[Reader-list] Workshop on Free Software by Comet Media Foundation and Mahiti: Jan 11-13, Mumbai

[Chintan]

Mail Pooja for the pdf, in case you're interested.

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Comet Media Foundation <cometmediafdn at gmail.com>

Dear Chintan,

Here is the attachment. If you want it in the email, I'm pasting the content
as well.

See you soon.

Thanks,
Pooja

===================================

*NGO-IN-A-BOX

A Free Software Workshop*

Date : From 10.00am-6.00pm on 11-13 January 2010

Venue: Comet Media Foundation, 1st Floor Topiwala School Building, Topiwala
Lane (Opposite Lamington Road Police Station, near Grant Road Railway
Station) Mumbai 400 007

*What is Free Software?*

Free software as a concept and a practice is particularly appealing to those
with an education and social work orientation due to its  advantages as well
as the philosophy it embodies. Its main idea is that the intellectual
achievements of any age are public property and should be open to all. This
is also known as the intellectual commons.

In these days when intellectual capital and its property rights are being
enclosed in more and more forcible ways, a counter movement is also gaining
strength. Known as Free Culture, it covers a range of human creations:
music, art, literature, science  and technology.

When it comes to software, proprietary software, whether 'legal' or not is
ubiquitous in most workplaces today. NGOs find it prohibitive in cost and it
comes with restrictions in use. Apart from these problems, proprietary
software also has low security, as in periodic virus and cracking attacks.
There is also the issue of formats becoming fast obsolete and the need to
update the software frequently, with payments. Free software, which is
continuously upgraded by an international community of software developers,
frees users from these difficulties of obsolescence and old documents are
always accessible, unlike those in obsolete proprietary formats.

*NGO in a Box*
NGO-in-a-box is a collection of Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) tools
selected for use by individuals and organisations in the social sector,
along with workshops conducted to help users effectively deploy the software
in their organisations.
*
Objectives:*
This  workshop is intended to enrich your knowledge and help your
organisation to effectively leverage free software without licensing
hassles. To learn about free software components and methodologies and how
to enable it in your everyday work, join us for the workshop.

For details of  previous workshops, visit http://ngoinabox.mahiti.org

*Participant profile*:
This learning event is geared towards individuals and groups who have a need
to migrate from proprietary software to open source alternatives and need to
know how.

*Faculty*:
Rajeev Nair and colleagues from Mahiti
Preeti Kotian and colleagues from Comet

*Coverage*:
The workshop will cover the following broad domains:

   - Introduction to Linux-based distribution Ubuntu, along with hands on
   installation sessions
   - Open Office Tools - documents, spreadsheets and presentations
   - GNUKhata free and flexible financial software
   - Internet Tools (firefox/chrome, pidgin, thunderbird).
   - Photo editing with the GIMP, Web publishing (CMS and blogs).

The trainers would be ready to shift or add content based on participants'
demands.

*Methodology:*
Illustrated and interactive lecture-demonstrations, hands-on practice and
assignments,
case studies and experience-sharing, group discussions, review of websites,
readings.

*Organisers:*
This  workshop is being organised jointly by Mahiti Infotech, Bangalore.
http://www.mahiti.org with Comet Media Foundation, Mumbai.

*Registration:*
Please contact Pooja Das Sarkar, Comet Media Foundation 2382 6674 or write
to cometmediafdn at gmail.com.

A registration fee of Rs. 350 will be charged to cover meals and other
expenses. Payments are to be made by cheque/DD payable in favour of Comet
Media Foundation at Mumbai or transferred directly to our account no. 317
902 010 059 242 at Union Bank of India, Mumbai Samachar Marg Branch, Mumbai.