We have got some exciting updates [1] from the FOKO Madagascar project [2]. FOKO has completed its expansion efforts in Northern Madagascar. The SAVA region and Antsiranana are now part of the FOKO network. More news from the project Blog [1]:
FOKO also scores cooperation with like-minded activists : New York based Malagasy singer Razia Said [3] and FOKO are now walking hand in hand in to promote conservation awareness [4].
FOKO is helping to set up new media facilities at the Press Center in Diego writes [5] Stéfane. Another feat of the project is successfully conducting a blog and new media workshop for IST students.
On Saturday, June 13th, Stéfane [6], Pati [7], Tahina [8], Andry [9], Affick (SAVA's coordinator) and Ariniania [10] together took the workshop.
[11]Group Photo during the IST workshop
Tahina writes [12]:
The IST [13] (fr) is a renowned private institute located in Ampasampito (not far away from downtown) that proposes several fields of studies to its students.
The workshop went well in a good ambiance and the connection speed didn’t spoil it too much. We noticed that few of them were more curious than the others and that led Andry to jump on the basic uses of Twitter (yes, they wanted more and more) after being through with WordPress.
Ariniaina writes [14] how they lured participant as the event was not well informed:
One of the guys asked what was that “blog” mean. So I said “if you want to know more, you are invited to join us at the ESPATEL (the name of the cybercafé)”.
The FOKO bloggers are prolific in their writing and you will be amazed to learn many aspects of Madagascar from them. Ariniaina caught the joy [15] of the Malagasy children playing kite in words and pictures, witnessed a fire [16] at Esplanade Analakely, describes [17] the works of the project that cleans water of Marais Masay swamp, writes [18] about a Rickshaw manufacturer at Antsirabe and the business of wrapping gifts [19] on the mother day. And the most interesting one [20], do you know “how to make a candle last?”:
[21]The candle is covered with newspaper. Fold a sheet of newspaper, wrap up the candle with it. Doing so will help you have candle light for more than two hours. Clever!
Moonlightgirl portrays [22] the quiet and peaceful country side in Madagascar. The blogger also writes about the damaged roads [23] in Madagascar, driving on which can be a nightmare for everyone.
Pati writes [24] about a sad incident; an university student was raped by robbers.
Tahina recalls [25] the traumas of the political unrest in Madagascar, which started last January. This has divided the country and now even raising the green-white-red flag [26] of Madagascar on the independence day can be interpreted as a poltical statement.
Besorongola writes [27] that a recent multilateral negotiation to ease the tensions in Madagascar has failed. Fanantenana at Hope For Madagascar [28] was skeptical about this negotiation:
The crux of the matter is that the foreigners behind the dialogue don’t want major changes happen that could bring real democracy to the country but rather put fat in the fire, Divide To Rule. The EU presents the country with an ultimatum again with the organization of an hasty election and Andry Rajoelina swallow the bait in his conquest for international recognition though already and widely recognized by all Malagasy, what’s matter the native Malagasy or the Europeans .
Andrydago at The Cyber Observer had the opportunity to attend a live broadcast of the US president Barack Obama's speech. The broadcast of the speech was shown at the ACC (American cultural center), Antanimena in Antananarivo, the capital of Madagascar. He wrote [29] about his reactions on the speech.
Raslmetal writes [30] that Madagascar has entered in an era of strikes, when the strikes seem to be ubiquitous.
To celebrate Patrick's [31] first anniversary of blogging, Joan took an interview of him [32]:
Why did I start to blog?
To be frank, I don’t know. You know why? Because when Mr. Stéphane and Mrs. Valerian called me with my team from BUEC for the first time, I never even heard about that “BLOG” Then when I started and surfed around the old bloggers blog at that time, one thing came out from my mind: it’s the only one way where can I make my voice heard, the only one way to make BUEC known, the only one way to have a lot of friends in very short time, the only one way that I can listen from all around the world. That’s why I became fan of blogging.
To get more updates from the FOKO bloggers please visit their Netvibes page [33] and their Flickr account [34].