NEWS: Ken Banks interviewed by anthropology researchers

Ken Banks has been interviewed by researchers at the University of Texas for a forthcoming book focussing on how anthropologists are contributing to the development of technologies that address the challenges of globalisation. According to the books authors, “The phenomenon of globalization has generated many opportunities for anthropologists to make a practical difference in the lives of people around the world”. They were particularly interested in kiwanja‘s focus on human-centred, grassroots, appropriate technology solutions, and the application of anthropological theories and techniques in its wider work

The book – which currently goes by the working title of “The Practice of Anthropology: Addressing Challenges of Globalisation” – is due for publication late next year. The research project has also been awarded a seminar at the School for Advanced Research in Santa Fe and a Presidential Session at the next meeting of the American Anthropological Association. Further details on this – and the book publication date – will be made available nearer the time

Time. And place.

“The golden opportunity you are seeking is in yourself. It is not in your environment. It is not in luck or chance, or the help of others. It is in yourself alone…”

Orison Swett Marden (1850-1924)

A Malawian perspective on FrontlineSMS

Josh Nesbit – a Senior in the Human Biology Program at Stanford University – spent the best part of this summer working in a rural hospital in Malawi, where he also implemented FrontlineSMS. Here, Alexander Ngalande, the Home-Based Care nurse at St. Gabriel’s Hospital in Namitete, talks about his experiences of the software, and how it has impacted healthcare delivery for 250,000 people (video courtesy of Josh Nesbit)

NEWS: kiwanja’s latest PC World column online

The October 7th, 2001 invasion of Afghanistan did more than mark the beginning of the “War on Terror.” It also paved way for the introduction of the first mobile phone networks in the country, networks that today find themselves pawns in the fight between the Taliban, the government and security forces. kiwanja’s latest PC World column – “Mobiles, SMS Play a Role in Afghanistan Security” – looks at the emergence of mobile telecommunications in the war-torn country, and how they can help the work of humanitarian NGOs on the ground

Note: This is a re-worked version of the “FrontlineSMS on the frontline” posting on kiwanja’s own website