An email sent by Ken Owino on 17 April 2011 really lifted my spirits. He plans an ICT4Ed initiative that is rooted firmly in reality, and will link teachers in Kibera in Kenya with teachers in Denmark.
Ken belongs in both communities. He knows Kibera slum well and cares about the children there. He is the leader of a troup of acrobats. As an acrobat he led work with schools in Kibera, with the acrobats acting as "visiting physical education instructors", training the children in the skills of acrobatics. You can see Ken (with other acrobats and the children) in action in this video taken back in 2008 during the post election violence - he's the one waving the peace banner.
Ken is currently living in Denmark, Hence this plan to connect teachers in Denmark with teachers in Kibera. He is part of Collaborators Connect so we will be working on his ideas there.
Ken's email began - "Dear Dan, David and Pam, I hope you are all doing good. I am organising a web meeting/video conference meeting between teachers in Denmark and Kenya on the 13th May."
His full email and subsequent replies are in the thread Video Bridging
Community-driven ICT initiatives
I am excited about this initiative for many reasons - all connected with community-driven ICT for education and development. Ken is doing this because he cares, he knows the people, and he is doing what seems a good next step. He does things because he is committed to them, not because it's his job, or there is a funding bandwaggon, or some "flavour of the month" incentive. He is guided by the fact that he cares about his community, and becaseu it is his community his approach will always be culturally appropriate.
This initiative ties in with previous work and established connections, and is growing in a natual way:
- Ken and Dan and David (all Kenyans) have done various projects together - formal and informal - and know each other well (evidence in lots of threads over the years in Minciu Sodas).
- Ken and I know each other well - more about Ken
- The Teachers Talking (TT) experience that Ken wants to tap into started in Nigeria in 2004, in response to local need more about TT
- David and I know each other well through his work in Ago-Are, at Fantsuam Foundation, and our collaboration on Teachers Talking in Kenya more about David
I will be writing to Ken soon to let him know what we tried, and what we have learned, in our links-ups between people "over here" (London and other badnwidth-rich places) and teachers in Africa.