[Reader-list] [Announcements] NGOinaBox workshop details

[mitoo das]

Dear Friends,

This is a call for participants for NGO-in-a-box, a series of
workshops aimed at addressing the needs of voluntary sector
organisations by providing tailored Free and Open Source Software and
training. The workshops are organised by Mahiti.org, Bangalore with
the support of Hivos, Netherlands and Tactical Technology Collective,
Netherlands.  Please visit http://ngoinabox.mahiti.org for more
details.

The workshops will be held across India over the coming two years. The
first one was held in  Maharastra and the second one in Karnataka,
India. The third one will be held in Orissa. The last one in 2007 is
planned in Himachal Pradesh. Dates and details of these events will be
notified on the website.

DATES
NGO-in-a-box, Orissa is a 5 day long workshop, to be held from 29th
October to 2 November, 2007. Participants are required to attend the
entire event, which means arriving at the venue on or before  29
October and leaving on or after 2 November. The venue will be
finalised shortly and communicated to successful applicants.

WHO SHOULD ATTEND
This is an event for experienced professionals actively working in
advocacy NGOs, educational organisations, NGO resource centres,
community centres and information dissemination organisations in
Western India. Applicants will be chosen to represent organisations
addressing a broad cross section of issues. These will include
education, environment, health, economic development and rights.

Demonstrating that you have worked in one or more of the above areas
will make your application stronger.

The workshop will cover the following broad thematic areas:

Topic 1 - Base Free and Open Source Applications: What to consider
when migrating to open source, installation of a Linux operating
system, commonly used Office and Internet packages.

Topic 2 – Open Publishing: Desktop publishing, image editing, web
publishing and collaboration, content management.

Topic 3 – Audio Visual: Audio-Video editing and distribution, CD
burning and ripping, media capture, audio visual playing tools.

Topic 4 -  Security: Internet security, passwords, data storage and
backup, communication and encryption.

All participants should be proficient desktop users of computers and
have some past experience of using technology in the voluntary sector.
They should have an existing awareness of the concept of Free and Open
Source Software.

EXPENSES AND SUBSIDIES
For selected participants travel expenses by rail or bus to Pune will
be reimbursed and local travel from the train / bus station to the
venue will be arranged. Meals and accommodation during the workshop
will be provided by the organisers.

BACKGROUND
NGO-in-a-box is a collection of Free and Open Source Software (FOSS)
tools selected for use by voluntary sector organisations. The project
is an initiative of Tactical Technology Collective, Netherlands. The
tools are distributed in downloadable form and as a physical box set
of CDs. Several needs oriented editions of NGO-in-a-box aim to provide
organisations with software relevant to their requirements.
NGO-in-a-box is designed to increase the accessibility of FOSS to
non-profit groups in developing and transition countries.

The project seeks to firstly increase awareness of FOSS among NGOs in
the region, then develop and increase the capacity of key/influential
individuals and NGOs in FOSS usage, and finally increase the FOSS user
community. The project also seeks to establish a network of NGOs that
use FOSS at various levels to exchange skills, experiences and support
each other.

APPLICATION PROCEDURE
Organisations are requested to nominate 2 candidates each - one male
and one female. Nominated candidates can apply by sending their
responses to the to the questions at the end of this form on or before
5th October, 2007. Applications can be posted in plain text format to
ngoinabox at mahiti.org.
Application forms are also available on the Mahiti.org website:
http://ngoinabox.mahiti.org

As the workshop is restricted to a limited number, participants will
be chosen on the basis of past work, area of expertise and potential
to spread ideas to other NGOs. Selected applicants will be intimated
before 12th October, 2007.

APPLICATION QUESTIONS

QUESTIONS ABOUT YOUR ORGNAISATION
Please answer all the following questions. Responses do not need to be
long, but please provide us with enough information to understand the
main objectives of your organisation and have an overview of its
structure and IT usage. We also need to understand the skills and
interests of the nominees. Tell us why you want to attend the workshop
and how you can contribute to the free software movement.

1. Location (town/city where your organisation is based):
	
2. Aims of your organisation and the year it was established:
	
3. Types of activities and projects you are engaged in (please give examples):

4. How many people work in your organisation (part time or full time):


Full Time
Part Time
Women


Men



5. Do you belong to an association, umbrella group or network
(informal or formal)? If so give a short description?

6. Outline your organisations main activities in which IT is used?

7. What other activities would you like to use IT for?

8. With whom would you most like to improve your communications? (e.g.
youth in-country, women in-country, diaspora, other organisations
in-country similar to your own, etc.)

QUESTIONS ABOUT NOMINEES

This section of the questionnaire is repeated twice per organisation
-  once for a male and once for a female nominee:

MALE NOMINEE
9. Basic personal information:
a. Name:
b. Gender:
c. Date of Birth:
d. Nationality:
f. Organisation:
g. E-mail address:
h. Telephone and emergency contact number(s):
i. Anything else we should know about you (allergies, diet, medical
condition, special needs):

10. What kinds of areas / projects and initiatives have you worked on?

11. Current professional affiliation (organisation you work for,
mission of the organisation, its focus areas, position you have in the
organisation, etc.)?

12. Why are you interested in attending this workshop? What do you
hope to learn?

13. Have you been involved with any technology projects? If so please
briefly explain them.

14. Do you have any skills that you feel are relevant to this workshop
and that you could share with participants?

FEMALE NOMINEE
15. Basic personal information:
a. Name:
b. Gender:
c. Date of Birth:
d. Nationality:
f.  Organisation:
g. E-mail address:
h. Telephone and emergency contact number(s):
i. Anything else we should know about you (allergies, diet, medical
condition, special needs):

16. What kinds of areas / projects and initiatives have you worked on?

17. Current professional affiliation (organisation you work for,
mission of the organisation, its focus areas, position you have in the
organisation, etc.)?

18. Why are you interested in attending this workshop? What do you
hope to learn?

19. Have you been involved with any technology projects? If so please
briefly explain them.

20. Do you have any skills that you feel are relevant to this workshop
and that you could share with participants?

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