<html><head>
<meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8">
</head>
<body><div>Hi Kokou,</div><div><br></div><div>Thank you so much for following up, OST sounds like great work.</div><div><br></div><div>I'm actually the General Manager and a Board Director with the Open Source Initiative (<a href="https://opensource.org">https://opensource.org</a>), and when I saw your tweet (<a href="https://twitter.com/AKEAmazan/status/872431260949413888">https://twitter.com/AKEAmazan/status/872431260949413888</a>), I thought your project looked a lot like the work of one of our Incubator Projects, FLOSS Desktops for Kids.</div><div><br></div><div>FLOSS Desktops is focused on a few guiding principles:</div><div><br></div><ol><li>While projects like Google's "Summer of Code," "Code-in" and "Hour of Code" are great for introducing and developing programming skills to students: students can't code without computers--FLOSS Desktops for Kids gets computers to students.</li><li>Proprietary software reduces access to technology. Open source software extends access to disadvantaged schools and undeserved students.</li><li>The use of open source software provides multiple avenues for students interested in software development to engage directly in coding activities, projects and communities. </li><li>Exposure to open source software through the FLOSS Desktops for Kids programs, introduces open source software options to faculty and administrators at schools and districts.</li></ol><div><br></div><div>Our goal of the initiative is to create a community of like-minded practitioners, and a set of common resources, useful to peer projects/communities. Some of the outputs are:</div><div><br></div><ul><li>A directory of programs around the world who are working on similar projects</li><li>A project-based curriculum for teaching computer hardware/components, software/network administration and an introduction to programming.</li><li>A "start-up" kid to help new adopting organizations understand the requirements for setting up a program</li></ul><div><br></div><div>As an organization, the OSI would like to identify these communities and the resources they need, in order to extend support. Right now we do not have a detailed understanding of the common needs that span the programs, how programs may compliment and support one another, or the qualities of the programs that ensure continuous operation. </div><div><br></div><div>Once we can identify similar programs, assess their needs and establish criteria for viability, we'd like to offer broader support including administrative and financial.</div><div><br></div><div>I'd like to invite you to add Open Source Tour to our community so we and the other participants can learn more. </div><div><br></div><div>Thanks so much,</div><div>Patrick</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div>On Fri, 2017-06-09 at 18:32 +0000, Kokou Elolo AMEGAYIBO wrote:</div><blockquote type="cite">
<p>Hello Patrick,<br>
<br>
Thank you for your interest in the Open Source Tour (OST)
workshops, an initiative of the <a moz-do-not-send="true" href="minodoo.com">Minodoo</a> community of which I am a
founding member.<br>
In our approach to the democratization of ICTs through open source
software, we have opted for an innovative approach to reach out to
people (especially those with less access to computers and digital
training) who come to us.<br>
The OST project sprang from the observation that in Africa, as
people move away from the capital and the big cities, populations
with an unimaginable capacity for innovation have little or no
access to the computer tool. We find it rather unfortunate in a
world where digital plays an important role in the emergence and
development of societies.<br>
<br>
The OST are free itinerant workshops open to all, which initiates
and accompanies the whole coming to the use of digital through the
FOSS. Concretely we do practical workshops of computer hacking,
digital manufacturing, training for the use of FOSS. We also
organize thematic conferences on topics such as collaborative
work, e-learning, and social innovation through ICT (ICT for DEV).
We also support the implementation of IT solutions that respond to
identified needs of the populations we target.<br>
<br>
In the previous editions we touch 3 towns; Kara (2014), Tsevie
(2015) and Lomé (2016).<br>
<br>
By visiting the FLOSS Desktop for Kids web page, I noticed with
admiration the similarity between this project and the OST, I
would be delighted to learn more and if our two communities (OSI
& Minodoo) can collaborate as needed In carrying out our
respective missions.<br>
<br>
I remain at your disposal at any time for more details about the
OST project and our activities in Minodoo.<br>
<br>
Hope to hear from you very well.<br>
<br>
PS: Thank you for participating in the campaign on Ulule, and do
not hesitate to share the link
(<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="https://fr.ulule.com/open-source-tour">https://fr.ulule.com/open-source-tour</a>) around you. One day Africa
will be Free :) We believe in it<br>
<br>
Regards,<br>
<br>
Kokou Elolo Amegayibo<br>
Links minodoo: <a moz-do-not-send="true" href="facebook.com/minodoo228">facebook</a>, <a moz-do-not-send="true" href="twitter.com/minodoo228">Twitter</a></p>
</blockquote><div><span><pre>-- <br></pre><div> || | | || | || || | || | ||| | ||| </div><div><br></div><div>Patrick Masson</div><div>General Manager & Director, Open Source Initiative</div><div>855 El Camino Real, Ste 13A, #270</div><div>Palo Alto, CA 94301</div><div>United States</div><div>Office: (415) 857-5398</div><div>Mobile: (970) 4MASSON</div><div>Freenode: OSIMasson</div><div>Email: <a href="mailto:masson@opensource.org">masson@opensource.org</a></div><div>Website: <a href="http://www.opensource.org">www.opensource.org</a></div></span></div></body></html>