Eastern Regional representative and Director Evelyn Namara Linuxchix Africa enamara@linuxsolutons.co.ug +256 782 795320
OR:
Lillian Achom Ruth Country Representative & SFD project Coordinator Linuxchix Uganda lily_ann01@yahoo.com +256 782 598130
LinuxChix Africa Ugandan chapter will celebrate SFD in Kampala, the capital city of Uganda.The venue of the celebration will be East African Centre for Open Source software (EACOSS) in Kampala.
The target group will be, College & University students, Stake holders, government bodies, policy makers,various women groups, etc.
Our plan is to have talk sessions on FOSS, carryout demonstrations, take users through the Linux Graphical User Interface and Commandline Interface, distribute CDs,amongst other things.
ABOUT LINUXCHIX AFRICA UGANDA
Linux Chix Africa Uganda is a community for women who love Linux and for women and men who want to support women in computing and Open Source at large.
Linux Chix Uganda was founded in 2006, after Africa Source II an event that was Africa's premier Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) specialized hands on skills development event focused on the Non Governmental Organization (NGO) sector. Bringing together over 120 NGO support professionals, staff and software experts, the participants examined how information technologies and FOSS can strategically impact and build civil society organizations on the continent.
Linux Chix Africa Uganda has got various members and is still open to women who have a passion in computing and use Open Source Software.
The core membership team of Linux Chix consists of 15 women from various organizations and institutes which include: Linux Solutions, I-Network, WOUGNET, Uganda Martyrs University, Makerere University, AITEC Uganda, Bellanet Africa, Southern Business Solutions and many others within Uganda advocating for the use of FOSS and the Open Source Initiative.
The “Chix” consist of women with various areas of expertise such as technical, developmental, advocacy, networking, research and logistical skills, which they intend to use not only to advocate for the use of FOSS but also pass on knowledge unto other women through this program. Women have always lagged behind in the technological field, that’s why Linux Chix Uganda is centering more on the women. It has been also realized that the technological field is dominated by the men and that many women feel inferior to these activities hence the need for more empowerment in this sector.
OUR VISION:
To build awareness of and demonstrate the potential of Free and Open Source Solutions (FOSS) in the non-profit sector, women's organizations and women specifically.
OUR MISSION:
To advocate for the use of FOSS by women at all levels that is, both the urban and the rural woman.
MEMBERSHIP:
Membership is open to women in the IT sector who use computers in any of their day to day activities ranging from core technical personnel to end users, who are ready to explore and use Free and Open Source Software as a means of accomplishing their tasks.
OBJECTIVES OF LINUXCHIX UGANDA
Linux Chix Uganda is involved in these different aspects of Information Technology,
Ø Provide Hands –on training workshops in FOSS to develop skills among end-users, technical staff and potential open source developers. Ø Encouraging more women to be engage in software development through advocacy and networking with other women’s organizations. Ø Raise awareness of FOSS tools at a variety of levels i.e. policy, management, technical staff and end users. This will be done through mentoring Ø Advocate for equity in ICT benefits and push forward gender and FOSS issues. Ø Sharing common experience by writing and publishing articles on FOSS in the media Ø Identifying common problems faced in the use of FOSS in Uganda particularly amongst women and finding a way forward
ACTIVITIES INVOLVED IN SO FAR; ADVOCACY ON OSS AT FACULTY OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (MAKERERE UNIVERSITY] 1. Linux Chix Uganda made presentations to the students of Makerere University offering Bachelors in Information Technology and Masters in Information Technology. The talk was mainly divided into 2 sectors.
- How one can use ICTs to develop career An introduction to Open Source Software and its advantages over proprietary software.
2. Organization of the OSS weekend. 3. Linux Chix have fully participated in the organization of this years Open Source Software weekend held at Uganda Institute of Information and Communications Technology, Nakawa.
4. Software Freedom Day 5. Linux Chix are already registered to take part in the forth coming Software Freedom Day planned to take place in September.
WHY JOIN LINUXCHIX UGANDA: If you are a lady and have a passion for technology and helping other women realize the potential of using ICTs and particularly using Open Source Software, then you need to join Linux Chix.
HOW TO JOIN: In case you want to join Linux Chix Uganda, please send a blank email to uganda-subscribe@africalinuxchix.org and you will be subscribed to our on line mailing list and you will get to know more about Linux Chix Uganda.