Evvy Bryning's Recent Discussions

What should the procedures be for funding new project ideas through ?

We have talked in the past of NedUganda as a coop made up of many small group-owned business units. Somewhere along the way we were unable to see how those small group businesses would support the whole organizational structure, from which the members want more than just funding for group businesses.

So we are no longer talking (for the moment) about NedUganda as a coop with a physical space in Uganda. Specifically, though, NedUganda could be a group in which new project ideas from Uganda (like the soap project) are developed. The idea might be to develop the ideas to a certain level at which they then become eligible for ned community fundraising action.

With the soap project, we came to a point where some thought the project was ready and others didn't. That contributed to a breakdown in momentum that I think could be avoided in the future with some clearer guidelines for what requirements qualify a project for a ned community funding effort.

I am starting this discussion to get input from both the Ugandan and global members of the NedUganda group in trying to define that process further, and to establish some realistic expectations for those Ugandans who may wish to work on developing their project ideas.

Given that I will not personally be available to take the lead in administering ned community fundraising for Uganda for a while, it would also be great to get input from this group's global members in particular on what kinds of roles you might be willing to play in developing this as a ned.com pilot community financing program.

Please also keep in mind that the above are my ideas on where we should go from here - they may not be the best ideas! Any other ideas on what the NedUganda group might aim to be and/or achieve are most welcome ~

Last comment added: Tue, 02 Dec 2008 10:52:12 PST

UNBELIEVABLE DONATIONS 2008

NOW HERE IS HOW IT ALL STARTED ON THE OMIDYAR NETWORK :)

Unbelievable DonationPosted to: Ray B-r-o-s-s-e-u-k (CCAL30) (1414) by Ray B-r-o-s-s-e-u-k (CCAL30) (1414), Fri, 21 Jan 2005 22:00:13 PST Edited: Thu, 04 Jan 2007 08:28:55 PST Feedback score: 2010 (* * * * * * * * * ) Tags: community success Comments: 1356 by 62 members (most recent: 9 weeks ago by Lois *~end all wars~ Brayton (CCAL30) (346)) Viewed: 18672 times by 552 members

Original first Post.

My wife and I were just given two transport truckloads of construction nails, 37 tons, all in 50 lb boxes. We will be shipping them overseas to be used for the rebuilding in the tsunami region and also some into the south pacific for the building of schools and dormitories ect.

I can't tell you how incredible this is. I went home this week to unload all of them into my warehouse; I am a little sore right now. It will take more than five, forty-foot containers this year to get all the nails shipped. We will be able to put roughly 7 or 8 tons per container and the rest will be clothes, shoes, food ect, otherwise the container will be to heavy, maximum weight forty two thousand pounds.

These nails were from Tree Island Nails in Vancouver It just goes to show you that there is really good people out there. All we have to do if we want to make a difference in this world is believe we can and move forward (action) with that belief and commitment and it will happen. I asked the owner why he would give such a large donation and he said he was inspired by what my wife and I are trying to do and just wanted to help. So it just goes to show you that if you just start trying even if the nay sayers say it can’t be done keep on trying

Pictures

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2 005-1/938053/IMG_2608.JPG

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2 005-1/938053/IMG_2610.JPG

Thanks again

Ray

Almost 3 years have gone by since this first post on Unbelievable Donations.

Here is the overview of what happened in 2005, 2006 and 2007

January to April 2005 Donated items start to come in.~~ April 2005 tried to send a container to Sri Lanka for Tsunami relieve, unable to, due to political problems in Sri Lanka~~ April 24/2005 Shipped a full 40 ft container to Fiji, with some items going on to Papua New Guinea. Arrived May 27th~~ June 20th/2005 Shipment of items to Tanzania, Toye Wigley’s project~~ September 16th/2005 Shipped computers, clothing and schoolbooks to Belize Central America~~ September 30th/2005 another 40ft container to Fiji, arrived Nov 16th.~~ August 7th/2005 40ft container to Phuket,Thailand, Meron Moroz project~~ October 3rd/2005 40 ft container to Ghana,West Africa.~~ November 2005 Started working on a project with David Bale for Bread Line Africa to ship containers to Africa.~~ December 2005 trying to send items to Moses’ school project in Sudan.~~ December 2005 started working on sending a 40 ft container of dehydrated food, clothes and tents to Gabriel’s Project in Sudan Africa. I think this is the most exciting and meaningful project to date.~~

I want to say that this has been an amazing year and it could not have been done without all of your support.

Ray and Jackie Brosseuk

SUMMARY OF 2006 PROJECTS

Breadline Africa Kids in Cans, thanks goes to David Bale~~ Stop Genocide wristbands Completed, sent the wristbands that we did not sell along with a check to Gabriel.~~ The Sudan & Chad Refugee camps project Completed, all the money was sent to Gabriel.~~ Sudan School project with Moses We raised money and sent it to Moses.~~ Shipment to Fiji in May Completed, A close personal friend donated the funds required, Jackie and I sent cash to help pay for the distribution costs throughout the islands.~~ Shipments to Swaziland Children’s Aids Orphans Two containers a 40ft and a 20ft were sent in Feb.~~ June 25th another 40ft container to Swaziland Arrived, distributed.~~ Kamae Children Money sent to them in August.~~ Oct 15th another 40ft container to Swaziland Arrived Dec 18th, All Paid for and distributed~~ Nov 15th another 40ft container to Swaziland Arrived, all Paid for.~~ Kitchen Building for the kids under the tree Completed, we gave them a container to use, they are trying to sell it and then use the funds to build a block building.~~ Second Life, Better World Island Jackie and I were asked if we would take over Better World Island in 2006, we are thrilled with the potential of this Virtual world and the enormous possiblities that lie ahead.~~

2006 was an amazing year, Thanks to the O-Net community and to all of you who helped make this happen.

Ray

SUMMARY OF 2007 PROJECTS TO DATE

February 2007 Swaziland & Lesotho I flew down to clear the container thru customs and to help distribute both of them. While I was there, I met up with Anna & Beth from Salt Spring Island and Meron Meroz flew down and joined us 2 weeks later. We all helped with the distribution of the items. It was one of the most rewarding and memorable trips (fun too:) Meron and others from her community countinue to support the people in Lesotho and are arranging the shipment of another container this year. Cost of both containers was $17,190~~ May 2007 Fiji A 40 ft container sent, $7,960~~ June 2007 Swaziland a 40 ft container sent, arriving soon cost $8,700. August 2007 sent another container to Swaziland, cost $8,700.~~ October 2007 sent another container to Swaziland, cost $8,200.~~ October 2007 sent another container to Lesotho, cost $8,100.~~

Jackie and I are commited to continue sending containers of much needed items to the unfortunate children of Africa and other parts of the world.

Total expenditures for 2005, 2006, and 2007 to date, were well over $200,000 U.S.

As you can see, it has been an amazing journey over the last three years and it's great to be able to continue sharing the stories with you here at NED.

Thanks again for all the support each one of you have given and most of all I want to say THANK YOU on behalf of all the children you have helped through out the world. I know if they could write to you here, they would say thank you for giving me some clothes and the soup for me to eat and for the toys I play with now and the books I learn to read and most of all, thank you for showing me that you love me

Ray & Jackie Brosseuk

Partners For Others

Looking forward to a great 2008 at NED

Here are some links to videos taken over the past few years

Also here is the link to the stories behind the videos

http://www.ned.com/group/pfo/new s/4/

Lesotho

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F wUfwFiNXns

Fiji Boat

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6 Vt-3FTTQAc

Swaziland water tank

http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=GL iUwDwraLA

Namatakula Fiji

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u y61miKL4Xw

Boy with one leg Fiji

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s w8HS9ReJw4

20 yr School Reunion Fiji

http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=IY B5deJZsIo

Last comment added: Fri, 28 Nov 2008 21:31:09 PST

One Laptop Per Child - XO Computer

This is the first review I've seen/read about the XO laptop, from One Laptop Per Child in the NY Times article by David Pogue. Be sure to watch the video. From a design perspective, it seems wonderful. Cost-wise, in the realm of making a huge difference. They have even designed in alternate/supplemental power: there is an optional yo-yo power cord (1 min of pulling is 10 min of time) and a $12 solar hookup that can power and/or recharge the unit. Sure, there are a lot of people bashing the thing. But who else has come even close to bringing something that has the potential to reach really, really poor places?

During two weeks in November, the purchase price is $400, and is "Give 1, Get 1" - you get one and one goes to charity. Pretty cool.

Last comment added: Sun, 23 Nov 2008 16:37:30 PST

SaltSpring & SOLID Exchange

For the past couple of weeks I've been meeting with a two of my friends, Melanie, former SOLID board member who has just returned from 2 years spent in Zimbabwe, and Simon, jewelry artisan and client, to discuss opening a fair trade type retail outlet on SaltSpring. With any luck and a lot of hard work by the time some of you get here in May we will have our little shop open.

Last comment added: Mon, 10 Nov 2008 09:25:47 PST

Homeless (soon) and looking for a job. Will relocate.

I will leave Ubon after the conference in December.

At the moment I am devastated.

Last comment added: Wed, 05 Nov 2008 14:15:52 PST

Kampala Kids League

In a Front Porch discussion, Evvy Bryning said:

Just caught up with this. Fred, have you contacted the KKL (Kampala Kids League) yet. You should. They have been in operation since 2003 and now have over 14,000 Ugandan kids playing football. The man who founded it is Trevor Dudley and he could be a great help to you. Christina and I both know him personally and he does really good work and is very dedicated. Check out his website at http://kampalakidsleague.org/_/

I've left a message in that thread to say I've started a discussion about this here in the Kampala Junior Team group.

edited to add link

Last comment added: Wed, 05 Nov 2008 10:59:44 PST

Hello Gulu - Hello Kireka!

This thread is facilitates communication about operations between Life in Africa's communities in Kireka and Gulu, and with headquarters in Kampala.

LiA members who participate online are expected to keep up with and tell others in your location about the announcements, requests for information and/or inquiries that are posted here.

All LiA members in Uganda, please click here to put this thread on your watchlist - and check here first when you log into ned.com. If there is new information posted, please alert those near you who need to know.

Last comment added: Mon, 03 Nov 2008 00:22:13 PST

Kayiwa Fred & his new group

Kayiwa asked me to start a new group for him focused on the efforts he and his colleagues are making in Kampala to help poor kids with little going for them except their keenness to participate.

So if you are interested in soccer, poor kids and building a fairer world, please have a look at the new group, Kampala Junior Team

It needs sponsors.

Last comment added: Sun, 26 Oct 2008 15:52:54 PST

Ned Part-Time Staff (Beaders First)

So Ned is hiring five (5) Ugandan part-time beaders and guaranteeing their salaries for 6 months during this test phase with Life in Africa operating as a strategic partner. The LiA oversight fee** and Kampala beader salaries** will be guaranteed for the first six months and even if production were to be stopped, those two fees will still be paid by Ned.

Materials and postage = .30 ea. (2,500 bracelets mo) $750

Internet connection/bracelet quality control/funds distribution/shipping/oversight to LiA $125**

Salaries = $25 per beader (5) $125**

Total amount per month $1,000

Timeframe: 10/1/08 - 3/31/09

All beaders will be Ned members, Peter Ndelo is the person on the ground in Kampala, Uganda for LiA, and Evvy Bryning is the US contact.

Now, once Ned friends find the US market for the beaded bracelets then other part-time beaders may well be brought on as well, and current beader compensation will be increased. All sales, transactions, costs and such will be 100% transparent and all reported online at Ned. So we'll kick of this open source agreement by paying LiA $3,000 total; broken down as $1,500 for two months of beaded bracelet materials, production, postage (5,000 units) and $750 for five people salaries for six months and $750 for LiA oversight role and internet connectivity for six months.

Beaded bracelet retail at $12 USD, and wholesaled at $3.50 each, minimum order of 200.

Evvy/Peter, let's make sure these are the smaller rolled beads, not the bulkier/fatter ones. If 10%-ish of the bracelets are black that will greatly open up the market to include men too. If you could invoice me, I'll turn the check out the next day.

Other ideas for hiring possible sustainable Ned staff for certain positions that reside in emerging market economies welcome at any time.

Ideas?

Last comment added: Wed, 15 Oct 2008 07:02:40 PDT

CRISIS in Sudan/Chad - 2008

Educate, Advocate and Mobilize.

The Crisis in Darfur has now spread significantly into Chad. A military Coup launched against the Chadian Presidency of Idriss Deby at the beginning of February 2008 has seen the capital N'Djamena under heavy fire, NGO and Aid Community staff evacuated and the Refugee Camps inside the Chadian border - home to more than 150,000 Darfuris and internally displaced Chadians - left more vulnerable to open attack than ever before.

The following website links will connect you to the most active, engaged and up-to-date information, campaigns and activist groups working together to bring this insanity to an end.

STOP GENOCIDE NOW 2008

Grass-roots Interactive Global Activism - Projects include "i-ACT" - filmed and reported directly from the Refugee Camps of Eastern Chad by GABRIEL STAURING and KATIE-JAY SCOTT and the team (including NINY KHOR ) - and "Camp Darfur" - an interactive awareness and education event that brings attention to the ongoing genocide in Darfur, Sudan, and gives individuals the opportunity to discover their own power to make a difference. A traveling refugee camp coming to your community.

Genocide Intervention Network (GI-Net)

Mark Hanis and the team at Genocide Intervention Network envision a world in which the global community is willing and able to protect civilians from genocide and mass atrocities. The mission is to empower individuals and communities with the tools to prevent and stop genocide. Initiatives and GI-Net supported projects include:

STAND: A Student Anti-Genocide Coalition

Sudan Targeted Divestment: Are your investments funding genocide?

Darfur Scorecard: What is your Representative doing about genocide?

10 Things: Ten things you can do to stop genocide.

ENOUGH! Project

The project to abolish genocide and mass atrocities is an initiative of the Center for American Progress and the International Crisis Group (launched January 30, 2007). Site includes monthly reports, papers and op-eds.

Save Darfur Coalition

An alliance of over 100 faith-based, humanitarian and human rights organizations. Updates, campaigns, blog and newsletters on site.

Ask the Candidates The next US President MUST stop the genocide in Darfur.
1-800-GENOCIDE (1-800-436-6243): Call the anti-genocide hotline and get the most up-to-date talking points before getting connected (for free) to your legislator at the state and federal level.
ICG: International Crisis Group. Detailed crisis reports, briefings, international op-ed pieces.
HRW: Human Rights Watch. A great site for current alerts & information.
Amnesty International
USHMM Speaker's Directory

Last comment added: Fri, 26 Sep 2008 00:31:48 PDT

What's Up with Life in Africa?

Many of you may have noticed that LiA has been very quiet lately. At least I hope you noticed or maybe I am just assuming something that isn't so. Well, I just want to tell you that even though we have been quiet, we are still here, still working, still trying to accomplish out goals. We have simply had a few stumbles.....well maybe a lot of stumbles on our path forward.

We had a great plan. The communities would become CBOs, LiA USA would help to support them. Christina gave them both a loan and we gave them all the tools we thought they would need to become independent. Best laid plans, you know how that goes.

None of us could have predicted the terrible string of events that would occur to put huge boulders in our path. The tragedy of the car crash in Uganda devastated us. It forced Christina to change all her plans and stay in Uganda but be isolated. I don't think any of us realized what an impact this would have on all of us. I know I certainly didn't. She was the driving force behind all of us and without her, we all fell down, got up, fell down again and so it goes on and on. LiA USA was just starting and seemed to get crushed before it began. But we are survivors if nothing else.

We have moved forward. I put money into the organization and we have crept on, struggling from month to month to keep things going. The communities struggled as well. They really needed guidance and we didn't do a good job of giving it. But somehow we made it through six months of operations and did the best we could. WE have just finished our year end (fiscal year ended June 30) and the report can be seen here if you are interested. We made a few accomplishments come true and we have plans for the future. We may be down but we are not out by any means!

http://www.ned.com/group/lia-usa /ws/year_end_report/

Our communities in Uganda have not been on line but we hope to rectify that soon with the help of Mark Grimes/ned. Be patient. They have had no internet connection, constant power outages, no water part of the time, and still they go on. WE go on. This is Life in Africa. Thats a catch phrase we all use when things go wrong. WE smile, we shrug and shake our heads. Life in Africa is never easy, it is just what it is.....Life in Africa. Stay tuned for more to come.

Last comment added: Thu, 18 Sep 2008 03:35:35 PDT

LiA 4 Kids program development

This thread is discussing LiA 4 Kids program development.

Details about the program are over here: http://lifeinafrica.com/children /

[Edited by group owner: Christina Jordan on 27 Nov 2007 03:06 PST: .]

Last comment added: Fri, 22 Aug 2008 09:45:58 PDT

Destiny Program – A significant new program at TEN

This is a quick overview of a program that will be one of our top two priorities for 2008. To set the stage for this: back when TEN was only an idea and we were brainstorming about what we wanted to accomplish, one of our long term goals was to help the shelters move from simple handicraft programs into programs that are true businesses that employ, and ideally are managed and owned by survivors.

We were not really sure how all the NGOs would take this idea of IGP (income generation programs) ultimately being separate from the NGOs. Essentially, it means less NGO control and a redirection of revenues. Nonetheless this is one of our core goals and we bring it up every time we plan with our NGO partners.

Last year, (Dec 06) when we visited Sanlaap in Kolkata, India we again brought up this goal with them. They were very supportive, in fact it is fair to say they were excited about the idea and wanted to move faster than we were prepared to at the time. They saw in this idea the ability to increase their capacity to help more survivors.

One of their biggest problems, they told us, was that older girls who had been through their education and therapy programs but could not be reintegrated to their communities were taking up rooms they could be using to help more survivors. To them, a separate IGP program would directly increase their ability to serve more survivors. Furthermore, they said that they thought the success of a successful IGP program would provide motivation for new survivors as they saw the success their older peers were having.

In the fall of 07 we sent Becky Bavinger to Kolkata to live there and work on this program as well as some programs for TEN Charities. (full credit to Becky – we are not paying her anything for this – just covering expenses).

Sanlaap has been amazing and have worked with us to create a new program, that the survivors have chosen to call “Destiny”. The Destiny program is a separate IGP program that allows survivors to leave the Sanlaap shelters, live independently and earn a living making Made By Survivors products.

The Destiny program is a multi phase program – the first phase of which has already begun. In this first phase, 6 survivors are leaving the Sanlaap shelter and moving into a new apartment/workshop that is connected to the home of Sanlaap’s IGP manager Chan (an amazing person who has dedicated his live to survivors). Becky and Chan have been furnishing the facility and they will be moving in within days. There will be a few sewing machines in their apartment, but for the first phase they will travel to the production facilities at the Sanlaap shelter to work on our orders.

In the next phase, we will hope to rent a separate production facility, find more apartments and move another dozen or so survivors into the program. We have other partners in the area that we hope will join us in this so this may very well end up being a multi NGO program. Our goal is to, over the next several years, train some of the survivors in management and begin a process of moving to employee ownership

There lot more involved than but I think I have explained enough of the basic idea of Destiny. We are also making changes in the products they are making for us. We have found an amazing source of t-shirt and light clothing blanks in the area and we are developing Destiny as a rapid turnaround design and manufacturing group – starting with logo t-shirts and moving to higher end logo clothing items. Every US based NGO we talk to buys t-shirts and would love to have a source that has the double impact of supporting survivors, so I think we are developing a potentially large new product line with the capacity we will build with Destiny. There is one other new line they are working on, but I don’t want to publicly talk about that yet.

As amazing as Destiny is to TEN, its actually not our first foray into this structure. We have a partner in England that has supported one of NGO partner in Nepal for along time. A year ago the government in Nepal told them that under the law the charity could not run a business (major selective enforcement as that is common). Our partner in England bought the business from the charity and we have been working with them over the past year to help in the transition. Soon, TEN Inc. will almost certainly be purchasing 50% interest in this business, but more important for us it has been a good testing ground where we can learn about the kinds of unexpected social issues that can come up from this kind of transition.

Ok- that’s the short version. I will be doing a lot to try to fund and promote Destiny over the next few months so expect more soon!

John Berger http://www.madebysurvivors.com/

Last comment added: Wed, 30 Jul 2008 17:44:48 PDT

IGIDI IMDIA - I'm glad I did it: I must do it again

Shamelessly borrowing from wdydwyd the idea of using an acronymic title, I thought it might be useful, entertaining, aspirational, educational, inspiring, socially-bonding or just plain fun to share one or two things we've done each week that we're glad we did and intend to repeat.

And this is also a place to respond to each other's sharing.

It is not a place for lectures, campaigning or canvassing opinions about issues, but for sharing personal experiences and individual aspirations.

Nothing is too large or too small to be relevant: what's relevant is that it is about YOU!

Last comment added: Wed, 23 Jul 2008 08:39:23 PDT

Depression

Depression is a confusing condition for doctors as well as people who suffer with it and their families. There are still arguments that rage over whether it is a disease or a disorder. There are still people who believe that people who are suffering with depression are just sad, or lazy or emotionally, psychologically weak.

I struggle with all of those things but I just don't care what it is called. I know it is real. I know it is devastating. I know that it strains and even destroys families and friendships. Been there and done that. I am also pretty much convinced that unless you have suffered with this condition yourself, you will never really be convinced that it is real.

I have been an over-achiever and a work-aholic all of my life. I no longer make either of those confessions with any pride. I have no scientific evidence to back me up but I believe that they are (at least in my case) coping mechanisms or maybe better, coping avoidance mechanisms.

I was first diagnosed with clinical depression some 12 years ago when I was still married and living a "normal" family life. At that time, I was working full time, doing about 40 hours a week of volunteer work, and still running a household, doing hobbies like gardening and embroidery and lots of reading as well as making all of or my own clothes and doing lots of entertaining.

Then one day I found myself sitting in the center of the floor in the bathroom unable to clean it. I was paralyzed. At that point I sought medical/psychiatric help. I then went through the anti-depressant drug therapy and psychiatric counseling routine.

I know that the drugs helped. To a point. I hated being on them. I couldn't think clearly. arggghhh.... I don't even want to think about those times.

I was on drugs for about 2 years. I finally went to my psychologist and told him that there had to be another way. I had read all of the statistics that once you were diagnosed with depression the chances of recurrence increased and the period of time between episodes decreased. I told him that I needed something other than drugs to cope. I needed to know how to recognize the early symptoms and have some coping mechanisms in place so that I could actively help myself not to get in the hole. He smiled and took on the challenge. Within a couple of months I was off of drugs and feeling better than I had in years. I was strong again and was able to endure the agony of a divorce, the failure of a business and a move to Thailand.

I will be the last person to tell you that the last 10 years have been depression free. I have had episodes but I really do recognize the symptoms and have been able to deal with it all amazingly well.

The reason this is coming out here now is that I am in the middle of the biggest battle I have faced in that time and I am trying to negotiate my way through it. One of the biggest problems I face is that I am isolated here. This is term break through the end of the month and almost all of the 9,000 students on campus and most of the faculty members are gone. I have virtually no one to interact with and everyday is filled with frustration as I deal with the typical daily problems I face here - no transportation, the library is closed, the internet goes down, no one understands my English and my Thai is not sophisticated enough to communicate what I want to communicate.

Last night I found myself sitting staring out the dark window into the night and trying to pull my thoughts out of a downward spiral and I couldn't find a single good thing that happened yesterday to grab on to...I have things to do and I can not do them.

I am writing this not because I want any sympathy. I am writing it for much more selfish reasons. I need to focus on something and feel like I have accomplished some small thing.

Please, if you have someone in your life who is suffering like this, don't minimize it. Hold on to them and help them focus on the little good things in their life that they just can't see at the moment. It's not going to bring world peace or end world poverty or feed children who are starving but then again....if they come out of it stronger than they were before, maybe it will help all of those things.

Last comment added: Fri, 11 Jul 2008 03:16:56 PDT

KIVA -what's up or down

Kiva's been in both the good news and the bad news headlines

1 good news being one of Jeff Skoll's Annual Prize winners

2 allegedly having microentrepreneurially funded cockfighting in some south american country

what this reminds me of is a question I havent got to the bottom of - how does kiva choose its local MF partners?

Last month I had an hour on the phone with the head of Grameen America. He confirms that the ethics of some who will call themselves MF is treacherous to all the rest who work so dilligently. The trouble with an open source model which both microcredit and micrifinance are is that almost everything under the sun can claim to be MF. MC's quality standards have a lot more bite thanks to the 2000 that annually meet at http://microcreditsummit.org and the dedicated work of http://results.org but few integarte the systemic sustanability dynamics of Grameen and BRAC who require borrowers commit to communally investing in the next generation, which has always been core bto the hi-trust relationships of the whole grameen design

It really is up to kiva -now one of the sexiest brands in virtual development markets - to clarify how it audits the organsiation that may have the lowest commin denominator standards of all the local partners its sources projects in need of funding from. Do you know of any bookmarks where they do explain this?

Last comment added: Sat, 28 Jun 2008 07:09:17 PDT

Silver Alert

Hi all, I am new here.

I am not comfortable with requesting any immediate help, but this request involves signing a petition that only has literally 3 days to be signed before it's acted upon or disregarded.

I am looking forward to meeting each of you as we go along & sharing each others concerns.

Thanks, Kimberly

The petition: http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1 /silver-alerts-in-new-york

Preview: "A Bill pending before the New York Senate and Assembly would assist families caring for loved ones, who are diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, with the creation of a Silver Alert program for missing seniors, similar to amber alerts for missing children.

Nine States now have Silver Alert programs. Please sign, and help convince New York lawmakers to join those other states, and pass their bill into law.

We have only a few more days (like 3) to get this petition signed before they act.

We the Undersigned petition the members of the New York State Legislature (Senate and Assembly) to pass legislation, Senate Bill S7585-B and Assembly Bill A 10265-A, The "Omnibus Alzheimer's Services Act of 2008.

According to the Bill, now in committee, over 330,000 New York citizens are diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease and other dementias, and that one in eight citizens over the age of sixty-five and half of those over the age of eighty-five are affected by these diseases. Over 70 percent of those diagnosed are cared for at home, by family members.

A common behavior of this disease is wandering, and several recent incidents in which New York State involving New York State citizens diagnosed with the disease have wondered away from their family caretakers, and the police, public health agencies, and other appropriate state agencies have been unable to help in a timely fashion.

The "Omnibus Alzheimer's Services Act of 2008" would both provide training to police personnel, and allow for the creation of a "silver alert" program, to help quickly locate cognitively impaired citizens who have been reported as missing, through reporting to appropriate state agencies, and to radio and other broadcast media.

We support this Bill, and ask that members of the New York State Senate and Assembly vote for it, and pass it into law."

Last comment added: Fri, 20 Jun 2008 10:52:42 PDT

[Poll] Fedex Design for Sustainability

FedEx has an interesting poll in which its asking visitors to identify an area of innovation people think has the greatest potential to transform global society for the better. Click the image below to take the poll (Note: two of the "solutions" are MIT IDEAS Award winners - cool!). When you've voted, please share which innovation you chose, and if you care to a little about how or why you made your selection.

http://media.fedex.designcdt.com /nsi_poll/index2.html

Last comment added: Wed, 11 Jun 2008 03:09:24 PDT

SaltSpring Island Ned Board Meeting Notes

<ned> Board Meeting and all were welcome to participate. In attendance: Evvy, Meron, Jackie, Sam Barlow (who agreed to take notes), Ellie Parks, Heather Martin-Mcnab, and myself. 2 (or so) great hours on a sunny Sunday afternoon. It was a great group too, in that Sam and Heather are rare visitors to Ned, and Ellie is very unfamiliar with o/net, Ned or the entire 3.5 year history...so it was a great balance of people. I'll start with the list of the initial nine things, then some random notes I took, and an action list of sorts.

Better World Media Network

I'm working with Josh Friedman and we have formed a for-profit LLC business called Better World Media Network. We are working with "better world" oriented web sites and selling advertising/sponsorships space on their web sites to advertisers and ad agencies. 10% of monthly gross sales go directly into microfinance via Ned Foundation (being formed) and 55% of Ned revenue will be distributed back through the Ned community people/projects. Online advertising is going from 20 billion dollars this year to over 60 billion dollars a year over the next 4-5 years. One of the reasons I wanted to get ned.com to one million pageviews monthly is to provide regular revenue stream to favorite Ned community projects. One million pageviews at a $35CPM (cost per thousand) is $35,000 in monthly revenue. I strongly suspect BWMN will do over a million dollars in revenue in 2009, though not sure how Ned will factor into that (of course I could be off my nut regarding the numbers...but I gotta hunch)...the ad agency grew to over 7 million annual revenue in five years.

2. Ned Microfinance (MFI, workshops, schools, Alpha/biz/home party, biz/sales/marketing training) Interest: 1/4 admin, 1/4 more loan principal, 1/4 community projects, 1/4 principal/interest payback

Since April and May I've given 9 microfinance presentations to high schools in the Portland area. 15 minute talk, 15 minute video, 15 minute Q/A. Working with one student, and perhaps more to find ways to do other presentations to various businesses and organizations in the Portland area spreading the word about microfinance. There are some potential sponsorship and home party type potentials for revenue here. Would like to explore this further in the ned.com community and what that might look like.

Ned Coop-ish Thingamajig (test 7/1/08 thru 12/31/08)

Ned needs some things done and needs to pay people to do some of those things. It needs graphic design work and some technology work to build out some new features on the site. Also noodled up some interesting ideas as to smaller scale projects and small work for hire jobs that could be done in emerging markets as well. The long at short of it is, Ned is going to test this idea out over a six (6) month timeframe (7/1/08 thru 12/31/08) and we'll evaluate it at the end of that time. Geographically created pay rates are all based on very conservative, very small per diems in any event. Ned will commit up to $18,000 USD in total capital during this six month evaluation timeframe.

So one technical person and one graphic designer will be hired and paid an initial monthly per diem rate of $250 USD each. If someone has solid experience in international grant writing, there would be consideration that for a position as well. In addition to that will look to hire for some very part time emerging market positions that will pay out at a rate of $25 USD per month. Positions will include; Ned staff photographers (we'll provide digital cameras, and photographers will be encouraged to find other ways to earn income with their cameras), Free Ned training sessions offered for no charge to local ngo/npo staff members (with associated generous commission rates (like 100%) if organizations purchase Ned private group access), other small part-time, flexible hours job ideas as well. Building and hosting small NGO web sites free or at very low cost. Peace Tiles coordinators? Open to ideas.

Very decentralized "staffing" with self reporting functions that are easy to see the results of and present back to the community online.

Now, if during the July to December test additional revenue comes in past the commitment I've already made, the $250 per month staff will go to $500 and the $25 per month staff will go to $50, and a new level of staff will be hired at the initial $250/$25 levels (all still part of the test that will be evaluated during the final month of December).

Ned Better World Teams

Giving away money online to make good things happen has been interesting over the last four years, and in the community sense of giving away money...many of us share a very unique experience within the o/net community. Now when the Steve Case Foundation Parade Magazine America's Giving Challenge happened, it was thrilled that Atlas Service Corps and Scott Beale was on the receiving side of $50,000 USD. But, like the Razoo speed granting effect, I was still left feeling like the "biggest network" will and always does win...so went about noodling up what something very different could look like. Something without the biggest network always wins. Something without oodles and oodles of rules and complication. Fewest rules possible, failure (multiple failures) is an acceptable outcome. Succeed small, fail small, learn and redo. Wash, rinse, repeat. Not afraid to fail small and often. Big things can still happen...but let's all learn loads together without fear of failure or need of a net (and over planning/worrying). Get to the action. The result. Making good things happen. Let people on the ground decide what those good things that happen indeed are. So, when a Nedsters Makes the World A Better Place project is announced, it would look something like this.

At the time of this announcement the team leader must be an existing Ned member.

Taking a leadership role, anyone who wants to be a team leader recruits 5 new members/friends to Ned to be on your Make a Better World team (each team will have a leader, and 5 new members who are friends/associates/acquaintances).

The first 10 teams to self organize become the official teams by signing up in a workspace at Ned.

Each team spends 7-14 days talking about exactly what they will do to make the world a better place, what results will they expect, who on the team will be responsible for what, and how will they measure their efforts, and each team will be sent via Moneygram $250 USD to make the world a better place.

A given timeframe will pass, and groups will hopefully report during their efforts on their better world team progress. A final very, very brief report of written results will be completed (50-100 words) and the Ned community as a whole will vote...based on their favorite result/outcome.

Well, you get the idea...sharpening feedback and ideas always welcome. Would like to get this going in early July as well.

Ghana/Homowo/Ned - library, internet café, business incubator/innovation center

Been working with Susan and Obo Addy and Homowo to build a facility in Accra, Ghana ... and the first step in the process would be to tour the country with 10-16 people from Portland, Oregon during the first two weeks of November this year. 8 have committed so far, and we need a total of 10 to commit to make this a certain thing.

Ned Goals (inside people/orgs and outside orgs Intel/Nike)

Aside from the Ned goals in my signature file, I don't have any other personal goals written, other than to help other people and organizations use Ned to help meet their goals. Outside organizations such as Intel and Nike have expressed interest in working with Ned, and are very interested in seeing how ideas 1-4 from above play out over the next few weeks and months. My goal is to make Ned a place that offers real help to real people, projects and organizations so they reach their goals.

Jackie and Meron both spoke very passionately and wonderfully about Ned, and more to the point...the Ned community of people and what we all mean to one another, our mutual support, caring and helping out one another. On many levels, given what we’ve all been thru, we have all started out in a very unique situation and have been thru some very challenging thing together...and know we can all deal with hardships, and still maintain the ability to move ahead in a positive way. Special people all around. Respectful. Caring. Wonderful.

Ned Better World Island

Touched on this briefly. Jackie and Mark will need to connect and do something meaningful and not too overly complex. We'll keep in simple, yet with the ability to scale and bring in some additional revenue for Ned projects.

The Giving Project

Since the PayPal problems happened (now fixed), all Giving Project monthly payments were permanently stopped. Before Niny left town, she just said to apply her payments towards web site hosting. I think some members would be interested in getting payments going again, but perhaps with certain projects or types of projects to choose from.

Start-up package for <Ned> NameYourLocation

This was simply too late in the day to delve into, what with all the other things we talked about. Once there are some revenue generating models in place, I'll be much more comfortable exploring what a startup package might look like.

Okay, the notes above were scratched out...here things get truly scattershot out.

Ellie said something that resonated, well quite a few things...but that Ned is not a coop, but a collective.

Ned is friendly, but how do people dive in?

Expectation, hook, draw.

Ubuntu Management book was suggested as a good read

For social profit. We are for social profit. Profit for social good.

Real people doing real things to try to make a better world.

We need an environment of welcoming and connecting people to others.

Ask newcomers to post a comment or share something about themselves.

Five Minute Action Network, simple things people can do in five minutes one day to make the world a better place.

Problem, solution, action.

Power over, power to, power with, power within

Some people are entrepreneurs, some looking for work, some looking for sponsors, some looking to share wisdom.

On a Ned.com home page it would be good to have Ned News. More targeted Ned stories.

People connect to stories (and ideas), we really need to find a place where members can really get into sharing stories.

Would live chat on Ned be good or bad?

On the Ned.com home page it could be interesting to offer small widget type things for LiA, Partners for Others, Peace Tiles, The Emancipation Network, that would offer people something small to purchase, something small to give/donate (ala mini-action network), and some small action to take...so visitors choose from some things in which immediately and really make the world a better place.

Ned could be good to offer some users (many users?) ned.com email addresses.

Manzini is the name of the Children's Hospital in Swaziland that Jackie is going to be on the board of.

Volunteer Sector Knowledge Network (read, ask, share) http://www.vskn.ca/

People are asked to do one of four things: 1. collaborate, 2. give, 3. do, or 4. learn/share

Change Everything powered by Vancity http://www.changeeverything.ca/

UVIC African Partnership Network http://ring.uvic.ca/08mar06/afri can-partnership.html

Ellie shared a couple decision making techniques one of which is called "Fist-of-Five" or "Fist-of-Five". In this method each member of the group can hold up a fist to indicate blocking consensus, one finger to suggest changes, two fingers to discuss minor issues, three fingers to indicate willingness to let issue pass without further discussion, four fingers to affirm the decision as a good idea, and five fingers to volunteer to take a lead in implementing the decision

The other decision making technique is called dotmocracy. 1. An issue is presented with questions. 2. Discuss potential solutions. 3. Post proposals. 4. Fill dots to record opinions. Write comments. 5. Formulate a common solution.

Listening to Jackie, Meron and Evvy talk about how important o/net/Ned was and is in their lives as a supportive community and group of friends was a very special time during the discussion. I didn't take notes but just rather listened and took it in and Heather, Ellie and Sam took in their words. Truly people that give so much also get so much. Not just the words but the true connection only people can have with one another. People connecting. Good people. Making great things happen. Personal transformation and incredible individual commitment. Very special people indeed.

End of the Board Meeting Action List of Sorts

Partners for Others web site to be designed and built/hosted inside of a Ned workspace.
Change age restriction on site from 21 to 15 so high school students can participate.
Restart brief 8:30AM PT Friday AM goal conference calls (on Skype)
Help new members connect
Simply need to be more action based
Need to encourage more and small Ned FTF meetings worldwide

Jackie. Meron. Evvy. Please by all means help plug in the many holes that I left in this message.

Please feel free to talk about anything here.

Questions.

Ideas.

Comments.

You name it.

Last comment added: Tue, 10 Jun 2008 20:39:55 PDT

Ned Salt Spring Island May 2008 Gathering

Meron and I have been noodling with the idea of a Ned get together on Salt Spring Island mid-May this year, possibly kind of themed around: online social networks into real world actions.

When I think to some of my favorite moments at previous get-togethers I think of the wonderful evening at Barbara's San Diego a couple years ago, and the fabulous barn-side movie night at the Peace Tiles get together in Vermont, and many, many moments in Uganda.

So, what could Ned Salt Spring Island look like? 2-3 days on a beautiful island, loosely organized, easy-going, great food, great times with great people.

Possibly a Peace Tiles workshop.

Possibly a tour of Solar Energy Host and/or Hairy Kids

Possibly looking into Salt Spring Dollars and what alternative currency means

Definitely all the Salt Spring Island Coffee you can drink

Definitely meeting some of the incredible people from SOLID

Maybe, maybe if we're really, really lucky...we can somehow meet in the spectacular Ango Retreat

In the meantime, if it sounds like something you might be interested in (no "conference fees", just applicable travel/room/board needs) raise your hand and say...

..."definitely, count me in"

..."would love to, need to look at my sked"

..."hell no, we wont go"

If we get a handful of Nedsters, well we'll make it happen...and it'll be wow.

Last comment added: Thu, 05 Jun 2008 20:48:26 PDT

Brainstorming Income Generating Ideas

This is a thread for discussing ways to produce educational materials which produce income.

Brainstorming is a way of thinking out loud. The important thing is to generate ideas. All of the ideas will be incomplete and need more work at first. In fact the point about generating ideas isn't to develop all of them, but to have ideas to choose from. With a list a few ideas might be worth investing time to develop. So the idea of brainstorming is to generate ideas without too much worry how good they are at first.

I hope I'm not confusing things by starting too many threads!

[edit: to add what brainstorming is]

Last comment added: Sat, 31 May 2008 07:10:30 PDT

BOOK PROJECT FOR POOR STUDENTS IN UGANDA

About the BOOK PROJECT FOR POOR SUTENTS IN UGANDA, it is a charity project aimed at helping poor students in Uganda who can not buy expensive text books and reading materials. We are also working around to reduce illetracy and poverty levels in Uganda through educating and training the future generation. Currently we are located with in Makerere University, faculty of Agriculture but this year we are to graduate and hope to rent some place in Kampala. The project was founded by me and 6 other friends from makerere university i.e Wangi Godfrey, Nalubega Teddy, Ayaa Filda, Matovu David, Lukyamuzi Mohammed and Kagwa Shaphan in March 2007 We started with the science subjects like biology, physics and mathematics because the reading materials are scarce. We would like to produce all educational books from primary , secondary up to university level taking into consideration reading materials for Udults.When we write the manuscripts, we hand them to the publishing company to be published at low prices. This has helped many poor students but we are limited with the computers, printers, and related stationery. We also go to schools which lack science teachers and we volunteer to help these students to learn. We not yet registered with the country registrar. We would love to expand the project to cover the whole country and to start publishing by our selves with time but funds will give us what to do.We also have an idea of starting to build schools for poor children in the future. So that is where we are now, and we invite any one out there to be part of us by giving us advice, donation of any materials necessary and any information to make this project a sucessful one as it will reduce to the illiteracy level and poverty in the country. --

Last comment added: Fri, 23 May 2008 21:27:39 PDT

BOOK PROJECT FOR POOR STUDENTS IN UGANDA

Last comment added: Mon, 12 May 2008 15:18:30 PDT

Kicked Out

It's a bit of a glitch, perhaps temporary, but Kasinja wants to sever ties with me. Certainly I don't want to delete the group or discourage this effort in any way. But clearly I need to honor the Kasinja's feelings on this, so I'll stay out of the way here. I'm sure I will read anything posted to the group, if it remains active. I do encourage anyone who has something to offer to support the project. The production of educational materials specific to countries around the world using computer and communication technologies is very much worth supporting.

Last comment added: Tue, 06 May 2008 20:29:47 PDT

CRAFT (S) FOR PRODUCTION, (Order now, with this group, it is made easy and fast with quality)

The war in the Northern Uganda. It because of the fact that, the Rebel leader Konyi wanted to overthrow Museven’s government. It is almost 25 years since konyi the rebel leader joined the bush, all peaceful Means to bring back sanity and peace to northern Uganda by the Religious leader and the Acholi Elders but up to date, the peace treaty is what is being discussed on in order to stop the war of which according to the people over-seeing the peace talks, Kony has no signs of signing the treaty hence living a big question amongst the Ugandan, whether the peace treaty will be signed and when. As result of above, the Acholi people have suffered since they are the most affected by the war. 85% of these people were farmers, growing crops and rearing animals both for sale and home consumption. Due to this war, there were a lot of abductions, young men were forced to join the rebels, the ones who tried to escape were shot dead, women raped and others forced to become rebels wives. Peoples lips were cat, if they found you, they could arrest you and the ask ”do you want to smile forever or shut your mouth “ and if you said yes, then your lips were cat off and if you said no, a padlock was put on your lips.

All their food was taken by the rebels, houses burnt, it was a very dark moment for the Acholi people, they then vacated their land to any place where they could take refuge where the majority ended up in IDP camps like these ones.. image:: http://farm1.static.flickr.com/51/117545890_ce3e89f1ec_m.jpg. .. image:: http://farm1.static.flickr.com/36/117541103_e790120ad4_m.jpg... image:: http://farm1.static.flickr.com/5 3/117548000_3a3ef895e4_m.jpg. .. In gulu and in the neighboring towns. The king of Buganda also offered some of them a small land to settle until peace comes back to their land. The land that was offered by the king is a few kilo miters away from the city center, in the place called Banda now called Achili Quarters because of their origin.

After settling for a long time, they formed groups and started income generating activities by making craft one of the tools for fighting poverty and manage their extended families and others in there homes like these ones .. image:: http://farm1.static.flickr.com/1 /132041688_b3545da93e.jpg?v=0 The groups have for a long time straggled to sale their crafts. Coming up with a bigger idea of forming a general group called CDI (Community Development Initiative) choose by themselves to handle a number of activities such as Candle wax making, Liquid soap and Vanish but, the only hindrance is financial support. Currently, they are making crafts to move on especial if there was an order made from them who want to help the group, by finding buyers for their crafts, makes them move on with their families and the people in the community. BELOW ARE SOME OF THEIR PICTURES AND FOR SOME OF WHAT THEY DO

Humbly the group is requesting for help, ANY ONE CAN SURPORT THIS GOUP BY. by give them contracts in making craft, -Making an order for any kind of craft, they are believed with the coordination amongst them, they can make anything in as far as craft is concerned. -If you want a specific kid/type of craft you want to de made, they can-Small funds/grants like about us$200 or even us$50 it can still make a difference. in this way you will be supporting this group of the widow, HIV infected, women, men, orphans to change their live and make them know that life has a meaning.

For any kind of help be it what Rendered will highly be accepted and respected and as for us we pray that may God double /increase your income and from where you got.

Last comment added: Tue, 06 May 2008 03:42:01 PDT

The need of internet in Uganda

Hey guys, uganda is far behind in internet services. It would be good if any body could help by creating internet centers for people to help. Any ideas?

Last comment added: Mon, 21 Apr 2008 09:15:10 PDT

Life in Africa Jobs - Questions and Answers

Life in Africa supports community based organizations in Kampala and Gulu (Uganda) through an active presence online at a number of interactive global community platforms. The organization is currently restructuring to expand the delivery of webbed empowerment services to community based organizations across the East Africa region. In this context, Life in Africa is hiring to fill a number of full time positions in Uganda over the course of 2008. Job descriptions for all advertised posts will be posted at http://lifeinafrica.com/jobs and announced in Uganda through radio.

Life in Africa operates in virtual community environments to keep our global supporters and partners updated on LiA-funded programs and organizational activities. One of the online communities we rely on the most for sharing and discussing operational information is ned.com (where you are now). All employees hired will be expected to communicate regularly using ned.com and other online community platforms as required. The ned.com based application procedure for all advertised Life in Africa positions is designed to assess each applicant's aptitude for learning new online skills, while at the same time collecting information from applicants in a space that staff from Life in Africa Foundation (Uganda), Life in Africa-USA and our WE Centers in Gulu and Kampala can access for evaluation purposes.

IMPORTANT! - Before you can post a question or begin the application procedure, you must join ned.com and the Life in Africa Global group. Please FOLLOW THESE INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY to get started:

Click here to join Ned.com: http://www.ned.com/user/new (you must have an email account to join.)

You will receive an email with a temporary Ned password. When you log in for the first time, we recommend that you click on settings in the green bar at the top of the screen to change your password right away to something you can easily remember.

When you click on settings you will also see a link to edit your profile. Be sure to fill out your profile using your real name, noting Uganda as your location, and including 2-3 sentences introducing yourself to the global Ned community (you do not need to mention your job application in your ned.com profile!)

Click here to join the Life in Africa Global group on ned: http://www.ned.com/group/lia-glo bal/. Once you have joined the Life in Africa Global group, you are ready to start completing the application procedure.

You are highly encouraged to ask questions! Your questions about the application procedure or job description should be posted in the discussion space below.

Any member of the dynamic ned.com community is authorized to help you with the technical part of the application procedure.

Life in Africa staff members Evvy Bryning, Christina Jordan and Grace Ayaa are authorized to answer questions in this space about the job you are applying for. Please note that questions submitted to Life in Africa staff from applicants by email or private message will not be answered.

Welcome to Ned! We look forward to reading your applications, and to answering any questions you may have.

<<<< Go back to the Chief Accountant application page

Last comment added: Wed, 16 Apr 2008 02:38:17 PDT

click4gulu

This can be where we share information!

On Facebook I am Linda Nowakowski (Imagine that!)

I have joined everything so that if you need a reference so that we can get the points find me. Add me as a friend (that is one point) and then I will add you as a friend (and that is another!).

Last comment added: Mon, 14 Apr 2008 00:04:04 PDT

Age,age,aaage..!!!

Ooooh,oh God.! Age,age,age,aaage!!

i have always wondered,why do people like lying about there age?is it really good for one to lie about his/her age?. How can we really fight and stop this system of lieying about the age and build a better world where people talk the truth about there years/age.

may be i need to know something,why do people like lieing about their age?. Please, you are all most welcome to this topic to help and find way in which we can put a stop on this so please your comments are so great and can make a change. So do you think that this act can be stoped? or Would you ever lie about your age?

Last comment added: Fri, 04 Apr 2008 11:19:49 PST

Kiva at LiA!

Hello, everyone! My name is Laura Toepfer and I am the new Kiva Fellow working with Life in Africa. Thank you to Peter Ndelo and to everyone who has made me feel very welcome here at the Kampala office. (And hello, Gulu, and LiA USA!) I am still trying to find my way around, and everyone is helping me a great deal. I am beginning to feel at home here.

I will be here until July, working on writing journal entries for those who have received Kiva loans. I will also try to make things with Kiva work more smoothly so that it is easier for LiA to disburse and pay back loans. Kiva has asked all of its Fellows to come up with a training for field partner staff in order for you to be able to use Kiva's resources to the fullest. I will work with the staff here to figure out something that will be helpful. And I have also been asked by Kiva to create some documents behind that you can all refer to. What those documents will be depends upon what you need.

So that is my plan! It may be that there are other things I can do to be helpful as well.

But I have some questions for all of you:

How have you used Kiva up to now? What has worked well? What has been confusing? What would you like to know about Kiva?

Basically, is there anything you would like me to know about LiA and how you have worked with Kiva, whether good or bad. Information about your experiences will be very helpful as I try to make the partnership between Kiva and LiA stronger.

Thank you, and I look forward to meeting all of you!

Yours, Laura

Last comment added: Mon, 31 Mar 2008 12:00:41 PST

Honor the gift of the least among us.

This is a discussion about what it means for all of us to be in this together that arose out of The Shock Doctrine discussion. The source document is here.

Last comment added: Mon, 31 Mar 2008 11:49:18 PST

Earth Hour - 2008

I have read about this project and think it has a potential to make visible commitment to tackling global warming. I have not been able to see or download the video. If someone can see it and believes that it would help garner support for this project sponsored by the World Wildlife Foundation, please post it or send me a link and I will embed it here.

It would be awesome if we could show widespread <Ned> support and register our organization as supporting this! How about if you support this initiative, you sign up on their website and then tag yourself EarthHour?

Last comment added: Sun, 23 Mar 2008 21:08:54 PST

Horrible tragedy next door to LiA Kireka

Last night Norbert and I delivered 2 dead children to the city mortuary, and admitted their mama to Mulago hospital with the severe burn wounds she received when she went back into the burning house next door to save them. A third child burned in the 3 level bunk-bed that was the center of the tragedy. Police and hospital staff told us that toxic smoke from the bottom mattress that caught fire when a lantern exploded caused all of the children in the room to die in their sleep before anyone in the house knew the bed was on fire.

Today I can't get the image of those two dead children tossed into the back of our car out of my head. The 10 year old was mama's son. The 6 year old was an orphan she was caring for. The baby who burned was her grandchild, whose mother just left her quarrelsome husband to move back home with mama. Mama is the landlady of the new WE Center Kampala location - I have been staying there for the past week, and mama and her family (including about 10 kids) live next door. When the hullabaloo started at about 1:30 we connected the snapping sounds and screams with domestic violence. Our security guard thought so too at first. Then it seemed to be getting really out of control so I got up to go outside to find out what was going on and saw the flames.

There was no water pressure. I had a case of mineral water that we handed over the fence, and then we started trying to collect what we could in buckets from every tap around. It took about 3 minutes to get a liter of water into a bucket. Very frustrating as the wailing sounds from the neighbor family next door kept mounting. Our askari Joseph actually went into the house to get the mother out, who was near collapse on the ground inside. He brought her out unconscious and kept going inside with a few of the older boys to dump what water there was on the bed in flames, managing to sustain only a sore throat and a small 1st degree burn on the back of his hand. I was so proud of him.

Once the flames were finally out, we called to anyone who was injured to get in the car. I've never seen Norbert drive so fast. It wasn't until after 5am that we were able to lay down and get some sleep (and that I noticed I'd sustained some cuts and bruises myself in the chase for tiny amounts of water). At the hospital we waited while one of the brothers filed reports with the police about the dead bodies - on the police scanner there we were listening to other policemen struggling to find the exact place. They took the burned-up baby and it's mother to the police station to officially report that death. It's a muslim family so apparently all 3 burials are being held right away today in following with muslim custom.

The house next door is closed up with nothing but burned remains and some mats borrowed from LiA inside. All night and all day long now, neighbors have been streaming by to see the site, and often to wail at the agony of this horrible tragedy. It really bothers me that I do not even know their names. We were all in such a daze last night that we didn't get around to introductions, and today they are not there to ask. I guess last night we were all stunned that a family's whole history, present and future could be changed forever at just the blink of an eye. The brother who came with us to deliver the children to the morgue seemed to be struggling to make himself understand the finality of it all. poof three children whisked away in the night.

Sincerely, this horrible accident was and is just awful. I guess I thought it might make me feel better to write about it, though my own experience is nothing compared to what I imagine that poor mama is going through. Please say a little extra prayer for Life in Africa's neighbor landlady mama and her family if you can today - they are going to need all the positive vibes they can get in making it through this.

Last comment added: Fri, 21 Mar 2008 00:07:52 PST

Meet & Greet Ned Members (Feb-March 2008)

Welcome to Ned. Please tell other members what you do, what your passion is, how you found Ned, and even what you like to do to make the world a better place (if you wish). Simply just introduce yourself and say howdy to other members as they do the same.

Ultimately whether you spend 15 minutes at Ned a month or 2-3 hours a day, each Ned member needs to find their own Ned Muse to let the Ned community become a meaningful part of their lives. Human beings connecting.

This is your community, your ideas, your time, your efforts, and your actions. This is a community of real people, using real names, working in the real world (well, and at Ned)...taking real actions to make the world a better place. Really.

We are fortunate enough to enjoy incredible members from many countries around the world, and we all work together in a community of mutual respect, humor with an eye towards doing real world things and making the world a better place. Have fun, and please if you have any questions don’t hesitate to ask a question here, Nedsters tend to be a very friendly sort. Many of us have met face-to-face at various events around the world during the last three years.

Okay, introductions...I started the thread going...so having drawn the short straw, I'll go first.

I'm Mark Grimes a serial and social entrepreneur from Portland, Oregon who came to Ned after Omidyar.net community closed last year. The experience of making the world a better place online and offline gets me revved up. I enjoy helping other people (and related their orgs) make greater impact, solve problems, simplify things, practice transparency, build multiple revenue streams towards increasing sustainability, and exploring new, different and more powerful ways to collaborate.

Last comment added: Mon, 17 Mar 2008 15:31:43 PST

a new LifeInAfrica.com

I've only got a few more tweaks before we go live again at lifeinafrica.com - get your free sneak preview over here: http://lifeinafrica.com/shop/cra fts/ - all those "add to cart links" should be live should you feel inclined to use them! I'll post again when I've got the home page up to tie it all together.

Meanwhile I could use some more help! I wanted to link to a couple of discussions about new programs in this group, but I don't have enough points. Should anyone be willing to start some new discussions for me I'd be ever so appreciative... I need 5 of them. Just start them with the title "spaceholder" and I'll go in and edit in the info that needs to be there. Many thanks in advance!

Last comment added: Mon, 10 Mar 2008 06:25:51 PST

Grass Roots development - participatroy approaches

Does anyone know of good participatory approaches to development in rural villages - preferably in Africa and specifically in Uganda?

I am passionate about listening to what communities want for their own development. However, aware that they often do not know themselves.

Therefore, in the design of new projects I believe the first process to be enabling them to decide what they want with regard to development. To do this without guiding their wants to fit a particular project is not easy if you have a particular project in mind.

Last year when I was living in a rural Ugandan village for nine months - I kind of did it but with no particular process and I am now keen to find more organisations taking this approach and find out what is working.

Such projects include approaches like PRA (Participatory Rural Appraisal), visionary leadership, appreciative enquiry etc.

If you know of any - please chat away!!! Also keen to hear opinions on the above comments.

Last comment added: Sun, 02 Mar 2008 20:16:03 PST

click4kireka

ARE YOU LOOKING FOR CLICK4AFRICA TEAM? CLICK4KIREKA IS yours :)

WHAT IS ALL ABOUT CLICK4AFRICA?

From 1 Feb through 15 June 2008, Life in Africa USA is challenging teams at two community owned telecenters in Uganda to a click4africa CONTEST to earn financial help with the ongoing costs of keeping their community connected to the Internet.

In addition to monthly connectivity awards the two teams can earn each month, and an investment in computers and connectivity quality upgrades that one team will win in mid June, any Click4Africa participants who are Ugandan citizens can also win monthly prizes and cash awards for leading in the race to earn click4africa points for their team. Whoever you are, you are invited to click4africa too! When you qualify to have your online activity at Ned.com, facebook.com and iGive.com counted toward your favorite team's total, you are helping that team EARN their internet time and WIN investments in connectivity infrastructure at their community center. Non Ugandan participants can also earn bonus donations to their team's internet budget each month, win prizes donated by LiA supporters, and qualify for the opportunity to win a really tremendous prize in the second round of click4africa 2008, during the second half of the year (how about free trip to Uganda?)

Last comment added: Sat, 01 Mar 2008 03:04:56 PST

What is the hardest thing I have to overcome to participate on

When I first joined Onet, I didn't make a comment for a long time. I thought I wasn't smart enough to participate with these really fantastic people in their discussions. I thought no one would be interested in what I had to say. But then one day I just jumped in and I was so surprised. Everyone welcomed me with open arms. They were so glad to hear from me and made me feel welcome and appreciated. They really listened to what I had to say and that encouraged me to say more. Now these people are my friends and I feel so comfortable talking to them.

I know that a lot of our team members in Uganda are feeling shy about participating and making comments. I think it will be a good idea to talk about our feelings of shyness or the problems we are having or have had in participating and we can help each other to see that we all have a voice here and we can encourage the team members to overcome their shyness and to feel more comfortable participating.

I invite all the members of the click4africa teams and everyone else on <ned> to share your experiences here, share your challenges in participating and what you have done to overcome them, and to ask questions so the many members of <ned> can offer possible solutions or suggestions.

Last comment added: Tue, 26 Feb 2008 04:49:25 PST

iGive is so cool!

We set up Life in Africa as a cause on iGive

This is a really cool effort. I just had to try it out so I registered my office as a supporter. Then the way it works is that you enter the store through the iGive site and then shop as normal. We order our office supplies on line through either Staples of Office Depot so I entered through iGive and made my order. In just a couple of days I got notified that $3.04 had been donated to Life in Africa. I didn't have to do anything more than just enter the store through the iGive website. I think thats cool. Plus for the first order, an extra $5.00 is donated.

Now I know it might sound silly to be excited over $3.04 but just immagine if 100 people did the same thing. Then it is over $300. The potential is there. I hope some of you will try it. You can sign up here http://www.igive.com/welcome/war mwelcome.cfm?c=43292&m=52419 9

Last comment added: Sun, 24 Feb 2008 06:19:46 PST

Atlas Corps Introductions

This is a space for Fellows, Staff, Partners, Volunteers and Friends to introduce themselves. We plan to use NED as a space to faciliate conversation, test new ideas and network. This is all easier if we know each other, so please make a short introduction.

In addition, we will be using Facebook to build social community as well. So feel free to connect with me, Scott Beale, and join the Atlas Corps Group and Cause on Facebook. We all appreciate your support!

And of course, we strongly encourage you to visit http://www.atlascorps.org and http://www.atlascorps.org/intro.html and http://www.atlascorps.org/2007-f ellows.html to see our first class of Fellows. Fellows have bios online and soon blogs. There is a LOT of information there.

Sincerely,

Scott Beale

Last comment added: Fri, 22 Feb 2008 05:50:29 PST