ICTworks

Archbishop John Baptist Odama accepting Breaking Borders Award for BOSCO

BOSCO Uganda, an organization served by Inveneo, was awarded the Breaking Borders Award in the technology category, sponsored by Google, Global Voices and Reuters. On May 6th 2010 this award was presented to Archbishop John Baptist Odama of Gulu for BOSCO, in recognition of its excellent work in technology and the promotion of free online expression. The award includes a $10,000 donation.

Expanding the reach of technology

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BOSCO Uganda works in rural northern Uganda to bring collaborative ICT solutions to former displaced communities affected by a two-decade insurgency and war in the region. BOSCO connects schools, community centers, local government offices and local organizations to a solar-powered broadband network that brings high-speed Internet access with VoIP telephony using low-power, solar-powered computers.

BOSCO Uganda first deployed the network in seven Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps and fifteen locations in April of 2007, collaborating with Inveneo, who provided technical expertise for design and deployment of this large scale long-range (45k+ distance), solar-powered Wi-Fi broadband network. Inveneo also deployed ultra-low powered computers and VoIP. Using skills learned during this deployment, BOSCO has been able to connect 25 ICT sites in the region.

Promoting online expression

Using Inveneo computers for community development

Each BOSCO site aims to be a self-sustaining operation through trained community leaders that use its innovative Web 2.0 curriculum, to help rural, first-time computer users learn computing by way of doing.

That means starting with hands on applications like message board forums and email, rather than having students go through Microsoft Word manuals; they learn to word process by writing emails and communicating with real people.

Future growth

BOSCO will be expanding over the next two years to new sites in districts to the east of Gulu, Uganda. BOSCO is currently working with UNICEF as a partner in its ICT4D efforts for the region among others. As Joseph Okumu, BOSCO-Uganda’s Executive Director often says, “BOSCO-Uganda is catapulting [northern Uganda] from 20 years behind to 20 years ahead in development.”

Inveneo is excited to see BOSCO’s success in adopting, managing and expanding large scale broadband and computing networks and even more thrilled to learn of the impact of so many important ICT programs across Northern Uganda.