Message-ID: <31C69EA1.3F29@nld.toolnet.org> Date: Tue, 18 Jun 1996 14:18:41 +0200 From: Loeki Schaeffers <mailto:loeki.schaeffers@NLD.TOOLNET.ORG> Subject: Information Technology- brigade (IT- brigade) To: Multiple recipients of list DEVEL-L <mailto:DEVEL-L@AMERICAN.EDU>
To all,This message has been cross posted to multiple discussion lists. I aplogize to readers who have seen it already at other occasions. Feel free to cross post this message to RELEVANT lists.
By means of this message I would like to inform you about a research that TOOLnet is currently performing. TOOLnet is an organization in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, which aims at bridging the information gap between the North and the South by helping organizations in the South getting access to information and communication technology.
TOOLnet wants to examine the possibilities of establishing an Information Technology-brigade (IT-brigade). This is going to be an international organization that sends out Dutch volunteers possessing expertise on information technology. These volunteers will use their knowledge by helping organizations in the South to cope with applications of information technology. For example organizations can use expertise on developing help desks, on procedures on the use of email or on writing a specific project-request to embassies. Or may be they want to convert their p.c.'s, which are now stand alones, into a Local Area Network. There are many conceivable situations in which a volunteer, possessing expertise on these matters can effectively help organizations in the South, without affecting the work of local IT companies.
In order to make sure this IT-brigade will fulfil existing needs it is necessary to investigate the current information needs on the spot: is there a need of an IT-brigade and, if so, what kind of expertise is needed? TOOLnet wants to examine this by means of a questionnaire, adressed to potential recipients of IT- brigade assistance.
Are you interested in the possibilities of the IT-brigade and willing to co-operate on realising this project (e.g. providing assistance on our information needs research), please respond and give your reaction on this matter (in case you want to refer us to other parties, that might be interested, reactions are also welcome). Please reply to my private email address: mailto:loeki.schaeffers@nld.toolnet.org
yours sincerely,
L. Schaeffers, researcher at TOOLnet