Å  Computing Social Responsibility  Æ eRiders hit the ICT high road

3 April 2003  BY TRACY BURROWS, <a href=www.itweb.co.za>ITWEB JOURNALIST

[Johannesburg, 3 April 2003] - A group of international ICT consultants has embarked on a four-month tour of southern Africa, to help meet the technology needs of non-profit organisations in the region.

The concept, known as eRiding, is described as a globally successful non-profit ICT consultation model, with representation in over 20 countries. eRiding is an ICT consultancy tailored to the needs of non-profit organisations, where the eRider delivers ICT training, planning and networking solutions for little or no cost.

The eRider tour has been launched by Ungana-Afrika, a new project aimed at bridging the digital divide by improving the technological capacity of civil society organisations. Ungana-Afrika is a collaborative project between the Open Society Initiative for Southern Africa (OSISA) and AIESEC, described as the world's largest student organisation.

Rudi von Staden, a South African member of the Ungana-Afrika team, says: "During the past few weeks we have been setting up the infrastructure of Ungana-Afrika and initiating communication with the non-profit community in nine SADC countries. Now we are ready to visit them in person."

Veronica Pena, one of the international eRiders from Venezuela, says: "eRiding is an excellent way to have a true impact because civil society organisations working in a variety of developmental capacities often suffer from a lack of ICT infrastructure, connectivity and skills. We are here to use our experience and training to help bridge the digital divide, which the whole African continent is increasingly facing."

Toni Eliasz, Ungana-Afrika's project manager from Finland, says having the support of AIESEC and OSISA is "one of the best possible combinations we could dream of. Besides their existing network, both organisations offer important resources, OSISA by funding the project and AIESEC by providing affordable international consultants.”

Eliasz says the future of Ungana-Afrika has been secured until early next year but sustainability is one of this year's main objectives. “We are trying to find relevant funding organisations and new partners from the private sector."