Mekong ICT Camp Press Release

The Mekong Sub-Region ICT Camp
Pattaya, Thailand - Feb 25 to Feb 29, 2008

The Mekong Sub-Region ICT Camp is a five-day capacity development
workshop on information and communications technology for media groups
and non-governmental organisations in the Mekong sub-region. This
event will invite over 70 participants and facilitators mainly from
Myammer, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam and Thailand, to bring about an
effective use of information and communications technology and a
widespread of ICT network in order to strengthen alternative media and
non-profits in the region as independent information source.

Participants represent media and NGOs working in the Mekong sub-region
countries with a history of working with service and advocacy in NGOs,
educational organisations, NGO resource centres, community centres,
health information organisations, Media agencies and Alternative media
organisations.

The focus of the agenda will be on the following four areas:
1. Information Management,
2. E-Advocacy,
3. Computer Network for development, and
4. Promotion of the Use of Open Source Software
  among the Media Organizations and NGOs.

The workshop will take place from February 25th to 29th at Thammasart
University Learning Resort, Pattaya, Chonburi province, Thailand.
Pattaya city is a famous beach resort located 147 km southeast of
Bangkok and faces the Thai Gulf.

This event is organized by the Thai Fund Foundation and collaborative with a group of dedicated organisations: TRN Institute, Thai Volunteer Service, and Volunteer Spirit Network.

The Mekong ICT Camp is realized thanks to the kindest support from:
the Open Society Institute, Southeast Asian Center for e-Media
(SEACeM), the Friedrich Naumann Foundation, Internews, CAT Telecom,
Bank of Thailand, Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau.

So far, two ICT camps entitled by AsiaSource have been held for NGO
workers in Asia. The first one took place at Bangalore in India in
2005, and the second at Sukabhumi in Indonesia. The events were organized by Tactical Technology Collective. More than 400 participants from all over Asia attended the workshops. These events have played a key role to increase the number of ICT specialists in Asian NGO sector that can transfer their knowledge to others worldwide.

For more information please visit website: www.mekongict4d.org or contact to e-mail: mekongict4d@ict.or.th