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FOUNDATION HISTORY

The OnLine Africa Foundation grew out of the OnLineAfrika Project (1993-98) which assisted African countries to develop telecommunications systems and Internet infrastructure. The Foundation developed in response to the question-"Once these new systems are in place, what sorts of innovative programs will they feature and how will these programs be financed?"

This dilemma led to the Foundation's first projects in Ghana and South Africa which were instrumental in adding educational and business value to Africa's first broadband data networks. In 1994, Dr. Z. Pallo Jordan, South Africa's first black Minister of Posts, Telecommunications and Broadcasting accepted our invitation to lead an official delegation to the US Trade and Development Administration which resulted in the acquisition of significant telecommunications contracts for several American companies. In 1995 and 1997, we secured a series of grants that enabled us to develop a series of applications that demonstrated how developing countries could use interactive information and media technologies to advance various development agendas.

We also worked with Dr. Thomas Odhiambo's Randforum for Science-led Development (Kenya) and the US Academy for Educational Development (Project LearnLink and National Demonstration Lab for Interactive Information Technologies) to secure USAID and World Bank InfoDEV grants. In addition, we assisted the rollout of the US-funded Leland Initiative for Internet Connectivity in Africa and the World Bank African Virtual University project. In 1997 we were recruited by MCI Communications whom we helped identify Internet-related business opportunities in Ghana. As consultants to the US Department of State, Government of South Africa, NYNEX Fibre Optic Link Around the Globe project and several African government ministries, we helped develop viable and sustainable applications that helped "leapfrog" Africa into the Digital Information Age.

In 2002, the Foundation received a substantial gift which has supported our activities since that time. This enabled us to advance our development of interactive and participatory courseware for training African journalists and photo-ethnographers/photojournalists. These materials were beta-tested in several South African and US universities and are currently in their fifth year of use at the American University in Cairo. These materials form the nucleus of the virtual textbook series being developed by Professors Robert and Doris Jones who served as volunteers for several years in South Africa for Vista University Soweto Campus, Diepsloot Community Radio Station, South Africa Community Media Network and the Ziphathe Empowerment Network. The Foundation launched the Soweto Centenary Project following its surprising (even to Johannesburg Mayor Amos Mosondo and his City Council) discovery that Soweto Township was due to reach the 100 year mark in 2004. This project attracted the interest of many South Africans and resulted in the patronage of both Archbishop Desmond Tutu and former President Nelson Mandela.

EARLY TELECOM AND WEB DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE PROJECTS:

1993-98: Assisted the establishment of telecommunications agreements between the US, South Africa, Ghana and Senegal on behalf of major US and global telephone companies.

Community Media & Distance Education Program Development:

1994-96; 2003-04: Photo and Video Training (African National Congress Youth League)

1993-2003: Consultants for: The Leland Initiative for Internet Connectivity in Africa, Academy for Educational Development Project LearnLink, University of Ghana, Network of East-West Women, Ghana Ministry of Education, Datatel Ghana Public Data Network, MCI Communications, RandForum for Science Led Growth (Nairobi), Freedom Forum, The World Bank African Virtual University, UN International Telecommunications Union, Free African Women's Network, OnLine Afrika Project, Vista University Soweto Campus (South Africa), National Demonstration Lab for Interactive Information Technologies, NYNEX/FLAG (Fiber Optic Link Around the Globe project, US Trade and Development Administration, US Department of State, Bell Atlantic, AT & T, USIA WorldNet TV and others.

2002-04: Community Media Consultants (Tembisa, Deepsloot and Soweto Townships, South Africa)

2004-present: Program development consultants to the Open University of Tanzania, African Virtual University, Syndicate of Egyptian Journalists, Union of African Journalists and the UN Millennium Development Goals Arab-Africa Initiative Steering Committee.

Microfinance Projects for Community Economic Development:

2005-2010: "Pound Saver" is a marketing assistance (Cairo) newsletter designed to introduce the expatriate community to sources of quality and competitively-priced goods and services. Startup costs were provided by the foundation and this work brought a number of positive economic benefits to local businesses and foreign consumers alike. The 3 Egyptian brothers who led the production of the newsletter recently (2009) secured foundation funding to fulfill their lifelong dream to establish their own business and homes.

2005: Computer Graphics and Tee Shirt Production Workshops (Malindi and Lamu, Kenya. We taught street vendors how to produce silk screen t-shirts, etc. We also provided bursaries for nursing and graphic design students who were no longer to meet the costs of continuing their education.

2005-2010: Photo and Video Workshops for residents of Nungua Village, Ghana.were held in 2005 and again in 2009 and 2010 to enable the citizens of this fishing community to tell their own stories and to use photography and video as means to help solve development problems.

Foundation Fundraising Activities:

Funded the startup of the South Africa Community Media Network (SACOMNET) and the Ziphathe Empowerment Network.

Funded cultural programs to celebrate Soweto's Centennial. The Soweto Centenary Project was personally endorsed by former President Nelson Mandela and Bishop Desmond Tutu accepted our invitation to be the project's patron.

Assisted Vista University's management in acquiring funding to start the Institute for Heritage Studies to support the Township Studies Program and the Soweto Centenary Project which brought several innovative learning resources to the people of South Africa's townships, especially Mamelodi, Tembisa, Deepsloot, Soweto, Umlazi and Orlando Park.

Secured funding from the United Nations ITU/BDT to support DATATEL Ghana's development of a data network to link Ghana's schools and universities with the 110 widespread offices of the Ghana Ministry of Education.

Currently seeking scholarships for promising African students of journalism and multiple media.

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