[UgaBYTES] Quick reflections on EATLF in Sudan

[Meddie Mayanja]

Hello all,

For those who came along in Khartoum for the EATLF, I hope you had returned
well home full of energy and more ideas to push the telecentre community to
the next level.

The event was very successful in a number of ways:

- We made a firm decision to start a telecentre academy (for East Africa
region based in Uganda and national one for Sudan)
. The govt of Sudan promised to help develop a national academy

- Networks went away with concrete opportunities for supporting staff
exchange, knowledge sharing and strengthening operations at national level.

- We shared experiences with practitioners from Brazil, India, Mozambique,
Syria, Zambia and Egypt. Infact concrete collaborative activities (as
follow-up) were discussed one-on-one between Mozambique and Brazil, East
Africa and Zambia (read SATNET) and Syria, Egypt and Sudan. 

- Sudan accepted to share experiences in developing a East Africa telecentre
academy. There is way too much experience in Sudan on this matter...not
necessarily in telecentre training but methodology and structure of online,
distributed learning. The Sudan telecentre Academy (Sudacat) which we
visited has been in operation for over 40yrs. One particular idea to learn
from quickly is how to implement courses with controlled access that require
a password to access.

- for the first time, the event had substantial private sector and
government support. As we discussed the future of EATLF beyond
telecentre.org funding, we reflected on lessons from Ahmed is strong showing
getting external support. 

I take this opportunity to thank Ahmed Eisa. He was everything we needed in
Sudan... He secured visa, accomodation, meals and run around through the
event to ensure everyone was happy. He did not sleep at all on the day
participants left Sudan. Following confusion as flight suspecions after the
plane crash, the airport was stretched... Participants stayed out there
almost through the night, to beat the long cues before catching flights in
the morning. Guess what, Ahmed was there as well. Many thanks too, to all
the people of Sudan for their generosity and kindness.

Best, Meddie