Hi friends and all,
Am in Nairobi,i traveled well from Dar es salaam to Nairobi on the 20th
march.You people outside there can feed me of many informations and people to
meet,projects to visit,friends to make,new ideas i can invert while am in here.

I have visited Nasfi African acrobatic group at sarakasi building,thanks to
James for his hospitality and friendly brother i have found here.

I have seen many youths doing various activities in the center,so many young and
energetic.Am getting an opportunities to learn through friends and undergoing
projects.

Today am going to meet Dn Ottedo,to fous on my project of computer refurbisher
for women and after a month i will move for Kisumu to meet Calvance Otiano.
Please keep in touch with me.
william

William,
Thank you for your letters.
It's great to see you growing over the years as an independent thinker!
You impress me!
Andrius Kulikauskas
Greetings from London.

> Hi friends and all,
> Am in Nairobi,i traveled well from Dar es salaam to Nairobi on the 20th
> march.You people outside there can feed me of many informations and people
> to meet,projects to visit,friends to make,new ideas i can invert while am
> in here.
>
> I have visited Nasfi African acrobatic group at sarakasi building,thanks
> to James for his hospitality and friendly brother i have found here.
>
> I have seen many youths doing various activities in the center,so many
> young and energetic.Am getting an opportunities to learn through friends
> and undergoing projects.
>
> Today am going to meet Dn Ottedo,to fous on my project of computer
> refurbisher for women and after a month i will move for Kisumu to meet
> Calvance Otiano.
> Please keep in touch with me.
> william
>
>
>
> ------------------------------------
>
> http://www.worknets.org/wiki.cgi?HolisticHelping
>
> Please note our rule: Each letter sent to the Holistic Helping group
> enters the PUBLIC DOMAIN unless it explicitly states otherwise.  Thank
> you!  http://www.ethicalpublicdomain.org
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>

peter ongele wrote:
> Hi Andrius,
>     You are free to share it in the forum.
>        Ongele.
>
> --- On *Mon, 3/23/09, ms@... /<ms@...>/* wrote:
>
>
>     From: ms@... <ms@...>
>     Subject: Re: Solar for energy in Suba District_Western Kenya.
>     To: peterongele@...
>     Date: Monday, March 23, 2009, 4:25 AM
>
>     Peter,
>     May I share this, publicly, at Mendenyo?
>     That would be a great help.
>     Andrius
>
>     >  Hi Graham,
>     >      This is a region which deems for progress led by this kind of
>     > visionary from individuals or group of people who seek a better
>     future and
>     > has dedicated their interest to Solar energy to realize the low cost
>     > effective in using the cheap small pv modules from you. With
>     your efforts
>     > and energy for this innovations, the society  is  likely to
>     smile from
>     > your affordable pv modules against the odds of poverty. Am
>     driven with
>     > this to start a business for we are fast growing segment of
>     society with
>     > non_profiting making sector.
>     >        Business plan:
>     >      This is  business which would be for one person as a soul
>     pro prater
>     > of the business on ground on behalf of youth group to empower them
>     >  for the socio_economic incomes.
>     >  The following the plan,
>     >     1:Goods not available would be imported from UK.....pv
>     modules, leds
>     > or lamps, resistors, light reflectors for portable lamps small
>     > rechargeableChinisbatteries.
>     >     2:Goods available would purchanced locally.....car
>     batteries, motor
>     > cycle battteries, connectors of Amps, cables,diodes and mini
>     trunks for
>     > making frames for panels.
>     >       More marketing would be done in the rural village to help
>     the poor
>     > community to understand the importance, cheapiness and
>     multipurpose  of
>     > solar energy. Three people would hired on 10% commission on the sold
>     > items. These people would be walking on foot for the first time
>     doing
>     > sales from near by markets and homes....this would also means of
>     creating
>     > awareness, usages and advertisement of the solar items.
>     >     The selling price would depend on the total cost  of
>     acquiring the
>     >  commodityies with a profit
>     >  making of 50%. This would help us cater for commission payments
>     and other
>     > needs to sustain the business.
>     >      Every observations, suggestions from the consumers would be
>     written
>     > down considered for future improvement of the business.
>     >       All records of selling would be entered in a hrd copy book for
>     > references and accountability of growth of the business.
>     >           QUANTATION OF THE ITEMS (STOCK)
>     >       1) pv panel 0.35 (5v)________500pcs____Not available locally
>     >       2) pv panel 1.8w (7v)________200pcs____Not available locally
>     >       3) pv panel 25w  (12)________100pcs-------Not available
>     locally
>     >
>     >       4) leds or lamps_____________2000pcs_________Not available
>     locally.
>     >       5) .6v motor cycle
>     >  batteries___50 _____available locally.
>     >      6) Car batteries 12v_________20 ____________available locally.
>     >      7) Resistors______________600pcs___not available locally.
>     >       8)connectors 5 Amps_________100pcs________locally available.
>     >      9)cables ___________locally available.
>     >      10)Diodes, 12v_________200pcs___locally available.
>     >       11) Mini trunks for framing panels___________locally
>     available.
>     >       Other needs to be in place before the comencement of the
>     business.
>     >          1)Trade licence per year_ksh. 4,800.
>     >          Wall racks, display table, advertisement boards at a
>     total cost
>     > of ksh. 15,000.
>     >        TYPES OF ITEMS TO STOCK IN
>     >  SUMARRY.
>     >           Mini panel( modules),resistors and small portable
>     lamps which
>     > would be made here.
>     >     Other total costs would depend on availability of funds.
>     >
>     >      1:
>     >
>     >
>     >
>     >
>
>
>

David, Steven,

Great posts at Rising Voices!
http://groups.google.com/group/risingvoices?hl=en
which I share with working groups at our Minciu Sodas laboratory:
Global Villages (Franz Nahrada) http://groups.yahoo.com/globalvillages/
Holistic Helping (Janet Feldman) http://groups.yahoo.com/holistichelping/
and Learning From Each Other (Pamela McLean)
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/learningfromeachother/

I spent three weeks at Franz Nahrada's hotel in Vienna, Austria
designing a "hyperwiki" and related online venues that address the
dynamic that we have and want participants of a wide variety of
awareness and online sophisitication.  So the hyperwiki is a front end
to our wiki engine that I hope will make it easier for people to
participate at their level of sophistication (and master further
levels).  Franz is much inspired by Hypercard for Macintosh.

We'll have levels of sophistication:
* Full screen browsing
* Leaving comments
* Filling out a form
* Editing a page
* Restructuring sets of pages

See: http://www.worknets.org/en/
and also our diagram of our interfaces that we're building at
http://www.worknets.org/wiki.cgi?Interface

We do need programmers!
Please!

Andrius

Andrius Kulikauskas
Minciu Sodas
http://www.ms.lt
ms@...

Dear All,

I frequently hear from coordinators of citizen media outreach projects
who are disappointed by the fact that so many of their participants stop
blogging two or three months after their first post. This is a common
problem, but in my opinion, it is a problem of expectations rather than
results.

Most of us have spent at least a few hours of our lives learning how to
play the piano, guitar, or some other instrument. But only a select few
have continued playing that instrument throughout our adult lives. In
fact, most of us probably stopped playing just a couple months after our
first lesson. This doesn't mean, however, that piano teachers should
feel demoralized by their supposed "low success rate". After all, we are
only able to find the best musicians by teaching the fundamentals to as
many people as possible. Imagine how many Mozart's, Fela Kuti's, and
Gilberto Gil's have passed silently through history because they were
never given the opportunity to express their musical talent.

Blogging is much the same way. Just as everyone can press the keys of a
piano, so too can we all start and maintain a blog. But that doesn't
mean that everyone will keep at it. In my experience, only about 10% of
the participants of the blogging workshops I have facilitated continue
blogging six months later.


       Important Tools for Important Times

The other 90% of workshop participants will write only occasionally, or
not at all. But, significantly, most do still remember how to publish to
a blog even months or years later. This is significant because during
times of emergency they have the means to share information.

For example, many of the participants of workshops organized by Foko
Madagascar
<http://rising.globalvoicesonline.org/projects/project-foko/> stopped
blogging for weeks after they first opened their blogs. But when a
political crisis hit their country, which led to last week's coup
<http://globalvoicesonline.org/specialcoverage/madagascar-power-struggle-2009/>,
many of those same new bloggers realized the importance of being able to
share local information to an international audience in real time. In
fact, those same individuals became the go-to sources of information for
everyone wanting to stay informed about Madagascar's political crisis.
Lova Rakotomalala, one of Foko's four founders, has explained in detail
how Madagascar's bloggers and Twitter users were able to influence
international coverage of the crisis
<http://rakotomalala.blogspot.com/2009/03/all-that-tweets.html>.


       What This Means for Project Facilitators

Above all else, it is important to set realistic expectations and to
feel satisfied if only a few of the workshop participants become
passionate bloggers. Heather Ford, a well known South African blogger,
recently gave a workshop in Durban, South Africa, which left her feeling
frustrated. Heather suggests
<http://rising.globalvoicesonline.org/blog/2009/03/08/how-and-how-not-to-teach-b\
logging/> charging
a small fee for workshops to ensure that participants really have a
strong desire to learn and apply the skills. Those who lack the money
could write a letter requesting a scholarship.

Some psychologists have even suggested that there are certain
personality traits common to most bloggers
<http://celestialkitsune.wordpress.com/2008/09/20/personality-traits-of-bloggers\
/>.
As a project coordinator you could specifically seek out individuals who
share those personality traits.

In my experience, however, it is impossible to accurately predict who
will keep blogging and who will not. Blogging, like playing a musical
instrument or learning how to draw, is a worthy skill to learn as a
simple means of expression. Besides, you never know who will be the next
Ravi Shankar, Michaelangelo, or the next great blogger until (s)he has a
chance to learn the skills and tools.


       New Rising Voices Projects - Stay Tuned

Over the next few weeks we'll be getting to know each of the newest six
Rising Voices grantee projects. For those of you who just can't wait,
please check out Maryna Reshetnyak's feature on Public Fund Mental
Health based in Almaty, Kazakhstan
<http://rising.globalvoicesonline.org/blog/2009/03/16/rising-voices-welcomes-new\
-grantee-from-central-asia/> and
an introductory video about Project Ceasefire Liberia
<http://rising.globalvoicesonline.org/blog/2009/03/23/introductory-video-to-ceas\
efire-liberia/>.
Also, keep your eyes on the Rising Voices website
<http://rising.globalvoicesonline.org/> for updates from all 20
projects, links to relevant resources and grants, and new pictures and
videos.

All the best,

David

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

David,

Excellent post.

Taking this "not everyone is made to blog" reality a step further, a
project might ask, what other forms of online information sharing and
expression might be more natural for a larger portion of your
audience/participants.

I think the answer in part comes from popularity of social networking in
-private- life which gets over the online version of the fear of public
speaking for many.

I think the other part of the answer - particularly when it comes to
public life - is the difference between scaling down broadcast (the
design of blogs essentially with bloggers on a stage) and the scaling up
of face-to-face group conversations around a table or e-mail lists with
people participating typically with identity and very informally.

At E-Democracy.Org we use e-mail lists combined with a solid public web
forum-like view, real names (which may not be safe in all countries),
and a really quirky technical limit - no more than two posts a day per
person per forum - that spreads out the conversation and prevents two
people from going back and forth all day and filling our mail boxes.
This kind of format allows participants to start a topic or comment
whenever they want without creating the pressure or giving the
impression that their blog is dead. We also default everyone to e-mail
delivery and everyone can create new topics via e-mail to simply press
reply to comment. Of course you can turn off e-mail or select a digest
and for public forums (e-lists) web feeds are available. Our model:
http://e-democracy.org/if

The tool we use is http://GroupServer.Org sort of like an GPL open
source Google Groups. I think part of the solution to David's analysis
is leveraging people's comfort with private-life social networking in
public life and if you want to do that within your own domain, use tools
like GroupServer to create a base of many-to-many interactivity. Upon
that base where blogging shows its strength as the outward, often newsy
and relatively well-edited communication platform you can both display
online "life" via the web views to e-lists and have best-of content in
blogging world.

Steven Clift
E-Democracy.Org

P.S. We blog too: http://blog.e-democracy.org

Dear David, Andrius, and All,

This is an excellent and highly important discussion!  As the
editor/coordinator for the forthcoming "Blogging Positively" guide (Rising
Voices), it is uppermost in my own mind to create a tool that people will
find relevant in a continual way, so that blogging and other citizen-media
tools can be used on a regular basis for expressive and educative purposes.

The tools and approach that Andrius, Franz, and other have helped to create
and develop are so valuable for establishing a "sustainable media practice",
and I hope we can all work together to ensure that these endeavors
contribute to more people blogging and to an ongoing use of blogging as a
media approach, as well as the use of other citizen-media tools that empower
and uplift individuals and communities.

David points to something fundamental that all of us who do this work must
take into account, though:  that tools, training, and even incentive do not
always lead to carry-through on a regular basis. That is "OK" too:
sometimes it is enough to know that the "seeds" have been planted.

We do not always know how they will sprout and grow. All we can do is
provide some guidance, resources, tools, and caring. Mentoring, too, as the
situation seems to call for it. But ultimately we have to trust in the
process, and the "goodness" of what we are trying to do. And continue doing
it, despite our expectations--often dashed in the short term--or results
that we can measure.

Ultimately, any endeavor like this extends beyond our immediate investment,
"sight", or control. All we can hope for is that there may be some positive
result, a belief that keeps us doing whatever we can do in the present, to
ensure that a brighter and better future comes to be, whether or not that is
something we can measure or "see".

Thanks so much to all the "dreamers", as well as the "doers", and to the
believers, especially those who act accordingly!  Janet

----- Original Message -----
From: "Andrius Kulikauskas" <ms@...>
To: <risingvoices@googlegroups.com>; "learningfromeachother"
<learningfromeachother@yahoogroups.com>; "help group"
<holistichelping@yahoogroups.com>; <globalvillages@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Monday, March 23, 2009 6:13 PM
Subject: [holistichelping] Rising Voices Newsletter: Are Bloggers Born or
Made?


> David, Steven,
>
> Great posts at Rising Voices!
> http://groups.google.com/group/risingvoices?hl=en
> which I share with working groups at our Minciu Sodas laboratory:
> Global Villages (Franz Nahrada) http://groups.yahoo.com/globalvillages/
> Holistic Helping (Janet Feldman) http://groups.yahoo.com/holistichelping/
> and Learning From Each Other (Pamela McLean)
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/learningfromeachother/
>
> I spent three weeks at Franz Nahrada's hotel in Vienna, Austria
> designing a "hyperwiki" and related online venues that address the
> dynamic that we have and want participants of a wide variety of
> awareness and online sophisitication.  So the hyperwiki is a front end
> to our wiki engine that I hope will make it easier for people to
> participate at their level of sophistication (and master further
> levels).  Franz is much inspired by Hypercard for Macintosh.
>
> We'll have levels of sophistication:
> * Full screen browsing
> * Leaving comments
> * Filling out a form
> * Editing a page
> * Restructuring sets of pages
>
> See: http://www.worknets.org/en/
> and also our diagram of our interfaces that we're building at
> http://www.worknets.org/wiki.cgi?Interface
>
> We do need programmers!
> Please!
>
> Andrius
>
> Andrius Kulikauskas
> Minciu Sodas
> http://www.ms.lt
> ms@...
>
> Dear All,
>
> I frequently hear from coordinators of citizen media outreach projects
> who are disappointed by the fact that so many of their participants stop
> blogging two or three months after their first post. This is a common
> problem, but in my opinion, it is a problem of expectations rather than
> results.
>
> Most of us have spent at least a few hours of our lives learning how to
> play the piano, guitar, or some other instrument. But only a select few
> have continued playing that instrument throughout our adult lives. In
> fact, most of us probably stopped playing just a couple months after our
> first lesson. This doesn't mean, however, that piano teachers should
> feel demoralized by their supposed "low success rate". After all, we are
> only able to find the best musicians by teaching the fundamentals to as
> many people as possible. Imagine how many Mozart's, Fela Kuti's, and
> Gilberto Gil's have passed silently through history because they were
> never given the opportunity to express their musical talent.
>
> Blogging is much the same way. Just as everyone can press the keys of a
> piano, so too can we all start and maintain a blog. But that doesn't
> mean that everyone will keep at it. In my experience, only about 10% of
> the participants of the blogging workshops I have facilitated continue
> blogging six months later.
>
>
>      Important Tools for Important Times
>
> The other 90% of workshop participants will write only occasionally, or
> not at all. But, significantly, most do still remember how to publish to
> a blog even months or years later. This is significant because during
> times of emergency they have the means to share information.
>
> For example, many of the participants of workshops organized by Foko
> Madagascar
> <http://rising.globalvoicesonline.org/projects/project-foko/> stopped
> blogging for weeks after they first opened their blogs. But when a
> political crisis hit their country, which led to last week's coup
>
<http://globalvoicesonline.org/specialcoverage/madagascar-power-struggle-2009/>,
> many of those same new bloggers realized the importance of being able to
> share local information to an international audience in real time. In
> fact, those same individuals became the go-to sources of information for
> everyone wanting to stay informed about Madagascar's political crisis.
> Lova Rakotomalala, one of Foko's four founders, has explained in detail
> how Madagascar's bloggers and Twitter users were able to influence
> international coverage of the crisis
> <http://rakotomalala.blogspot.com/2009/03/all-that-tweets.html>.
>
>
>      What This Means for Project Facilitators
>
> Above all else, it is important to set realistic expectations and to
> feel satisfied if only a few of the workshop participants become
> passionate bloggers. Heather Ford, a well known South African blogger,
> recently gave a workshop in Durban, South Africa, which left her feeling
> frustrated. Heather suggests
>
<http://rising.globalvoicesonline.org/blog/2009/03/08/how-and-how-not-to-teach-b\
logging/>
> charging
> a small fee for workshops to ensure that participants really have a
> strong desire to learn and apply the skills. Those who lack the money
> could write a letter requesting a scholarship.
>
> Some psychologists have even suggested that there are certain
> personality traits common to most bloggers
>
<http://celestialkitsune.wordpress.com/2008/09/20/personality-traits-of-bloggers\
/>.
> As a project coordinator you could specifically seek out individuals who
> share those personality traits.
>
> In my experience, however, it is impossible to accurately predict who
> will keep blogging and who will not. Blogging, like playing a musical
> instrument or learning how to draw, is a worthy skill to learn as a
> simple means of expression. Besides, you never know who will be the next
> Ravi Shankar, Michaelangelo, or the next great blogger until (s)he has a
> chance to learn the skills and tools.
>
>
>      New Rising Voices Projects - Stay Tuned
>
> Over the next few weeks we'll be getting to know each of the newest six
> Rising Voices grantee projects. For those of you who just can't wait,
> please check out Maryna Reshetnyak's feature on Public Fund Mental
> Health based in Almaty, Kazakhstan
>
<http://rising.globalvoicesonline.org/blog/2009/03/16/rising-voices-welcomes-new\
-grantee-from-central-asia/>
> and
> an introductory video about Project Ceasefire Liberia
>
<http://rising.globalvoicesonline.org/blog/2009/03/23/introductory-video-to-ceas\
efire-liberia/>.
> Also, keep your eyes on the Rising Voices website
> <http://rising.globalvoicesonline.org/> for updates from all 20
> projects, links to relevant resources and grants, and new pictures and
> videos.
>
> All the best,
>
> David
>
> -------------------------------
>
> David,
>
> Excellent post.
>
> Taking this "not everyone is made to blog" reality a step further, a
> project might ask, what other forms of online information sharing and
> expression might be more natural for a larger portion of your
> audience/participants.
>
> I think the answer in part comes from popularity of social networking in
> -private- life which gets over the online version of the fear of public
> speaking for many.
>
> I think the other part of the answer - particularly when it comes to
> public life - is the difference between scaling down broadcast (the
> design of blogs essentially with bloggers on a stage) and the scaling up
> of face-to-face group conversations around a table or e-mail lists with
> people participating typically with identity and very informally.
>
> At E-Democracy.Org we use e-mail lists combined with a solid public web
> forum-like view, real names (which may not be safe in all countries),
> and a really quirky technical limit - no more than two posts a day per
> person per forum - that spreads out the conversation and prevents two
> people from going back and forth all day and filling our mail boxes.
> This kind of format allows participants to start a topic or comment
> whenever they want without creating the pressure or giving the
> impression that their blog is dead. We also default everyone to e-mail
> delivery and everyone can create new topics via e-mail to simply press
> reply to comment. Of course you can turn off e-mail or select a digest
> and for public forums (e-lists) web feeds are available. Our model:
> http://e-democracy.org/if
>
> The tool we use is http://GroupServer.Org sort of like an GPL open
> source Google Groups. I think part of the solution to David's analysis
> is leveraging people's comfort with private-life social networking in
> public life and if you want to do that within your own domain, use tools
> like GroupServer to create a base of many-to-many interactivity. Upon
> that base where blogging shows its strength as the outward, often newsy
> and relatively well-edited communication platform you can both display
> online "life" via the web views to e-lists and have best-of content in
> blogging world.
>
> Steven Clift
> E-Democracy.Org
>
> P.S. We blog too: http://blog.e-democracy.org
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------------
>
> http://www.worknets.org/wiki.cgi?HolisticHelping
>
> Please note our rule: Each letter sent to the Holistic Helping group
> enters the PUBLIC DOMAIN unless it explicitly states otherwise.  Thank
> you!  http://www.ethicalpublicdomain.org
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>


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



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Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
Version: 8.0.237 / Virus Database: 270.11.19/2010 - Release Date: 03/18/09
20:27:00

Today we're greeting Minciu Sodas members flying into London!  I share
more information about today and this week. Please call me or write me
or join us if you are interested!  Andrius, ms@...
--------------------------------------------------------

Andrius's phone number is: +44 7548 126 374
See also: http://www.worknets.org/wiki.cgi?London for information.

Tuesday, March 24:
10:30 Andrius Kulikauskas and Rachel Wambui Kungu meet at Victoria station.
11:35 Heathrow they greet Samwel Kongere on Emirates flight EK001from Dubai.
13:15 At Heathrow they greet Franz Nahrada on British Airways flight
BA0697 from Vienna.
15:00 or thereabouts they check in Samwel at Pickadilly Backpackers
Hotel, 12 Sherwood Street
http://www.piccadillyhotel.net
16:00 Andrius meets Zenonas Anusauskas and Irena Buinickaite at the
EasyBus stop on Baker street near Marylebone Road. They travel to their
hotel room at: 39 Chatsworth Rd, Kilburn, 208 459 6203, near the Kilburn
tube station and shop for food.
20:00 Franz Nahrada and Pamela McLean meet where he's staying at the
Bedford Hotel, Southampton Row, just south of Russell Square
20:50 Heathrow, Andrius greets Ana Ilic Lagundzin and Zdenka Mrkailo on
Lufthansa # 4742 from Frankfurt and travels with them to Claudia's near
the Angel tube station

Wednesday, March 25:
10:30-10:45 We meet at the Angel tube station
11:00 We go to The Hub Islington
http://the-hub.net/places/islington.html
Candid Arts, 5 Torrens Street near the Angel tube stop, Tel: 20 7841 8900.
We then find a place for lunch where Graham can show us DIY Solar.
13:00 - 13:45  Andrius, Franz, Rachel, Samwel, Graham visit John Caswell
of Group Partners and his team.  John Caswell works with corporations to
draw large diagrams that clarify their business assumptions.  We might
perhaps organize global teams for them to provide public input on such
assumptions and even public action.  32 St James's Street, London, SW1A
1HD (between Green Park and Piccadilly Circus tube stations).
15:00 We all visit George Auckland, Head of Innovation of the BBC, ,
Room MC3 B1, The Media Centre, 201 Wood Lane, London W12 7TQ, The
nearest station is White City on the Central Line or Wood Lane on the
Hammersmith and City Line.
19:00-23:00 Andrius Kasparavicius has organized for us a meeting with
London's Lithuanians at The Long Acre, 1-3 Long Acre, near the Leicester
Square tube station.  Our topic is "nationhood and independent thinkers"
http://www.thelongacre.co.uk/location/

# Thursday, March 26: COMMUNIA meeting, New Academic Building, London
School of Economics, http://www.communia-project.eu
# Friday, March 27: COMMUNIA meeting; Franz travels on to Oekonux
Manchester and looks for others to travel together.
# Saturday, March 28: OpenKnowledgeFoundation (We are giving 15 minute
talks in the afternoon.
http://www.okfn.org/okcon/
Saturday night: Synergy Centre launch, Rick Nelson and Anne Wirstad will
be there!
http://www.thesynergycentre.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=97&Ite\
mid=155
# Sunday, March 29: Vintage Vogue Fashion Show
http://upcoming.yahoo.com/event/2128039/
# Monday, March 30: Ana, Zdenka return home. Visit Autonomous London? or
the British museum? Tentatively: 16.00 meeting with LeonBenjamin about
SwarmTeams.
# Tuesday, March 31: Zenonas, Tomas, Irena, Andrius, Samwel, and Fred
fly home
# Wednesday, April 8: Rachel flies home

Andrius

Andrius Kulikauskas
Minciu Sodas
http://www.ms.lt
ms@...

Dear Christian Crumlish,

As we discussed, I invite COMMUNIA members to write up patterns of the
usage of the Public Domain and Creative Commons and copyleft for your
upcoming book:
http://designingsocialinterfaces.com/
"Designing Social Interfaces: Principles, Patterns, and Practices for
Improving the User Experience"
I note that you are the curator of Yahoo!'s pattern library.

Also, please find below a draft of "the logic of the global brain" by
Andrius Kulikauskas (of Minciu Sodas) and Pamela McLean (of Dadamac)
based on her original post:
http://learnbydoinguk.blogspot.com/2009/01/tom-ricardo-and-life-saving-learning.\
html
http://www.worknets.org/wiki.cgi?PitLatrine
Please edit as you like! our post is in the Public Domain.

Andrius

Andrius Kulikauskas
Minciu Sodas
http://www.ms.lt
ms@...



Imagine the bandwidth-rich and the bandwidth-poor learning from each
other. People online and on-the-ground interact through a set of roles.
We may imagine neurons in the brain (an abstract setting) interacting
with neurons in a hand or foot (a concrete setting).

This is what the "global brain" is for!

Charles (not his real name) casually referred to a time when he had
helped Tom Ochuko find information that was urgently needed. It is a
true “good news story” that deserves to be more widely known, both for
its own sake, and as an example of ICT being used for informal learning.
The Internet was used to teach a practical skill which helped save the
lives of children in Nyanza, Kenya, when cholera threatened.

This is what happened. In 2008, Tom Ochuko wrote an email from Kenya,
explaining that sickness was following the rains, children were getting
sick, the river, normally a source of livelihood had become a killer,
homes and crops had been washed away. The area had already suffered post
election violence. Now it was threatened with cholera.

Tom is an active member of an online community, Mincius Sodas (MS). He
is a community activist with particular concern for deaf people. He was
also active in the Pyramid of Peace initiative (post election turmoil
response) in 2008. When he needed help, he emailed his friends in the
Holistic Helping group in Minciu Sodas. He explained the situation, and
that there was a need to provide sanitation - but how? He needed advice
from people who were good at constructing toilets.

This was his email:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/holistichelping/message/3028
"Dear Sam,Ken ,Dan,Chelimo,Janet,Maria and all. Its has been reported
thatNyanza is worse now..I Have experienced it now. The children have
long stomach runs..with complain in the chest,River Nyando our source of
livelihood has become akiller. We cant get nrea any more while the homes
are already washed away..with no crops..we cant just live to see this
come every year. To begin with we must comstruct toilets..are there
peoplwewho are just good in this. Designing,and making. Our ground is
loose..and needs abetter structured toilets for every home. Mosquitoes
are also breeding,SAM EXPERINCED THIS WHILE HE VISITED ME. The
deafimpact children..require nets,Tabs..and Even water containers to
keep ..good health and hygine. WE can atlength dicuss this kisumu..is
already affected as at now no running water and all are warned taht
unless something is done ..Chilera is number two to election vilolence.
What are your vies SAM HOW IS MbITA..sOME ARE ADMITTED AT THE HOSPITAL
FROM MBITA. Lets comunicate and get alsting solution. TOM OCHUKA"

Fortunately, Charles, one of Tom's online friends, saw the request for
information. He searched the internet and came up with a relevant link.
It was to a Water_Aid_Video by Adam Hart Davies, on how to build a pit
latrine. The key element is simply a piece of plastic drainpipe. The
video shows how to cut, heat and bend the drainpipe, and construct the
pit latrine. Tom got the information and acted on it. The health of the
children improved.

I asked Charles to give me more details of exactly what happened, so he
sent me an email, which he also copied to the Minciu Sodas wiki at
http://www.worknets.org/wiki.cgi?PitLatrine It tells how Tom got the
information he needed, built the latrine, and improved the health of the
children. It was funded locally. So the only thing that came in from the
outside was information.

This is not a high profile story. There was no publicity, no involvement
from politicians or large NGOs, no planning and targets and budgets. It
was practical local community action.

I am studying how ICT can enable learning and to me this is a wonderful
example of genuine informal distance-learning-on-demand. It is far
removed from traditional course-based distance learning, which is the
main model that many people seem to have. This was something immediate
and focused. It was serious, project based learning, which was needed to
solve a pressing problem.

This example is a collaborative approach to learning that has only
become possible thanks to the Internet. It is an approach where people
who know each other through online communities are ready to share needs
and resources and help each other to solve problems, using video and the
Internet. It is a kind of e-learning that is radically different from
what many people normally think of as e-learning (i.e. traditional,
formal, course based, accredited learning, with a subject expert leading
the learning).

There was no subject expert in the group, no-one who had the knowledge
that Tom needed. The information was on the Internet, but the Internet
on its own was not sufficient. Tom has little Internet access and had no
realistic chance of finding the information that he needed for himself.
The added extra was the transnational community of friends. Someone who
was bandwidth-poor was supported by someone (in the band-width rich UK)
who was more easily able to go online and search for useful information.
An intermediary helped to download the information from the Internet in
Kenya. It was put onto a CD so that Tom could learn from it offline and
share the information.

The thing that strikes me repeatedly about informal Internet mediated
learning is the way that it dramatically increases the number of
contacts that you can ask for help. There is new hope for those of us
who don't belong in a university, don't start off knowing people locally
who are well informed about things that interest us, and don't have any
kind of “old school tie network”. Anyone who can get on the Internet and
ask questions has a chance of finding new contacts. Discussion and
answers are available “with a little help from our friends”. There is
even hope for bandwidth-poor people like Tom, if they know people who
will help them. Thanks to the Internet it is worth asking questions,
because there is a good chance that someone can help to find an answer.

Imagine a future where teams of volunteers support learning the way that
Charles does. (Being a volunteer on such a team would be an interesting
and satisfying experience for anyone who enjoys learning new things and
meeting new people online). As the story of Tom and Charles
demonstrates, there are exciting and wonderful opportunities for
collaborative learning thanks to the Internet.

This may appear to be the story of two people, but actually there are
several roles involved:
* Experiencers of the real need: the people who were getting sick.
* Local leader: Tom Ochuka, who wanted to address the need.
* Connector: Tom Ochuka, who himself brought this issue online, and an
intermediary who downloaded the video for him.
* Facilitator: Janet Feldman, who leads the online venue where Tom asked
for help.
* Researcher: Charles, who took it upon himself to find an answer.
* Publisher: Water Aid which works for safe water for the world's poor.
* Champion: Adam Hart Davies who created the video that Water Aid
published.
* Presenter: Tom Ochuka, who spread the knowledge locally.
* Documentor: Charles, who wrote up his answer on the Worknets wiki.
* Investigator: Pamela McLean, who noticed the importance of this example.

A crucial role was played by the facilitator which is often least
visible. Facilitator enables people of different cultures to work
comfortably together and foster long term relationships that don't
automatically come to people of different cultures. Janet Feldman's
working group Holistic Helping is part of Minciu Sodas, a wider online
laboratory and network of "independent thinkers", which depends on many
patterns to create an environment which brings together and holds
together very different people:
* Activity is organized around mature "independent thinkers", like Janet
Feldman, and their deepest value in life. Hers is "holistic helping",
helping in all directions at once, as when responding to the HIV/AIDS
challenge in Africa. These are working groups (Yahoo! groups) because
email allows a wide range of people to participate, including those with
marginal Internet access.
* Overlap of people and cross-pollination of content is encouraged among
groups.
* Participants are encouraged to write about what they don't know, and
would like to know, rather than what they already know; and to write
about what they would like to achieve.
* A special effort is made to reach out and sign up new participants and
to respond to those who ask for help, but especially from those who
overcome challenges of poverty, language, technology to participate.
* The description of the venues and the footers of the letters make
clear that all content sent to the group is in the "Public Domain except
as noted otherwise", which encourages reuse, encourages people to write
seriously and to be proactive, using their own best judgement to help
others; and also filters out selfish, destructive people, who by their
nature don't want to lose control of anything or be held accountable for
their actions.

Perhaps the most important thing to understand is that this story is
exceptional and not even the purpose of Minciu Sodas. This very
practical example of e-learning is incidental to the continual efforts
to bring together the widest variety of people to help each other grow
as independent thinkers.

----- Original Message -----

From: ERIC WANJAMAH

To: holistichelping@yahoogroups.com

Sent: Sunday, March 22, 2009 11:42 AM

Subject: Re: [holistichelping] Haba na Haba/Eric, Great to Hear from You, and How was Haba?

Dear Janet and All,

 

The Haba na Haba group has been in St. Louis for almost a week now, they were sponsored by the Performing Arts Department of my school, Washington University and their tour has been very successful this far.

 

They staged a performance entitled "co-existence" which is in response to the post election violence in Kenya. They are doing a good job of enlightening people through art on issues like democracy, HIV/AIDS, corruption and so on.

 

It was the first time I was linking with the group which is part of MYSA.

 

We had a seminar at the Brown school of Social Work with George Ndiritu and I in the panel where we discussed the role of performance groups like Haba na Haba in bringing about change in the society. It emerged from our discussions that such groups have the appeal that cuts across ethic groups, have the ability to act like magnets to attract magnitudes through humour and a time when opposition parties have no voice in Kenya; the groups have a huge role to play in conjuction with the civil society as agents of change.

 

In the same spirit, I commend Ken and the Nafsi group; Dennis with Repacted, Rachel and others working with perfomance art in Kenya.

 

Eric Ndichu

St. Louis, MO

USA

 

 

---

From: Janet Feldman <kaippg@...>
To: holistichelping@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Saturday, March 21, 2009 10:01:48 PM
Subject: Re: [holistichelping] Haba na Haba/Eric, Great to Hear from You, and How was Haba?

Dear Eric and All,

 

It's fantastic to hear from you, and my apologies for not getting to this sooner. I didn't know you're in the USA, and would love to hear more about what you're doing and how you're doing!

 

And did you get to see Haba na Haba?

 

http://www.mysakeny a.org/content. php?id=20

http://sociolingo. wordpress. com/2007/ 03/14/edutainmen t-haba-na- haba-kenya/

 

Haba na Haba - Kenya
This is a community development project of the Mathere Youth Sports Association (MYSA), which promotes community development through Arts and Creative Education in Kenya. The project is organised through “vikundi� or art groups divided into different age groups who use music, dance, drama and acrobatics to share information with the community, and especially the youth, about the challenges they face. By involving the youth the project gives youth the opportunity to express themselves and to develop their artistic potential.

Contact George Ndiritu hanahaba@mysakenya. org

 

Another very interesting, and different, Haba na Haba:  http://www.habanaha ba.com. This is a design company that gives some of its profits to projects helping Tanzanian HIV/AIDS orphans.

 

In any case, this Haba na Haba is a project of the Mathare Sports Association in Nairobi. I wonder if Ken and Nafsi have been in touch with them, know this association or some of its members, and have worked with them?  Or how about you, Eric?  And anyone else in Kenya:  Dennis, George, Rachel?

 

I'm going to post this at ActALIVE (www.actalive. org) too, and please let us know if you run across more projects and activities like this (Eric and all), as I'm always looking for new and inspiring material.

 

With greatest thanks and blessings to you and all! Janet

 

 

----- Original Message -----

From: ERIC WANJAMAH

To: holistichelping@ yahoogroups. com

Sent: Wednesday, March 04, 2009 12:01 PM

Subject: [holistichelping] Haba na Haba

Ken and others, have you been in contact with Haba na Haba?

Kenyan performance group Haba na Haba to visit Washington University in St. Louis March 13-22

Troupe that promotes education through the performing arts will participate in events and cultural exchanges

March 3, 2009 -- The Performing Arts Department (PAD) and the African & African American Studies Program, both in Arts & Sciences at Washington University in St. Louis, will host a residency March 13-22 for a nine-member touring ensemble of internationally known Kenyan performance group Haba na Haba.

Group members perform acrobatics, music, dance and drama to raise awareness and educate their communities on topics such as HIV/AIDS, drug abuse, reproductive health, women's issues and violence. While here, they will participate in a number of performances and cultural exchanges both on campus and in the St. Louis community.

Haba na Haba, Swahili for "step by step," describes the approach that some 1,000 performers in the group take in their mission to provide people in Nairobi and outlying areas with information to provoke debate on social issues and healthy alternatives to crime, drugs and other destructive behaviors. Their message is that all things are possible if you take them one step at a time.

Highlights of the St. Louis residency will include a discussion on theater and social change with a panel including George Ndiritu, the director of Haba na Haba, Carolyn Lesorogol, Ph.D., assistant professor of social work, and others at the George Warren Brown School of Social Work, co-host for the event. The discussion is scheduled at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 18, in Brown Hall Lounge.

An improvisational performance of Haba na Haba will take place at 4:30 p.m. Thursday, March 19, on the South 40 on the Danforth Campus. All students are welcome to attend.

Photo by Reynolds Whalen

The Kenyan performance group Haba na Haba uses theater, music, dance and acrobatics to educate their communities on social issues such as reproductive health, violence and HIV/AIDS.

Download

The residency will culminate Friday, March 20, with a work, titled "Co-existence, " based on the recent ethnic conflicts in Kenya following disputed elections. The performance, which also will feature WUSTL students, will take place at 8 p.m. in the 560 Music Center, 560 Trinity Ave., in University City. The event is free and open to the public.

During their stay, the members of Haba na Haba will have the opportunity to learn about life outside of their country. In addition to residing with host families, they will have dinner with members of the St. Louis Kenyan Welfare Association, meet with students who have traveled or will travel to Kenya, visit area schools and participate in WUSTL dance, acting and Swahili language classes.

"We are truly delighted to be hosting this wonderful performing arts troupe on campus, especially with an American of Kenyan descent having just assumed the American presidency," said Robert Henke, Ph.D., chair of PAD and associate professor of drama and of comparative literature, both in Arts & Sciences.

Photo by Reynolds Whalen

In a neighboring Kenyan village, members of Haba na Haba perform a skit about behavior at a sporting event.

Download

"The courageous and thought-provoking work of Haba na Haba in some of the most economically challenged areas in and around Nairobi demonstrates ways in which the performing arts can educate people from all walks of life and truly effect social change," Henke said. "Their magnetic capacity to summon and sustain a theatrical audience in village and town squares with their medley of acrobatics, music, dance, and drama can teach westerners that theater, looked at from a global perspective, can be much bigger than the well-lit stage."

Henke said that Haba na Haba's St. Louis visit came about, in part, through the efforts of WUSTL alumnus Reynolds Whalen, whose honors thesis in PAD included the production of a full-length documentary on the group.

Whalen, who graduated summa cum laude in 2008 with a double major in drama and African & African American Studies, had seen the group perform in Nairobi during a semester abroad his junior year.

"The first performance I watched literally changed my life," Whalen said. "It was the first time I had ever seen my two biggest passions—Africa and theater—meet to do something really important."

"The extraordinary collaboration of Reynolds and Mungai Mutonya, Ph.D., senior lecturer in African & African American Studies and director of the Summer in Kenya Program, has made this residency possible," said John Baugh, Ph.D., the Margaret Bush Wilson Professor in Arts & Sciences and director of the African & African American Studies Program.

"Their efforts may well inspire other local ventures to enhance health awareness in less fortunate communities. This visit celebrates not only Haba na Haba, but also the outstanding talent of our students," Baugh added.

For information on classes and workshops, call 935-5858 or e-mail rpnathan@wustl. edu. For general information, e-mail PAD@.... edu.

EVENT SUMMARY

WHO: Kenyan performance group Haba na Haba

WHAT "Co-existence, " a performance based on the recent ethnic conflicts in Kenya

WHEN: 8 p.m. Friday, March 20

WHERE: 560 Music Center, 560 Trinity Ave., in University City

COST: Free and open to the public

SPONSOR: Washington University's Performing Arts Department and the African & African American Studies Program

INFORMATION: (314) 935-5858 or PAD@.... edu

---

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Hi Edward and all,

I invite you today, Wednesday, March 25, to try out "video bridges" with
us 20:00 London time which would be 22:00 Lithuania time, 21:00 Serbia
time, 23:00 Kenya time, 13:00 California time, 16:00 New York time.  That
will be a total of one hour of our meeting tonight with London
Lithuanians.

The address for that meeting has changed.  It is now across the street at:
1 Upper St. Martin's Lane WC2H 9NY(artimiausios metro stotelės – Leicester
Square ir Covent Garden), ( http://www.verve-bar.co.uk/location/ )
We start at 19:00 in English and Lithuanian with a discussion of
independent thinkers and nationhood.  At 20:00 we practice video bridges.
At 21:00 we will have a discussion in Lithuanian about the anti-corruption
movement Jungtinis Demokratinis Judejimas
http://www.demokratija.euhttp://lt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jungtinis_Demokratinis_Jud\
%C4%97jimas

We will be trying out two technologies.  One is Procom Strasser's Scopia
which we have access to thanks to Franz Nahrada.  See:
http://www.worknets.org/wiki.cgi?VideoMeeting
to download the software (it requires a current version of Windows and a
current version of Internet Explorer).  The advantage of this software is
that it allows us to integrate four or five video streams at once, the
streams can be of a variety of bandwidth quality, we can run it much like
Asif Daya's Trainerspod sessions (and Asif, you are welcome to use this
technology!) it is free for us to use, and we can earn money by reselling
this service but especially the hardware box that integrates the streams.

The disadvantage is that currently you need Windows.  So we'll also try
out connections with Skype.  Edward, I hope you might join us! and also
Sasha and all who are interested.

Andrius

Andrius Kulikauskas
Minciu Sodas
http://www.ms.lt
ms@...
+44 7548 126 374

--- In holistichelping@yahoogroups.com, ms@... wrote:
>
> William,
> Thank you for your letters.
> It's great to see you growing over the years as an independent thinker!
> You impress me!
> Andrius Kulikauskas
> Greetings from London.
>
> > Hi friends and all,
> > Am in Nairobi,i traveled well from Dar es salaam to Nairobi on the 20th
> > march.You people outside there can feed me of many informations and people
> > to meet,projects to visit,friends to make,new ideas i can invert while am
> > in here.
> >Thank you Andrius and all,
I have been able to visit Dan Ottedo women organisation.
Sarakasi with James Nju'ge with his training team.
Kennedy Owino projet at little rock,during the video bridge project i was there
too.
thank and byee.
> > I have visited Nasfi African acrobatic group at sarakasi building,thanks
> > to James for his hospitality and friendly brother i have found here.
> >
> > I have seen many youths doing various activities in the center,so many
> > young and energetic.Am getting an opportunities to learn through friends
> > and undergoing projects.
> >
> > Today am going to meet Dn Ottedo,to fous on my project of computer
> > refurbisher for women and after a month i will move for Kisumu to meet
> > Calvance Otiano.
> > Please keep in touch with me.
> > william
> >
> >
> >
> > ------------------------------------
> >
> > http://www.worknets.org/wiki.cgi?HolisticHelping
> >
> > Please note our rule: Each letter sent to the Holistic Helping group
> > enters the PUBLIC DOMAIN unless it explicitly states otherwise.  Thank
> > you!  http://www.ethicalpublicdomain.org
> >
> > Yahoo! Groups Links
> >
> >
> >
> >
>

Odeta, Janet, Kennedy, Thank you! Greetings from London.  Andrius

> Hallo everybody,
>
> I'm doing now new site about this event: http://www.myspace.com/afrikalt
> If you have some info About Kids acrobats, please sent to me. I'll put on
> this project as a part of development.
>
> Odeta
>
>
>
> 2009/3/25 Janet Feldman <kaippg@...>
>
>>  Dear Ken, Andrius, Odeta, and All,
>>
>> It's wonderful to hear from Ken and Odeta about the marvelous programs
>> organized and carried out by each of you on the "bridge" day. It is such
>> a
>> shame that the video connections did not work, but Andrius, Franz, and
>> others are working on that actively, and am sure it will happen in
>> future.
>>
>> Your amazing achievements should not in the least be diminished by the
>> lack
>> of linkage that day. Just reading about your programs thrilled me, and
>> I'm
>> sure others! Many other kinds of connectedness and sharing can happen in
>> the
>> meantime, and in any case, and hopefully more of us can participate in
>> ever-widening circles of inclusion.
>>
>> Thanks to all the principals involved, and the partners who are both
>> generous and visionary in their support!
>>
>> With greatest appreciation and artistic affections, Janet
>>
>>
>>
>> Janet,
>> Thank you for all of your great ideas! Odeta Abramaviciute is doing
>> great
>> work with Kennedy and Nafsi Afrika Acrobats and many groups in
>> Lithuania. I
>> note that the Procom-Strasser video technology that we can make free use
>> of
>> (thanks to Franz!) allows for three, four, five-way video connections as
>> well as chat and Internet broadcasting.
>> Andrius
>>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> *From:* Kennedy Owino <nafsiafricaacro@...>
>> *To:* Odeta Abromaviciute <cultureartfact@...> ; Odeta/ KULTÛROS
>> ARTELË <oabroma@...> ; Zenonas Zenonas Lithuania
>> <ekvjuc@...>; Andrius
>> kulikauskus <ms@...> ; Janet Feldman <kaippg@...> ; Lilly
>> Little Rock ECD <littlerockecd2000@...> ; Egle
>> Hansen<eglehansen@...>; Angelina
>> Siff Nanet Nielsen <angelinatn@...> ; Angelina Siff Nanet
>> Nielsen<angelinasiff@...>;
>> ismail.hodhan@...
>> *Cc:* njunge james <njunge05@...> ; stevo bro
>> <westeve20@...>; ian
>> okwomi <aokwomi@...> ; simon zuma maina <ngoafrika@...> ;
>> kenneth
>> owino <zaken07@...> ; nafsiafricaacro@...
>> *Sent:* Sunday, March 22, 2009 4:40 PM
>> *Subject:* Re: Kenya -Lithuania Bridge/Ken: how did this go?
>>
>>
>> Dear All,
>>
>> Thank you all for your efforts and blessings,
>> I am making a quick report but will follow soon with images later in
>> attachments sent to the same mailing list.
>>
>> After great preparations and much anticipation of what was to be our
>> (Nafsi) first video bridge experience ever, we were glad to be honoured
>> by
>> the participation of all expected people in the list.
>> However, we were not lucky to succesfully get through to the Lithuanian
>> side.
>> We had often technical hitches during the test run (this went through a
>> better part of the schedule) accompanied by poor images relay, poor
>> sound
>> and our equipments being often Cut out due to poor network.
>> This has been an experience to us that in such future events, it is
>> necessary to be well equiped with broad band internet that can take any
>> "band width  hogs"
>>
>> We were highly frustrated  by the poor network that hindered access to
>> the
>> ongoings on the other side.
>> Albeit this, our programme continued, thanks to  Hodhan, a Red cross
>> representative who didn't leave but stayed with us through our self made
>> "consolation session"
>> Thanks to Steve and Ian of Ghetto Arts collectives Kenneth and James of
>> Nafsi Acrobats who put up thrilling shows to engage and entertain the
>> children.
>> Thanks to Simon Maina who organised the Kivuli children Acrobats to
>> perform
>> for their counterparts (Little Rock deaf Children)
>> Thanks to Angelina, who rescued the day by motivating the children and
>> capturing the images of the day through her Camera.
>> Thanks to Winnie Chow, a volunteer with Amka Health Project for her
>> participation through the difficulties and happy moments, we were
>> mesmerised
>> by your comedy act.
>> Thanks Lilly and Christine of Little Rock for having played great
>> hostesses, encouraged the children and helped with translations- the
>> snacks
>> and refreshments you served helped ease our anxieties  and "tummy
>> butterflies".
>> Thanks Odetta and Zenonas  for your patience and efforts to see the
>> programme succeed.
>> Thanks Egle for all the logistic support you provided .
>> By all your small/ huge acts and quick responses to save the day,  you
>> made
>> me  lightened up considerably from the frustration and encouraged me
>> that
>> "there are always lessons learnt from failling"
>>
>> All in all the day was for the children, and their smiles and joys
>> carried
>> the day.
>> It was considerably  amazing to see them perfoming in exchange for
>> lightness and Joy. Blessings to you Little Rock Children and Kivuli
>> Acrobats.
>> We were happy to stay even after the end, just to learn some sign
>> language.
>> It is really a humbling experience sharing with the hearing impaired
>> children.
>>
>> All is not lost however, and i count this as the begining.
>> Andrius and Janet, with your support i hope we will in future have
>> possibilities of video bridges that will turn out into real working
>> links.
>> Andius, we appreciate and welcome your gesture to equip us, i would be
>> motivated if you send the Projector.
>> Odeta, i am sad we missed the Lithuania session and i would be greatly
>> pleased to learn and share with others your update on how it went.
>> I would also wish to follow up with you if we could consider organising
>> another video bridge probably later.
>> Should this be possible, then we would take into account some of the
>> suggestions and ideas we got.
>>
>> It was worth trying, i am inspired by you all,
>>
>> Ken Owino
>> Nafsi Africa Acrobats
>> www.nafsiafrica.org
>> +254723568251
>>
>>
>> --- On *Sun, 3/22/09, ms@... <ms@...>* wrote:
>>
>>
>> From: ms@... <ms@...>
>> Subject: [mendenyo] Re: Kenya -Lithuania Bridge/Ken: how did this go?
>> To: mendenyo@yahoogroups.com
>> Date: Sunday, March 22, 2009, 1:40 AM
>>
>>   Janet,
>> Thank you for all of your great ideas!
>> Odeta Abramaviciute is doing great work with Kennedy and Nafsi Afrika
>> Acrobats and many groups in Lithuania.
>> I note that the Procom-Strasser video technology that we can make free
>> use
>> of (thanks to Franz!) allows for three, four, five-way video connections
>> as well as chat and Internet broadcasting.
>> Andrius
>>
>> > Hello Dear Ken and All,
>> >
>> > My apologies for previously missing your posting about this incredibly
>> > exciting event earlier! I wonder how it went today? I hope it might be
>> the
>> > first of many such exchanges! It would be great to draw in more people
>> and
>> > orgs in Kenya too: I'm thinking of Tom and Deaf Impact Ministry, and
>> also
>> > Jared (and Barbara) and CEPACET.
>> >
>> > Perhaps the Kenya Red Cross and the Lithuanian Red Cross could work
>> > together in some way to help make this possible?
>> >
>> > One thing I wanted to ask is about how the sign-language components of
>> the
>> > event worked out, and also if there was or is an English translation
>> for
>> > the TV site for this event?
>> >
>> > I'll close for now with hopes that you will post a report when you
>> can!
>> > This type of cross-cultural activity is so crucial for peace,
>> > understanding, and hope in the world, and for turning prejudice into
>> > openness and acceptance. As well as for giving children and adults
>> with
>> > differing abilities the chance to turn their lives from "scar to
>> star"!
>> > I'll pass along this news as far and wide as I can, including to deaf
>> > friends in the USA. Perhaps we could work on a 3-way bridge?
>> >
>> > With love, immense thanks, and blessings always, Janet
>> > ----- Original Message -----
>> > From: Kennedy Owino
>> > To: holistic ; learning from each other ; nafsi Afrika acrobats ;
>> > mendenyo@yahoogroup
>> s.com<http://mc/compose?to=mendenyo%40yahoogroups.com>
>> > Sent: Monday, March 09, 2009 6:45 PM
>> > Subject: [holistichelping] Kenya -Lithuania Bridge
>> >
>> >
>> > Dear Friends,
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > I would like to bring to your attention a video bridge event
>> > organised by the NGO “Cultureartfact� in Lithuania and “NAFSI
>> > Africa Acrobats� in Kenya.
>> >
>> >
>> > The video conference and concert “Afrik@LT2009� will be on the
>> > 21st March 2009, 3pm at Early Childhood Development Centre “Little
>> > rock� in Kibera,( Lemule Road Olympic Estate, Kibera P.O.Box
>> > 21319, 00505) all the details about this international event you
>> > can find on the website:
>> > http://www.culturea rtfact.org/ index.php? tid=33&sid=
>> 223&aid=1026<http://www.cultureartfact.org/index.php?tid=33&sid=223&aid=1026>
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > This video conference and a concert which will be transmitted live
>> > on the web: www.internettv. lt and will help deaf children and
>> > the children with hearing disabilities from both countries
>> > (Lithuania and Kenya) make friends and explore the other culture
>> > far from their own world.
>> >
>> >
>> > Using sign language, the children will exchange their questions
>> > and knowledge about the two countries Kenya and Lithuania ,
>> > exchange their culture program.
>> >
>> >
>> > Kenyan participants will have a possibility to watch a unique
>> > percussion show performed by Lithuanian deaf children group; in
>> > exchange “Kivuli� Centre Acrobats will show their acrobatics and
>> > percussion show.
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > To specify this event we are using the Kibera deaf school “Little
>> > rock� slogan “Help turn a scar into a star�. and will be raising
>> > the awareness of the famine in Kenya to help children from the
>> > school like “Little rock� in Kibera and others to improve their
>> > living and schooling standards.
>> >
>> >
>> > This will be a fund raising event in Lithuania ; already confirmed
>> > that this event in Lithuania will have a Red Cross representative.
>> >
>> >
>> > I hope you can Log on to www.internettv. lt on 21st March to share
>> > with us this important event.
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > Thank you for your attention.
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > Peace,
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > Ken Owino
>> >
>> > Nafsi Africa Acrobats
>> >
>> > www.nafsiafrica. org
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > ------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- -
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > No virus found in this incoming message.
>> > Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
>> > Version: 8.0.237 / Virus Database: 270.11.8/1987 - Release Date:
>> > 03/06/09 07:20:00
>> >
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>  ------------------------------
>>
>>
>> No virus found in this incoming message.
>> Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
>> Version: 8.0.237 / Virus Database: 270.11.19/2010 - Release Date:
>> 03/18/09
>> 20:27:00
>>
>>
>
>
> --
> Pagarbiai / Respectfully,
>
>
> Odeta Abromaviciute
> DirektorÄ—/ Director
>
> NevyriausybinÄ— organizacija No. 300146129 - NGO
> KULTŪROS ARTELĖ // CULTURE ARTFACT
> Address: Silo Str. 1 - 5 Vilnius LT-10322 Lithuania Europe
> GSM    + 370 659 692 11
> Phone  + 370 523 480 95
> E-mails: info@... or cultureartfact@...
> Skype: oabromaviciute
> http://www.CultureArtFact.org
> http://www.myspace.com/CultureArtFact
>

----- Original Message -----

From: zoneziwoh

To: kaippg@...

Sent: Thursday, March 26, 2009 5:37 AM

Subject: hello, Bday 26th too.

hi Janet, amazing to always receiving latest feedback from you. ah! today too is my birthday, 'm a year older today if you don't mind; can i have you interview on behalf of thesop.org and myself if ok, by you, i will prepare your interview and mail it to you, so that you response and forward it back to me ... zoneziwoh bye www.zoneziwohshow.com freelance writer blog www.thesop.org/html/writers.php?writer=zone http://www.Vision4Plenty.org/zoneziwoh Response to "NGO Worker Sentenced to Life Imprisonment" http://newsblaze.com/story/20090108080658zzzz.nb/topstory.html Response to UN Forum Seeks to Ensure Schooling for Children From Homes http://newsblaze.com/story/20081012153035tsop.nb/topstory.html Response to "Australia: Indian Women, Down Under and Tortured" http://newsblaze.com/story/20081106083032zzzz.nb/topstory.html Have We Forgotten How to Take Care of Ourselves? http://newsblaze.com/story/20081027060208zzzz.nb/topstory.html MERITOCRACY, BE YOUR PRINCIPLE

---

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No virus found in this incoming message.
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Version: 8.0.237 / Virus Database: 270.11.19/2010 - Release Date: 03/18/09 20:27:00

----- Original Message -----

From: peter ongele

To: mendenyo@yahoogroups.com

Sent: Wednesday, March 25, 2009 1:40 AM

Subject: Re: [mendenyo] Activism for Those Killed in Recent "Witchcraft" Burnings in Nyamataro, Kisii, Kenya

Hi Janet,       Surely this is something which has been going all through without proper addressing.....in Kisii they are easily reporting these matters , my place is worst hit by this behaviour. Innocent people go into cold, loss property without sympathy, children drop from schools, early marriages are rampage in the area. Infact this is the area you can still  find 12 year old girl married off any howly. The community is very hostile when it comes to witchcrafty.....year always goes with not less than 5 killed in these circumstances......Gwassi is most hitted place , if  something can be done on this, I think we would have peace of the day.      Talking about police in Kenya, I doubt what they can do....several times they arrest but a short time killers walk back free....impunity and corruptions are very high in the country such that  I doubt whether police would help to stop this habit of killings while raping and early marriages have been waliking back free despite the efforts of children's right group taking them to police station with victimised at hand.      I've learnt from the area I work, there is an encouragement of parliament of common man started arround...they usually meet ones a week for 3 hours, in our  place it has not started yet, I hope to lobby the youths around and to have this witchcraft killings as a case to discuss and try to help the community to understand that this not an encouraging ways of eliminating vices in the area. Unfornately, these people are also very bad, imagine somebody owning crocidile, hippopotamus, snakes, leopard in the home....their must be that kind of fear with the community....if police can help to eliminate owning of these kinds of animals, then the community would be in peace to tackle these vices peacefully without killings.       I'll come later. Ongele Peter. --- On Tue, 3/24/09, Janet Feldman <kaippg@...> wrote: From: Janet Feldman <kaippg@...> Subject: [mendenyo] Activism for Those Killed in Recent "Witchcraft" Burnings in Nyamataro, Kisii, Kenya To: Mwanyagetinge@yahoogroups.com, Kenya-aids@yahoogroups.com Cc: voiceful@yahoogroups.com, mendenyo@yahoogroups.com Date: Tuesday, March 24, 2009, 9:49 PM Dear Friends,   A number of people have weighed in on the terrible burning deaths, about 10 days ago, of 5 people in  Nyamataro in Kisii (Kenya). These people were accused of "witchcraft" by a crowd that set them on fire and watched while they died.  It is sad to note that all were older people (80 years and above), and four of the five were women.   All of us who have seen the video (http://www.liveleak .com/view? i=dae_1236854361) have been stunned and horrified. Individually and collectively, we have decided to do what we can to address this situation, especially as it has happened too many times before this incident. Please read below about two such actions people can take.   The first is to contact the Kenya Police and express your outrage and concern. The second is to band together for collective action. The first posting below gives contact info for the police, and the second gives the email address of someone--Matunda Nyanchama--to contact to get involved with a group seeking to prevent further such deaths, and also to address its root causes.   Thanks very much for whatever you can do to help!   With best wishes and blessings, Janet (Feldman, kaippg@earthlink. net, www.kaippg.org)   Two Actions:   1) Peter Ngunyi (pkngunyi@yahoo. com) I made the initiative to call the Kenya Police, and Eric Kiraithe assured me that they have arrested 10 people and are charging them with murder. For those who care to register their concern, he can be reached at ekiraither@yahoo. com or kkiraither@gmail. com, or by phone at 0729958319. You can also contact David Ochami at davidkoch2@yahoo. com , an EAS reporter who is working on the story. 2) Matunda Nyanchama (matunda@hotmail. com) a) We are discussing an initiative that would involve the community, seek their understanding of the law, and ensure that similar events don't happen in the future. b) Should we succeed, we would support a number of barazas held by grassroots organizations, communities and leaders to put these matters into perspective; and thus ensure that the people understand due process and that they help law enforcement to do their work. c) We will call for law enforcement to do their work appropriately. d) We will advocate, as a matter of urgency, that the economic situation be addressed. There are a massive number of people without work, without land, and without hope.  And this can lead directly to crime and violence.     Five lynched over witchcraft claim in Kisii Published on 28/02/2009 By Robert Nyasato and Paul Gitau Five elderly people accused of witchcraft were burnt to death in Kisii. The four women and one man were accused of abducting a child and making him dumb through black magic, on Thursday. Residents of Bomatara village in Mosocho division, Kitutu Chache constituency gathered in the morning following word that witches had abducted the minor. The child, who was abandoned by the roadside, pointed out those who abducted him. They allegedly owned up before being set ablaze. Area DC Ben Njoroge and the Deputy OCPD Manasseh Musyoka held a baraza and warned wananchi against lynching witchcraft suspects. Those lynched were identified as Boyani Gichana, Yobensia Onguso, Sandimu Mageto, Mary Yusita and Ongubo Ichari. They were all aged over 80. The DC told residents to report suspects to authorities. Twelve suspected witches were killed in the same area last year. Musyoka said police would patrol the area on 24-hour basis to avert further lynching. Malindi case: Meanwhile, Malindi DC Arthur Mugira has accused politicians of frustrating the war against the killers of elderly people suspected of practising witchcraft. He also warned chiefs against colluding with the suspects. Mugira said politicians were frustrating efforts by security agents to crack down on the murderers instead of backing them. The DC, who was launching the second phase of the Rapid Results Initiative (RRI) for the district's security team at the Malindi County Hall, said the Provincial Administration has been preaching against the vice in public barazas. "We have done what we are supposed to do but our leaders are not supporting us. We shall continue with our work of ensuring peace and stability prevails in the district," he said. In an apparent reference to a statement by a top politician that police and administrators were harassing innocent residents, Mugira urged politicians to let the security agents do their work. The DC said every chief would be allocated five APs to assist them keep law and order. He said there was need for administrators to establish why locals, especially the youth, were obsessed with the killing of elderly suspects. Malindi OCPD Peter Kattam told the chiefs to ensure that they get proper evidence before suspects are arrested to enable police successfully prosecute them. Lynching of 'witches' is murder most foul 10/03/2009 Recent reports on killings of elderly people that have been going on are horrifying. The images from the media have sent shock waves among Kenyans. It is unthinkable that old men and women are being attacked and burnt to death on allegations and suspicion of practicing witchcraft. Last week on Friday, six people were killed in Kisii, while 14 were murdered late last year in Malindi. Similar incidents have also been reported in parts of Kwale and Kilifi districts. The victims are often single, older women and attacks mostly occur where these women lose property rights, leaving them isolated and vulnerable. Myths about witches: There are myths about the characteristics of witches that fit those of old women. Red eyes as a result of a lifetime of cooking over a smoky fireplace, or wandering in the night, possibly connected to undiagnosed dementia, are thought to prove the case of engaging in witchcraft. Accusations are usually connected with unexplained events in local communities such as death or crop failure, and these often lead to suspects being chased away from their homes to live in exile or to lynchings by mobs. Perpetrators, who comprise mainly the youth, are hardly ever arrested, and when they are, they are usually freed without any charge. This has provided fertile ground for impunity to breed, resulting in more murders. The Government needs to provide security for its citizens regardless of their age. The elderly have made a great contribution to the country and continue to do so, especially in view that they are taking care of more than 40 per cent of orphans and other vulnerable children. The State also has to ensure that these individuals, most of whom have no income, are able to support themselves and their dependants through provision of a social pension. Heinous crimes: HelpAge Kenya and its partners urge the State to arrest and prosecute all perpetrators of these heinous crimes. Kenya is a signatory to the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the UN Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women, and is obliged to protect the rights of older people from abuse. Marion Ouma, HelpAge Kenya

---

No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
Version: 8.0.237 / Virus Database: 270.11.19/2010 - Release Date: 03/18/09 20:27:00

Wendi, I am sad to hear of Becky's illness and death.  Thank you for
writing.  I hope with your help we will know you all better and respond
so that you and we are not helpless.  Thank you, Wendi, and I add my
sorrow.  Samwel today spoke of malaria prevention and people cared.
  From London.  Andrius


ACTWID KONGADZEM wrote:
> Dear Janet, Andrius and all,
> We are very sorry to let you know that one of our active members
> called Fon Becky Brigit  especially for the Rising Voices issues just
> died  yesterday after a very serious malaria attack. She will be
> buried on  saturday  29th March 2009.
> We really have a bigger problem now and that is lack of the continous
> means to support and care for some of our members living with HIV/AIDS
> and orphans. As Brigit died ,there is still another critical case
> really helpless and we need assistance in way of medications as well
> as food for the complications that has been developed too from
> opportunistic infections. CAN ANYONE OF YOU HAVE A POSSIBILITY TO
> HELP? Immense thanks from all of us here.
> Sincerely ACTWID KONGDZEM members led by Wendi
>
> --- On *Wed, 3/25/09, Janet Feldman /<kaippg@...>/* wrote:
>
>     From: Janet Feldman <kaippg@...>
>     Subject: [holistichelping] Fw: Tomorrow is Eric Ndichu's 27th
>     Birthday!/Happiest Birthday Eric, and Many, Many More!
>     To: holistichelping@yahoogroups.com
>     Date: Wednesday, March 25, 2009, 8:00 PM
>
>
>     ----- Original Message -----
>     *Sent:* Wednesday, March 25, 2009 5:01 AM
>     *Subject:* Tomorrow is Eric Ndichu's 27th Birthday!
>
>      Birthday Reminder
>    
<http://mt.reunion.com/tracker?action=click&eun=8xVwDA4fBw9NBx_bHlYuWg**&mid=-50\
&tu=home.do&lid=-10>
>
>
>
>     Hi Janet,
>
>     Eric Ndichu's 27th birthday is tomorrow, March 26!
>
>
>     First Name:  Eric
>    
<http://mt.mylife.com/tracker?action=click&eun=8xVwDA4fBw9NBx_bHlYuWg**&mid=-50&\
hlc=kaippg&tu=displayProfile.do%3Fuid=259988056>
>
>     Last Name:  Ndichu
>    
<http://mt.mylife.com/tracker?action=click&eun=8xVwDA4fBw9NBx_bHlYuWg**&mid=-50&\
hlc=kaippg&tu=displayProfile.do%3Fuid=259988056>
>
>
>
>     Send a Birthday Message!
>    
<http://mt.reunion.com/tracker?action=click&eun=8xVwDA4fBw9NBx_bHlYuWg**&mid=-50\
&tu=mail.do&lid=-200>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>     ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>
>
>
>
>

Samwel, Thank you for joining us at the COMMUNIA meeting in London and
thank you to Prodromos Tsiavos and Steve Smithson for the invitation by
which we have met in person for the first time! a great joy. Thank you
also to Janet Feldman and all who helped with Greg Wolff's chocolate
project, which is how we earned the money so that you could attend
Summer Source Africa in 2006.  Andrius Kulikauskas, ms@...
-----------------------------------

Hello Andrius,

I wish to thank you a great deal for making who i am today let me give
you some food for thought!
Early 2006 January you and Janet Feldman sent money to help me attend
Africa source II meeting at Kalangala my intention and our aim was to
find people who are interested in knowing there deepest values! A
question which they do not know answers to but would want to get answer!
Yes i went down here in search of values from strangers, great. The
workshop was having 140 participants from all over the globe.

It has been the most inspiring and motivating workshop according to my
value; i have ever attended in my career; people were free to talk' the
organizers, the sponsors, partners, delegates, participants, the hosts
and even the staff from the community, think of even Mark Shurtleworth
the honor of Ubuntu, who was the main sponsor and financier was amazing
man. I had all the pleasure i needed.

My group was headed by a lady from South Africa Called Heather Turner,
she was from the creative commons; she introduced me to
copyright/copyleft phenomenon, what was  amazing; was that, they wanted
everyone to feel wanted because they were telling us about migration
from Proprietary software  with licenses to open Source without
Licenses. The opportunity of sharing was high mmm! everyone intermingled
with each other, fantastic.

My search was values! Yes my previous volunteering with Christian
children's Fund  for eight years down the line taught me how sponsors
relate to their sponsored children, our letters were sometimes adding
value to them or not at cases eh!

I had taken two children to the field one day and wanted to study and
understand their values. We talked, played, ate together and asked them,
what they would want to take home with them? At the back of my mind I
wanted to know their  deepest value and what they care most. One child
told me, Sam, I will carry my ball and food to share with my sisters and
brothers, the other said, I will eat everything here because these other
relatives at home beat me too much; but because I am satisfied I am
going to keep my portion in my pocket eat it alone whenever i am hungry
mm! Amazing results.

This how public domain ethics and private issues interrelate with
governments, cultures, nations, corporations and individuals, there is
always something behind their thinking. One will want it openly the
other will need it privately. They will always go parallel with ideas
and policies but not perpendicular to T junction, they will never
compromise.

What do you think?
Samwel.
N/b You can print it if you want

oh no! dear, i am so so sorry
wher wil she be buried? is it in Bamenda? let me know where precisely so that if
i can make it there i will.

on behalf of holistichelping, actalive, Rising Voices and all
our tribute;

The Moment
The moment has come again,
  the song of the day.
The moment;
God why?
Many children have become orphans because of 'the
moment'
The moment, this is your turn.


March 27th, 6:00 pm (local time) I read of her
          after leaving Us.
Going to only return when i am gone.
I said to myself, This is the Moment.

I know life is a drama, played on this stage, the
Earth.
People come and play their part then leave the stage
while others leave before it's their turn.
No matter, some are done, and some are not given the
opportunity to play their role.
But one thing, I know is sure, nobody owns the stage.

May the soul Of Becky rest in perfect peace
Amen



www.zoneziwohshow.com

freelance writer
blog www.thesop.org/html/writers.php?writer=zone

http://www.Vision4Plenty.org/zoneziwoh

Response to "NGO Worker Sentenced to Life Imprisonment"
http://newsblaze.com/story/20090108080658zzzz.nb/topstory.html

Response to UN Forum Seeks to Ensure Schooling for Children From Homes
http://newsblaze.com/story/20081012153035tsop.nb/topstory.html

Response to "Australia: Indian Women, Down Under and Tortured"
http://newsblaze.com/story/20081106083032zzzz.nb/topstory.html

Have We Forgotten How to Take Care of Ourselves?
http://newsblaze.com/story/20081027060208zzzz.nb/topstory.html


MERITOCRACY, BE YOUR PRINCIPLE


--- On Fri, 27/3/09, Andrius Kulikauskas <ms@...> wrote:

> From: Andrius Kulikauskas <ms@...>
> Subject: [holistichelping] Re: SAD ANNOUNCEMENT FROM ACTWID KONGADZEM NGO IN 
CAMEROON
> To: holistichelping@yahoogroups.com
> Received: Friday, 27 March, 2009, 3:00 AM
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>             Wendi, I am sad to hear of Becky's
> illness and death.  Thank you for
>
> writing.  I hope with your help we will know you all better
> and respond
>
> so that you and we are not helpless.  Thank you, Wendi, and
> I add my
>
> sorrow.  Samwel today spoke of malaria prevention and
> people cared.
>
>  From London.  Andrius
>
>
>
> ACTWID KONGADZEM wrote:
>
> > Dear Janet, Andrius and all,
>
> > We are very sorry to let you know that one of our
> active members
>
> > called Fon Becky Brigit  especially for the Rising
> Voices issues just
>
> > died  yesterday after a very serious malaria attack.
> She will be
>
> > buried on  saturday  29th March 2009.
>
> > We really have a bigger problem now and that is lack
> of the continous
>
> > means to support and care for some of our members
> living with HIV/AIDS
>
> > and orphans. As Brigit died ,there is still another
> critical case
>
> > really helpless and we need assistance in way of
> medications as well
>
> > as food for the complications that has been developed
> too from
>
> > opportunistic infections. CAN ANYONE OF YOU HAVE A
> POSSIBILITY TO
>
> > HELP? Immense thanks from all of us here.
>
> > Sincerely ACTWID KONGDZEM members led by Wendi
>
> >
>
> > --- On *Wed, 3/25/09, Janet Feldman /<kaippg@earthlink.
> net>/* wrote:
>
> >
>
> >     From: Janet Feldman <kaippg@earthlink.
> net>
>
> >     Subject: [holistichelping] Fw: Tomorrow is Eric
> Ndichu's 27th
>
> >     Birthday!/Happiest Birthday Eric, and Many, Many
> More!
>
> >     To: holistichelping@
> yahoogroups. com
>
> >     Date: Wednesday, March 25, 2009, 8:00 PM
>
> >
>
> >
>
> >     ----- Original Message -----
>
> >     *Sent:* Wednesday, March 25, 2009 5:01 AM
>
> >     *Subject:* Tomorrow is Eric Ndichu's 27th
> Birthday!
>
> >
>
> >      Birthday Reminder
>
> >     <http://mt.reunion.
> com/tracker? action=click& eun=8xVwDA4fBw9N Bx_bHlYuWg*
> *&mid=-50& tu=home.do& lid=-10>
>
> >
>
> >
>
> >
>
> >     Hi Janet,
>
> >
>
> >     Eric Ndichu's 27th birthday is tomorrow, March
> 26!
>
> >
>
> >
>
> >     First Name:  Eric
>
> >     <http://mt.mylife.
> com/tracker? action=click& eun=8xVwDA4fBw9N Bx_bHlYuWg*
> *&mid=-50& hlc=kaippg& tu=displayProfil
> e.do%3Fuid= 259988056>
>
> >
>
> >     Last Name:  Ndichu
>
> >     <http://mt.mylife.
> com/tracker? action=click& eun=8xVwDA4fBw9N Bx_bHlYuWg*
> *&mid=-50& hlc=kaippg& tu=displayProfil
> e.do%3Fuid= 259988056>
>
> >
>
> >
>
> >
>
> >     Send a Birthday Message!
>
> >     <http://mt.reunion.
> com/tracker? action=click& eun=8xVwDA4fBw9N Bx_bHlYuWg*
> *&mid=-50& tu=mail.do& lid=-200>
>
> >
>
> >
>
> >
>
> >
>
> >
>
> >
>
> >
>
> >
>
> >
>
> >
>
> >     ------------ --------- --------- ---------
> --------- --------- -
>
> >
>
> >
>
> >
>
> >
>
> >
>
> >
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>


       The new Internet Explorer 8 optimised for Yahoo!7: Faster, Safer, Easier.

dear ifie, i do hope you are keeping safe and focussed on your goals
for the future. i have been observing this new list and there are a
lot of good ideas and alliances being made for africa, and the below
post is an example of the progress that some are making from thier
participation on this list serve that is in the good care of Janet
Feldman as you can find below... please review and respond so that i
can forward your information (or you can provide an update) to
appropriate sources that are concerned in your area of work.
best
dorinda moreno
note: informatation on Ifieniya Lott, please scroll below... dm

On 3/27/09, Andrius Kulikauskas <ms@...> wrote:
> Samwel, Thank you for joining us at the COMMUNIA meeting in London and
> thank you to Prodromos Tsiavos and Steve Smithson for the invitation by
> which we have met in person for the first time! a great joy. Thank you
> also to Janet Feldman and all who helped with Greg Wolff's chocolate
> project, which is how we earned the money so that you could attend
> Summer Source Africa in 200?.  Andrius Kulikauskas, ms@...
> -----------------------------------
>
> Hello Andrius,
>
> I wish to thank you a great deal for making who i am today let me give
> you some food for thought!
> Early 2006 January you and Janet Feldman sent money to help me attend
> Africa source II meeting at Kalangala my intention and our aim was to
> find people who are interested in knowing there deepest values! A
> question which they do not know answers to but would want to get answer!
> Yes i went down here in search of values from strangers, great. The
> workshop was having 140 participants from all over the globe.
>
> It has been the most inspiring and motivating workshop according to my
> value; i have ever attended in my career; people were free to talk' the
> organizers, the sponsors, partners, delegates, participants, the hosts
> and even the staff from the community, think of even Mark Shurtleworth
> the honor of Ubuntu, who was the main sponsor and financier was amazing
> man. I had all the pleasure i needed.
>
> My group was headed by a lady from South Africa Called Heather Turner,
> she was from the creative commons; she introduced me to
> copyright/copyleft phenomenon, what was  amazing; was that, they wanted
> everyone to feel wanted because they were telling us about migration
> from Proprietary software  with licenses to open Source without
> Licenses. The opportunity of sharing was high mmm! everyone intermingled
> with each other, fantastic.
>
> My search was values! Yes my previous volunteering with Christian
> children's Fund  for eight years down the line taught me how sponsors
> relate to their sponsored children, our letters were sometimes adding
> value to them or not at cases eh!
>
> I had taken two children to the field one day and wanted to study and
> understand their values. We talked, played, ate together and asked them,
> what they would want to take home with them? At the back of my mind I
> wanted to know their  deepest value and what they care most. One child
> told me, Sam, I will carry my ball and food to share with my sisters and
> brothers, the other said, I will eat everything here because these other
> relatives at home beat me too much; but because I am satisfied I am
> going to keep my portion in my pocket eat it alone whenever i am hungry
> mm! Amazing results.
>
> This how public domain ethics and private issues interrelate with
> governments, cultures, nations, corporations and individuals, there is
> always something behind their thinking. One will want it openly the
> other will need it privately. They will always go parallel with ideas
> and policies but not perpendicular to T junction, they will never
> compromise.
>
> What do you think?
> Samwel.
> N/b You can print it if you want
>

1/14/09, womenlight foundation <wlfproject@...> wrote:

     tanx aunty d for keeping in touch with me, i have been on the road
the last 5months and i happy for people like you supporting me. i saw
the cnn planet imparel, they refuse to show my film but i am happy
they are make documentry on the niger delta.  these awards ar good but
as important as the wey you sharing the message from my homeland, i
left my daughter today, i hope to see her sooner again,
     taxn for all your love.
     love ifie

     --- On Tue, 13/1/09, fuerzamundial <fuerzamundial@...> wrote:

         From: fuerzamundial <fuerzamundial@...>
         Subject: : Ifie, award, campaign , global women
         To: "Grace Cheung" <gracec@...>
         Cc: "Ifie Lott" <ifie@...>, "Campaign For Migrants
Rights" <campaignformigrantsrights@...>
         Date: Tuesday, 13 January, 2009, 11:48 PM

Dear Grace, it is indeed a disappointment that such important work be
limited to only two candidates chosen, and we congratulate the two
women whose 'Voices of Courage' will be heard.
Thank you for your work and we pray that in the future more women as
Ifie are able to receive the needed support for continuing their work.
Sincerely, Dorinda Moreno

         On 1/13/09, Grace Cheung <gracec@...> wrote:
             Dear Dorinda,

             Thank you for nominating Ifieniya Lott as a candidate for
the 2009 Voices of Courage Award.

             This year we received many nominations for refugee women
and youth leaders working for change. We were very moved by their life
stories and tireless work, yet the committee was forced to choose only
two individuals in the end. Regretfully, as we were so limited, Ifie
was not among them. Reaching a decision on the finalists was very
difficult, as each individual has such a courageous and heroic
background in the face of adversity.

             Thank you for your support of the Women's Refugee
Commission and our Voices of Courage Awards. We look forward to
hearing more about the courageous individuals you encounter in your
work as we seek candidates to honor in future years.

             Best regards,
             Grace Cheung | Communications Manager
             Women's Refugee Commission

             GraceC@... | 212.551.3088 | skype.
gracewcheung

             womensrefugeecommission.org

             From: dorinda moreno [mailto:fuerzamundial@...]
             Sent: Monday, October 20, 2008 9:36 PM
             To: Grace Cheung
             Subject: Re: Ifie, award, campaign , global women

             2009 Voices of Courage Awards

             Honoring Refugee Women and Youth Leaders

             Working for Change

             Esteemed Friends of the Women's Commission for Refugee
Women and Children, 2009 Voices of Courage Awards.

             I am nominating Ifieniya Lott, a 35 year old woman from
Nigeria, who I learned about through her work with Lars Johansson,
film documentarian, Poison Fire, on the Shell oil spills in Nigeria
affecting the lives of the villagers that Ifie has dedicated her life
to working for their survival, and also from a group i am spokesperson
for, Campaign for Migrant Rights, Abdul Mohammed Ganiou Coles.

             Also, Ifie is a mother of a 3-year old daugher who is
afraid of the sound of guns, and who cannot live with her mother whose
life commitment is helping refugee women and children in the Congo
remaking their lives, and has had to remove her child from the line of
fire in order to do this life dedication.

             Ifie comes from a lineage of strong women she describes as
'stubborn women' and who are the strength of their communities. She
describes her great grand mother, who started a local organization
called 'Utagba Efina' meaning the women of light, and after whom she
has named their organization. Ifie recounts that they subsisted with
no electric, gas, oil, and relied on the sun and moon for illuminating
the needed light, and therefore came their name. She says, "a woman
can luminate light if she has a basic education," and thus the
foundation came into being in 1968, to help women prepare for raising
their families.


             In 1996, when Ifie was old enough to take the organization
forward in meeting today's needs, she took responsibility and brough
reform to what she describes was a dying organization. It was then,
she transformed the name to the Womenlight Foundation. Her goal is to
make the foundation economically self reliant. And, not just having
the basic fundamental education, but to survive the present day
conditions in which her people are deemed existing.

             Despite the fact that these women manage, she says their
priority is to "keep our neck above rushing waters", and working with
rural women, children and youth, she shares, "While my mum and grand
mum are focused on mediation and training in alternative dispute
resolution", she stays focused on economic empowerment projects.

             Proud of her family and having inherited their strong
moral fibre of high values toward survival. She describes her family
as "top political" because of their discipline. Resolutely, she says
they stayed away from "bribes," as others are vulnerable to. "Yet",
she continues, "sometimes they are looked down upon as 'foolish
people,' because they take on the seemingly impossible."

             Ifie's personal background is one of becoming a painter
and sculptor but had to curtail this passion, as she says that she was
running out of funds to support her projects, so she took a job with
the state newspaper cooperation as cartoonist. Unfortunately, she
developed panic attacks which affected her artistic skill. "I began to
forget easily, and I could no longer draw or paint", she recounts, "It
was as if the art world I had lived in all my life, left me," and she
began looking for an alternative means in keeping her job. She started
going into the communities for gathering video testimonies for her
reports. But, her colleagues became adversaries and competed with her.
"They fought hard" in weakening her position by complaining that as an
'employed artist', that she could not do the work and should be fired.
But, her  editor in chief saw in her a great potential and refused
firing her. Amongst her corrospondence, she says...

             "My video testimonies were hardly published because of the
problems I was having at the cooperation," and then a wonderful thing
happened, she met Lars Johannson through 'Friends of the Earth"where
she volunteered.  Lars was down in the delta teaching participatory
video editing and she showed him her pictures and tapes. She spoke of
how her people were suffering, and how she also was not doing well at
her job because of her working with her people. She detailed the
painstaking work in recording the suffering of families. It was in
this way that the influence of Lars taught her to shoot properly, and
changed her life.

             With her new skills, she left home and started moving from
villages to cities and recording the life of her people through the
video camera, which she says became her weapon. Sadly, Ifie had to
keep her daughter away for three years, to protect her and only saw
her on birthdays and family gatherings.

             In this peak of violence in the niger delta, Ifie
documented the stories of ordinary women, children and displaced
people. Of how the gas and oil has been abused. She says, "This is the
only way I fill my people can get  justice."

             She tells me that she cannot even sleep in village or move
around  free, and that as long as her people are suffering, she will
tackle the fear and panic attacks. And says, that these will not stop
her from "fighting for justice for my people." Also, Ifie says she is
not married as she feels she doesn't want any man stopping her from
what she calls, "my movement." And, adds, "I always have my medication
with me while I move back and forth in the villages", as fear is a
constant companion.

             During the time I am trying to complete the nomination she
expresses the stress she endures in the Congo. And, I feel good, she
has adopted me as her Auntie. In one of her posts, Ifie writes:

             aunty d

             i write badly. that is why i like the video and picture
thing. i  enjoyed writing a long time ago, i think i can try to start
again, lars was trying to help wit my blog and to help with check
spell. i think the group should be 'poison oil', because lars is
editing the full story of the poison fire on how the oil poisoned the
oruma community. when the film is out a lot of discussion will be on
the poison oil. i would really want native russian women and native
american women to be involved in the group.

             Ifie's most important work is yet to come, the below
describes her work with Lars Johansson, as she has turned advocate for
her people and traveled to the Netherlands to attend a Shell annual
General Meeting, a youtube is also provided, and I submit Ifie's work
as an example of her courage and great potential in leading her nation
and Africa from the interlopers who have subjugated the indigenous
people of Africa, and compromise the future of the children in order
to wrest the natural resources that otherwise should bring to them the
rightful advances of needed survival resources and securing for them
their human rights.

             Ifie, concludes: "i am an internal displeced persons.
after i shoot part of the i could not sleep at my home in the village
at yenagoa ,i was been follow and i escape twice from kidnappers. so i
had to move to next where my familly is, i just replied a letter to
shell MD after his intview i saw on the internent. it means i will
have leave this city and move to another. no mater where i go i will
tracked down so i have decided to be migrating with in the country. i
will leave this city on tuesday and move to another. presently i am
trying to negotiate to move my 4yr old daughter far away from me.

             From the Poison Fire discription:

Ifie Lott travels to the Netherlands to attend Shell's Annual General Meeting.

She wants to ask a simple question:





Is Shell going to obey the court order and stop flaring?



There is a demonstration outside; the meeting hall.





Shell's CEO shows up for the photo op and shakes her hand, and she meets the MD



of Shell-Nigeria, Basil Omiyi. She asks him about the spills and the flaring.





He patiently explains Shell's policies and efforts for social development, but



what he says is at odds with reality on the ground.





Back in the Delta, Ifie returns to
  the communties and shows the taped interview



with Omiyo to the victims of the oil industry...





             http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bq2TBOHWFRc

             http://poisonfire.org/contact/Ifie+Lott.

             [Ifie Lott] : ifie@...


             References

             Lars Johansson
             Maweni Farm, Box 6 Soni, Tanzania
             +255 787 32 65 60
             Sweden
             mobile: +46 733 683859
             landline: +46 8 543 53309
             lars@...
             www.maweni.com


             Hilda Dokubo
             Executive Director
             Centre For Creative Arts Education
             2a Undabros Close Trans Amadi
             Port Harcourt. Nigeria
             Tel: +234-803-645-1488 (m), +234-84-763-130 (o)
             email: hilda@...  , bighproductions@...
             website: www.theccae.org

             Ann Kio
             Executive Director
             Agape Birth Right
             10 Ibaa Street
             Port Harcourt. Nigeria
             +2348033131307

             agapebirthrights@...



             Lott Ifieniya

             Personal Data
                    Interest                    Tips

             Name : Lott Ifieniya

             Art Name: Festavera
                      Mediation                         Creative

             Date of Birth: 12th May 1973
                Deliberation               Good Negotiation

             Place of Birth: Yenagoa
                     Carving                      Strong Personality

             District : Epie/Atissa
                         Painting

             L.G.A: Yenagoa
                        Teaching

             State of Origin: Bayelsa
                       Fishing

             Nationality: Nigerian
                         Sawing

             Sex : Female
                             Reading

             Marital Status: Single
                         Movies/Filming

             Religion: Christianity

             Phone: 08033408180

             e-mail: wlfproject@...



             Work Experience

             1998- Success Secondary Shool -Arts Teacher Igara (NYSC) Edo State

             1998- Jemaco Arts Gallery Igara-Arts Director  (NYSC) Edo State

             1999- Women Light Foundation –President -Rivers/Bayelsa State

             2000-2002Green Life Network – Rehabilitation of Child
Prostitute -Project Director- Port Harcourt

             2000/2001 –Rehabilitation of Child Prostitute & Street
Peace Building –Project Manager -Rivers State

             Women Light Foundation/The Royal Netherlands Embassy

             2001/2002- Rehabilitation of Commercial Sex Workers /
Street Peace Building- Project Manager- Rivers State

             Women Light Foundation/The Royal Netherlands Embassy

             2002-Economic Empowerment of Teenage Widows& Orphans/Rural
Peace Building-Project Manager- Bayelsa State

             Women Light Foundation & Charkin Limited

             2003-2005 -Economic Empowerment of Street Teenagers-
Project Manager- Rivers/Bayelsa State

             Women Light Foundation & Grenaker-LTA Construction Nigeria Limited

             2003- Cultural and Ethical Orientation Of Our Expatriate Staffs.
             Women Light Foundation & Australian Embassy

             2005 -Economic Empowerment of Rural Female Teenage
Refugees- Project Manager- Rivers State
             Women Light Foundation & Australian Embassy

             2006 -Empowerment of  Traditional Midwives - Project
Manager- Rivers State

             2007- World Social Forum  Kenya Nairobi- volunteer Friends
of the Earth International

             2005-2008- Video Testimonies of Oil and Gas Abuse in Nigeria
             Education

             1975-1985- Port Harcourt Primary School
                                                  Rivers State.

             1985-1992- Community Secondary School       Otuasega
                                        Rivers State

             1993-1997 – University of Ibadan -B.ED Fine & Applied Arts
                                   Oyo State

             2000- Facilitative mediation-Training of Trainers
–USAID/OTI - Calabar                   Cross Rivers State

             2000- Women building peace- Training of Trainers–FIDA
-Port Harcourt                    Rivers State

             2001- Effective People Management Skill-

             Texaco Management Institute / African-American Institute
   Abuja                      FCT Abuja

             2003-Public Deliberation-USIA/American Bar Association
Port Harcourt           Rivers State

             Special Projects

             2001 June –Guard  – Terisa Turner-Canadian –Otuasega – Bayelsa State

             2001 September-Guard -Stephan Faris –American freelance
journalist – Oyigbo- Rivers State

             2001September-Mediator-Ekiefa  youths on Shell  Flow
Station  - Bayelsa State

             Referees

             Pro Phyllis E. Bernard

                 Mrs. Joy Bob-Manuel

             Director, Center On Alternative Dispute Resolution

       FIDA

             Oklahoma City University School Of Law

Plot 17/19 Obanaobaan Rd

             Goldstar Room 264

                  GRA2 Port Harcourt.
            2501 N. Blackwelder

             Rivers State Nigeria

             Oklahoma City, Ok 73106

                     +2348033104643

             405- 473-7495

                                             ;



                                ;

             Address. Plot 14/16 Obanaobaan  Rd GRA 2 Port Harcourt
Rivers State Nigeria.



             WOMEN'S COMMISSION FOR REFUGEE WOMEN AND CHILDREN

             2009 Voices of Courage Awards

             Honoring Refugee Women and Youth Leaders

             Working for Change

             ACCEPTING NOMINATIONS FOR HONOREES

             Deadline for nominations: November 1, 2008

             Each year, the Women's Commission for Refugee Women and
Children holds a luncheon to honor individual refugee women and young
people who are working on behalf of other refugees. We are now seeking
candidates to be honored at our May 7, 2009 Voices of Courage Awards
luncheon. We will be celebrating the Women's Commission's 20th
Anniversary, and will be "Honoring Refugee Women and Youth Working for
Change." We will honor a woman or young person who has been an
outstanding leader in assisting and advocating for other refugees and
displaced persons in conflict settings. The candidate may live in the
United States or overseas.Candidates should be refugees or internally
displaced women or youth who work or haveworked to provide innovative,
successful programs serving people displaced by conflict.

             Candidates should be passionate advocates for improving
the lives and defending the rights of refugee and internally displaced
women, children and young people.

             Candidates must be able to travel to New York for a week
in May (the luncheon is Thursday, May 7, 2009) to accept their award
(all travel and housing expenses will be paid).

             The ability to speak English is preferred.

             The 2009 Voices of Courage honoree's organization will
receive a $5,000 grant from the Women's Commission to further his or
her critical work to benefit refugee and displaced people in his or
her community.

----- Original Message -----

From: ACTWID KONGADZEM

To: holistichelping@yahoogroups.com

Sent: Thursday, March 26, 2009 3:16 PM

Subject: [holistichelping] SAD ANNOUNCEMENT FROM ACTWID KONGADZEM NGO IN CAMEROON

Dear Janet, Andrius and all, We are very sorry to let you know that one of our active members called Fon Becky Brigit  especially for the Rising Voices issues just died  yesterday after a very serious malaria attack. She will be buried on  saturday  29th March 2009. We really have a bigger problem now and that is lack of the continous means to support and care for some of our members living with HIV/AIDS and orphans. As Brigit died ,there is still another critical case  really helpless and we need assistance in way of medications as well as food for the complications that has been developed too from opportunistic infections. CAN ANYONE OF YOU HAVE A POSSIBILITY TO HELP? Immense thanks from all of us here. Sincerely ACTWID KONGDZEM members led by Wendi --- On Wed, 3/25/09, Janet Feldman <kaippg@...> wrote: From: Janet Feldman <kaippg@...> Subject: [holistichelping] Fw: Tomorrow is Eric Ndichu's 27th Birthday!/Happiest Birthday Eric, and Many, Many More! To: holistichelping@yahoogroups.com Date: Wednesday, March 25, 2009, 8:00 PM   ----- Original Message ----- Sent: Wednesday, March 25, 2009 5:01 AM Subject: Tomorrow is Eric Ndichu's 27th Birthday! Birthday Reminder   Hi Janet, Eric Ndichu's 27th birthday is tomorrow, March 26! First Name: Eric Last Name: Ndichu Send a Birthday Message!

---

No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
Version: 8.0.237 / Virus Database: 270.11.19/2010 - Release Date: 03/18/09 20:27:00

Greetings from London!

Today is Sunday and our Minciu Sodas team (which came for the COMMUNIA
meetings) is splitting up for the day.  Samwel and Pamela will be
together. Irena and Zenonas will meet more Lithuanians, yesterday thanks
to Andrius Kasparvicius, they went to a meeting of UK Lithuanians.  I will
go with Zdenka and Ana to the Vintage Vogue Fashion Fair in Brentwood and
then will be back in London at 15:00 to meet photographer Jovita Valaityte
who will have photos of their fashion shoot of Public Domain Fashion.  (I
didn't realize that we changed the clocks here last night so I am an hour
late!) Rachel and I are planning to meet up in the early evening to talk
about peacemaking.

Tomorrow Monday we meet at 10:00 am at the British Museum to enjoy the
museum and also work on our plans together.  All are invited to join us.
At 4:00 pm we have a business meeting with Leon Benjamin about SwarmTeams
SMS technology for spreading messages, we need to confirm with him.

Tuesday we all (except Rachel) fly home!
Thank you all for help with this very productive visit to London.

Andrius

Andrius Kulikauskas
Minciu Sodas
http://www.ms.lt
ms@...
+44 7548 126 374