WOUGNET Update Newsletter - December 2003

[Dorothy Okello <dokello@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

WOUGNET Update Newsletter - December 2003
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A monthly electronic newsletter from Women of Uganda Network
(WOUGNET) - http://www.wougnet.org
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This month's contents:
1. Women Organisations in Uganda
2. Documents on Women's Issues in Uganda
3. Links & Resources
4. News & Events
5. WOUGNET News


NOTE:
The next issue of the WOUGNET Update Newsletter
will be in February 2004.

Season's Greetings and a Peaceful and Prosperous 2004.


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WOMEN ORGANISATIONS IN UGANDA
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= Bivamuntuyo Credit and Savings Women's Group 
http://www.wougnet.org/Profiles/bswg.html
Bivamuntuyo Credit and Savings Women's Group's mission is promotion of
sustainable farming and agriculture, among the community of Bombo Town
Council, for improved health and economic development of families. 
http://www.wougnet.org/wo_dir.html#BSWG


= Rurama Women's Society (RWS) 
http://www.wougnet.org/Profiles/rws.html
Based in Fort Portal, RWS's mission is to empower rural women with economic
activities through use of environment conservation to eliminate poverty and make
women independent. 
http://www.wougnet.org/wo_dir.html#RWS


= Uganda Churchwomen Development Centre (UCWDC) 
http://www.wougnet.org/Profiles/ucwdc.html
Based in Jinja, UCWDC's mission is to develop Churchwomen spiritually and
socially through:evangelism and Bible study, prayer, education and social
services, leadership development, agriculture, business management, environment
management, micro finance,  information, communication and technology, health,
HIV/AIDS Counseling, research and consultancy services, girl-child eduction and
career guidance, trainig of trainers, promoting peace and justice, caring for
needy aged women in the surrounding community, and networking. 
http://www.wougnet.org/wo_dir.html#UCWDC


= Isis WICCE wins Gender & ICT Award
http://www.genderawards.net
Isis WICCE <http://www.isis.or.ug> has been announced as the winner of the
Gender and ICT Award for the category of Outstanding multi-stakeholder
Initiative, National/Local for its initiative on "Documenting Experiences of
Women in Situations of Armed Conflict in Uganda".
The Gender and ICT Awards aim to honor and bring international recognition to
the innovative and effective projects by women to use ICTs for the promotion of
gender equality and/or women's empowerment. The awards will be received at a
special event and venue parallel to the World Summit on the Information Society
in Geneva, Switzerland, from December 10-12, 2003. The ICT Initiative will also
be included in a publication being prepared by the Global Knowledge Partnership,
for distribution at the World Summit on the Information Society.
The Gender and ICT Awards are sponsored by APC Women's Networking Support
Programme (WNSP) and the Global Knowledge Partnership (GKP).


= Baropobo Women's Group
http://www.wougnet.org/Profiles/bwp.html
Based in Apac District, Baropobo Women's Group's mission is to improve the
financial status of Baropobo Women members through improved and modern
agriculture. 
http://www.wougnet.org/wo_dir.html#BWP


= Bukana Rural Development Association (BURUDA)
http://www.wougnet.org/Profiles/buruda.html
Based in Kasese, BURUDA's mission is to improve the economic status of women
members through training them on human rights issues as well as development
issues.
http://www.wougnet.org/wo_dir.html#BURUDA


= Katyazo Women's Group (KAWOG)
http://www.wougnet.org/Profiles/kawog.html
Based in Mbarara, KAWOG's vision is of progressive people and sustainable
community development.
http://www.wougnet.org/wo_dir.html#KAWOG


= Kabarole Integrated Women's Effort in Development (KIWED)
http://www.wougnet.org/Profiles/kiwed.html
Based in Fort Portal, KIWED's mission is for a well-equipped and knowledgeable
society on human rights for equal participation in Development of Kabarole
District and gradually Nation at large. 
http://www.wougnet.org/wo_dir.html#KIWED


= Luwero Women's Development Association (LUWODA)
http://www.wougnet.org/Profiles/luwoda.html
Based in Luwero, LUWODA's vision is to build the capacity of women through
providing them with the rightful information and technical assistance, as a
means of improving on their home and well being of their household.
http://www.wougnet.org/wo_dir.html#LUWODA

 
= Reach Out to the Wives of the Soldiers (ROWOSA)
http://www.wougnet.org/Profiles/rowosa.html
Based in Bombo, ROWOSA's mission is to build the capacity of wives of the
soldiers and improve on their family life and status, and capable of
participating in social, cultural, economic and political governance and
development. 
http://www.wougnet.org/wo_dir.html#ROWOSA


= Zinunula omunaku Women's Development Group
http://www.wougnet.org/Profiles/ziwdg.html
Zinunula omunaku Women's Development Group's mission is to improve the standards
of living of women members and their families, through creation of income
generating activities that empower women economically and socially.
http://www.wougnet.org/wo_dir.html#ZIWDG



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
DOCUMENTS ON WOMEN'S ISSUES IN UGANDA
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= Fanning the Flame of Feminism in Uganda
(Sylvia Tamale, Faculty of Law, Makerere University)
As part of the 18 years of existence celebrations, on November 17, 2003, ACFODE
organised a public dialogue on the topic "FANNING THE FLAME OF WOMEN ACTIVISM IN
UGANDA". Dr. Sylvia Tamale's paper was "... largely a critical, self-reflexive
analysis of the Ugandan women's movement, bringing it to bear with the larger
Contemporary socio-political issues pertaining in our country. This
introspective analysis is meant to fan the fire under the belly of the women's
movement. Hopefully, it will provide the much-needed zeal that will spark many
of us into action to initiate the process of transforming our society into a
more equitable, democratic and tolerant one." 
http://www.wougnet.org/documents.html#FanFlame



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
LINKS & RESOURCES
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a) Business

= Trickle Up
The New York City-based Trickle Up Program was founded in 1979 to help alleviate
poverty and empower the poor. The organization has started or expanded almost
120,000 businesses in 120 countries (including Uganda), benefiting more than a
half-million of the world's poorest people. Trickle Up provides microequity
financing, business training, and other related business development services,
as well as savings opportunities, to the most vulnerable people who are unable
to take on debt. 
http://www.wougnet.org/Links/business.html#TUP



b) Development

= Laroo Child and Family Program (LAROO CFP)
http://www.wougnet.org/Profiles/laroo.html
Based in Gulu, Northern Uganda, LAROO CFP's mission is to work with families and
community to develop their children into self-reliant future adults within the
community context in Laroo area of operation. LAROO CFP is affiliated with the
Christian Children Fund. 
http://www.wougnet.org/Links/development.html#LAROO



c) Education

= World Education
Founded in 1951 to meet the needs of the educationally disadvantaged, World
Education provides training and technical assistance in non-formal education
across a wide array of sectors. In Uganda, under the USAID and CDC-funded the
AIDS Integrated Model District Program (AIM), implemented in partnership with
John Snow, Inc., World Education works to scale up and replicate successful
HIV/AIDS interventions by strengthening selected districts to plan, implement,
and monitor a range of essential HIV/AIDS services. 
http://www.wougnet.org/Links/education.html#WORLDED



d) Health

= Conservation Through Public Health (CTPH)
CTPH's mission is to promote conservation and public health by improving primary
health care to people and animals in and around protected areas in Africa. CTPH,
a grassroots non-profit organization, was founded in December 2002 by Ugandans
dedicated to helping their country and region by promoting an integrated
approach to wildlife conservation and human public health. 
http://www.wougnet.org/Links/health.html#CTPH



e) ICT-related Resources

= Uganda Library Bookmobile Project
With funding obtained from World Bank InfoDev, Anywhere Books and the National
Library of Uganda have established an Internet Bookmobile in Uganda. The
National Library has identified Caezaria Public Library (about 40km from
Kampala) as the base for the bookmobile. The project will apply mobile
print-on-demand technology to address a key need of Uganda: the dissemination of
books (at all reading levels) to the rural population. 
http://www.wougnet.org/Links/ictresources.html#ULBP


= UgaBYTES Initiative launches new website
UgaBYTES Initiative has launched its new website at <http://www.ugabytes.org>.
UgaBYTES Initiative aims at championing the introduction and application of
Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in Uganda's development process
with particular emphasis to participation of strategic sectors of the economy as
well as disadvantaged groups and members of the community.
http://www.wougnet.org/Links/ictresources.html#UgaBYTES


= Computers for Africa on site
Computers for Africa collects used computers, refurbishes them, and ships them
to African high schools and non-profit organizations. We are developing a model
whereby U.S. cities can partner with villages in Least Developed Nations to help
bridge the international digital divide. During the period September - November
2003, CFA directors Tim and Ruth Leacock visited CFA projects in Uganda.  
http://www.wougnet.org/Links/ictresources.html#CFA



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
NEWS & EVENTS
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= CEDOVIP marks 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Based Violence, November 25 -
December 10, 2003 

The Center for Domestic Violence Prevention (CEDOVIP) is a registered non
governmental organization that is working with the grassroots community in
Kawempe to address the issue of domestic violence by influencing change in
attitude and behaviors that perpetuate violence against women. 
The Center is planning a campaign that will involve NGOs, key agencies,
community members, leaders, etc to mount an intense awareness campaign during 16
Days of Activism. A number of activities such as the ribbon Campaign match and
rally, media campaign, video shows, dramas, seminars, competitions in the
schools, newspaper columns, talk shows in the health centers, exhibitions in the
police stations are being organized.
http://www.wougnet.org/Documents/CEDOVIP/CEDOVIP16days.html



= WOUGNET @ WSIS Summit, December 10 - 12, 2003

* A GEM for ICT Initiatives: Viewing ICTs with Gendered Lenses, December 10th,
2:00 - 3:30pm

Hosted by APC Women's Networking Support Programme (WNSP) at the Palexpo
Conference Center, Saleve Hall 2, this panel will highlight the initial findings
and recommendations from two years of testing APCWNSP's Gender and ICTs
Evaluation Methodology (GEM) tool for internet and ICTs, in Africa,
Asia-Pacific, Latin America and the Carribean and Central and Eastern Europe.
Case studies from various countries like Croatia, Bulgaria, Philippines, South
Africa, Malaysia and Uganda will be presented at the panel. WOUGNET and Isis
WICCE were two of the GEM testers in Africa. For information on GEM
<http://www.apcwomen.org/gem> or the panel, contact Chat Garcia Ramilo, GEM
Project Manager, chat@xxxxxxxxxxxx



* Institute@WSIS: Multi-Stakeholder Approaches for the Information Society,
December 10th, 3:00 - 6:00pm

The Institute@WSIS is a partnership between UNDP and the Smithsonian Institution
whose main goal is to offer delegates and participants the opportunity to
acquire skills that further enable them to understand and implement the
challenging mandates/actions presented for their consideration at international
meetings. Seven mini-course workshops (December 9th afternoon - December 12
evening) will be offered around the themes: [1] e-Strategies - Enhancing Results
and Development Outcomes (December 9th, 3:00-6:00 p.m.); [2] Addressing Rights,
Inclusion and Security in the Information Society (December 10th, 10:00-1:00
p.m.); [3] Multi-Stakeholder Approaches for the Information Society (December
10th, 3:00-6:00 p.m.); [4] E-governance: Towards Responsive Government &
Enhanced Interactions with Citizens (December 11th, 10:00-1:00 p.m.); [5]
Technology Choices for Decision-Makers [and development stakeholders] (December
11th, 3:00-6:00 p.m.); [6] Emerging Technologies and Innovative Solutions
(December 12th, 10:00-1:00 p.m.); [7] Internet Governance, WTO Rules and Global
Electronic Trade (December 12th, 3:00-6:00 p.m.)
During the session on Multi-Stakeholder Approaches for the Information Society,
WOUGNET will make a presentation on the project "ICT for Poverty Reduction"
conducted with support of the UNDP WSIS National Meetings Project and in
collaboration with Radio Apac. The project objective was to use participatory
research methodologies, as well as involve the use of community radio, to
identify the information and communication needs of a rural community for
inclusion in the public policy processes for poverty reduction. The UNDP WSIS
project seeks to use the WSIS opportunity to encourage innovation and to make
good use of the inter-summit period to strengthen the potential for
implementation through demonstration of collaborative models. It also seeks to
put forward new partnership models (involving national and international
partners) to strengthen the implementation.
For information on the Institute@WSIS, contact Radhika Lal, ICT for Development
Group, Bureau for Development Policy, UNDP, radhika.lal@xxxxxxxx



* World Summit Award (WSA) Showcase Event, December 10th, 6:00 - 8:30pm

As one of the 40 WSA best contents products, WOUGNET will be officially
announced and presented at the WSA Exhibition in the framework of the World
Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) 2003 in Geneva, December 9-13, as well
as at the WSA Showcase Event, which will take place on December 10th, 18.00 -
20.30 at the PALEXPO in Geneva, Switzerland. Furthermore, WOUGNET will be
presented in the WSA Best contents brochure and on the WSA website, which will
come out in time for the WSIS. In 2004 and 2005 WOUGNET will be showcased around
the world in the WSA Road Show events which shall take place in all continents
on invitation of local organisers. 
For information on the WSA, contact Anastasia Konstantinova, WSA Project
Manager, konstantinova@xxxxxxxx 



* FAO Exhibition: Revisiting the Magic Box: Case Studies in Local Appropriation
of ICTs

WOUGNET will be featured on a CD-ROM "Revisiting the Magic Box: Case Studies in
Local Appropriation of ICTs," which will eventually be published in book format
by the Communication for Development Group (SDRE) of the Food and Agriculture
Organization (FAO). Local appropriation of ICTs broadly means that rural
communities are able to make use of, adapt, sometimes own, but certainly benefit
from information and communication technologies (ICTs). The CD-ROM showcases
different groups of people in Mexico, Costa Rica and Uganda who are
appropriating ICTs to make positive changes in their communities. WOUGNET
discusses the constraints still facing the information-sharing network in Africa
while the Costa Rican Internet radio station, FIRE, turns community radio on its
head and broadcasts local women's voices to global audiences via the internet. A
third case study from Mexico looks at the challenges facing community radio
stations as they try to network and integrate new ICTs against a backdrop of an
unclear regulatory environment.
For information on the FAO Exhibition, contact Charlotte Masiello-Riome, FAO
Communication and Promotion Officer, Charlotte.Masiello@xxxxxxx




To list your event/news on the WOUGNET website, send details about the
event/news including contact information to: news@xxxxxxxxxxx



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
WOUGNET News
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WOUGNET selected for 2003 World Summit Award in the category of e-Inclusion: 
http://www.wsis-award.org
WOUGNET has been selected by the World Summit Award (WSA) as one of the 5 WSA
best products in the Category e-Inclusion. Held in the framework of the World
Summit on the Information Society (WSIS), the WSA is an initiative of the
European Academy of Digital Media and the International Center for New Media and
is interested in the creative use of interactive digital media for producing
new, exciting and useful content and innovative content-rich applications.



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