KCM Update

Dear all,
How are you going on? I would like to share some new updates from KCM site.

ICTs Infrastructure: For January 2008, the TS of the KCM pilot seek and explored some software for video conference such as NetOP School, i-visit and also collaborated with Gateway technician on stabilities of the networks. As the result of exploring, the NetOP School software was suggested to replace by other software ecause NetOP School based on the LAN and need a high speed bandwidth (at least 10Mbps) and our CPE Wimax can support up to 1Mbps, and Trango can support up to 10Mbps. Beside of the NetOP School, TS tried to test the other software call i-visit which recommended by PM but this software is need stable internet signal. TS spent his time to work closely with Technician from Gateway Communication Company to configure the network in all hubs to ensure its work properly. Base on the MoU, the project will provide internet signal to MVU, TS was dispatch to see and configure the network in MVU to make it work properly and as the result MVU has to purchase some equipment to make it work.

Research Activity: For February, the research coordinator was spent most of his time in documenting the process and other activities of the project. The achievement of this month are: completed the draft commune profile, three minutes meeting in both version, completed draft process of management committee election, and also published and distributed two iREACH note on Sugarcane and Cucumber.

Content Development: The missing of the Multimedia Coordinator is giving more tasks to CDs to handle, up to the end of February the CDs produced 6 new audio productions (New traffic Law Version 2, 7 vaccination, Tuberculosis, Pig Raising, Sugarcane Planting method and the effective of chemical fertilizer on soil and crop). Only two audio productions were recorded and distribute to target pagoda. In February, CDs try to test the first mobile video show in three communes (Prey Thom Secondary School in Smaong Tbaung Commune, Smoang Primary School in Smaong Cheung Commune and Kamchai Mear Market in Kranhoung Commune). For mobile video show we played the audio of the project and the picture slide show to the audiences before playing the movies. After finished disk one the CD also announce to the audiences about the project and the Hub close by to their village, and services that project offered.

Service Accessing and ICTs Training for Community: February is not different from January; there are many people access to the internet both in HQ and Hub especially in HQ by students. Base on the report of the CFs at Hub level still mostly focus on computer training to students except HQ which postpone the training, but we also found that it’s the first time that elder people came to our hub and try to type their name. At hub level we found that the eldest people come to type their name and listen to Buddha pray through “www.dhamma4khmers.org”. The total money earned from these services both in HQ and Hubs are now up to 100 Dollars and this money is keeping for community.

Project Staff and Management Committee Meeting: In February, the project only conducted meeting one time for project staff meeting to discuss about the progress of their activities. In the meeting, beside of discuss the progress of the project, staffs were asked to review the form that applied and asking to prepare the equipment and services follow up form.
Visioning Workshop: based on the objective of the project which want community to drive this project, the visioning workshop was pointed to do to set up the vision, mission, boundary & strategic partner, out come challenge and progress marker by community its own. Refer to the discussion of project team with our participatory advisor, the dry run have to be done before conducting the real visioning workshop and this decided to do in KEP pilot first (dry-run on February 26 and visioning workshop for KEP on February 28, 2008). I spent my time to attend and assist KEP team in doing these activities, as the result we completed the Vision, Mission, Boundary & Strategic Partner and Outcome Challenge, except only Progress Marker that not yet done because of time limited.

Welcome Visit: This month the project team in KCM welcomed the visit of Ms. Jackeline from Singapore and Marksurman from Tele-centre. The visitors were welcome presented by the PC in KCM about the progress of the KCM up to date and also the trial video conference (audio conference) by the TS. After presentation in HQ the visitors were welcomed by the PC to visit in Two Hubs and a Pagoda to see the actual activities in hub and the equipment for broadcast audio production.

IV. Conclusion:In short, I can say that beside of performance our regularly task of each division, project staff have more clear picture of the project (especially Community Facilitator) and understood of their responsibilities and committed to work. This month because of change in climate, project also faced with electricity exhausted in HQ and some hubs but in the HQ this is not cause problem because we have the generator for supply power to our work.

V. Difficulties and Solution: The climate was changed in February, some rain fall caused our solar panel cannot produce power enough for support to our equipment. In HQ this is not a problem because the project has a generator offered by the central and we just need power for 2-3 hours in the morning. But the problem occurred in three hubs such as; Prey Plorng power run out in the morning of February 27, 2008, Tean Pleung power run out in the morning on February 22, 25, 26 and 27, 2008 and for Beuk Touk normally power run out in the morning for 2 hours.