The story
Regional history
Twenty years of conflict and displacement have isolated the people of northern Uganda from the technological developments rapidly evolving in their own country and throughout the world. This isolation and lack of access to 21st century Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) have prevented communities from using the Internet for creative and innovative ways to meet community needs.
Instead, many communities have become reliant on traditional aid. However, with peace in northern Uganda, BOSCO-Uganda attempts to turn dependency into self-advocacy through the use of innovative and collaborative ICT technologies.
Initiated in 2006 under the umbrella of Gulu Archdiocese, BOSCO-Uganda implemented a pilot ICT project in 6 IDP-camps in Gulu and Amuru district (including CooPe, Unyama, Lacor, Pagak, Pabbo and Jengari) BOSCO-Uganda has since expanded its activities in Amuru and Gulu and is planning the further expansion to Kitgum and Pader Districts.
BOSCO-Uganda uses innovative technology particularly adapted to rural regions. Its internet stations, situated in rural communities and former internally displaced persons camps, consist of low-power, solar powered PCs connected to a high-speed, long-range WiFi Internet connection. Each communication station is linked to other BOSCO sites via a free VoIP telephony network and through a high-speed internal network (INTERNET) content management page.
Moving beyond the provision of technical solutions, BOSCO is concentrating on the development of both proven and emerging directions for ICT usage. These directions include computer education adapted to the realities of 21st Century global interconnectivity and a Web 2.0 collaborative approach to cooperation with health centers, e-agriculture, educational outreach, e-government, etc.
Organizational history
BOSCO USA was founded by Gus Zuehlke in 2007. Zuehlke established relationships with the Archdiocese of Gulu, including the Archbishop John Baptist Odama and Fr. Joseph Okumu, with whom he later co-founded the organization. In 2007, northern Uganda was benefiting from a tenuous cease fire, yet nearly 1.7 million people throughout the region remained stuck and isolated in Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps.
Zuehike discussed some of the needs and challenges the archdiocese and the people were facing. The Archbishop's priority was to help the Acholi people of northern Uganda end the severe isolation they were experiencing in the camps. By connecting camp schools, community centers, parishes, and health clinics to the outside world through Internet, the Acholi people could begin to end their isolation by advocating for their own cause.
In 2007, Zuehlke assembled an all-volunteer Board of Directors and incorporated BOSCO, Inc. as a 501(c)(3) not for profit organization. In April 2007, with the help of Inveneo and BOSCO's Founding Technical Director, Ted Pethick, BOSCO deployed the first set of low power, solar, PCs with long-range Internet in 6 site locations.
From Wikipedia’s article on BOSCO-Uganda, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.4