The success of the 5th East Africa Telecentre Leaders Forum has become a milestone in the history of TLFs in the region.
For us starters in the telecentre movement, the vigour with which Ahmed Mouhmood Mohammed Eisa was working to make this forum a success has left us astonished.He first of all worked tirelessly to see to it, that all participants made it for the forum from different regions, as we are all aware of the delays in visa and ticket processions for some us.
On arrival, Ahmed Eisa virtually received all the participants in person, which made visa acquisition at the airport easier than it would have been if it was done at an individual level.
As if that was not good enough, we were all availed sim packs, fully loaded with airtime. At first, the cards did not seem useful and actually some participants had been reluctant to connect them.
However, when rumour circulated that there had been a plane crash at Khartoum International Airport on the second day of the forum, 9 June, most of us were seen struggling to load more talk time on our phones to inform family members back home how well and safe we were.
In addition, the conference hall, the hotel, meals and hospitable Sudanese people made us appear very important and loved.Sudan is so hot but participants will agree with me that drinking water, air conditioned rooms and a lounge made a difference.
If one asked me the reason to why I think the former agricultural minister, Ahmed Eisa staged the most successful EATLF ever, my answers would be first, his drive and hate for mediocrity.
Secondly, the ability to involve government in the Gedaref Digital City Organisation activities has boosted the organisation financially. It is no wonder that Sudan will start the first national telecentre academy in Africa. This implies that the next EATLF host, which is Rwanda, has a tall order to keep the pace that Sudan has set.
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
SUDACAD donates to telecentres
Sudatel Telecommunications Academy(SUDACA), a Sudanese local telecommunication academy on 11 June donated computer accessories, t-shirts, and caps to telecentre managers and practitioners at thier school premises in western kharthoum, Sudan.
The practitioners from different parts of the world were on a field visit after successfully concluding their three-day fifth East African Telecentre Leaders Forum (EATLF).
The academy that was formed 3 years ago targets to train and build capacity of the cadres of Sudatel Company and its affiliated cadres(Sudaservice,Datanet, Sudanet and Sudabill) in the communications and information fields.
It is also expected to offer technical support to the first National Telecentre Academy in Africa that will soon be opened in Sudan by Gedaref Digital City Organization.
SUDACAD undertakes the national training as a contribution in the promotion and development of the Sudanese Community. Elmahi Omar Elmahi, Training Manager,SUDACAD said "Sudan is ready to start a telecentre academy since it is endowed with financial and infrastructural resources".
The practitioners from different parts of the world were on a field visit after successfully concluding their three-day fifth East African Telecentre Leaders Forum (EATLF).
The academy that was formed 3 years ago targets to train and build capacity of the cadres of Sudatel Company and its affiliated cadres(Sudaservice,Datanet, Sudanet and Sudabill) in the communications and information fields.
It is also expected to offer technical support to the first National Telecentre Academy in Africa that will soon be opened in Sudan by Gedaref Digital City Organization.
SUDACAD undertakes the national training as a contribution in the promotion and development of the Sudanese Community. Elmahi Omar Elmahi, Training Manager,SUDACAD said "Sudan is ready to start a telecentre academy since it is endowed with financial and infrastructural resources".
Strengthening knowledge exchange
Telecentre staff around the world will have a chance to learn practical skills and share experiences through short-term collaborative and knowledge sharing activities.
Meddie Mayanja, Senior Programme Officer, telecentre.org said knowledge exchange will provide an opportunity for developing sustainable solutions to telecentre practitioners. It will also enable them to adopt best practices across the globe. Mayanja was speaking at a three-day fifth East African Telecentre Leaders Forum on 10 June at Sudanese Central Bank Association Hall in Khartoum, Sudan.
“Through networks, telecentre.org shall support telecentre practitioners and network leaders on short-term placements, to travel, work, innovate and learn with peers at telecentre or network level until April 2009,” Mayanja said
When asked about how many slots are available for practitioners annually, he said priority will be given to staff exchanges within national and sub-regional.
However, he said networks have a responsibility to ensure that exchanges are developed with a clear problem solving intension, process for addressing it and plan for sharing outcomes within the network.
He further mentioned that telecentre.org will provide beneficiaries with travel and subsistence costs as well as other limited expenses for hosts while telecentres or networks will share the cost of basic expenses.
The global programme is part of the telecentre.org network building programmes that bring practitioners together on intensive learning and problem solving activities.
Other areas envisaged for facilitation include national and regional meetings, workshops, and other developmental initiatives that benefit the telecentre ecosystem.
Mayanja highlighted that the East African telecentre Network leaders were the first beneficiaries of the knowledge exchange in February 2008. Soon, Mali and Mozambique will do in-country telecentre staff exchange.
Meddie Mayanja, Senior Programme Officer, telecentre.org said knowledge exchange will provide an opportunity for developing sustainable solutions to telecentre practitioners. It will also enable them to adopt best practices across the globe. Mayanja was speaking at a three-day fifth East African Telecentre Leaders Forum on 10 June at Sudanese Central Bank Association Hall in Khartoum, Sudan.
“Through networks, telecentre.org shall support telecentre practitioners and network leaders on short-term placements, to travel, work, innovate and learn with peers at telecentre or network level until April 2009,” Mayanja said
When asked about how many slots are available for practitioners annually, he said priority will be given to staff exchanges within national and sub-regional.
However, he said networks have a responsibility to ensure that exchanges are developed with a clear problem solving intension, process for addressing it and plan for sharing outcomes within the network.
He further mentioned that telecentre.org will provide beneficiaries with travel and subsistence costs as well as other limited expenses for hosts while telecentres or networks will share the cost of basic expenses.
The global programme is part of the telecentre.org network building programmes that bring practitioners together on intensive learning and problem solving activities.
Other areas envisaged for facilitation include national and regional meetings, workshops, and other developmental initiatives that benefit the telecentre ecosystem.
Mayanja highlighted that the East African telecentre Network leaders were the first beneficiaries of the knowledge exchange in February 2008. Soon, Mali and Mozambique will do in-country telecentre staff exchange.
Sudan Govt to support telecentre academies
The government of Sudan has pledged to support telecentre academies in Africa.This was revealed on 9 June by Abdul Gadir Mohammed Ali, Gedaref State Minister of Social and welfare and Governor at the official opening of the East African Telecentre Leaders Forum in Khartoum, Sudan.“We are proud and committed to sponsor telecentres in Sudan and other parts of the continent,” Mohammed Ali said.The telecentre academy that is aimed to professionalize telecentre practitioners and to provide practical skills will be the first of the kind in Africa and is part of telecentre.org’s efforts to support professional development needs of telecentre managers and practitioners across the globe.
The State minister of Information technology Dr. Eisa Bashari said that Sudan’s dream in this technological era is to witness Sudan transforming into a digital city just like Gedaref Digital City organisation, an ICT model in the region.He however said that for this strategy to materialize, all stakeholders at different levels in the country have to collaborate towards a common cause.Dr. Shaddrach Basheermad, a programme officer-Asia at telecentre .org said the academy comes at a time when there are emerging needs to address management and sustainability issues in the telecentre ecosystem as well as putting up a face or structure of telecentre activities in the world.In his introductory remarks, Dr. Ahamed Abudul Gadir , the chairman of National Information Centre said that the government of Sudan has liberalized communication and ICT industries which has led to growth of telecentres in the country as well as providing chance for practitioners to operate smoothly.About 120 participants from different parts of the world attended the opening session. Notably, establishment of the academy took centre stage of discussions but other issues such as sharing experience of different telecentres and evaluation of National networks and their status in the region were also tabled.Updates about the academy launch, content and curriculum development, sustainability and partners involved will be communicated tomorrow, 10 June 2008.
The State minister of Information technology Dr. Eisa Bashari said that Sudan’s dream in this technological era is to witness Sudan transforming into a digital city just like Gedaref Digital City organisation, an ICT model in the region.He however said that for this strategy to materialize, all stakeholders at different levels in the country have to collaborate towards a common cause.Dr. Shaddrach Basheermad, a programme officer-Asia at telecentre .org said the academy comes at a time when there are emerging needs to address management and sustainability issues in the telecentre ecosystem as well as putting up a face or structure of telecentre activities in the world.In his introductory remarks, Dr. Ahamed Abudul Gadir , the chairman of National Information Centre said that the government of Sudan has liberalized communication and ICT industries which has led to growth of telecentres in the country as well as providing chance for practitioners to operate smoothly.About 120 participants from different parts of the world attended the opening session. Notably, establishment of the academy took centre stage of discussions but other issues such as sharing experience of different telecentres and evaluation of National networks and their status in the region were also tabled.Updates about the academy launch, content and curriculum development, sustainability and partners involved will be communicated tomorrow, 10 June 2008.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
