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<DIV><SPAN class=843571809-28092004>> </SPAN>Given recent comments by Don,
Florence, Arun and others before, plus<BR><SPAN class=843571809-28092004><FONT
face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2> <FONT face="Times New Roman" color=#000000
size=3>> </FONT> </FONT></SPAN>the fact there is such a wealth of
experience concerning the real work of<BR><SPAN class=843571809-28092004><FONT
face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2> <FONT face="Times New Roman" color=#000000
size=3>> </FONT> </FONT></SPAN>Telecentres on this list, I suggest one
of the main things that is lacking <BR><SPAN class=843571809-28092004><FONT
face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2> <FONT face="Times New Roman" color=#000000
size=3>> </FONT> </FONT></SPAN>within WSIS is the voice of the
grassroots with most of those participating <BR><SPAN
class=843571809-28092004><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2> <FONT
face="Times New Roman" color=#000000 size=3>>
</FONT> </FONT></SPAN>speaking for other people's experiences rather than
from their own. <SPAN class=843571809-28092004><FONT face=Arial
color=#0000ff size=2> </FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=843571809-28092004></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=843571809-28092004><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2>One of
the reasons that the UNITeS/UNV display at the WSIS in Geneva stood out so much,
IMO, was that we created, as much as possible, a real telecenter, staffed by
local volunteers we brought in from Africa, Asia and the Middle East
who ran ICT4D initiatives, including telecenters, back in their own countries.
Our booth was run as a real telecenter, with sign-in sheets and the
telecenter "staff" providing technical assistance to users and with
these local grassroots people making presentations and talking to visitors
about their experience. </FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=843571809-28092004><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=843571809-28092004><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2>I
don't believe that UNV will be doing such an exhibit again at the WSIS in Tunis,
but I hope someone else will. I think it's an excellent way to "walk the talk"
about the importance of local voices in telecenter
management.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=843571809-28092004><BR><BR>
<P><FONT size=2>-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-<BR>Jayne Cravens
(jayne.cravens@unvolunteers.org)<BR>Online Volunteering Specialist<BR>United
Nations Volunteers<BR>www.unvolunteers.org<BR>Bonn, Germany<BR><BR>Online
Volunteering: www.onlinevolunteering.org<BR>UNITeS:
www.unites.org<BR>Global volunteerism portal:
www.worldvolunteerweb.org<BR>-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-<BR> </FONT>
</P></SPAN></DIV>
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