[Imc-africa] clarification

[Glenda Loebell]

Hello All
>From warm Senegal, the African sun just massages the
skin with warmth not known in Europe.
Today a day of rest because Mohamod has a birthday all
services closed down.
A good time to review what has happen for the last
week in terms of preparing the conference from this
side.
Thanks to Vally for his and others contribution to
getting the money for the African delegation.
We have  been asked why 3 people from Cameroon and 1
from Kenya and with no inclusion from South Africa
with further uncertainty of finance for this group.
Who has been making the decisions and how has the
decisions been made.
The small swiss group have been asked how they have
been able to pay for the rsourses-for example the 
telephone, payment for the use of the hall for the
introduction and socialising, computer rooms for
workshops a left journalist union in Switzerland
contributed Sfr.4000 to set up logistics. Iniatially
it was to provide resourses down here but since
research was made before we left and with further
negotiation that we could and will use the money to
pay for access and logistics, it is  evident that
there is an unlimited amount of computers and internet
access all over Senegal-Dakar however  it comes at a
cost.
One pays for everything.
to use a computer at the university cost 150 Senegal
francs per hour outside on the campus it cost 250 &
350 per hour.
Telephone cost are high and to use most telephones one
has to pay or load up before costing 10,000 for just
one call to Germany so cost are not low even by swiss
standards. 
I am here with my own swiss money for my private
expenses. 
To expect to come here without money is but pipe
dream. 
We cannot even expect people who are most hospital to
host any of us or our activities without financial
contribution. 
This is the reality of Africa I know it I am a African
from South Africa and with much experience of having
visited many african countries over the last 20 years.
>From the university to Aziz's house cost Senegal
francs 800. A meal cost 3000 cheap, a beer and cool
drink 800
Aziz who is warm and hospitable only has a basic but
lovely home which he most graciously has opened to us
for two meetings and has agreed to give up his bed to
Chrissie and Andrea, also to have us all over for a
traditional Senegal  meal  of fish and rice on
Saturday night to encourage friendship.
We all meet tomorrow at the university auditorum 13:00
to 14:00 to regroup after Chrissie arrives to plan
together for the first set of
introductions/socialising  at the university.
Meeting students, ngo groups and other interesting
/interested people. Here in African and especially
Senegal most of the activist within the community come
from and are engaged with community based groups which
includes NGO 's unlike Europe......?????this is a
discussion we must have as I have understood that
indymedia as a collective have some very clear ideas
re NGO's.
To answer some practical questions we here are and
have thought through all the logistics re language and
have engaged students who are billigual who will
assist with translations, we have set aside a small
budget for this service too.
We have already had the support of Mory who have
helped us with all our meeting who we have paid 30,000
Senegal francs, which will help himself through paying
his books and residence fees. He is also a member of
the student political party on campus and wishes to
set up an indymedia chapter. The students at this
moment are striking for better conditions on campus.
We have as our university contact the person in charge
of student affairs -Mr. Diop,  who would like to
develop for his students services on offer similar to 
like that offered in Europe and other richer
countries.
We have thought through the workshop style and will be
sharing this at the meeting tomorrow. We are hopeful
that we have a big turn out. If this is the case three
of us have the experience to run introductions in a
professional but easy styled manner to include
everybody. We have brought with us one laptop for
taking down notes of ideas suggestions and the like,
flip chart paper and kokis as well as small tools for
ice breakers.
As wa suggested we need to look at how we can learn
from this experience for any future replications. A
good idea perhaps the last few days we will have as a
collective the opportunity to do a evaluation for
ourselves.
The question of visa fees was raised in October of
last year but the people responsible for fund raising
for that side of things seemed to deal with itin a
different fashion so hence the confusion. 
Thanks indymedia  canada we have not had an easy time
on our arrival. Always having to understand the system
of the people and the country and then the small Dakar
community of the university. However after a full week
we are slowly feeling accepted and trusted and we are
being allowed into the various communties.
People are always needing  to see how far we come in,
just as many people from the north have done for
centuries. Even if we are black.
A proposed programme was devised in full consultaion
with the working group here in Dakar and we hope that
you will all add your vauable contributions.
This seems to be blocked as the moderator has not been
able to send it so here is a copy and paste version.
I trust that this information supports the idea of
transparency.
NeBe

indymedia outreach in africa

 

Boundaries to Bridges Tour 

     4-14 March 2004 - Dakar-Senegal

Do you want to know how to use the computer to your
benefit ?

Do you want to learn more?

Do you want to know how to get information for study
or just for fun?  

Then come along to indymedia's instruction and
practical workshops

 

The programme

4-5  March Introduction

Ø Socialising and getting familiar with one another.

Ø Presentation/discussion of The history and structure
of indymedia.

Ø Presentation/discussion on what is Alternative Media


 

7 March.

Ø imc-made films 

 

8-12 March  Planned practical workshops

Putting own documents or articles on the internet
Audio editing and audio streaming

Video editing and video streaming

Basics on .free-software and security

Maintaining Websites

 

13-14 March.

Ø Media and music mix for party 

Ø Closing of Conference  and Party 

The venues: 

v Universite Cheikh Anta Diop, BRGM resource rooms

v Monaco  Plage and Voile d,Or plage ( dance, theatre
and music)

 

For further information please contact the indymedia
part preparation Africa team on: 221 865 00 40 Annex
43, room 2 Glenda or Michaela, room 8 Maureen 

Email;imc-africa at lists.indymedia.org

 

 

   UNIVERSITE CHEIKH ANTA DIOP DE DAKAR






__________________________________
Do you Yahoo!?
Yahoo! Search - Find what you’re looking for faster
http://search.yahoo.com