ICT4D

On the evening of the 3rd of December at “Huis van Rooi” in St-Agatha-Rode, Belgium, the Village Scribe Association was founded. The official registration will follow in January. The association has its home in Boortmeerbeek in Belgium.

Founding honorary members are:

• Christoph Flügge, The Hague, Lawyer, Judge in the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY)
• Prof. Robert Tolksdorf, Berlin, IT Specialist, Professor for Computer Science and Head of the Group on Networked Informationsystems, Free University of Berlin
• Dr. Antonino Gulli’, Pisa, IT Specialist, CTO Ask.com Europe and UK

Founding members are:

• Ronald Wertlen, Grahamstown, IT Specialist, CEO of eKhaya ICT, Centre of Excellence (CoE) Coordinator at the Computer Science Department, Rhodes University
• Dr. Anna Wertlen, Grahamstown, Biologist, COO of eKhaya ICT
• Amanda McPhail, Boortmeerbeek (Belgium), Biologist, Research Database Specialist
• Dr. Jan Baekelandt, Boortmeerbeek (Belgium), Gynaecologic Oncologic Surgeon

We are looking forward to increased cooperation between the cultures of Europe and Africa with the founding of the association.

The South African Department of Science and Technology (DST) and Cooperation Framework on Innovation Systems between Finland and South (COFISA) have awarded eKhaya ICT a travel grant for the upcoming trip to Germany, Switzerland and Finland. The purpose of the trip is threefold:

1) To found the Village Scribe Association which will organise an international
support network for the deployment of the awareNet technology;

2) To meet software innovation organisations to improve innovation production of
the awareNet technology;

3) To research how awareNet and the ECSPIRT project as a whole can be included
in activities with specific living labs in the European Network of Living Labs’
(ENoLL) project portfolio.

You can find out more about ECSPIRT and the awareNet at the pages of the Village Scribe Association.

The second LearnThings workshop is taking place this week. Content was delivered to the teachers on USB Flash Drives which they got to keep. The drives were donated by Intel, resulting in the following image:

As an East Cape person, visiting Johannesburg is something I like to avoid like the plague. I ask my relatives who live there why they are still there. Especially after they have recounted the latest displeasures of living in Johannesburg. The displeasures range from drug using youth scenes, to muggings, to traffic congestion. All the more worrying it is to get in a car and head to Soweto - a good thing to liven up a conference!

A good thing that Neo is on the end of line - guiding a nervous Soweto-first-timer to Freedom Square in Kliptown. The place that the Freedom Charter was signed at on the 26th of June 1955. Now it is a huge brick edifice - a freedom mall apparently - taxis and traffic mill with music blaring… Just down a side-road here is Neo’s place.

From there we head of West accross the railway tracks to the Kliptown Youth Project. This is a really squalid township scene, and I would not go in here without Neo. And definitely not at night. In the rural areas, people tend to smile more, and the poverty is somehow easier to bear. But just half an hour walk from this desperately poor place, sports cars and limousines worth millions of rands each (Porsche, Mercedes, BMW, etc.) ferry impatient business people around. They don’t make the traffic jams move any faster.

The Kliptown Youth Project is about hands, minds and hearts. It is about winning the youth over to hope! By occupying the minds and hands with useful activites the hearts of these youth are filled with hope, confidence and a will to achieve more. A group of youth are in the yard kicking a ball around. Another couple are stting in the office working on their CVs. During school, there are 100 children with OLPC laptops creating digital artefacts in a classroom which is also used for remedial work. Teachers come to give after hours assistance to learners - mainly matrics to help them go further. They have a great role model in Thulani Madondo. Quietly confident, he has travelled far afield to gain experience and he knows that there is something important about what he is doing here at KYP. It is a real pleasure to speak to him and I hope to go on a Kliptown tour with him one day soon.

The great thing about KYP is that the momentum of this project comes from the participants. What a lesson this is to other projects, that aim for the same hands, minds and hearts effect but bring in impetus from outside (see my next blog post about Andrew Summer’s project at St Matthews school near Keiskammahoek).

This is a very worthy project for the OLPC and it is great to see them using the technology so ably.

By now Neo has taken another 150 OLPCs to an installation in Natal at a rural school (Esibonisweni Primary School). I see some photos of the school and it looks quite well off compared to the schools we are working at. I am sure that they will also make good use of the laptops under Neo’s tutelage. And what a good export product for KYP. Performing OLPC training and installs. I hope that all goes well with that and that the DoE and Municipality finally pay this project the attention it deserves.

I recently attended an ITU-R feedback meeting on the World Radiotelecommunications Conference of 2007 (WRC-07). The WRC is where all the wireless regulators get together and bash out a consensual position for world wireless and satellite usage of spectra and satellite orbitals (so they don’t crash) for 4 weeks.

It seems a little strange: An organisation that sets its agenda 6 years in advance, that requires its final agenda to be ratified 2 years in advance of the ratifying meting, must surely be a dinosaur in the these times. Everyone in the Internet industry and other hi-tech branches seems to be intoxicated by the dizzying speed with which developments are occuring.

Add to that a conservative seemingly bureaucratic heart of the ITU, the motto being something like “waste not, want not” as regards radio frequencies, is a questionable thing. People want free radiowaves. Technology allows an ever finer slicing of the airwaves - is this just not enforcing the monopolies and what about deregulating worldwide that is going on in the local-loops.

So, what possible use can such a body have, one might ask?

Quite simply there are some critical aspects of radiotelecommunication, like emergency bands that need to be kept clear of “harmful interference”. Also regulations that affect international disaster relief are becoming a priority in the ITU-R. It also regulates things like satellite orbits and is a forum for countries and industries to make known their intentions as far as radiotelecommunication is concerned.

The ITU organisational model is sound, it brings nations together and works on voluntary consensus. While that means, that it has very few means to enforce regulations or to act as adjudicator in feuds between mismatched rivals such as Cuba and the USA. It is a lot like it’s cousin - the UN - in that respect.

Also as a virtual organisation it sees itself critically and is in the process of reviewing what regulations are going to be needed in future as most technologies converge to IP.

About the ITU-R: http://www.itu.int/ITU-R

The sibling organisation the ITU-D is on the other hand much more interesting to eKhaya ICT and our venture… but it’s good to get to know the whole family!

From this height, the Eastern Cape province is a frothy milky white plain, it is a convuluted dark ridged surface, and it is a hilly green and olive surface bounded by the blue of the ocean, which stretches away to vanish into a wall of tall white clouds - clouds which seem to live here above the warmer waters of the tail of the Mozambique current. Although the perspective is unusual, the feeling for this piece of land is the same. I know what beauty lies down there below me. Even from up here it remains, but transformed. Now a golden fiery snake winds its way beneath. It’s broad body is incandescent in the rising sun, twisting this way and that between what must be tall mountains, but seem to be bumps. It can only be the mighty Caledon, the other boundary of this region.

Beside the mighty river, hut roofs glint like diamonds. I am transported into a future where the inhabitants of these dwellings grow up knowing that they have a right to know, that they have the means to know and that they can know about all subjects of human knowledge. The economy that powers this knowledge is built to 95% on renewable energy. Photovoltaics have been revolutionised - their efficiency ratio is still not much above 12,5%, but they are manufactured from cheap plastics that are in turn derived from agricultural by-products and seed oils, right here in the Eastern Cape. These cheap cells are everywhere, and the plentiful sun of this area keeps the knowledge turning over. Solid state cells built of myriads of capacitors keep systems running over night, during darkness, etc. Or cheaper hydrogen cells which occasionally need to be watered, like crops. Even the aeroplane I am sitting in is run on a mixture of Hydrogen, Nitrogen and Oxygen all produced through the renewable power.

A future I look forward to and am building towards.

Ron Wertlen held a speech as the solar computer lab project coordinator at the official launch ceremony on the 1st of August 2008. The following conveys the sense of the speech:

“Good day dignitaries and guests, ladies and gentlemen of the community, educators and learners. I am very glad to see you all here! Thank you indeed for coming. We have looked forward to this day together for quite some time.

I will keep the speech short, because this should be a festive occasion and not one of long-winded speeches.

There is an important thing I wish to impress on all of you learners, as you begin to work with the computers that have been brought to your schools. Words that are spoken are like the dust outside on the street [1]. They are ephemeral and blown about by the slightest breeze and can be a nuisance. You cannot build a house with dust. If you however gather that dust and form it into a brick [2], and make several bricks then you can build yourself a house. You can trade bricks and you can help your neighbour build his house by giving him some bricks. The written word is like a brick. You can use it to build a roof over your heads. So remember this when you use the computer - write down your thoughts and share them with others. It will make you a richer person.

Secondly, another important thing: When you work at the laptops, remember to sit up straight. Don’t sit at the computer all bent and crooked - you will end up looking like me, and you might get back pains.

Thirdly, the prizes for the drawing competition are being handed over aftewards at the outdoor party. Please all come over.

Thank you very much and enjoy the day!”

Check out photos of the Launch…

Notes: 1. Tafalehashi at the end of Winter is a very very dusty place. The dust permeates everything and there is no escaping it.

2. Most of the housing in the area is built with mud bricks. The finest dust that blows around turns into the slickest and best mud when wettened. Just add straw, place in a brck form and cure in the sun.

To expect the BEE programme to succeed within the space of one generation, and without a strategic plan for broad based empowerment - not only in an economic sense - is plain silliness. The so-called “failure of BEE” which is currently in the news originates from a KPMG audit of large companies BEE scores this last week. This failure proves that economic empowerment alone is not enough to allow broad inclusion in South African business.

While the idea of BEE as a rectifier of legacy Apartheid imbalance is fundamentally correct. However, the devil is always in the detail. Thus the first version of BEE did not do enough and now apparently also the version 2.0 Broad-Based BEE is failing. Working on the ground and in schools in impoversihed areas, we see the reason for this. Everyone wants a “quick win”. In IT business we speak of “quick wins” when we want to implement a speedy interim solution with a very visible effect. It’s an interim solution because the infrastructure required to make the solution work sustainably has to catch up, or the quickly written code does not comply with standards. Quick wins are very important, because they keep managers off your neck (they have something to show) and the development team has gained confidence.

In the same way, the BEE song has kept the public appeased for a while and the developers of South African society have had some time to go forward with deep changes. These changes are coming along too slowly. Especially in the Eastern Cape and in the Eastern Cape education department we have seen very few, very slow advancements. Infrastructure and educational quality is sadly lacking. And without education only a very brittle broad base can be developed, if any at all.

With a strong and educated broad base, programs like the BBBEE and BEE will truly have the chance to achieve what they set out to do. Balance Apartheid injustice.

After the successful launch things at the school are settling into a routine. We want to keep an eye on what the schools are doing with the computers and to assist by training the teachers as we have the time and also to encourage them that the facilities are easy to use and beneficial to them. In other words, over time, we want to influence the routine so that the teachers bring the IT component into their teaching and into their school life.

Afurther aim is the search for potential champions - people who come forward and volunteer their time and services and are enthusiastic.

With this intention in mind, Ron Wertlen made a trip to the schools on the 14/8 - 16/8. He stayed over at the trading store of Pieter Venter. On this visit it became apparent that the school and community are growing aware of the possibilities and they want to cooperate with each other and make the most of the facilities. For instance:

* Keenan who works at the trading store is repairing windows at Zwelenqaba after hours as a service to the community. He is being helped by Mcebisi, who also works at the trading store and who was born at Tafalehashi and went to school at Zwelenqaba.

* Zukiswa Mavonyala (also Zwelenqaba alumnus) and Mcebisi approached Mr. Ziduli to find out under what conditions the community can use the laptops. They both have some computer knowledge and are very keen to complete the Open International Computer Drivers Licence course. They are both potential trainers for the community and we are considering sending them to East London to take part in a trainers’ course.

Also it is clear that the routine is already becoming quite healthy:

* All the schools have been using their computer equipment since the launch. Ron was told this in discussion with the teachers and he independantly verified this by checking logs and seeing the state of the computers.

* Mr. Yankey has downloaded Geography lecture aids from the Internet and wants to get his students to use them easily. For this purpose, Ron setup a shared area on the server harddisk.

* All the schools have been logging their electricity usage from the solar panels. All the solar systems are working at full capacity and Voltage levels are high.

Ron held several training workshops.

Workshop: Zwelenqaba
[ The workshop was held in the evening from 5pm till about 7.30pm. Students representing several matric classes were there. as we worked, I was aware that the brightly lit scene in front of me was a direct result of stored solar power - the sun lighting up the night.]

The main aim at Zwelenqaba, was to involve the entire matric class with the computing resource and to familiarise them with the starting and shutdown of the system. Also the learners were sensitized about the different kinds of things they can do with the computers in a Question and answer session. Different rules for the computer lab were discussed.

During the workshop, the learners learnt about the different resources on the VIKO server. The facilities that were explored were:
* Wikipedia encyclopedia - students looked up topics that they liked
* VIKO Video lessons - a lot of learners enjoyed these.
* Typing tutor - several decided they would like to improve their knowledge of the keyboard.
After about an hour of VIKO exploration, several students wanted to express themselves by typing using Open Office Writer.

“There is one thing that I know: every where I go that Jesus love Has never fail me yet up to this far. If I get tired along the way He gives Me power to press on. ” (Sinazo Sajini)

“What is important in computer is to learn how to type faster and you must practice always when you get into the Lab. When you are able to type very faster I promise you are going to be interested in typing. After typing you can do every thing that will make you interested.
YOU KNOW WHAT? Computer work as stupid thing, that means computer need
somebody to operate it , like if you send it to the wall it will hit the wall if you don’t control it.”(BONGA MAPHIKE)

Teacher Training workshops were held at Kwantshunqe and at Bafazi JSS. Here the teachers’ technology-related problems were resolved, mainly problems accessing the network and then there were some questions about the resources available. Several teachers made contributions to the local wikipedia copy.

On Saturday morning, community training took place despite torrential rains. At about 8am my car got stuck in the muddy bog that the road reverts to when it rains. There was not a person in sight anywhere. Then the first pupil for the training course arrived - Zukiswa Mavonyela. Soon the second person Mcebisi Lukozi. I hope to be writing a lot more about these two as time goes on. We started the first chapter of the Open ICDL and discussed the relative sizes of storage media such as DVDs, USB disks and HDDs. It was a very productive session and both showed that they understood and could handle basic computer tasks. Mr. Saiti also arrived on cue at about 9.30. Mr. Saiti is an engaged member of the community who has no idea about computers at all. Zukiswa and Mcebisi practised showing him the basics of the computer.

With the end of the lesson, the clouds parted for a minute and we left the classroom in streaming sunshine. A few passers-by helped push the car out of it’s predicament. The wet morning left its mark on me though - I was sick for a couple of days after with an acute flu!

I don’t know how they researched it, but the Grocott’s mail is calling our “solar powered computer lab”(*) a South African first, and it may very well be. As one adds up all the work we have put into this project, motivating the community for over a year, a careful selection of sub-contractors for some of the work, coordination of needs, interests and publicity, all required to launch the project successfully, I can guess why this has not been done before.

Some more facts about our solar computer lab:
( Since we are using laptops, which are locked away in a safe, there is an installation time. )
- with the power cables and mice at their stations (as they usually are), it takes one person about 10 minute to take the 25 laptops out of the safe and attach them to their leashes.
- to ready the classroom from scratch (i.e. power cables and mice are not at their stations) it takes about 30 minutes.

(*) By “solar powered computer lab”, we mean a computer installation counting at least 20 computers and peripherals including but not restricted to printers, copiers and projectors, in a dedicated room powered solely by solar power.