Q: What was Africa Source II?
A: Africa Source II was an eight day gathering held in January 2006 that brought together 140 NGOs and NGO technology support professionals, trainers and consultants working with the non-profit sector from across Africa.

Africa Source II was seeking to foster the growth of FOSS expertise amongst technical support professionals working in Africa and facilitate knowledge sharing and exchange around successful implementation of FOSS. The aim of the event was to facilitate learning and exchange between these communities, in particular around the practical deployment of Free and Open Source Technologies.

Q: What were the topics?
A: During the eight days, participants were challenged to both share their skills and learn from others.

Three main tracks ran through the event, participants were asked to choose a more structured main track to follow through the morning sessions, but were free to select from a range of peer-to-peer learning and skillshare sessions in the afternoons. The themes were:

• - How to help NGO's plan for, migrate to and adopt FOSS applications
• - How to use FOSS applications to handle information, publish content using citizen's media tools and engage constituency
• - How FOSS can increase accessibilty through localisation, translation into local language and dialects

Q: What was the working language?
A: English. As this event involved small group work and one-on-one sessions multi-language or translation support were limited.

Q: Who should have attended?
A: This was an event for experienced professionals actively working with the non-profit sector in African countries. We were interested in all kinds of non-profit and technical experience. Applications from NGOs and activists with technical experience were highly encouraged. Areas of focus that are particularly relevant included (but were not essential);

• 1. Migration and adoptation of FOSS
• 2. Alternative access and resource centres
• 3. The use of FOSS for information handling and advocacy
• 4. Localisation and multi-language projects
• 5. The use of technology within monitoring or campaigning projects
• 6. The use of technology for community centres or schools
• 7. The use of technology for service activities (e.g. health, disabiltiies etc)
• 8. Innovative use of technology within non-profit projects

Demonstrating that you have worked on projects in one or more of the above areas made your application stronger.

All participants at Africa Source II were required to be proficient desktop users of computers, have been involved in at least one NGO/technology project before and to have an existing awareness of the concept of Free and Open Source Software.

Applications from women were highly encouraged by the event organisers.

Q: When was it?
A: Africa Source II took place from January 8th to January 15th, 2005.

Q: Where was it be and what was the venue like?
A: The venue was at Pearl Gardens Beach in Kalangala, Uganda. It is a 6-acre beach resort located on Buggala Island in Lake Victoria along Lutoboka shore-line; 3 Kms north of Kalangala Town Council in Uganda. It is situated in a tropical forest environment along the equator in the middle of the second largest fresh water lake in the world (Lake Victoria). It has a nice, ‘camp-style’ atmosphere helping Africa Source II to be a community building event - in the spirit of free and open source software.

Participants were expected to contribute to activities and the running of the event. Participants slept in simple dormitory accommodations or tents, had large group lunches and dinners, and had access to a range of training, plenary, discussion and relaxation areas.

This was an on-site training within a closed community, participants were expected to stay at the venue for the duration of the event. Accommodation was be provided dormitory style.

Q: What should I know about the accommodations?
A: All participants at Africa Source II were required to stay on-campus. Accommodation was be provided dormitory style, so participants were expected to be prepared to share rooms and bathrooms with fellow participants. There were separate accommodations for men and women.

Q: Who was organising it?
A: The event was co-organised by Linux Solutions (Uganda), the East African Centre for Open Source Software (Uganda), WOUGNET (Uganda) and the Tactical Technology Collective (Netherlands). The event was guided by an advisory board of established non-profit and FOSS professionals from across Africa. The organisers also collaborated with regional FOSS projects such as Association for Progressive Communications (APC), Fantsuam Foundation, Creative Commons South Africa, Schoolnet Africa, Translate.org.za and Aspiration.

Q: How was it funded and supported?
A: Africa Source II was funded by donations from IDRC, Hivos, InWent, the Open Society Institutes Information Program, the Open Society Institute for West Africa and South Africa.

Q: How do I apply for Africa Source II and when will I know if I am attending?

A: Please note that the deadline for sending in applications has expired. It is no longer possible to send in applications.

Q: What is the time zone?
A: Time Zone: GMT/UTC +3

Q: Electricity and plugs?
A: Electricity: 220V, 50Hz The plug has three prongs (two flat and one rectangular) that form a triangle.

Please see http://users.pandora.be/worldstandards/electricity.htm#plugs for more details. Uganda uses type G.

Q: What is the local currency?
A: Currency: Ugandan Shilling

Q: What is the telephone frequency?
A: 900/1800 megahertz.

Q: What is the weather like?
A: Temperature in Uganda remains fairly constant, whereas the rainfall varies depending on the region. Lake Victoria and the mountainous areas receive heavy rainfall, but the northeast and parts of the south are quite dry. Dry seasons in the south run from December through March, and June through October; in the north, the dry season is from November through March. The temperature is around 20-25 degrees C, 68-77 degrees F.