Guaka wrote:
Reading this thread... An idea that pops up right now... Communities
could be provided with one or more computers, under the condition they regularly write new Wikipedia articles. An internet connection is probably too expensive at such places. This way people can be provided with lots of valuable information in languages some people can understand while at the same time working on information in their native language.
Make computer usage free for people who contribute to Wikimedia projects (or localization, documentation, development of free software, free information projects), and people who don't contribute can choose to pay a small sum that pays the electricity, and possibly the internet connection...
I've been quite a while in Bamako now. And I've tried to get people interested. First with 200 CFA per article (0.3 EUR), but that didn't really work. I've tried with university students, but nothing really happened. Recently a new Geek arrived however, who has equipped a little community school/center with a bunch of computers, in one of the poorer areas of Bamako. And they are really interested. The university students and the more "well off" people couldn't be bothered with the 500 CFA. Poorer people however, don't have the money to use a cybercafe. 500 CFA per hour is considered cheap here, for using the internet, but is also unaffordable for at least 90% of the population.
Yesterday, at the center, I gave out the first 500 CFA pieces, and people are starting to get the idea.
I also installed a DICT version of Wikipedia on the computer, so they can access all the text from the French Wikipedia and translate that.
This kind of innovation is important. The fact that you outline unsuccessful strategies, and what was done to find alternative techniques is highly instructive. How old were the computers that were put in the community school? How stable is electrical power in Bamako?
Ec