Macha Works Zambia

During the past year Macha Works Zambia continued diligently to inspire people in rural communities to reach their collective and individual potential. Attached qualitative Year Report Fiscal Year 2010, 1 Apr 09 - 31 Mar 10, provides an overview of supporting activities during the year. Also attached documentation of the underlying organisational ethics of Macha Works Zambia.

A paper on "Internet usage and performance analysis of a rural wireless network in Macha, Zambia", produced in collaboration with scientists of the University of California, Santa Barbara is accepted and being presented at the 4th ACM Workshop on Networked Systems for Developing Regions (NSDR'10) in San Francisco, CA, USA. The meeting provides a venue for researchers to propose and discuss ideas concerning the design, implementation and evaluation of new computing and communications technologies to support the sustainable development of developing regions.

The LinkNet Resource Container destined for Kalene, Zambia, is on display at the eLearning Africa Conference for ICT in Development, Education and Training. eLearning Africa, is a pan-African gatherings, this year taking place in Zambia under the patronage of the Zambian Minister of Education, the Honourable Ms Dora Siliya.

Oscar Kaate of Macha Works / LinkNet presents Network Infrastructure in Rural Areas of Zambia, "Mesh Network in Practice" at the sessions 'Africa Networks' at the STADTWERKSTATT LINZ - International Festival "Treffpunkt Afrika": May 20-22, 2010 in Austria, Europe. Oscar's presentation deals with the realities, on the ground, of mesh networks in rural Africa.

As part of its commitment to collaborate with peers to impact communities and nations, Macha Works published and presented two peer-reviewed papers for WebScience 2010 in Raleigh, NC, USA. The first paper is on the Macha Works Model, and the second paper on ePiano, a case of music education via internet in rural Zambia. 

This month Macha has a been experimenting with a large VSAT internet connection, connecting the vilage with Committed Information Rates of 256 kb/s downlink and 128 kb/s uplink. The connection can burst traffic up to 2 Mb/s downlink and 512 kb/s uplink. With its succesfully implemented authentication system a information exchange of over one terrabit has been witnessed, coming from over 100 different user accounts.

Macha Works installed fourty PCs in a designated computer room at Nurses Training School at Macha. NTS Macha has 100 NTS students following the 2 year program and aided by access to Information and Communications Technologies, this number can grow further.This installation is part of Macha Works' program to support Nurses Training Schools.

Live from Macha, through the internet Macha Works presented at ICTDelta 2010 in Rotterdam Netherlands. The Macha Works model, Telecentre developments, and results of research and development activities with the University of Zambia were presented and discussed during the first BarCamp in Africa between Macha, rural Zambia and urban Rotterdam, The Netherlands. At ICTDelta 2010, 1,600 ICT European experts, policy makers, and stakeholders met, while Mrs. Nelie Kroes, EU Commissioner, unveiled plans and priorities for the European ICT Agenda.

Located on a foundation built by the community, the LinkNet Resource Container at Chilonga, Northern Province, Zambia became operational early March 2010. Guided by a project committee, involving all stake holders and DOPE, operations started with traing over 30 youth. 150 Persons used the internet during the first weekend of operations.