity development provide that starting point.
WOUGNET
Women of Uganda Network (WOUGNET) is a non-governmental organisation promoting and supporting the use of information and communication technologies (ICTs) by women organisations and individuals. The goal is to improve conditions of life for Ugandan women by enhancing their capacities and opportunities for exchange, collaboration and information sharing. In July 2004 the Uganda Communications Commission presented WOUGNET with an award in the ICT Advocacy Category in recognition of WOUGNET’s invaluable contribution to the development of the communication sector in Uganda.
CONTENT PARTNERS
APC
The Association for Progressive Communications (APC) is an international network of civil society organisations dedicated to empowering and supporting groups and individuals working for peace, human rights, development and protection of the environment, through the strategic use of information and communication technologies (ICTs), including the internet. APC's members were often the amongst the first providers of internet in their countries. Today, they continue to pioneer practical and relevant uses of ICTs for civil society, especially in developing countries. APC has a strong established womens network in Africa. It is an international facilitator of civil society's engagement with ICTs and related concerns, in both policy and practice.
Aspiration
Aspiration connects nonprofit organizations with software solutions that help them better carry out their work. They want nonprofit organizations to obtain and use the best software to maximize their effectiveness and impact so that they, in turn, can change the world. Aspirations identify what is available and what is missing in the nonprofit and NGO software arena. They foster relationships, delivery systems, and sustainability strategies between NGOs and their tech support organizations around the world.
Creative Commons South Africa
The vision of Creative Commons South Africa is of a thriving African internet community using Creative Commons licenses to educate our people, grow our markets, share our knowledge and celebrate Africa 's culture and heritage with people around the world. Creative Commons South Africa is a web portal dedicated to showcasing the work of local creators, educators and administrators who use Creative Commons licences to distribute their ideas and creative expressions.
Fantsuam Foundation
The Fantsuam Foundation is based in rural Nigeria and promotes the use of ICT and micro-finance for poverty reduction. A rural computer School provides basic and intermediate level training and the Foundation provides refurbished computers for low resource civil society organisations. It sees FOSS as a viable alternative for their work in the future. The Fantsuam Foundation runs Nigeria’s first rural-based Cisco Academy and would like to provide FOSS certification within the next 12 months.
Schoolnet Africa
SchoolNet Africa (SNA) is an African based, African led, Pan-African organisation promoting education through the use of Information and Communication Technology (ICTs) in Schools at the National level. The vision of SNA is to provide the African Child with an opportunity to be a global learner through the use of ICTs. SchoolNet Africa works through National practitioners to implement appropriate and affordable ICT in education solutions in 31 countries across Africa
Translate.org.za
South Africa has 11 official languages, Translate.org.za is an NGO focusing on the translation of Free and Open Source software into these languages. To date the efforts have seen a Free web-browser, email program and office suite released in many of the languages. Other activities of Translate.org.za include:
- The promotion of FOSS in South Africa.
- Raising the issue of multilingualism and translation in South Africa.
- Advising on funding for FOSS related projects.
- Assisting other African's wanting to initiate similar translation efforts.
