HINT's IT Project selected as a finalist in the Stockholm Challenge awards 2008 in Belgium!
HINT IT project Rural Electrification And Communication Technology (REACT) has been selected as one of 145 finalists in the prestigious Stockholm challenge Award 2008 out of a total of over 2000 applicants from all over the world.
Here is the information letter as received this week:
Dear Tinshu Genesis Gemuh,
We are very pleased to inform you that the jury has selected your entry of Rural Electrification And Community Technology (REACT), in the Stockholm Challenge Award 2008 to be a finalist with a chance to win the Stockholm Challenge Trophy.
The winner in the Education category will be announced at the Gala Dinner and Award ceremony in the Stockholm City Blue Hall on May 22. The winner will receive the Stockholm Challenge trophy and certificate of achievement and a cheque for 5.000 Euros at that event.
The Gala Evening will close Challenge Week, which will be held at the Royal Institute of Technology (KTH) in Stockholm between May 19 - 22. As a finalist you are invited to join in all of these events free of charge. We are unable to subsidise the cost of your travel or accommodation but the following parts of the programme are free to all finalists:
Welcome reception on May 19th, at 5 p.m. Six parallel Workshops on May 20th The Open Conference on May 21st Gala Dinner and Award Ceremony in the Blue Hall on May 22nd.
Finalists will also receive: Exhibition spaces Study visits to a choice of organisations in Stockholm Morning and afternoon tea and coffee on May 20th and 21st. Finalists dinner on May 20th
We will shortly send to you a request to login to your Stockholm Challenge account to update your personal details for participation in Challenge Week, fill out a registration page and confirm the names of those taking part in the events. You are welcome to bring as many of your colleagues as you like to the workshops and conference but participation in the Gala Evening in the City Hall is limited to TWO representatives for each entry.
You will then also be able to join the finalists on-line forum where you will learn more about the programme for Challenge Week, find out about travel requirements for getting to Sweden and be able to help decide the topics of the discussions that you and your peers will have in Stockholm.
Once again, congratulations on your success in becoming a finalist in the Stockholm Challenge Award 2008, we look forward to greeting you in May, during Challenge Week!
Kind regards
Ulla Skiden Director and Earl Mardle Chairman of the Jury www.stockholmchallenge.se
The Stockholm Challenge is an ICT for development programme at the Royal Institute of Technology (KTH). It culminates in the Challenge Week Event, May 19-22, 2008.
permalinkHINT to pticipate in Inveneo's ICIP Training Program in Cameroon
HINT has been selected to pticipate in Inveneo's ICIP Training Program in Cameroon.
Inveneo creates highly sustainable and affordable ICT infrastructure technologies designed specifically for organizations that provide vital services -- education, healthcare, economic development -- in remote and rural areas in the developing world.
Inveneo partners with local ICT companies/organisations in countries it serves around the world to provide skilled and cost effective installation and support services for clients. These ICT Partners are certified by Inveneo and available to sell. This program is called the Inveneo Certified ICT Partner (ICIP) program.
Upon completion of the training, sceduled to run from November 26-December 2, 2007, HINT will become one of Inveneo's in-country certified partners.
permalink16 people receive training and or loans
16 people including 14 women and 2 men in Ekona town received training on how to start, run, and grow small businesses for income generation.
The one-day seminar took place in Ekona at the Full Gospel Church Hall.
At the end of the training, 5 women received loans ranging from 20,000 - 75,000 Frs. The loans will enable most of them to buy in bulk, so that they can make more profit that will be used to improve their social and economic conditions.
Several other women and groups are looking up to us but we are running out of loans. We need you come in so we can help more women.
To see how you can help visit our How You Can Help page.
Go here for photos of recipients and the training.
Thank you.
permalink12 Women receive 12 loans of 50000Frs each
6 Members of the Dominion Sisters Credit Group and 2 from thte Female Welfare Credit Group down at Bonduma, today received 50,000 Frs each from HINT to start or grow their businesses.
The excited women all gathered at HINT's office, signed the promissory notes, and collected their loans.
Go here for photos of recipients and the training.
permalinkTobias Blaser arrives Buea from Switzerland
Tobias arrived Buea on Novmber 13 2007 tto volunteer with HINT for 3 moths.
He holds an M.Sc in Electrical Engineering and is also a specialist in computer hardware maintenance and networking, with additional knowledge in software and computer administration.
After arriving on 13th, he immediately started working on 14th! While at HINT, Tobias will help maintain computers at our 2 training Centres here in Buea. We also hope he will also be able to train some hardware maintenance students as well as some in programming.
Tobias, welcome to Buea and we hope you enjoy your time with us.
permalink6 Women receive small business training
6 members of the Dominion Sisters Credit group located a Great Soppo Buea have received a one-day seminar on small business management and set up.
Combining the business skills that HINT's Executive Director, Tinshu Genesis gathered during the Global Social Benefit Incubator (GSBI) organized by Santa Clara University in the USA in concert with the Leavey School of Business Administration in 2006, he trained the women on topics such as:
Session 1:
Choosing your business
Planning your Finances
Session 2:
Assessing Profit: Will it work?
Borrowing Money
Session 3:
Keeping Records
Expanding your Business
Go here for photos of recipients and the training.
A big thank you to Helen Savage in the UK for helping to put this training material together during her volunteer time at HINT.
permalinkEkona Self-Help Christian Women Credit Group formed.
Ekona Self-Help Christian Women (ESCW) Credit Group has been formed.
The group was formed on November 3, 2007 and is made up of 5 women. Each of these women does a business of their own and qualify to receive a loan from HINT.
Group Leader: Prudencia Enow (Phone: 75932676)
Group Treasurer: Deborah Anchi
Membership Fee: 1,000Frs
Go here for photos of recipients and the training.
Ekona is a rural community with thousands of residents. About 90% of the population survives through micro-businesses.
We request that you consider making a donation that will provide more loans to more women.
To donate online, visit our online donation page or send a check to:
Hope Outreach International Ministries (Put HINT in the Memo)
10993 N Harrells Ferry Road
Baton Rouge, LA 70816-8304
Phone: (225) 272-5432
Fax: (225) 272-6805
Thank you.
permalinkDominion Sisters Credit Group formed
A second Credit Group has been formed at Great Soppo, Buea, called Dominion Sisters Credit Group (DSCG). The group was formed
A HINT Credit Group is a group of people from the same community who each have a business of their own but have come together so that they can benefit from our micro-credit loans.
HINT uses micro-credits to help very poor people (esp women) come out of poverty by giving them loans of between 50,000 - 100,000 FCFA to start or grow their businesss.
The group made up of 6 women is led by Agbor Doreen with Deborah Adigom as Treasurer.
Our commitment is to help 1000s of rural women come out of poverty through offering micro-loans.
If you share the same heart then you can join us as a partner.
Go here for photos of group members and the training session that took place later.
Togetther, we can make a difference!
permalinkFirst FFF raises $2,645.22 (CFA 1,203,337).
The first ever Food For Funds (FFF) event raised $2,645.22 (CFA 1,203,337).
The funds will be used to help rural women in and around Buea to start or grow small businesses that are the only means of livelihood for the family.
The funds were raised through 16 generous donors during the first ever Food For Funds (FFF) event that took place in Buea, Cameroon and Arlington, USA on October 14, 2007.
In the next few weeks we will give out loans of about CFA 50,000 (about US$109) each to about 20-25 people (mostly women).
Our offering basket is still open and remains open throughout. Will you consider making a donation to change a family? We very strongly encourage to take action and do something. Together, we can make a difference!
To securely donate online through PayPal go here: http://www.hintonline.org/youcanhelp/donate.php
Or
Write a check to: Hope Outreach International Ministries (Put HINT in the Memo) 10993 N Harrells Ferry Road - Baton Rouge, LA 70816-8304 Phone: (225) 272-5432 - Fax: (225) 272-6805
October 16 every year is World Food Day (http://www.fao.org/wfd2007/index_wfd2007.html). So, FFF will be used to join the rest of world to raise awareness about the importance of food and consequences of lack of it. FFF will also be used to raise funds to help people come out of poverty through micro credit as a sure way to help them get more food on their tables.
Thank you for standing with us and wew look forward to hearing from you soon.
permalinkBack Packs 2007, a huge success
Back Packs 2007 was a huge success.
Last Saturday, September 15, 2007 41 children (mostly orphans) with their families and guardians gathered at OIC Buea for the official award ceremony. The children received Textbooks, uniforms, School bags, School fees.
The Cameroon government was represented during the ceremony by the Divisional Inspector for Basic Education, in Buea, in the person of Madam Lifongo.
We wish to express our gratitude to the following people who donated generously to hep these underprivileged children.
- Kidlington Baptist Church, England
- Micheal & Margaret Astbury, England
- Joseph and Heather Talbot, England
- Ted & Glenys Talbot, England
The award photos will speak for themselves.
ENJOY!!
permalink