PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Images from the RIK Launch are available at http://picasaweb.google.com/voicesofafrica4SD/UkundaRIKLaunchImages#

The first Solar Powered Rural Internet Kiosk (RIK) is installed at the Ukunda Show-ground in Msambweni Constituency. The RIK is a 100% self contained solution for providing access to computer and the Internet to rural people throughout Sub Saharan Africa. The RIK has been donated to the community based organization, Voices of
Diani, and is being implemented by Voices of Africa for Sustainable Development, a Kenyan non-governmental organization.

Information and communications technologies have the power to change the way we practice both business and development throughout the world. The digital divide, defined by a lack of access to information for a specific population, symbolizes the largest difference between developed and developing countries: the opportunity to obtain and utilize information. The digital divide runs much deeper than hardware and software. The real heart of the digital divide is that those without access to information resources often suffer needlessly while the solutions to their problems are floating in the air.

Dear Friends,

I am glad to be able to write to you with good news. With the roll out of the Rural Internet Kiosks created by Intersat Africa, ICT in rural areas for long term sustainable development is closer to reality than ever before. VOA4SD’s work is finally gaining ground as we will be implementing a RIK in Msambweni Constituency at the Kwale local library with Voice of Diani, community based organization. This community based organization has been created and lead by youth with a desire to serve the community with emphasis on providing service to those infected and affected by HIV and AIDS. This project is funded by the Internet Society as part of its community grants program. This project is being implemented by Mariel, a volunteer who is working on her Master’s degree in Communications at American University, Jon, a US PeaceCorp volunteer specializing in Open Source software for development, Jeff, a US PeaceCorp volunteer who will lead the community training, and three leaders from the Voice of Diani CBO, Faith, Gideon, and Crispo. We are in the process of preparing the baseline study with implementation scheduled in the middle of February. Please keep looking to the website for more information and updates from our Msambweni team.

Voices of Africa for Sustainable Development is recruiting volunteers to introduce the Rural Internet Kiosks to villages in Kenya!

Interested in development in Africa?

Know how to use the computer and the Internet?

Then we have an adventure waiting for you!

Volunteers will spend 6 months (can be extended up to 2 years) in a rural village in Kenya bringing information and communications technologies for development to areas without any previous access to computers or the Internet.

Benefits to the Community: