[Wikimedia Kenya] Visiting Kenya after Wikimania 2011

[Alex Wafula]

Hi guys,

So just an update of what I've been upto regarding this so far.

Strathmore university has already confirmed to have Asaf give a talk to their students. I met with our faculty manager and he's also interested in meeting us to lay grounds for future collaborations with Wikimedia.

As for Nairobi university and Nairobits college, I'm waiting to get confirmation from them this week.

Oscar also got in touch with KU and seems like they'll be on holiday during Asaf's visit. I'm hoping we could still have a meetup with their admin though.

I'm also looking into getting in contact with the Ministries of Education and Information Technology as well as with the ICT Board for possible meetups.

I think that's it. At least for know.

Regards,
Alex.

On Mon Jul 18th, 2011 5:23 PM PDT Asaf Bartov wrote:

>Hi, everyone.
>
>I'd like to make more progress with planning my visit.  Many of you have not
>yet participated in this conversation.  I realize you may be busy; it would
>be great if those of you with some time on their hands could participate in
>the discussion, here and on the wiki at:
>http://wikimedia.or.ke/Visit_of_Asaf_Bartov_from_the_Wikimedia_Foundation
>
>My comments are inline, below:
>
>On Fri, Jul 8, 2011 at 12:18 PM, Limoke Oscar <oslimoke at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> > 1. public speaking opportunities
>> The ihub (www.co.ke) is a good open space for such a talk.Its the open
>> space for techies and developers.Problem is such a talk would have to
>> be scheduled between 1800hrs and upwards since you will be around on
>> working days. Ting had a talk there too while he was around and its
>> the main venue where we hold our meet-ups.
>>
>
>The iHub sounds great, and a post-1800 time for public speaking is not a
>problem for me!  Can WMKE set it up?  If there's a fee to use the iHub, the
>Foundation will pay it.
>
>
>> > 2. meetings I could have to open door for and help WMKE
>> As at the moment,we are caught(my opinion) in a tough corner due to
>> the legal aspects.Most organizations and even Government
>> Bodies(ICT,TSLG,MoE) are keen to explore ties.We had a talk with
>> Google EA while Ting was around and they were very interested in
>> helpiing us get off the ground.They even told us to present "numbers
>> and figures" and they would be glad and ready to support us.Problem is
>> we are not a legal entity and as such we decided to push to sort with
>> Chap-Com and then register as a legal entity.I believe once we are
>> one,such a meetup would be most appropriate.(I hope we will be one at
>> the Wikimania though...:-) )
>>
>> However I would suggest we visit Google Offices in Nairobi.This should
>> show our interest and the Foundation Commitment and appreciation in
>> extending ties between WMKE and Google EA.
>> Since we would be still organizing the Wikipedia Takes Nairobi,a
>> meeting with the ICT board could also foster our existing ties.From
>> what Alex informed me,we are still in search for a sponsor for the
>> same and we haven't yet found one.Perhaps this meeting could help
>> proove how "serious" the foundation is attaching to the WTN and maybe
>> a sponsor would come out..:-)
>>
>
>This sounds good to me.  I have already contacted the Google Nairobi office,
>and they would be happy for me to visit.  I'd like some of you to join me.
> I know some of you have already had contact with the Google Nairobi office,
>so perhaps we can use this opportunity to introduce some other WMKE members
>to the Google team?  I think 3 or 4 WMKE members would be great to join me
>in that meeting.  Securing Google as a sponsor for WTN would definitely be
>one goal of that meeting.  What else do you think we could ask from Google?
> They wanted "numbers and figures", not your NGO registration papers; this
>means that if we can come up with concrete plans (with a budget, a realistic
>timeline, and a list of people committed to doing the work), we can move
>forward with securing support from Google (as well as the Foundation).
>
>
>
>> We also visited KU (www.ku.ac.ke) with Ting and we had a greta and
>> fruitful discussions with the Top Management of the Universities about
>> future areas of collaboration in advancing our aims.We were supposed
>> to get back to them and deliver an Outreach sort of talk to there
>> students about Wikipedia and Wikimedia Projects.I would suggest we pay
>> a visit to them too.This would be tow-fold:
>>
>> We would re-pay the "debt" we owe them and we would also explore and
>> discuss on what and how WMKE and KU can collaborate to advance their
>> agendas and the common objective of "making knowledge universally
>> available"
>>
>
>Excellent!  Perhaps we can deliver a double talk as I proposed elsewhere --
>a general "introduction to Wikipedia" delivered by a WMKE member, and a talk
>on Wikimedia as a global movement (or on the Foundation and its strategy and
>plans?) by me.  Is one of you willing to make this happen?
>
>> 3. preferred topic of workshop for WMKE members
>> I would personally Vouch for :Motivating Volunteers: how to attract,
>> care for, feed, and keep volunteers; how to handle crises
>> We have had our own fair share of crisis about volunteer management
>> and this talk to all the WMKE would really come in handy...:-)
>>
>
>Gladly.  If more people voice an opinion on this, I'll be able to prepare an
>appropriate workshop.
>
>Cheers!
>
>   Asaf
>-- 
>    Asaf Bartov
>    Wikimedia Foundation