When some people from Netherlands and Africa thought to build a bridge of communications,they aptly were thinking of Baobab trees.Baobab trees,known to be able to exist for over 1000 years,are the connectors of the ages,of societies, of people.BaobabConnections.Org then replicates that famous African Baobab through connceting young people of Europe and Africa through Internet.It is a database and a dialogue.It connects the expressions of youth.

Frequently Asked Questions About Conducting a National WSIS Consultation Process is the title of a guidebook developed by the The Association for Progressive Communication for national WSIS processes.This guide is its Version 1,June,2003 and the work is in progress.

This article in Asia Times by Madanmohan Rao depicts current status of ICT developments in India.
Few other countries illustrate the vast potential and also the domestic challenges of unleashing and harnessing information and communication technology (ICT) as vividly as the billion-strong subcontinent of India. As a content-rich country with a free press climate, an affluent tech-savvy diaspora population spread across the world from Silicon Valley to Sydney to Singapore and London, and with a huge pool of cutting-edge infotech and design skills, India has a lot to offer to the domestic and global Internet market. But there is also the dark side to the proverbial coin: poor connectivity outside the major cities, low levels of B2B (business to business) activity online, and government policy footdragging in terms of creating a level playing field for infrastructure players.
Full:Asia Times,06/18/03.

Welcome Shivkumar to VKC project.

Godspeed to Maitreyi, Sonali,Amruta, Kartik, Ashwinikumar, Uday, Jaideep, Ashwin,Nandita and Venkat.I wish you shall be able to gather the support for the NYC.

The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) considers Youth as a vital partner and a critical resource to ensure the future of the telecommunication industry. Working closely with the private sector, ITU has launched a programme intended to make a difference not only to the future of young people involved in ICTs in developing countries but to the communities from which they come as well.
Links:
ITU
Information Society: Voices from the South Posting on 07/08/03.

Work An Hour(WAH), Asha for Education's annual on-line event, brings people from around the world together to work towards educating India's underprivileged children by donating an hour's or more worth of their salary. This year, Asha has committed to raise $125,000 through WAH by September 5th,celebrated as Teacher's Day in India. The funds raised will go to fourworthy projects spread across India. Donations for WAH can be made by credit card or check any time through September 5th.The theme of the projects selected for WAH 2003 is children at risk (children in especially disadvantaged situations such as street children,
children of sex workers, children of convicts, etc.) and disabled children. They are from different regions of India and are all excellent projects.Let us hope WAH 2003 contributes to a better future for these children.Explore more at WAH2003 website or email to help educating India's children.

If you are enrolled in Primary School (9 years old and up), Intermediate School, or Secondary School and not younger than 9 years old nor have already graduated from Secondary school,here is how you can exhibit your creative bent of mind in the Final Summit of WSIS.ITU and UN organizes the WSIS Poster Contest 2003 for you.All you have to do is to draw a poster on a theme and send it along with the entry form to the UN Headquarters at New York.
Best wishes...
Links:
ITU Announcement [http://www.itu.int/wsis/promotional/poster/index.html]
Guidelines and Entry Form [http://cyberschoolbus.un.org/wsis/guidelines_entryform.asp]
Letter to Teachers [http://www.un.org/cyberschoolbus/wsis/coverletter_web.pdf]
UN Cyberschoolbus[http://cyberschoolbus.un.org]
WSIS Official Site [http://www.itu.int/wsis]

For full post at india-gii on 07/03/03.
Request for information on the availability of venture capital for intiating ICT projects for the young people in India.

Posted at Information Society: Voices from the South Forum on 07/02/03.
I am delighted to announce that the WSIS India.Org, the website of the Indian National Youth Campaign for the World Summit on the Information Society(WSIS) is now accessible at: http://www.wsisindia.org.This is the part of the intiative of a group of young people advocated by Centre for Youth Development and Activities(CYDA),India and TakingITGlobal.Org,Canada undertaken as part of the National Level Youth Consultation Process by the WSIS Youth Caucus of the WSIS.
Read comments of Wainaina Mungai,'Gbenga Sesan, Glory Mushinge.

Posted at india-gii on 07/02/03.
"Students in Finland are among the world's best in terms of reading literacy, while students in Japan, Hong Kong-China and Korea lead in mathematics and science, according to a newly published survey of 15-year-olds in 43 countries. By contrast, students in several Latin American countries lag seriously behind in all three areas, even after taking account of lower national income levels." Reports Literacy Skills for the World of Tomorrow brought out by the PISA,OECD and UNESCO.

Posted at india-gii on 07/02/03.
A team of four school students will represent India at the IOI (Interational Olympiad Informatics) 2003 scheduled to be held at the University of Wisconsin in the United States.The International Olympiad in Informatics is one of the six Science Olympiads held annually.
Source:The Hindu,07/01/03.

Now it is too late for contributing a paper for this seminar.On 17th,soon after my examination,I shall be catching up a train to Kalyani.

Just uploaded full information at the ILO/HR website.Hope it shall be favouring me!

I have opened a space for myself at BSCW.

Received Nitin's mail dated 23 Jun 2003 with Draft Program Schedule on Intercontinental Youth Camp 2004.