Macha Works Citations

Fully connected Macha tweets(1)⁠, feeds(2)⁠, and meets(3)⁠. Macha Works' theory of change(4)⁠ is made practical through the Macha Works model(5)⁠.

LinkNet(6)⁠ executes its masterplan(7)⁠, bringing Internet connectivity using a collaborative approach(8)⁠ for use in rural areas of Zambia(9)⁠ in line with locally expressed needs for Information and Communications Technologies(10)⁠.

Engineering in Macha has impact(11)⁠, for instance through rural implementation of a mixed wireless mesh network(12)⁠ and internet usage and performance analysis of the wireless network(13)⁠ and its traffic characterization(14)⁠. ePiano, a case of music education via internet(15)⁠, is one of its innovative uses. More featured in BBC Clicks' documentary(16)⁠, fueling outlooks on futures of technology in Africa(17)⁠ and scores like finalist of the Stockholm Challenge(18)⁠.

Research and Development findings appear in blogs(19)⁠, local reports as Integral International Development Case study: Macha(20)⁠, eLearning for rural communities(21), and internet as non-monetary incentives for human resource retention in the health sector(22)⁠. Further deliverables are invited articles like 'an inclusive world'(23)⁠, presentations, among those for Zambian regulator(24)⁠, IEEE(25)⁠, House of Chiefs(26)⁠, CTO(27)⁠, conferences(28)⁠(29)⁠, and universities(30)⁠, posters(31)⁠(32)⁠, and book contributions(33)⁠(34)⁠.

1. Macha Works. Macha Works (machaworks) | Twitter [Internet]. [cited 2011 Jun 19] Available from: http://twitter.com/#!/machaworks

2. Vision Broadcasting. Macha Broadcasting | YouTube [Internet]. [cited 2011 Jun 19] Available from: http://www.youtube.com/machabroadcasting#g/u

3. Macha Works. Macha Works | Facebook [Internet]. [cited 2011 Jun 19] Available from: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=7101983147

4. Macha Works. Theory of Change | Macha Works [Internet]. 2011 ;[cited 2011 Jun 18] Available from: http://www.machaworks.org/en/what-does-macha-works-do.html

5. Van Stam G, Van Oortmerssen G. Macha Works! [Internet]. In: Frontiers of Society On-Line, April 26-27th, 2010, Raleigh, NC, USA. 2010. [cited 2011 Apr 1] Available from: http://journal.webscience.org/339/

6. Co-operative Societies R of. Certificate of Registration LinkNet. 2007 ;

7. Van Stam G. LinkNet Masterplan, Communications for rural Zambia [Internet]. 2006 ;(February):33.Available from: www.link.net.zm

8. Matthee K, Mweemba G, Pais A, Van Stam G, Rijken M. Bringing Internet connectivity to rural Zambia using a collaborative approach [Internet]. In: International Conference on Information and Communication Technologies and Development. Ieee; 2007. p. 1-12.Available from: http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/lpdocs/epic03/wrapper.htm?arnumber=4937391

9. Van Hoorik P, Mweetwa F. Use of internet in rural areas of Zambia [Internet]. In: Cunningham P, Cunningham M, editor(s). ST-Africa 2008. Windhoek, Namibia: IIMC International Information Management Corporation; 2008. p. 1-14.Available from: http://unpan1.un.org/intradoc/groups/public/documents/CPSI/UNPAN031149.pdf

10. Chief Chikanta HRH, Mweetwa F. The Need for Information and Communications Technologies [Internet]. Macha, Zambia: 2007. Available from: www.share4dev.info/kb/documents/4782.pdf

11. IEEE TV. Tryengineering “Careers with Impact”: van Stam [Internet]. IEEE TV; 2010. [cited 2011 Apr 5] Available from: http://ieeetv.ieee.org/Careers/tryengineering-careers-with-impact-van-stam

12. Backens J, Mweemba G, Van Stam G. A Rural Implementation of a 52 Node Mixed Wireless Mesh Network in Macha, Zambia [Internet]. E-Infrastructures and E-Services on Developing Countries. 2010 ;32–39.[cited 2011 Apr 1] Available from: http://www.springerlink.com/index/q14v1w1317501062.pdf

13. Johnson D, Belding EM, Almeroth K, Van Stam G. Internet Usage and Performance Analysis of a Rural Wireless Network in Macha, Zambia [Internet]. In: ACM Workshop on Networked Systems for Developing Regions (NSDRʼ10), June 15, 2010, San Francisco, CA, USA. 2010. Available from: http://portal.acm.org/citation.cfm?id=1836001.1836008

14. Johnson D, Pejovic V, Belding EM, Van Stam G. Traffic Characterization and Internet Usage in Rural Africa [Internet]. In: Proceedings of WWW, March 2011, Hyderabad, India. 2011. Available from: www.www2011india.com/proceeding/companion/p493.pdf

15. Shoemaker K, Van Stam G. ePiano, a case of music education via internet in rural Zambia [Internet]. In: Society On-Line, April 26-27th, 2010, Raleigh, NC, USA. 2010. [cited 2011 Apr 1] Available from: http://journal.webscience.org/340/

16. BBC Clicks. BBC Clicks - Macha Works [Internet]. BBC; 2011. [cited 2011 Apr 5] Available from: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fDVAxJLVFOE

17. Grosskurth J. Futures of Technology in Africa [Internet]. The Hague, the Netherlands: STT Netherlands Study Centre for Technology Trends; 2010. Available from: http://www.stt.nl/uploads/documents/192.pdf

18. Stockholm Challenge. Macha Works, Finalist 2010 Stockholm Challenge [Internet]. 2010 ;[cited 2011 Apr 5] Available from: http://www.stockholmchallenge.org/project/2010/macha-works

19. Van Stam G. Observations from Rural Africa [Internet]. [cited 2011 Jun 4] Available from: http://gertjanvanstam.blogspot.com/

20. Bets J. Research Series: Integral International Development Case study: Macha, Zambia. 2009 ;165.

21. Pais A. eLearning for rural communities. Africa. 2007 ;(April):1-22.

22. Van Stam G. Report on Non-Monetary Incentives for Human Resource Retention in the Health Sector. 2006 ;(July 2006):

23. Van Stam G. An Inclusive World. IEEE GOLDRush. 2008 ;4.

24. Van Stam G, Mweemba G, Mweetwa F. A Vision for Rural Telecommunications Connectivity in Zambia [Internet]. 2008 ;[cited 2011 Apr 5] Available from: https://sites.google.com/a/link.net.zm/20081218--communications-authority-of-zambia/

25. Van Stam G. IEEE Technology for Humanity [Internet]. 2008 ;[cited 2011 Apr 5] Available from: https://sites.google.com/a/link.net.zm/20081018-ieee-technology-for-humanity/

26. Mweetwa F, Mweemba G, Van Stam G. A Vision for Information and Communications Technology (ICT) in Rural Areas [Internet]. 2009 ;[cited 2011 Apr 5] Available from: https://sites.google.com/a/machaworks.org/20090514-house-of-chiefs/

27. Van Stam G. Investments in ICT transforms Rural Economy [Internet]. 2009 ;[cited 2011 Apr 5] Available from: https://sites.google.com/a/machaworks.org/20091210-cto_invest_in_ict/

28. Van Stam G. Experience in ICT roll out in Rural Zambia “It is all about the Local Talent” [Internet]. 2009 ;[cited 2011 Apr 5] Available from: https://sites.google.com/a/machaworks.org/20091203-africomm_2009/

29. Van Stam G. Rural Development with Information and Communication Technology as Key Enabler [Internet]. 2008 ;[cited 2011 Apr 5] Available from: https://sites.google.com/a/link.net.zm/20081203--innovating-across-borders/

30. Van Stam G. Case: Village Turn Around in Rural Zambia with ICT as Engine of Change [Internet]. 2008 ;[cited 2011 Apr 5] Available from: https://sites.google.com/a/link.net.zm/20081023--ucsb-have-u-got-what-it-takes---rural-africa/

31. Stam G van, Oortmerssen G van. Macha Works! [Internet]. Available from: http://machaworks.academia.edu/GertjanVanStam/Talks/20323/Poster_Presentation_Macha_Works_

32. Shoemaker K, Van Stam G. e-Piano, a case of music education via e-learning in rural Zambia [Internet]. Available from: http://machaworks.academia.edu/GertjanVanStam/Talks/20324/Poster_Presentation_ePiano

33. Geelhoed J, Samhoud S. Be Useful. Academic Service; 2011.

34. Samhoud S. The World into Connection. &Samhoudt; 2010.

Rural Africa's Rhythm sustains Progress

The solidity of every day life in rural Africa never seizes to impress me. The strength to stand tall amidst tidal waves of difficulties, enshrined in the collective search for wise guidance in situations of change, humbles me each day.

It is the strength of rhythm, the tuning into local culture, which sustains balance. The sense of belonging aids in finding equilibrium, time and again.

Daily I am taught in the rewards reaped from honoring birthed connections with one's family, the community, the nation, the continent, and humanity at large. In such environment ethical behavior is defined and regulated, and works measured and evaluated.

Human values as love, solidarity, and empathy fuel caring for the other, the environment, and ecology. This yields balance in expressions of humanness, also in music, poetry, dance, and sports.

In such solid basis, change only occur when roots go deep, like well grounded, slow maturing hard woods. Then change will allow for fair play, and sustains courage in times of difficulties. Then change will last. Of course, no quick results, nor short lived fruits.

Change in rural Africa can and will sustain change in towns, change in country, change in continent, and change in humanity.

Post-disciplinary Research

While studying, debating, and writing on the evidence witnessed in rural communities, senses of excitement and frustration intermingle. Discoveries and additional knowledge are butting all over the place, accelerated because of good connectivity. Regrettably, what I witness and interact with in my daily routine does not to relate well with outcomes from current research.

Current science provides models, languages, into which realities are translated for dissection and scrutiny. Such floats on post-modern paradigms, tossing individual – supposedly aggregated – parts, through filters of compartmentalized theories and vogue methodologies, to scientific disciplines that questioning them to pieces.

How to understand the holistic and oral rural African realities through such thinking and processes?

How suitable is the current approach to transform the many relationships and operations of existing rural African reality into scientifically described relationships and operations in a disciplinary dissected image - to transform from one domain to an other domain, as if it is a mathematical Laplace transform operation? And, after formulating findings in the transformed, disciplinary image, does an inverse transform to reality really work? Misses and failures of many systems of intervention, projects that do not scale (up), and technologies whom function start to deteriorate right after implementation seem to point in a different direction.

Disciplinary approaches seems to lose crucial information on dynamic issues and human ingredients. And its outcome often has limited applicability in the holistic environment of real life in rural environments:

• Human ingredients? Think of, the social codes as in practices, politics as in human interaction, collective knowledge as in culture, inclusiveness as in hospitality, and religion as in worldview.
• Dynamic needs? Alignment as in values, job creation as in existing domestic environments, bridging as in social and economic divide, engagement as in poverty alleviation, and esteem as in progress.
  

Instead of focussing I am drawn towards widening. The interlinked and interdependent society is just really complex, and is difficult to see even when using multi-diciplinary lenses.

Lets get on with it, and engage in post-disciplinary research.

Respectfully Yours

Everyday I am thrilled to be able to interact with people in rural areas, to witness characteristics of individuals and communities, and see rural leaders and members wielding their power of choice.

How valuable people and rural areas are! What a privileged times, in which we are connected, together focussing on inspiring each other to reach our common and individual potential.

I am thankful for the local communities to open their societies, and provide welcome to me and my family. I am grateful for the national leadership for permission and guidance, to associate and live. It is instructive to live up close and see structures of leadership - how chiefs and headman work in governing their subjects – and to appreciate the complexity of tasks at hand in national government.

I am humbled by the support provided by many, often from far away. I recognize the sacrifices, made by individuals and associations, to support rural communities and people they do not even know.

I thank all persons in authority – local, regional and national civil and social leadership - and numerous partners, for abundant blessings, and for allowing us to partake in rural life, which is life to the fullest!