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WODiV Overview:
As a Social Enterprise with an educational and research focus, WODiV is positioning itself to take advantage of the emerging market for ICT services in Winneba, which is based on the 7000 or so students attending the University of Education Winneba, Ghana (UEW) (the primary educational institution in Ghana).
A key aspect of the WODiV center is community outreach and empowerment. The Content Development Initiative is among several key programs that WODiV is working on. CDI fosters connections with the existing ICT programs at UEW and in the process creates a dialog with the local community/stakeholders in the process.
Approach:
The oneVillage Initiative (OVI) approach is a multi-stage development process the first of which includes a mapping out of local assets. Then data is collected, analyzed and then discussed with the community. As a complementary part of this process, low cost internet access and computer training to the community is provided.
Key Accomplishments & Milestones:
- Provided training workshops called Simpa Open Summits WODIV/SOS focusing on wireless ICT4D tools;
- We have over 20 computers that provide training and CyberCafe services at the center to the Winneba region;
- WODiV is operating as a Social Enterprise incubating WODiVnet and a CyberCafe
- WODiVnet is now one of the largest wireless networks in the region with five nodes delivering services to five local, institutional and commercial clients including the Community Health Nurses School and another cybercafe.
- Consult and set-up computer systems for local institutions using hardware from the following vendor/partners: Inveneo, Latitude and NComputing.
 |  |  | June, 2008 Setup of NComputers at Wa, in the Upper West Region of Ghana. |
Project Sustainability:
The need to make ODiVs self-funding will be balanced with the need to provide services to these communities. Under this model, the primary source of revenue will be cyber café, consulting and business development and incubation services. Centers will be designed to incorporate best practices not only from the Information & Communications Technologies for Development (ICT4D) movement, but also the sustainable development movement as well.
Long Term Vision/WODiV Scale Out:
To complement the existing program, a larger, rural oriented ICT project is planned to connect the entire region with wireless technologies. This will include connecting with the community of Jukwa where the second focus project of OVF Ghana is located. What is being planned will promote R&D in sustainable agriculture. These centers will enable us to roll our existing programs together to develop a more integrated approach to development as described at the ODiV wiki page about [oneVillage Initiative].
WODiV News:
- Winter/Spring 2007 - We secured the space that is now the Winneba Open Digital Village. In February, renovations were completed. Since then, a series of ICT training sessions have been organized.
- 1-10 August 2007 - 10 day Simpa Open Summits Wireless Workshop . Outcomes of this training, included 25 ICT practitioners receiving a basic understanding of wireless. The event also resulted in the further set up the Winneba Wireless Network.
- 28th September, 2007 - (WODiV) organized a special event to announce a new project with the University of Education called the Content Development Initiative. CDI will promote the development of ICT training tools and knowledge set relevant to the digital development of the local Winneba region as well as the greater Ghana region of West Africa.
More Info:
- Exec Overview about our work here.
- Go to http://www.opendigitalvillage.org for more about the plan and knowledgebase for replicating WODiV into a network of Open Digital Villages.
