Is a Meeting Place on the World Wide Web Making Africa Smaller?
While G8 leaders talk and crowds seek to influence their decisions small things are happening that can improve peoples' lives. Villagers in Ghana wanted advice on the best ways to collect rainwater and store it for use in times of drought. Thousands of kilometres away a volunteer in Kenya is providing advice on the project over the internet. They were introduced through Newtraid.org, "The Meeting Place for Volunteer Consultants and Clients."
(PRWEB) July 5, 2005 -- While G8 leaders talk and crowds seek to influence
their decisions small things are happening that can improve peoples' lives.
Villagers in Ghana wanted advice on the best ways to collect rainwater and store
it for use in times of drought. Thousands of kilometres away a volunteer in
Kenya is providing advice on the project over the internet. They were introduced
through Newtraid.org, "The Meeting Place for Volunteer Consultants and
Clients."
Wisdom, who works for a NGO in Ghana, found out about Newtraid
from their website and quickly realised that they might have someone to help
with the design of a village rain water collection and storage project and turn
the villagers' ideas into a reality. On receiving Wisdoms' brief Email outlining
the project concept, Newtraid searched their database and found a Kenyan
consultant with exactly the right experience. Their homes are about 4000
kilometers apart but Newtraid put them in touch and they are now exchanging
emails to confirm the details of the system design and
construction.
Newtraid.org is run by a retired engineer based in
Southampton UK and is a “virtual” Meeting Place where volunteers can meet
potential clients to provide support to organisations and groups that cannot
afford commercial based consultancy. If the activity will bring rewards to it's
local community in terms of jobs, health or improved environment then Newtraid
will help.
The majority of requests for support are coming from the
developing world and the emergent countries of Eastern Europe but Newtraid will
try to provide advisers to support to any enterprise in any country seeking
to fill the needs of their communities.
Volunteers come from a wide range
of backgrounds in many countries. There are those who feel under utilised in
their present paid work, people between jobs, early retirees, senior citizens
and many just willing to give some of their spare time. Newtraid give everybody
the chance to volunteer and needs almost all technical, managerial and manual
skills and experience to respond to requests for help.
Clients have
commented :
“I know there are a lot of good people out there who would want
to help, but I need to contact them!” Charity founder - Pakistan
"It could
not be more timely to have spotted your site where support is offered for
individuals and organizations suffering from lack of access to consultants" AY
Ethiopia
Volunteers say:
“Designer and maker of high quality
furniture, currently working as designer of mobility aids such as wheelchairs
and trikes. Happy to help.” GB Australia
“I don't know if I can be of any
help, but it never hurts to ask! “ KD England UK
“Would be keen to use my
transferable skills to support clients working in developing countries.” J.D
United States
The co-operation between people in Ghana and Kenya
demonstrates that there is a need for an organisation such as Newtraid and it
can make a contribution through using dedicated volunteers.
What ever the
need for support Newtraid may be able to offer the services of a "Virtual
Consultant" who can give objective advice to help in the development of a
project or an organisation. Newtraid believes that whatever the skills and
experience of a volunteer someone, somewhere could use them.
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Source : http://www.prweb.com/releases/2005/7/prweb257537.htm