[wsfii-discuss] REVIEW - Wireless Training in Winneba

Tue Aug 21 18:15:42 UTC 2007

Thank you Marco, for  sharing this very honest feedback, I'm just a little
sad that all the discusion we had on "self-organized event"
just disapeared from the list.....,
There were some good ideas on them, that would have adressed some of the
problem you raised.

Perhaps the next time.....
On 8/21/07, Marco Pompe <marco.pompe at web.de> wrote:
>
> Hi all
>
> With a little delay, my reflections on the 10days training on wireless
> networking in Winneba, Ghana.
> First of all I want to acknowledge  everybody involved and say a big THANK
> YOU to the hosts , winneba open digital village / one village foundation
> (WODIV, OVF) and the local partners, Ghana information network for knowledge
> sharing (GINKS), Ghana Telecom (Victor), Arrownet (mr. Buadu), Accra Linux
> User Group, and the sponsors, International Institute for Communication and
> Development (IICD) Djursland Community Network (DIIRWB). After all it was a
> successful seminar with a majority of the participants satisfied with the
> program. There was a number of interesting sessions and some people are now
> in touch haven t known each other until then.
>
> Now the uncomfortable part: The fact that the training was not well
> prepared has brought a number of problems of which many have been technical.
> These technical problems have been solved mostly, even though one of the
> partners has failed to contribute in many ways. But as mostly WODIV and
> GINKS have provided the most urgent needs, it happened at certain costs. The
> modus the training was held in finally could suit as to benefit the start up
> of the WODIV center in winneba, but failed to address the following:
> -       The impact of the event on the local environment (winneba,
> university) as well as Ghana and Westafrica was very low.
> -       The practical aspect of the training was very inefficient and
> confusing, due to a lack of preparation.
> -       The interaction of the participants was very little because the
> structure of the sessions is what we call ex-cathedra teaching.
> the  after-show  was missing at all.
> -       The content of the session in general was not focused on
> particular solutions and was rather confusing than empowering.
>
> Some of these thing were also an effect of the last minute promotion of
> the event. It was actually promoted as a training for certain staff working
> in that field so WODIV was very focused on suiting to the expectations of
> these participants.
>
> my personal conclusion would be, that it needs a stronger (personnel,
> financial capacity) local hosts network for a summit with international in-
> and output and certainly a VERY MUCH longer and committed preparation. Even
> the training in Winneba could have been very much better, when the local
> partners would have had more time to dedicate it to the preparation. To
> organize a WSFII Africa 2008 it will need people locally being paid for the
> time the have to commit, because the amount of volunteers we have in europe
> or US is definitely not available here. It will need certain NGOs to step in
> with more powerful ressources and more contacts and experience in networking
> and public relations.
>
> Finally, I was expecting something worse to happen and I am relieved it
> didn t end up in a mess. Sorry for being that direct (some people even call
> me rude because of that). I am very concerned about grassroots empowerment
> and I want everybody at least to learn as much as possible out of this
> experience.
>
> greetings from accra, marco
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