This e-mail was sent to the chapter leaders mailing list. I believe it may be of special interest to our current and future african members. Cheers, Nico -------- Forwarded Message -------- Subject: ISOC - CL : COALITION FOR COMMUNITY NETWORKS IN AFRICA(CCNA)- Let the BIG! campaign begins Date: Fri, 3 Aug 2018 17:06:38 +0000 From: Nazarius Kirama via Internet Society Dear colleagues,   My name is Nazarius N. Kirama, Secretary of ISOC Tanzania. In June this year I was privileged to attend "a very special"... == Please, reply above this line == ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Chapter Leaders Community <https://connect.internetsociety.org/communities/community-home/digestviewer?CommunityKey=a87f0d7b-f5f1-40d2-828d-d1261ddaf7fc&tab=digestviewer> COALITION FOR COMMUNITY NETWORKS IN AFRICA(CCNA)- Let the BIG! campaign begins <https://connect.internetsociety.org/communities/community-home/digestviewer/viewthread?MessageKey=10bcaad7-a3c4-4a3b-abc8-8bb8c4c787c1&CommunityKey=a87f0d7b-f5f1-40d2-828d-d1261ddaf7fc&tab=digestviewer#bm10bcaad7-a3c4-4a3b-abc8-8bb8c4c787c1> Nazarius Kirama <https://connect.internetsociety.org/network/members/profile?UserKey=ce82d4d5-0067-4d58-bf75-b9acaf825bb8> Aug 3, 2018 1:07 PM Nazarius Kirama <https://connect.internetsociety.org/network/members/profile?UserKey=ce82d4d5-0067-4d58-bf75-b9acaf825bb8> Dear colleagues,   My name is Nazarius N. Kirama, Secretary of ISOC Tanzania. In June this year I was privileged to attend "a very special" African Chapters Advocacy Meeting in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia . It was special because the meeting was held for the first time in the African Union Headquarters, and the sessions were conducted in both the old and the new AU buildings.    The resource persons (experts) and the ISOC's staff made rare presentations that fulfilled our minds and captured the bosom of our imaginations. One of my biggest "take-a-ways" from the meeting was Community Networks campaign. This is in no way meant to belittle the importance of the other three Key 2018 ISOC campaigns namely; Internet Governance, Internet of Things Security and Mutually Agreed Norms of Routing System.   *Why was Community Networks (CN) campaign my biggest "take-a-way?" * The fact is that data presented during the Community Networks workshop painted a very grim picture of people yet unconnected in the world and especially in African continent. It is a big challenge that we must work painstakingly hard to resolve.    The data shows that about 3.5 billion people in the world are unconnected to the Internet; and of the 1.2 billion people in Africa, there are only 310 million internet users. I can tell you for sure, though I do not have the exact numbers, that the big chunk of these users are from rural Africa.   However, available data also shows that telecommunication investors are unwilling to invest in a population of less than 5000 people. They contend that it is not viable! The business numbers do not add up so they say. This leaves many places in Africa, especially rural communities cut out from "connectivity Pie" and therefore unable to access the Internet-*/Global/*/ *Resource*/ for their rightful socio-economic, entrepreneurial and innovation development. But who knows if the next "Bill Gates" or "Jack Ma" is out there somewhere in one of the African villages waiting to be connected?     The answer is to make smart campaigns that raise public awareness in understanding the enormity of this unconnected challenge. The more the public and the stakeholders understand our side of the story, the better the chances for community members to associate and start their Community Networks to get connected. Lets us direct our efforts to help them switch ON!   My proposition is that we take CN campaign a notch higher - give it more powerful wings to fly higher and further. I am proposing that we form a coalition of making "organized noise" on Community Networks -to be called* Coalition for Community Networks in Africa or CCNA*. This is not a new organization but a tool to give a voice to unconnected millions in Africa. It will drive our campaigns on CN to the Town Halls, Parliaments, State Houses, the Private Sector and NGO groupings.   *REASON FOR CCNA CAMPAIGN.* The main reason why I am making this proposition is that, I believe this campaign will potentially engage millions of people online and offline thereby helping people in African communities associate to create their own sustainable Community Networks.   *THE CCNA OBJECTIVES * 1. To raise public awareness on importance of CNs in extending internet connection for communities in Africa. 2. To campaign for communities in Africa to associate and build their own sustainable Community Networks   *WHAT WILL "CCNA" ACHIEVE*? 1. Raise Chapters' profile or visibility 2. Be part of a solution to resolve the challenge of connecting millions of unconnected people in Africa    *BEATING THE AFRICAN DRUM* To campaign for the CN we must play the beat - the African drum for the public to hear us loud and clear.   *SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGN* If we strategically deploy our campaign to the social media, the benefits accruing from it cannot be overemphasized!   *GROUND CAMPAIGN * Let us use every opportunity be they meetings, conferences or public gatherings to campaign for CN. Even when using public transport grab the opportunity to talk to the person seated next to you.  Educate, exchange contacts and email, send information or share a link.   *CCNA CAMPAIGN MATERIALS* *​*The campaign will have ISOC pinned promotional materials.   In my opinion ​​ ​ I believe being members of ISOC with a Global reach creates unprecedented opportunity for each one of us to engage and make a lasting impact to our African communities especially our rural settings!   Let us exchanged ideas on how to move this coalition forward and if need be re-engineer it to be better and sharper for the purpose of campaigning to connect millions of our brothers and sisters who are unconnected throughout Africa.   Lastly, I believe Victor Ndonnang who is the ISOC Chapters Development Manager for Africa would be very useful in this initiative. The big issue here is to launch and sustain a "smart CN campaign" to get every person connected.   I look forward to a great discussion and exchanges about carrying out an African-wide CCNA campaign.   Regards,   Nazarius N. Kirama COALITION FOR COMMUNITY NETWORKS IN AFRICA(CCNA)- Let the BIG! campaign to #SWITCHAFRICACOMMUNITIES ON! begins   ​ ------------------------------ Nazarius Nicholas Kirama General Secretary ISOC Tanzania +255784220877 nnicholaski(a)gmail.com Note: replies will be sent to the full discussion group.CEO ------------------------------   *Reply to Sender Online <https://connect.internetsociety.org/communities/all-discussions/postreply?MessageKey=10bcaad7-a3c4-4a3b-abc8-8bb8c4c787c1&ListKey=679aae94-6767-4b89-af2f-4f6122e16416&SenderKey=ce82d4d5-0067-4d58-bf75-b9acaf825bb8>*   *View Thread <https://connect.internetsociety.org/communities/community-home/digestviewer/viewthread?MessageKey=10bcaad7-a3c4-4a3b-abc8-8bb8c4c787c1&CommunityKey=a87f0d7b-f5f1-40d2-828d-d1261ddaf7fc&tab=digestviewer#bm10bcaad7-a3c4-4a3b-abc8-8bb8c4c787c1>*   *Flag as Inappropriate <https://connect.internetsociety.org/communities/community-home/digestviewer/viewthread?MessageKey=10bcaad7-a3c4-4a3b-abc8-8bb8c4c787c1&CommunityKey=a87f0d7b-f5f1-40d2-828d-d1261ddaf7fc&tab=digestviewer&MarkAppropriate=10bcaad7-a3c4-4a3b-abc8-8bb8c4c787c1#bm10bcaad7-a3c4-4a3b-abc8-8bb8c4c787c1>*     You are subscribed to "Chapter Leaders Community" as nicoechaniz(a)altermundi.net. 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