During the final hour, it was decided to initially move forward on creating a web platform. Pukul was pushing hard to forge the way ahead.
Target audience was identified as ‘Peers’ or ‘People like us’, aged 15 - 35. Still remaining is indecision about whether to feature all three languages; Arabic, English, and French. Or perhaps two, Arabic and English.
Agreed was that the platform should feature ’static’ content such as:
Official BC statement on background to the project.
Personal views on the project from current participants.
Extended personal introductions from each participant.
Individual perspectives of each participant of their country.
The agreed deadline for this element is end of May 2006.
‘Dynamic content’ is designed to facilitate dialogue, and will take the form of:
Forum
Space for aggregating blogs.
Open database to create access to new and existing networks.
Pukul Rana requested that those with existing blogs should send links direct to him.
The groups decided that dynamic content will move forward once the ’static’ elements are complete.
Phil Batson, deputy head of mission, British embassy, Tunisia arrives at the event. The group is told that Britain’s FCO (Foreign and Commonwealth Office) are taking an interest in their work. Excitement grows when the subject of ‘money’ and ‘availability’ are mentioned. In short, the FCO are welcoming proposals from the group to enhance Arab / UK relations!
Ben Jones, recording engineer, UK was present to work with the three groups to teach basic audio editing principles. Having been equipped with the necessary equipment, individuals were asked to record their thoughts about the event to date. (This process mainly took place in the morning). Ben then demonstrated how to edit, with a view to producing a 10 second sample from each participant.
In a few days, a ‘mini movie’ summary will be produced, summarising participant views on the event (as at approximately 11am) on the final day.
Joining us for a video conference from Geneva was David Galipeau, Head of Web Communications, UNAIDS.
He briefly outlined the work he’s involved with and took questions from participants.
ICT’s in develping countries are not about technology, but about the application of technology to specific local circumstances. One such example included a system where buses travelling through rural India offered the ability to send / receive email using wifi connections as it moved through the villages. Think of it like a postman who collects and delivers mail two to three times per day.
A major challenge with some of the new technologies come back to illiteracy in massive swathes of world. Equipping every town and village with internet connected computers won’t solve problems if people can’t read and write!
Thomas Mountford, pictured left asked about what makes a successful web site, and what are the ingredients involved?
Following a night of Lebanese food and dancing lessons for the UK contingent by the NENA participants, the workshop reconvened ready for the final full day. The group was divided into three small groups, and began to discuss possible means of achieving the declared goal established yesterday.
The groups, in turn, learned to plan a project, podcast and to blog their views. The planning group examined the possibility of developing a website incorporating articles and contributions by reach out participants. Much discussion revolved around the content of the websites, including whether to attach the project to an existing website in order to widen the reach of the work.
Three posts above were composed by the group themselves as they learnt about blogging. Each one describes in their own words what happened during last night’s excursion.
Group 3: Learning to Blog. Summary of the excursion from last night
The most important event on the second day was the sightseeing trip in the north of Tunis. We took a bus to Sidi Bou Said with bad music ringing in our ears, which Marouen managed to sleep through.
Arriving at Sidi Bou Said, we checked out the boats in the marina and all the stray cats, which Emily wanted to take home and feed. Alex was in full paparazzi mode. We headed up the hill to the town of Sidi Bou Said, full of traditional Tunisian houses and shops painted white with blue trim and ornate doors and curved windows. There we stopped and had a quick “the au pignons” at the Sidi Chabaane Cafe. It had spectacular views of the bay below. In the distance the lights of the main city sparkled on the horizon. As the sun set our stomachs began to growl and we headed to dinner.
Food glorious food. Lots of it. We dug into Lebanese dishes like hummous and pita. Emily stuffed her face, it’s true, as did we all. The atmosphere was lively, with live Tunisian music coming from a keyboard player. The entire group, led by our Alaa, danced “dabka,” a traditional dance of the Near East. Even the awkward Brits. Ghassan was especially fascinated with the airplanes flying low overhead and he spent the whole night waiting for a plane to photograph.
At the end of the night we all headed home, exhausted and bursting at the seams.
Group 2: Learning to Blog. Summary of the excursion from last night
After a little rest at the hotel it was off to Sidi Bou Said, (on a coach). Lots of traffic, but fun was had, singing!, laughing! Excellent renditions of BBC News thanks to Alex with his famous BBC voice!
Stopped off at the marina for some nautical fun: admired the speedboats. Lots of photo opportunities down by the sea. Ghassan’s flash turned the harbour whiter! Which was the best boat? Opinion was divided! Off to explore the town.
Walk throught the winding streets, all blue and white to cafe Sidi Shaba’n. The cafe’s built into the cliff, no tables, just long benches! Amazing views of the bay, marina, and the sea! Nut tea, yum! Ready for some food by now.
Arrive at the Lebanese restaurant. Greeted by a little stuffed chicken at the door, and a gecko! Planes flying overhead, close enough to touch! So hungry we could have eaten Pukul, Matt and Brieg by the time they finally arrived, closely followed by the starters. Are they starters or mains? Who knows?? Oh look the main’s are here, eat them. Now so full, full to the brim, but dance!
The musician could hardly keep up with our energetic dancing. He was looking forward to his bed as much as us! But the other diners gave us strange looks, as we snaked through the restaurant in a conga line! Time to sleep, what a great night!! Goodnight, and goodbye.
Group 1: Learning to Blog. Summary of the excursion from last night
After a long and productive day, we headed for the classy suburb of Sidi Bou Said, dominated by typically Tunisian white and blue architecture.
Mint tea was drunk on a terrace overlooking the Mediterreanean harbour, we even visited a panoramic private roof terrace, thanks to Marouen’s insistence and personal contacts!
At the Lebanese Restaurant, tensions and appetites rose as we waited for the arrival or our facilitators. When the starters eventually came, they were in such abundance that they were mistaken for the main course. In the background, two Yamaha keyboards and a Tunisian crooner provided the soundtrack to various styles of dancing from the ‘dabki’ to the ‘funky chicken’. At first the Arabs made a show of the Brits, but this was soon compensated for by the winners of the best dancer competition, Amna and Pukul.
pushing hard to forge the way ahead.
The groups decided that dynamic content will move forward once the ’static’ elements are complete.
