<u>Visit to the NGO Agni Raksha.</u><br><br>I am new to this mailing list and except a few people in Kerala I don't know many free software supporters in this group.<br>I am sharing our experience of visiting an NGO to create awareness among them about free software. If any of this group are working with any such efforts with any NGO's you can tell your experience so that we can benefit from that.<br>
<br>Me and Nirmal went to visit the office of an NGO named Agni Raksha on Saturday. <br>They handle the following issues:<br><br>1)poor people who are victims of fire accidents are given counseling and if they had lost their job due to the accident,then they are taught some self employment skills to make them self dependent.<br>
2)young children from streets who are misguided and pushed into flesh trade are rescued and given education,later they are taught self employment skills to make them self dependent.<br><br>They contacted Nirmal when they heard about the work the free software supporters are doing in the slum computer center.<br>
They are starting computer classes for burned victims who are rehabitalized by this NGO.<br><br>We started with the free software philosophy and introduction to free software. After some time, they interrupted us and said they are not interested in listening to the philosophy part. I realized that even though our interest is in spreading the philosophy part most people are only interested in using the technology for their own advantage.So we decided to concentrate on the practical aspects.<br>
<br>The conversation went on like this:<br><br>NGO :we are planning to give computer education to these children, we'll arrange for computers,study rooms and students. How can you help us?<br>Reply: Free software supporters can help you to setup the computers using free softwares. We would be able to come and conduct classes on basic computer skills and free software.<br>
<br>NGO : They need basic computer education and not Linux or free software:<br>Our Reply: We can teach them basic computer skills like word processing using Open Office. Most word processors work the same way. Using free software is cost effective and you have the freedom to share and redistribute it.<br>
<br>NGO :How long will it take to learn this free software lessons and what is the syllabus that will be taught<br><br>Reply:<br>We have prepared a syllabus for the slum computing center and showed it to them. We also said we have the material and it would take some 3-4 months to complete.<br>
(they felt the syllabus was good)<br><br>NGO :If free software classes are held in our office then what will be the timings of the classes and will it be on a daily basis, alternate days or in the weekends and will the same person come till the syllabus is completed? <br>
Reply:We won't be able to say exactly as people would be having their office work during the day time,but however we will have to chart it out.<br><br>NGO :people who come to take classes must be able to mingle with these students in a more friendly way. It is because their faces are badly burnt,there are instances where even medical college students who visited the office previously felt uncomfortable while giving them medical aid,so we don't want amyone to hurt them again like that<br>
Reply:our people have been working with slum dwellers from long time and more over we to know their feelings<br> <br>After this conversation, we felt that they are convinced and told us that they will get back to us.<br><br>
Some of the points we raised and they felt convinced:<br><br>1)The recent shift from windows to free software<br>We raised the point that IT and education sectors are shifting over to free software. Colleges like Christ, Mount Carmel, BMS & so on have started using it. In Kerala, the Government has asked all Government funded organizations to use free software.<br>
<br>2)There is a myth that only weird programmers use free software. We pointed out to them that free software is not only used by programmers, even the poor and marginalized are using it.<br><br>3)Cost effectiveness - We raised the point that setting up a center using free software will be cost effective as you have the freedom to make copies and redistribute it.<br>
<br>Finally they told us that they need some time for the initial setup and when everything is in place they will contact us.<br>We gave the contact details of Senthil and returned.<br><br>Sreejith<br><br>