About Us   & Goals   History   News   Rural   Connectivity   Gallery   Can you Help?   Needs   Links   Press   Sponsors   Internet Society   Archives   Contact Us

Coin
  Francophone

Welcome to UConnect

Obia-Zeu School in Nebbi District Gets Solar Computer Lab Negrini Memorial SS Gets Electricity, Computer Network, RACHEL Server Internet All in One Day I started work with a team of enthusiastic local volunteers early on Thursday morning, led by Joel, who had experience putting up antenna masts and such. We began building our ladder from eucalyptus to mount the high roof on the school building selected for the computer lab, and had our solar frames up ready to install the solar panels by the end of the first day. By Sunday we were ready for an open house, inviting the congregation at the local church to come and see the ten-workstation working computer lab after the service.

Many people crowded around each of the ten workstations, some running animations of how things work, others, apparently with little computer experience, were clicking on desktop icons and opening programs, and several, who obviously had had more experience were checking their Yahoo accounts. I was asked to demonstrate the some of the server's more interesting features and had started to play Beethoven's 7th Symphony from an MP3 file. But our American colleague, Mark, an advocate who had been mobilizing community leaders to find means to assist their orphans, vulnerable and disabled, called out to ask if we couldn't have something more lively. When I put an Elmore James blues track the visitors began to girate to the sound of slide guitar; man that place was jumpin!

Emmanuel and Lisa Interviewed on World Radio Switzerland WRS

During the morning radio programme listeners heard from Emmanuel and Lisa about the UConnect Schools Project, including Emmanuel's role as Chief Mechanic, converting the Saurer 2DM into an ICT demonstrations truck (photo below) that is still used in Uganda for showing latest technologies at various conferences and exhibitions. Manu had trained Ugandan orphans at the Besaniya Childrens Home over ten years ago, and continues with his work training apprentices at Garage Pitstop in Geneva. During the broadcast they announced the Project's urgent need for donated TFT monitors and laptops, that are especially useful for schools in rural areas due to their low energy requirements.

Your Space: IT for developing countries
Michele Mischler talks to Lisa and Emmanuel Stern from Uconnect, an organisation which aims to develop public education in Uganda through the use of donated computer systems.

Download podcast interview.

Beneficiary schools total 300+

UConnect join in Celebration of Europe Day, Europe-Uganda Village

Come celebrate Together in Diversity!  “See, Taste and Cheer our Diversity”

In recognition of culture as a key factor in sustainable development and the fight against poverty, European Union (EU) Member States represented in Uganda together with the Delegation of the European Commission to Uganda in collaboration with Ugandan partners organised a Europe-Uganda village that took place on 6^th May 2007 at the Kyadondo Rugby Club in Kampala.  “Unity in Diversity” was the theme accompanying the initiative, underlining the values, common to both Uganda and the European Union, of tolerance and respect in a multicultural society. 

More than 500 visitors came by the UConnect Internet Demo Truck, and many boarded to sit behind one of the ten workstations to get some hands-on, with a first demo of GPRS EDGE technology. 

Enhancing Training for District Offices in Uganda

Kampala (UGANDA), May 2007 - "Provide Internet, and They Will Learn How to Use It" summarizes Daniel Stern from UConnect in regard to his experience with a project that trained 175 officials in ICTs. For CHECK.point eLearning, he gives detailed insight into this project, whose task was to teach remote rural district officers in Uganda how to use computers and the Internet as tools to help them do their work.

Full interview

UConnect Provides Internet Training To Hundred District Officials

Officials at 22 mostly rural districts are being trained on site in information and communications techonologies (ICTs) and Internet by UConnect trainer teams travelling up country in Uganda.  The 22 district offices have been connected to the Internet by MTN Uganda using WiMAX as part of the UCC's Rural Communication Development Fund (RCDF).  

Mike trains Iganga district trainees

One of a Number of Possible First Steps

Kampala, April 2006 – The object of UConnect is the advancement of public educationis in the country by using Information and Computer Technology (ICT) for education to improve the quality and efficiency of communications. Daniel Stern of Uconnect sums up this work in an interview with CHECKpoint eLearning.

Eastern students get computer skills  

UCONNECT, a project that supplies cheap information communication technology to schools, has embarked on regional network training workshops in a bid to help more schools acquire computer skills.

The first workshop was held in Tororo recently for the Eastern region.
The project co-ordinator, Sam Rico, said 32 students and 11 teachers were trained during the workshop.

Rico said the trainees were drawn from Rock High, Kisoko High, Lumino High, Nabumali High, Dabani Girls’ Secondary, Dabani Girls primary and Masaba College schools.

New Vision article published 14 November 2005

Networking Schools: Uconnect holds first Regional NTW in Tororo

Regional NTWs are helping to establish technical support trainers in each region who can then work together to assist each other.  Students train other students, one school assists another school, installing and troubleshooting schools networks, that they may enjoy the benefits of Internet.  

Uconnect Europe

Times Educational Supplement

"People are starving for information - literally dying for want of information"

Information Harvest by Dorothy Walker on Uconnect Schools Project

Daniel says, “Put in the communications infrastructure, and the electricity will come later. The right initiative by G8 or the UN could cause a real revolution. People are starving for information - literally dying for want of information.”       TES article published September 2005

Times Educational Supplement article by Dorothy Walker - September 2005

Visit the Uconnect Schools Project stand at S-DEV Geneva 05

S-DEV Geneva 05 : A rendez-vous in Geneva for innovating cities from all over the world

Sustainable urban development is one of the great challenges of the 21st century. Actors from all over the world - local authorities, business, NGOs, international agencies - will come together at S-DEV Geneva from 11 to 13 October 2005 at GENEVA PALEXPO. An annual interactive event for the discovery and exchange of concrete developments.   More

Beneficiary schools total 220

See locations & information on map of Uganda

MTN announce partnership with Uconnect for schools' Internet

At a press conference held at education ministry headquarters attended by Minister of Education Hon. Ms Geraldine Namirembe Bitamazire and other officials MTN Uganda's Marketing Communications Manager, Philip Besiimire, announced a partnership with the ministry-based NGO, Uconnect, in which schools would benefit from subsidized Internet connectivity.  Filmed portions of the press conference were shown on UTV and WBS television news, and articles about the new partnership were published in newspapers.         

MTN, Govt to Connect Nine Schools On Internet           from The Monitor

by Dorothy Nakaweesi

MTN Uganda and the ministry of Education have agreed to jointly provide Internet services to nine schools through the schools connectivity programme.

The programme being managed by Uconnect, a project at the education ministry, will intended to create equal opportunities for students in Uganda to compete with the rest of the world.

"This is a timely action because of the changes in the education system with more students turning to the Internet for learning resources," Mr Philip Besimire, the MTN Uganda spokesperson, said.

Read full article

Uconnect again to present Schools Project at Geneva Sustainable Development Event

       Programme

Cette année, la fête du développement durable aura lieu sous trois chapiteaux érigés sur la Plaine de Plainpalais le samedi 11 juin et le dimanche 12 juin, sur le thème de la maison.

Uconnect takes ICT to schools

CONNECTED: Computer lesson at Kashozi school, Bushenyi By Elvina Nawaguna AT least 100 schools that would otherwise not afford it have been able to buy computers at lower prices from an NGO that extends Information Technology to rural areas. The NGO, Uconnect imports used computers from Europe and USA, revamps them and supplies them to schools and organisations. The organisation also helps them to network their computer labs and to get Internet connections. In the first year of the project, the organisation distributed hundreds of computers to 60 mostly rural-based schools. In the last 20 months Uconnect has supplied over 100 schools, both primary and secondary with computers. Schools from as far as Mbale, Lira, and Tororo have benefited from the project.   8 March 2005   See full article

AITEC Uganda 2004

Hundreds visit the Uconnect stands, dozens of teachers sign up

Hundreds boarded demo truck for hands-on Internet

Joan, Sophie and team greeted stand visitors

          Uconnect Schools Project Presented at INET04

Rethinking of Tele-education and e-Learning, Implications for Development

Vint Cerf describes broadcasting Internet by television signal

 Multichoice donates dish to schools    New Vision 5 May 2004

Multi-choice Uganda Ltd has donated a satellite dish worth $200 to the Uconnect Schools project.

Joan Amaniyo of the Ministry of Education and Uconnect project co-ordinator said the dish would enable the project get connected to the Internet via satellite and boost information communication technology (ICT) in rural schools and sorrounding areas.

Uconnect Sends Three More Containers of Refurbished Computers to Uganda from Europe for Schools Project Expansion

Uconnect Adds Telecentre Management to Network Training Workshops

 

Junior I-Network Node invites Uconnect to demonstrate SchoolAxxess at Namilyango College

SchoolAxxess Server WiFi Demo at Uganda’s Education Exhibit

 

 

See older stories from 2002 to 2004  
 
Uconnect is tax exempt, under Section 501C

Donations to Uconnect are tax deductible

                   Updated 16 February2009

webmaster jed@jedstern.com