Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site bbncca.ARPA Path: utzoo!linus!bbncca!jbray From: jbray@bbncca.ARPA (James Bray) Newsgroups: net.jobs,net.politics Subject: Technical Aid to Nicaragua Message-ID: <766@bbncca.ARPA> Date: Wed, 6-Jun-84 20:47:21 EDT Article-I.D.: bbncca.766 Posted: Wed Jun 6 20:47:21 1984 Date-Received: Thu, 7-Jun-84 00:57:56 EDT Organization: Bolt, Beranek and Newman, Cambridge, Ma. Lines: 77 Here is some information about a group called tecNICA, which provides a way for `computer people' to help out in Nicaragua. Don't agree with Reagan and the CIA and their fascist Contra friends? Here's a great way to show it. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- tecNICA Technical Aid to Nicaragua While the Reagan administration tries to destabilize the Sandinista Government of Nicaragua, other people are finding ways to aid this struggling Third World nation. The Nicaraguan revolution is unique in the world with its mixture of idealism and pragmatism. It has attracted the support of people and governments of many different political persuasions. One of the most important forms this support takes is technical assistance. Many of us have been trained in various fields of the computer industry or in areas depending heavily on their use -- economics, statistics, administration, etc. In the past year, a number of these professionals have traveled to Nicaragua in groups or individually. While there, they have initiated and worked on projects in banking operations, agriculture, and other fields. Additional support projects have been requested in the central bank (international, public investment), the ministries of Education, planning, health, and the University of Central America. All of these are ongoing projects that require technical support both in the United States and Nicaragua to succeed. Nicaragua has a fair quantity of relatively sophisticated hardware but a serious shortage of trained personnel and usable software to fully utilize this equipment. This is a serious deficiency for any country, but especially one trying to develop its fragile economy against the odds faced by the Nicaraguans. However, it is a deficiency which can be helped in a very real and immediate way. By volunteering our time to conduct a workshop, provide consulting or by living and working in Nicaragua our knowledge and expertise can make enormous contribution to the struggle of the Nicaraguan people. Providing the means to make this exchange happen is the object of tecNICA. In conjunction with various agencies and ministries of the Nicaraguan Government we are conducting a series of workshops that will provide many of their people with much needed skills. They provide lodging and meals during our stay but because of the scarcity of foreign currency they ask each of us to provide our own air fare (about $700). Workshops are one week long with several different ones being conducted each week over a two week period. This allows individuals to teach for either one or two weeks depending on their own work schedules and time commitments at home. Consulting with agencies on problems relating to their own particular application is also provided when possible. During our stay we set aside as much time as possible for travel to see Nicaragua and its people. In addition, one can stay longer for more extensive travel. Workshop Participants We need people who can either travel to Nicaragua to conduct these workshops or consult, as well as people who can provide much needed project research and development here. Long Term Residents The greatest contribution to these and other projects would of course come from a consultant working full-time on a job, for an extended period. A great deal more training and support could be provided. To accomplish this, we are helping the Nicaraguans find professionals who can make longer commitments (month or more) and work as a full-time employee of a ministry or agency. We are currently organizing our summer trips. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- For more information, drop me a line: decvax!bbncca!jbray jbray@bbncca.arpa