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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