hello! you're at our 1%blog

Join the conversation

Let us know what you think of our blogposts and connect with us on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Linkedin or Flickr and start that dialogue.
Archive of entries posted on February 2012

Open for Change: Open Tea March 8th in Amsterdam

Posted by  on 28 February 2012, 10:53 am

What happens when you put together some innovative organisations working on International Development? You get the “Open for Change” network! This informal network consists of organisations like TextToChange, Akvo, Africa Interactive, Oxfam Novib, Butterfly Works, and of course 1%CLUB. It’s an international Network for Transparency, Collaboration and Impact in Development. Why do we tell you this? Because it’s time for Tea!

On Thursday March 8th, the Open For Change network gets together at AmLab in Amsterdam. 1%CLUB, Akvo and TextToChange host the first of 2012 “Open Tea”. From 15.00-17.00 it’s tea time. How is everyone doing and where is Open for Change heading? The developments around open data in national and international context will be discussed. This includes a mystery guest who will talk about their work in IATI. And after that: Open networking drinks!

The network was formed by Akvo, 1%CLUB, TextToChange, Africa Interactive, Global Village Media, Nabuur and Nivocer. Soon they were joined by among others Peers, Hivos, Oxfam Novib, Butterfly Works, Pifworld and Partos.

Read more about Open for Change. If you want to join the Open Tea on March 8th, register on this page.

Share
Filed under 1%CLUB.
2 Comments

NaiLab Startup wants to transform Kenyan Schools

Posted by  on 27 February 2012, 3:33 pm

In the spirit of technology meet society, the Nairobi Incubation Lab (Nailab), based in Nairobi is slowly rising among the ranks on technology hotspots in the growing economy of Kenya. This is attributed to the booming of ideas that young Kenyans have to offer, with most of them focusing on mobile applications.

The Nailab, which supports smart and business savvy entrepreneurs turn their ideas into viable businesses plays host to the Tusqee Systems team, a group of young Kenyans that have developed a short message service (SMS) based information sharing portal that makes sure school communications get delivered straight to parents and guardians’ phones.

Tusqee systems which scooped the top prize of Kshs 3 million in investment at the IPO48 event last year got a chance to be interviewed by the BBC news desk, on how their application is transforming the education sector.

The NaiLab is the fourth centre to be set up in Kenya in less than two years after iHub, University of Nairobi’s FabLab and Strathmore’s – iLab as technology firms seek talent to launch new softwares for use in smartphones and computers.


Photo: source

It is worth noting that earlier this year, Nokia CEO Stephen Elop was in Nairobi and expressed interest by the mobile handset manufacturer to establish a regional research and development centre in Nairobi in an effort to capture the growing number Kenya’s software developers to cultivate applications for its African market.

Tusqee Systems have also been featured in a number of local dailies in Kenya, thanks to their information system that integrates the Internet and SMS technology to relay academic information for each student, to the parents.

Related links:
SMS system boosts record keeping in schools
Young Kenyans win at IPO48 event
Local innovations attract global funding
New Incubation Centre set up to focus on social media apps
There is money in IT, and this is how we make it
Nokia taps Kenya’s app talent to increase sales

Share
Filed under NaiLab. Tagged , , , , ,
1 Comment

‘Technology is not gonna save the world, we are!’

Posted by  on 9 February 2012, 12:28 pm

On TED.com I came across a highly discussed topic which I gladly want to share with you!

In a world that is going trough a major digital revolution it may be hard to believe that a part of the world still doesn’t own a computer, let alone use the internet. And it’s not even a small part, it’s actually the majority of the world! 70 procent of the world population, that’s four times the population of India, doesn’t have acces to a computer or internet. This is called digital divide, the gap between individuals and communities that have acces to information technologies and those that don’t. The three most important reasons for not having digital acces:

People:

  •  can’t afford it.
  •  don’t know how to use it.
  •  don’t know the benefits.

Internet is mostly used bij North-America and Europe. Therefore the technologically excluded part of the world is:

  •  less informed.
  •  less inspired.
  •  less responsible

Internet should not be a luxury, but a right. It’s a basic neccesity of the 21th century, a tool for change. These are the words of Aleph Molinari, creator of RIA, a Learning and Innovation Network. RIA has already 1650 computers, 140.000 users and 34.000 graduates. His goal is to provide spaces, connection, content and training wherever is needed in the world. With these centers a person can be digitally included within only 72 hours.

His vision is that technology is not going to save the world, we are and we can use technology to help us. ‘Let’s use human energy to make the world a better place!’

So, what do you think?

 

Share
Filed under 1%CLUB. Tagged , , , , , , , , ,
Comment

Activate your network

You and your network make 1%CLUB work. Go to the onepercentclub.com website and invite your friends to make a change.