BioVision – foundation for environment and development
BioVision is a nonprofit, apolitical and denominationally independent Swiss foundation for sustainable development. BioVision works for the dissemination, implementation and application of scientifically founded methods for sustainable improvement of living conditions in Africa, as well as in the fight against poverty. BioVision encourages ecological thinking, action, and ‚Help for Self-Help’. Sustainable development can only take place through an integrated approach which takes into account ecological, economic and social factors. BioVision was founded in 1998 by Dr. Hans Rudolf Herren, with the aim to sustainably improve the living conditions of people in Africa and conserving nature as the basis of all life.
Avallain E4D develops the online information system INFONET-BioVision providing small scale farmers and extension workers with sound and media rich information on pest and soil management, water treatment and aspects concerning the improvement of human and animal health.
University of Wolverhampton
Avallain E4D works closely together with mobile learning experts John Traxler and Christopher Dennet at the University of Wolverhampton in developing appropriate access and dissemination solutions. www.wlv.ac.uk
One Laptop Per Child (OLPC)
The mission of One Laptop per Child (OLPC) is to empower the children of developing countries to learn by providing one connected laptop to every school-age child. In order to accomplish our goal, we need people who believe in what we’re doing and want to help make education for the world’s children a priority, not a privilege. It’s not a laptop project. It’s an education project!
In 2002, MIT Professor Nicholas Negroponte experienced first-hand how connected laptops transformed the lives of children and their families in a remote Cambodian village. A seed was planted: If every child in the world had access to a computer, what potential could be unlocked? What problems could be solved? These questions eventually led to the foundation of One Laptop per Child, and the creation of the XO laptop.
OLPC’s mission is to provide a means for learning, self-expression, and exploration to the nearly two billion children of the developing world with little or no access to education. While children are by nature eager for knowledge, many countries have insufficient resources to devote to education—sometimes less than $20 per year per child (compared to an average of $7,500 in the United States).
By giving children their very own connected XO laptop, we are giving them a window to the outside world, access to vast amounts of information, a way to connect with each other, and a springboard into their future. And we’re also helping these countries develop an essential resource—educated, empowered children.
e-Learning for Kids
e-learning for Kids is a global nonprofit foundation dedicated to free and fun online learning (math, science, language arts, computers, English as a second language, and life/health skills) for kids of all ages. A volunteer staff consists of education and e-Learning experts and business professionals from around the world committed to making a difference.
The National Institute for Adult Continuing Education /NIACE)
The National Institute of Adult Continuing Education (NIACE) England and Wales is a non-governmental organisation working for more and different adult learners. NIACE is the largest organisation working to promote the interests of learners and potential learners in England and Wales. NIACE has been involved in the development of literacy projects and programmes for basic education in Africa esp. in Uganda.
NIACE teamed up with Avallain E4D and BUFANET to jointly develop the idea of MarketInfonet: an internet-based and mobile phone driven market communication and e-learning system for small scale farmers and fishermen covering three areas: agricultural education, market information and basic skills training.
Busoga Farmer Network (BUFANET)
Based in the Busoga region, in the south-west of Uganda, BUFANET unites over 30 associations of small and medium scale farmers, traders and processors. BUFANET provides its members with a wide range of services in general
agricultural information, improved marketing and agro processing. For example,
- tailor-made training
- collaboration with the National Organic Movement of Uganda (NOGAMU) to link farmers to fair trade, organic and other market outlets
- development of information material in user-friendly forms and formats
- assistance for small-scale traders and processors to access suitable financing, equipment, business advisory and development services
- support and guidance for farmers to organize trade fairs and exhibitions for fruits and fruit by-products
- action research to identify markets, prices, opportunities for fruits
BUFANET teamed up with Avallain E4D and NIACE to jointly develop the idea of MarketInfonet: an internet-based and mobile phone driven market communication and e-learning system for small scale farmers and fishermen covering three areas: agricultural education, market information and basic skills training.
