Jan 27 12
Research project kick-off in Kenya
Over the past few months, we’ve been engaging in discussions with iHub Research, a Nairobi-based organization that works from within the nerve center of Kenya’s technology community and has expertise in technology research and facilitation of local ICT research capacity in the region. Together, we have crafted an exciting research project that aims at assessing the Refugees United family tracing service from A-Z; from our mobile sign-up tools to the processes supporting this on-ground through our local partner organizations. Our tools and processes are subject to constant iterations and improvements, and during this research journey, we’ll invite you into our…
Nov 3 11
WIRED 2011 Conference
Having just returned from a whirlwind two and a half days of Wired11 conference in London I’m chock-full of inspiration and lingering thoughts from wicked conversations. Presided over by David Rowan and a rocking Wired team, the setting was picture perfect, taking up parts of the St. Pancras Renaissance Hotel with all its old-world charm of booking offices, arrival halls and a busy-quiet atmosphere. Some 300 people attended from the worlds of advertising and startups, tech, biotech and the media, with everyone in a beautiful mishmash of thoughts and conversations across all Olympic thought-disciplines. While all talks were fascinating and…
Oct 24 11
Pop!Tech Social Innovation Fellows 2011
David and I were recently announced as PopTech Social Innovation Fellows for the class of 2011. Following in the footsteps of several of our peers from Ushahidi, Praekelt Foundation and others, it is with wonder, pride and excitement that we enter this year’s classroom. Many fine and smart folks have stepped through these halls before us, and we’re sure that the process will leave us bruised with knowledge and insight, all the more equipped to face the immense challenges Refugees United stand before. As we “speak,” David is in Camden, Maine, damn well near cut off from the connected grid,…
Oct 6 11
Dadaab, Aug. 2011
Descending through the thin layer of clouds, the arid landscape of Dadaab appears below, pockmarked by the blue tents of the UNHCR hosting weary refugees. As we approach the short landing strip, the warm winds rising rattle the little propeller plane, dipping the wings on either side. Having left behind chilly Nairobi at 6 am, the warmth of Dadaab is a brief respite for my freezing toes, though soon, I, along with everyone else, wish for cooler weather – even during this winter “chill.” I disembark with a flurry of butterflies and head off to greet our partners, the wonderful…
Jul 27 11
Refugees United – Chapter 14
One of the challenges of heading to Russia was getting an entry visa. Mansour was still waiting for his “official” Danish passport, known for its color as the red beet, traveling under a blue, temporary one. This alone made it difficult to get a visa. Moreover, per Russian requirements you need an invitation from a hotel, and a reason for your visit. Two longhaired broke guys and an Afghan refugee didn’t, it seem, make for optimal tourists. However, through our stint working as teachers with immigrants and refugees, we were able to claim it a study trip and obtain the…
Jul 20 11
Refugees United – Chapter 13
A heavy stone fell from the hearts of both when they found each other. A sense of belonging, of not being completely alone anymore, was how they described the feelings that milled about. Unfortunately, the answer to each of the brothers’ first question on the whereabouts of the rest of the family was that neither knew anything. However, they had found each other, and that provided some hope. With the reunion’s glow waning after a few days, reality came barging through the door. Mansour learned that, while “luck” had graced his life after Peshawar, Ali had been less fortunate. Sold…
Jul 14 11
Refugees United – Chapter 12, Peshawar pt. 2
Mansour left the house to meet the trafficker, anxious to learn any news. The guy had shared with him the previous day that he might be able to unearth information about one of Mansour’s brothers, Ali. Stepping into the trafficker’s office took immeasurable courage on behalf of Mansour, and we’re still dumbfounded as to how he racked up the nerve to question, to push this criminal that had much evil on his conscience. But push he did, and after bribing him even more, learned that his one younger brother, Ali, 9-years-old last they had seen each other, now lived in…
Jul 12 11
Refugees United – Chapter 11, Peshawar
After months and months of seemingly no action or results, David, Mansour and I decided to try and take things into our own hands. At this stage Mansour had grown in courage and in his desire to unearth any information possible about what had happened to his family. He reached the decision to travel back to Peshawar in search of answers and of people who might assist him in his quest. Not a small feat, considering his young age, returning to the place and people who separated him from loved ones 5 years earlier. Peshawar is a hustle and bustle…
Feb 2 11
Refugees United Chapter 10 – A seed is sown
Hello world, Happy New Year! We do apologize for the absence of words during the Christmas holidays, but things have been hectic to say the least. Have a look at https://live.refunite.org for a glimpse of what’s been preoccupying us – a live dashboard detailing the deployment of the Refugees United and Ericsson mobile tracing tools. Back to where we left off. Meeting Mansour made it clear early on that he was to be the main subject of the short documentary on integration we had been commissioned to create. Smart, charismatic, hard-working and honest, Mansour is everything you would ever want in a…
Feb 2 11
Refugees United – Chapter 9, meeting Mansour
Greetings all, picking up where we left off some days ago. I am continuously amazed at the speed with which time disappears. Onwards to the continued story of Mansour: Through all this, Mansour’s thoughts strayed from realities and kept hidden the truth of life: his family was still missing. Rather, Mansour chose to push it aside in order to be able to live but half a life. However, when evening turned to night and memories came out to play, Mansour though of one thing only: what has happened to my family? As part of Mansour’s education, he studied at a…
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