[wsfii-discuss] OVF Ghana Community WIRELESS NETWORK TRAINING Day 3 Progress Report

[jeff buderer]

Dear All,

Below is a summary of recent developments in Ghana. For the HTML version
please go here: http://blog.onevillage.tv/wp/?p=412.

-------------------------

Overview: The OVF Ghana team has been focused on organizing the first
major ICT training workshop at the Winneba Open Digital Village (WODiV)
(Aug 1-10). A highlight of this event is that the workshoppers are
actually building the network as they participate in this workshop. This
is the first in what we hope will be an ongoing series of emerging
technology sessions dubbed the "Simpa Open Summits" (SOS). 

Progress Report: OVF Ghana Director Kafui Prebbie Reports from Ghana
that so far the event is a success with 26 workshop attendees
participating in what may be the first wireless workshop in Ghana. 
-1. Day 1 was a success with 26 students enrolling and various
introductions of VIPs including the CEO of Arrow Networks and
representatives from the University of Education Winneba Ghana. 
-2. Equipments have been successfully picked up by our team today from
the Tema post office. 
-3. A video Skype session next week with the team at DIIRWB providing
instructions on how to build a bi-quad antennae with directions and
support from DIIRWB staff. This session will give participants first
hand information and access to experienced trainers in the wireless
field.

About the Network: A local wireless network within Winneba is now being
set up using the workshop as a way to build momentum for this effort.
The goal is to develop an economically sustainable low cost Internet
solution that can be replicated elsewhere. For the workshop, a temporary
long distance wireless network was set up working with Arrow Networks
which has also generously assisted in the training workshop. Plans are
in place to use the University of Education's VSAT connection and an
antennae is being set up for this purpose.

Thanks to those whose Contributions helped make this event possible:
. Vic Hayes made a generous donation to the effort, offered many useful
insights and has also helped with the fundraising and promotional
effort; 
. Bjarke Nelson and the Djurslands wireless network (DIIRWB) in rural
Denmark) for providing much needed technical assistance and also a
shipment of wireless gear; 
. Marco Pompe of Frefunk Berlin is in Ghana to help with the
organizational and logistics set up; 
. Prof Gideon Chonia of the University of Zurich, Switzerland for
logistical help and advice;
. Arrow Networks for providing training and technical assistance.

Workshop Partners: 
. oneVillage Foundation-Ghana (OVF-Ghana)
. University of Education, Winneba
. Ghana Information Network for knowledge Sharing (GINKS)
. Wireless Ghana (WG) 
. International Institute for Communication and Development (IICD) 

For more information: 
OVF News: http://news.onevillage.tv/?p=42   
SOS Website: http://www.simpasummits.net 
Email me or Kafui Prebbie WODiV/OVF Ghana Director:
Kafui at onevillagefoundation.org  

Jeff Buderer 
oneVillage Foundation
www.onevillagefoundation.org