[Olpc-za] culture sharing initiative - workshop in Johannesburg

[KARA SPRINGER]

Hi,  I posted a bit about this on the open forum.  I'm
a student working on my thesis in paris which is
turning into a culture sharing initiative i'd like to
be able to run alongside the implementation of the XO
laptops.  It's basically an open web-based platform
for artists/writers/academics/ and storytellers to
share their work and ideas, after which users can
engage with it (in video clip format) through
translation as well as organizing the clips into
whatever discussion threads they find interesting. 
It's a program i'd like to connect to current open
courseware projects whereby students (or non-students)
who become interested in a topic through creative
explorations of it by members of local as well as
international communities - dance, folktales,
literature, etc, could then connect to more structured
content through MIT or UWC for example.  

In any case, it's a project in its preliminary stages
of development, but i'll be organizing a workshop of
artists and programmers in toronto next month, and
then i'd like to do the same in Johannesburg in
July/August as I'll be taking part in the Global
Studio (people building better cities
conference/studio) there this summer.   What I'm
looking to do is to hook up with local artists and
academics, writers,etc. as well as any video/media
groups who might be interested in getting involved,
and then just start collecting material - which would
mean digitalizing their work as well as doing some
interviews and that sort of thing, and then also
getting feedback from them.  There's also a group of
Nigerian artists who may continue working on the
project there later this summer.

I figured I'd contact this mailing list to see if
anyone knows of people who might be interested in
getting involved, as well as on the organizational
side if anyone knows of any community centers or media
groups who might be able to help us out with access to
space and that sort of thing.  

I should probably have introduced myself.  I'm Kara, a
Barbadian born student who grew up in Canada and is
now studying in France.  I'm just learning about the
olpc initiative in South Africa, but it would be a
pleasure to connect with any of you who are in the
Johannesburg area this summer (also possibly Capetown
if i'm able to make it down there).  

thanks,

kara.