[UgaBYTES] KenTlink’s strategic plan workshop summary

[Cleopa Timon Otieno]

Kenya Telecentres link hosted a strategic plan workshop in Ugunja’s Camunya
Hotel on the 20th and 21st August 2009. Participants were drawn from
telecentres across the country and were mainly managers. The main agenda was
to discuss the strategic plan, updates from KenTlink and other networks
present (Ugabytes and KenDat), bloging and mailing list participation.
Thereafter the members shared their experiences, what they do in their
various Telecentres and the challenges they encounter. In doing this they
would learn from others members sharing and advice too on how to go about
some of the challenges.
The activities were, setting up, running of resource centers, information
collection and dissemination to the community members benefited them and the
nation at large, besides that other telecentres were involved with various
development programmes within the communities they are based. The resource
centre provide opportunities for community members in to hold meetings, get
trainings  on ICT, agriculture environmental issues, human rights advocacy,
education programmes and infrastructure among others. Some of the challenges
mentioned ranged from inadequate funds, lack of skills, equipment,
connectivity problems, and poor coordination among others.
Being the main agenda of the day, the strategic plan was not to be
wholesomely adapted as it was, this forum was to help sharpen, nourish and
enrich the document. Branding KenTlinks was discussed as part of the plan;
this included the logo, slogan, values, vision mission and objectives.
Kentel’s registration and change of name prompted discussions and
clarifications. Having had Kentel as the name for the past two years in
various areas including the website, it would be very costly to change it
now therefore participants agreed that they would retain the KenTel acronym
but have KenTlink as the name because acronyms are never registered. The
members agreed uninonimously that the document was good needed few
amendments which were basically repackaging and reorganizing the document. A
small committee was formed to look at the areas together with consultant.
On the way forward, all members were to register on KenTlink’s mailing for
online discussions, the participants agreed to also forward their profiles
to be posted on the KenTlink website. Participants were expected to blog on
the KenTlink’s website having been trained on that. Once the strategic plan
is ready in two weeks time, it would published and shared with members and
partners to further market KenTlink. KenTlink will also organize for a
partners/donors forum and have the strategic plan document launched in
Nairobi.

KenTlink extends their sincere thanks to IDRC, Telecentre.org and Ugabytes
Initiative for their endless support which has enabled KenTlink to be what
it is upto now. KenTlink also acknowledges the support from its host UCRC.

-- 
Cleopa Timon Otieno
www.ugunja.org , www.kenyatelecentres.org
P.O.Box 330-40606, Ugunja
Cell: +254-720-950-220
skype: timonson1