Press Room

Global VSAT Forum sponsored NetHope Advanced VSAT Training in Nairobi

December 02, 2009

NAIROBI, Kenya -- NetHope, the US based global information technology alliance of 28 of the world's largest aid agencies, in partnership with the Global VSAT Forum (GVF) and African eDevelopment Resource Centre (AeRC), launched the third advanced practical VSAT training  in Nairobi November 18-20, 2009. The GVF Instructor was Nenad Bojovic, International Rescue Committee Manager, who achieved his VSAT instructor certification earlier this year.  Ten NetHope IT professionals representing six African countries, including: Mauritania, Sierra Leone, DR Congo, South Sudan, Kenya and Malawi, participated in the training class.  “All materials were successfully delivered and the students had sufficient time to assemble, point and commission the system. The students had a good academic and practical grasp of VSAT installation and troubleshooting by the end of the class”, said Nenad Bojovic.  A few students requested that the course materials and online curriculum be translated into French. This request was also made at the prior two training sessions. 

IDirect and Skylogic donated six VSAT systems to support hands on installation and troubleshooting exercises at the African eDevelopment Resource Centre.  For the first two classes, iDirect and Skylogic also sent expert engineers to support course development and practical sessions. “This is the first time training was conducted without flying experts in from Europe or the United States. It is the model we want to follow to foster technical workforce development in the NGO community.” said Bill Brindley, NetHope Executive Director.  More NGO professionals are seeking to achieve GVF Instructor certifications so that the Nairobi model may be expanded.

VSAT is the most practical solution in Africa and more VSAT installation training classes need to be scheduled for the NetHope community. “One limiting factor, even with local instructors, is cost”, said Joe Simmons, NetHope Connectivity Program Director.  “We are seeking to identify sponsors who will help pay for tuition. One idea is where the amount put up by the NGO is matched by a donor”.   

David Hartshorn, Secretary General of GVF, recently obtained a financial commitment from SpeedCast to support NetHope tuition matching for a training class in Asia early in 2010.  “GVF plans to build upon our collaboration and train100s of local workers over the next two years. GVF training will be offered through training centers in West Africa and selected locations in Asia in 2010”, said David Hartshorn.

NetHope aid organizations must install hundreds of new VSAT sites in the next 24 – 36 months to support their field programs.  VSAT solutions are also especially critical to deploying relief in the wake of disasters. Donations for tuition and VSAT tools kits are needed to achieve these objectives.

For more information, contact:

Joe Simmons, NetHope Connectivity Program Director

josimmons@nethope.org