[UgaBYTES] Ubuntu-based ICDL Resources in Zimbabwe

[Mr. R. Simango]

*The OpenICDL Project*

Please note the "launch" of a new Ubuntu Zimbabwe project: *OpenICDL for
Zimbabwe*

This project involves the development of free course material, and free
training/testing software for ICDL, which will of course be based on Ubuntu
:)

Check out the project page https://wiki.ubuntu.com/OpenIcdl for further
details.

This project has been taken on by our newest LoCo Team Member, Richard
Simango. Thanks Richard!

Please spread the word and support this project as much as possible. Any
volunteers who would like to contribute would be very welcome - please see
the project page for more info and get in touch with Richard or myself.

------------------------------


*Additional Thoughts*

In case you're wondering what the point of this project is, here are a few
thoughts to ponder:

One of the biggest areas where Ubuntu and open source software should be
promoted is within schools. I don't think most people realise just how
important this is. Obviously students and the younger generation on the
whole, are the future of every single country and therefore the entire
world. While it is important to promote the ideals of Ubuntu and open source
in all spheres of the community, I personally feel that schools and the
educational arena should be one of our main focal points. Aside from the
effect this will have on our future, let us also remember that the vast
majority of parents (particularly in countries like Zimbabwe) learn more
about IT and technology from their kids than they do from anywhere else!

Now, from personal experience, I can tell you that many schools in Zimbabwe
would jump at the opportunity to run free (open source) software -
particularly the many financially disadvantaged schools in the country - but
on more than one occasion I have found the deciding factor to be something
like: "But our ICDL training is based on Windows so we can't switch to
Linux."

I truly believe that once we are in a position to offer completely free ICDL
course material (whether manual or automated) based on completely free
software (like Ubuntu), we will be that much closer to achieving what could
be a major breakthrough for education in Zimbabwe and other third-world
countries. And it would also go a long way to increasing people's exposure
to the many previously unheard of open source alternatives.

I would like to congratulate and thank Richard Simango for taking this on,
because it is no small task coordinating something like this. I would also
like to personally appeal to interested individuals to get involved and
contribute as much as possible, so that we can get this project off the
ground and take the first steps towards free computer learning in Zimbabwe.


Regards,
Neil
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