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Things are happening here that are really challenging
me. Over 50 Head of States all over the world have
confirmed their participation and I am happy to say
that I'll contribute in the WSIS as from 10th Dec
as well. I am honored to present a paper at the GKP
Pavilion and I am first on the Youth Award list to
present to present on 10th Dec at 10:00 am. I'll present
a paper on the ICT's Impacts on Rural Economic Development.
I am looking forward to be the mouth piece of the
underserved rural communities in which I have tirelessly
worked with.
I am in the Palexpo Hall and there are lots of things
to do here, I'll put down all the contacts and achievements
made so far and i'll be able to share with you much
on 12th Dec. Kindly stand with me in prayers and I'll
share with you the good news from this end. So far
the Open Source which advocates for the use of Linux
has invited me to attend their session today in the
afternoon, they are looking forward to set up a testing
center in africa and possibly they will use oneVillage
network in Africa.
oneVillage Initiative - WSIS Update from Kennedy
Onyango
Kennedy's 3rd Report- Afternoon & Evening progress
analysis. (10th Dec 2003),
Geneva, Palexpo
Dear Colleagues,
I am sending to you greetings from WSIS at
Palexpo,Geneva. We are doing well. People are busy
from morning to midnight going through stall and
meeting to meeting. I have walked around these Halls
and I have not completed touring all of the Stalls. I
am invited unto several meetings that some I am
expected to give concrete inputs on the use of ICT's
for empowerment of the poor.
I helped Joerg to speak on the practical side of the Knowledge Transfer and
Culture at the Club of Rome. fortunately the CEO of
Nigeria Communications Commission whom Joerg managed
to interview some time back was present at the meeting
and he topped up the presentation by saying that the
negative impacts on donors eyes concerning Africa
has to be removed for sustainable development to be
realized. I liked his speech. I talked on the eCo-Vilage
as part of oneVillage Initiative readiness. I gave
Mbita as the first site in Africa. Members in the
meeting appreciated it and I long to process and produce
the photos that were taken during my presentation
to be included in the eCo-Village portal. I left Joerg at the meeting since I had to present the 2nd part of my presentation
at the Global Knowledge Partnership (GKP)Pavilion.
I presented the paper on: ICT's Impacts on Rural Economic
Development in which I took EDTEC ICT-based training
programme as the point of showcase while the oneVillage
ICT for Community development provided the background,
eCo-Village paper that I made some 2-3 weeks back
provided the template. We have won the Category award
on Rural Development and our project are among the
23 projects taken worldwide by the GKP for further
work.
I managed to talk with Terri Willard, Project Manager
IISD and Coordinator YCDO. Terri was our moderator
during my presentation and she was very much impressed
by our work in Mbita. She said that our initiative
has the capability of bringing the much needed solutions
to address the digital, culture and health divide
among the underserved rural communities. She further
commented on our work by saying that our gender focused
and ICT-based Model meets the needs of economically
women, disadvantaged, the aged, youth and rural communities
through total inclusiveness, networking and extension.
Terri has promised to bring me on board when youth
issues are being discussed at the GKP. She agreed to
visit our community (Mbita,Kenya) possibly when we
will open the 1st Unity Center to be built in the
shores of Lake-Victoria, Kenya (Funds being sought).
She promised that she will invite me to the GKP Annual
meeting in May 2004. She said that if I visit USA in
my planned visit of early next year then I will
proceed to Canada to visit her and have more talks
before proceeding to Malaysia for the GKP meetings.
She will work hard to see that GKP partners set up a
Youth Initiatives Support Fund and I discussed with
her the proposed idea of having African Heartland
Ventures (AHV). This is an eCo-Tourism initiative that
will have student's exchange programme between African
countries and the developed world.
Terri, is resourceful and we can tap resources vested
on her for further development of oneVillage! I gave
her Joy Tang e-mail and telephone contacts in USA so
that they can communicate. Terri promised to contact
Joy and I promised to introduce them. Joy is a good
networker and Terri is a good fundraiser and if the
two can come together then we will really move
further.
I thank God for the great things He is doing through
my life. He has brought people in my life that has
impacted my life positively. I told Joy some days
back about Eugene Seals and his mission to Kenya where
he will also attend and confer Certificates to the
graduates at EDTEC 2nd Graduation on 10th Jan 2003.
Joy, will be visiting Kenya as well in 2004. I trust
God for Duane Wilt visit too on that grand occasion
and Terri and Jacqui Varma of the Ford program/GEI.
We are creating networks and as Eugene has said Mbita
community will be known all over the world.
I am preparing for GKP Award Rehearsal starting at
9:00 pm at the main Market Place, Palexpo. We will be
shown our duties during the award ceremony on 11th
Dec. I look forward to bring the trophy and what comes
with it to Mbita....next week.
Regards,
Kennedy
Geneva, Switzerland
Kennedy's Report (10th Dec 2003),
Geneva, Palexpo
Dear colleagues,
Receive greetings from the World Summit on Information
Society (WSIS) and ICT4Development. I am doing well
and I have just completed my meeting with OVF
colleagues here at Geneva; we met with Erich Kohler
early this morning just after my long-awaited
presentation on: ICT's Impact's on Rural Economic
Development and Integration. I presented the paper
amid clause and clapping of delegates and Global
Knowledge Partnership colleagues. They appreciated the
good work we are doing and promised to support our
efforts at all costs. They have taken our paper and
possibly it will appear on the GKP portal that is
accessible to thousand organizations all over the
world.
We followed other presentation with Erich after taking
photo's since my Camera is working, we managed to tour
the whole ICT4D Hall 4 in one hour and finally we met
Joerg Geir from Germany, Joerg is representing
oneVillage Foundation in Germany as well. Right now he
is representing the Club of Rome ttt30. Joerg is a
young man possibly in his early 30's and well-endowed
with knowledge I admire his qualities though he told
me that I am gifted and genius.
Joerg has requested me to stand with him as he delivers his 45 minutes presentation
on the Knowledge Transfer and Culture. This is an
opportunity to me and oneVillage Foundation, I'll
present a paper on the eCo-Village approach as he
presents at the Club of Rome. Joerg has taken me to
the Hall 0 where their delegates are meeting and this
time he is working on my eCo-Village paper as I type
this e-mail. I'll be back to you soon after the presentation.
UN Secretary General arrived here and today I managed
to see Kofi Annan at a close distance. The delegates
are meeting in one of the meeting halls at Palexpo
where we are now with Joerg. Erich, has left us since
we have to work on the presentation due to be presented
in the afternoon as from 3:00 pm. I enjoy the company
of Erich and Joerg very much. Erich is more friendly,
out going and he genuinely loves people. I compare
him with Joy Tang. Erich laughs all through and he
was very happy indeed to set his eyes on me. I appreciate
him and look forward to work with him in all endeavors.
I delivered a presentation on the Impacts of ICT's
on rural economic development and integration, our
project has won the Category Award in: Rural Development,
so many organizations applied for this award and we
have taken it. An NGO in Columbia has taken the GKP
Youth Award. We have remained at the Category Award
in which we have beaten all the applicants. It's a
good start and we are already published in a GKP Stakeholders
Newsletter. I'll bring this wonderful Newsletter on
my mission back to Mbita. I look forward for Award
Celebration Night party tomorrow in which I'll be
honored. I wish I could invite my colleagues Erich
and Joerg but it's restricted to the Invitees. I'll
take the Award, Recognition Certificate and anything
that comes with it back home.....
Lots of Networks are being created from this end I
look forward for more partners to get involved in our
work. I'll be brief for now since I am going to give
more information later after the presentation with
Joerg.
Regards,
Kennedy,
WSIS-Geneva
Kennedy's Report: (9th Dec 2003) Dear Colleagues,
I have arrived in Geneva for the WSIS/ICT4Development
Platform organized by the SDC and GKP. I am registered
with WSIS as TakingITGlobal Delegate, and ICT4Development
Platform as a Global Knowledge Partnership Youth Award
Finalist. That's a double portion since delegates
here are not allowed to go through the WSIS where
dignitaries are! and ICT4Development Platform delegates
are trying to get to the WSIS.
I am representing CISSO and oneVillage Foundation
in which I'll showcase our work on the oneVillage
Initiative.
I arrived in Brussels on Monday morning at 6:00 am
and took another flight to Geneva in which I arrived
at 8:00 am on Monday, I proceeded to the WSIS Registration
in which I registered, later on I toured the Palexpo
Hall and finally I took a public bus to the Hotel
Drake in which I confirmed my participation at the
GKP Pavilion. I have not seen Erich and Joerg but
we are in e-mail contact, hopefully we will meet today.
At noon on 8th Dec, I was again at the Palexpo and
I managed to meet delegates from other countries as
well. We had a series of meetings with new friends
and I left for the Hotel drake, where I met Dennis
Odhiambo also from Kenya and representing Rwanda,
we had a brief talk on the work of youth in Kenya
and Africa as a whole.
Monday was my first day in Geneva ad I thank God for
the wonderful opportunity He has given me to see great
and marvelous things in my life. God's purposes cannot
be derailed and today I am standing on the will of
God! I thank God for good friends He has brought in
my life, my meeting with Joy Tang-the Founder and
Director of oneVillage Foundation, USA has totally
changed my life, I thank God for her, she came into
my life with a glittering sign of hope that motivates
me to press on.
I am very much grateful for Brinda Dalal of USA, who
recently came into my life with a generous support
I'll never forget. Nicholas Odhiambo, the Manager
of Young Turks Enterprise mentored and helped me to
identify the hidden talents in my life, today I am
using what Nicholas recognized in me and supported
me to release, it's my humble request that God bless
him in all endeavors. Ms. Aida Karimah, Executive
Director-GKP and colleagues are another gift from
God as well. Francis Opiyo stood with me and his encouragement
made me to reach to this level, may he live to see
the fruits of good work. Pastor John Gombe has been
a great blessing and supporter of my work in Kenya,
may God give him the grace to continue with the same
spirit.
God has taught me so many things that I'll live to
share with all people who have the desire to see their
communities build and social justice prevails for
all to get access to resources. ICT's is my platform
through oneVillage Initiative to make this dream a
reality. I remain here to serve and i'll serve.
Things are happening here that are really challenging
me. Over 50 Head of States all over the world have
confirmed their participation and I am happy to say
that I'll contribute in the WSIS as from 10th Dec
as well. I am honored to present a paper at the GKP
Pavilion and I am first on the Youth Award list to
present to present on 10th Dec at 10:00 am. I'll present
a paper on the ICT's Impacts on Rural Economic Development.
I am looking forward to be the mouth piece of the
underserved rural communities in which I have tirelessly
worked with.
I am in the Palexpo Hall and there are lots of things
to do here, I'll put down all the contacts and achievements
made so far and i'll be able to share with you much
on 12th Dec. Kindly stand with me in prayers and I'll
share with you the good news from this end. So far
the Open Source which advocates for the use of Linux
has invited me to attend their session today in the
afternoon, they are looking forward to set up a testing
center in africa and possibly they will use oneVillage
network in Africa.
Regards,
Kennedy
Kennedy' First Report(7th Dec 2003)
Dear Colleagues,
Great things are happening in our lives and I am out
in the field now to push forward the aged of total
inclusiveness when it comes to information communication
technologies (ICT's) application in the least developed
countries for holistic development. Here is the summary
of my mission to Geneva.
Kennedy E. Onyango
WSIS Presentation on:
ICT's Impacts on Rural Economic Development and Integration:
The Blog Edition
Occasional BRIEFINGS by Kennedy E. ONYANGO
posted by Kennedy on 7th Dec 2003.
Friday, December 5th, 2003
My business cards came in the mail on the afternoon
of 5th Dec 2003, and I am planning to leave for Nairobi
on 6th Dec 2003. So I'll be spending the next few
days getting acquainted with my new colleagues at
the World Summit on Information Society (WSIS), (Erich-Switzerland
and Joerg-Germany).
While in Nairobi this coming weekend and in Geneva
the week after that, I'll be bringing along the camera
so I can post photos from Nairobi and the WSIS as
quickly as possible..
posted by Kennedy on: 7th Dec 2003.
Saturday, Dec 06, 2003
This evening I'm off to Nairobi and Geneva respectively
for the World Summit on Information Society (WSIS).
I'll be moderating a panel on Wednesday morning on
the digital divide and building communities of activists
and practitioners to bridge it. Many IT ministers
from the developed and developing world will take
part in the event, so it should be a great opportunity
to meet interesting people from all over the world.
I arrive in Geneva early Monday, morning and will
hopefully get together with my Joerg and Erich(Erich
lives in Switzerland, Joerg is visiting). I'll then
be at the summit all day Monday, then return to the
Drake hotel in the evening, just in time to have dinner
with Global Knowledge Partnership colleagues and friends
before catching some shut-eye and heading up to ICT4Development
platform at the crack of dawn Tuesday for a meeting
at the UN. Then back to work for a couple of hours
before repacking my presentation for the grand occasion...
Yes, it's gonna be a hectic week.
I'm trying to pack light for this trip, given the
fact it's only for eight nights. But I'll be sure
to bring my new digital camera and a good book for
the airplane -- perhaps Albert Hourani's History of
the Arab Peoples, which I've been meaning to re-read
for a long time, especially with my Swiss trip coming
up next week , which I've been meaning to re-read
for a long time, especially with my Swiss trip coming
up next week.
posted by Kennedy @ 12:48 AM
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Kennedy Edwine,
Director -EDTEC,
P.O Box 337,
Mbita-Kenya
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