Information and communications technologies have the power to change the way we practice both business and development throughout the world. The digital divide, defined by a lack of access to information for a specific population, symbolizes the largest difference between developed and developing countries: the opportunity to obtain and utilize information. The digital divide runs much deeper than hardware and software. The real heart of the digital divide is that those without access to information resources often suffer needlessly while the solutions to their problems are floating in the air.

Dear Friends,

I am glad to be able to write to you with good news. With the roll out of the Rural Internet Kiosks created by Intersat Africa, ICT in rural areas for long term sustainable development is closer to reality than ever before. VOA4SD’s work is finally gaining ground as we will be implementing a RIK in Msambweni Constituency at the Kwale local library with Voice of Diani, community based organization. This community based organization has been created and lead by youth with a desire to serve the community with emphasis on providing service to those infected and affected by HIV and AIDS. This project is funded by the Internet Society as part of its community grants program. This project is being implemented by Mariel, a volunteer who is working on her Master’s degree in Communications at American University, Jon, a US PeaceCorp volunteer specializing in Open Source software for development, Jeff, a US PeaceCorp volunteer who will lead the community training, and three leaders from the Voice of Diani CBO, Faith, Gideon, and Crispo. We are in the process of preparing the baseline study with implementation scheduled in the middle of February. Please keep looking to the website for more information and updates from our Msambweni team.

What is the VOA4SD Development Tag Team?

The Development Tag Team is made up of volunteers from any field studying any subject of any age who are willing to give a few moments of their time while searching online to add tags to good information sources.

The project is being done to create a Visual Tree of topics that are easy for rural Africans to utilize when searching for information from the Rural Internet Kiosks. If you are interested please send your name and email address to crystal@voicesofafrica.org and download the Delicious toolbar on your browser.

As a child I saw Africa as a charity case than a market opportunity. I was wrong, Africa is an emerging market and presents a diverse market opportunity- in all its rich complexity and wealth.

Now that I'm old I can identify opportunites within the community and the irrepressible entrepreneurial and African spirit its people presents. She may be poor in the means and infrastructure, but rich in potential and in the enthusiasm of the people to improve their lives and country.

GOD BLESS AFRICA!

Voices of Africa for Sustainable Development has applied for Echoing Green's social enterprise fellowship and has been named a semi-finalist!

What is Social Entrepreneurship?

Social entrepreneurship is the work of social entrepreneurs. We believe that social entrepreneurs are those exceptional individuals who dream up and take responsibility for an innovative and untested idea for positive social change, and usher that idea from dream to reality. What enables social entrepreneurs to make lasting impact on the most difficult problems is a special combination of groundbreaking creativity and steadfast execution. Echoing Green’s portfolio of social entrepreneurs attacks the root causes of critical social problems with unparalleled rigor.

Echoing Green and Social Entrepreneurs