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Computers to VIST in Kenya Arrive

Computers to VIST in Kenya Arrive

The first phase of shipping 211 computers and other electronic equipment to the Victoria Institute of Science and Technology (VIST) has been completed. Initial steps have been taken to set up a multimedia research and training center in western Kenya in cooperation with the KCA University. A team of eCorps volunteers helped train faculty there on audio and visual film making technologies.  VIST would like to thank all those who have contributed to this initial phase and additional information on next steps can be obtained from Calestous Juma cjuma30@gmail.com

CONTRIBUTORS:  

The following contributed over $22,987 to this project. 

Calestous Juma is Professor of the Practice of International Development and the Director of the Science, Technology and Globalization Project at  the Harvard Kennedy School  He volunteers as a member of the International Advisory Council of World Computer Exchange (WCE).

VIST (http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/Victoria-Institute/) is a recently registered public charitable trust headquartered in Kisumu.  It is a new institutional model that promotes ‘endogenous’ institutional development. It aims at contributing to poverty alleviation and human development by building and enhancing technical skills and entrepreneurship. The registered trustees of VIST are Prof.Calestous Juma (Havard University), Prof.John Ouma Mugabe (University of Pretoria), Mrs.Roselyda Nanjala (farmer and businesswoman in Port Victoria), Aleke Dondo( MD of K-rep Development Agency ) Martin Oduor Otieno of KCB, Peter Wanyama is a lawyer based in Nairobi who serves as Secretary to the Board in the interim. 

VIST is in the process of establishing a modern Multi-Media Research Center (‘the Center’ ) to promote technology-based learning in educational institutions in the Lake Victoria region and has, with the support of donors, purchased computers and assorted electronic equipments for the proposed Multimedia Center. VIST recently entered into a  Memorandum of Co-operation  with KCA University to host the proposed center in its Kisumu Campus. The parties have jointly agreed to use the Multimedia  Research Center  for the following key activitives
 
a.      Serve as a forum for interaction between academia, business, government and civil society;
 
b.       Promote the creative use of information and telecommunications technologies such as radio, Internet, TV, cellphones and others in science and technology communication;
 
c.      Function as a resource centre proving scientific and technical information as well as support to health, educational, entrepreneurial and other institutions in the region;
 
d.      Offer a base for pilot projects to test and disseminate new technologies as well as promote the creation and respect of intellectual property; and
 
e.      Incubate and build new private and social enterprises.

Read more at this link about the work of eCorps Kenya 2009

The container that arrived for this project at Mombasa was WCE's 6th shipment to Kenya. 

This container also included computers for Integrated Functional Education for Pastoral Communities in Kabarnet led by Kephers Otto.  This was Sponsored by The Strategic Group in Gainesville, Florida.  

Read May 2009 article about this VIST project in The Standard, NairobiHear BBC about this VIST project (middle third of their 23 December Digital Planet show)

WCE is sent an eCorps Kenya tech team of 10 departing for Kenya on the July 2009.

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