Hi, I am from South Africa and can assist with the process of establishing a web presence. I suggest we tackle the website in phases. The first phase would entail a basic website perhaps 5 or 6 pages that give a general idea about the orphanage not too much interactivity we could always add more functionalities later. I could assist with the actual planning/designing and coding of the site. I would also see if the suggested names are taken, finding a host is a little more problematic. Christa

Dear Eric and Barb and Christa

I think that Christa is saying best to get the structure right first. Name later.

As regards name, I would like to suggest that the name needs to be: [1] something that a reader anywhere can look at and remember [2] affirmative, looking to the future, not the past or even present. What name would the children like?

As regards structure, that does need very clear vision, and clear vision in the strategic perspective of the community.

I have struggled with structure for www.ourcongo.net because -- well, to be honest, because the need to design has been there longer than CMS as a design option and because I have not myself made the leap to CMS. Also many of the CMS solutions have seemed very unattractive. In the end, www.ourcongo.net becomes one central sign post to different places of interaction. You need something solid, in the middle, the sign post of purpose. you need other elements which can be readily updated. We are dealing there, I should note, with a situation where the support is coming largely from OUTSIDE Nabuur, or from people who find the Nabuur page of interest but want to work away from this site on their own projects with the local representatives. In the past week, I have been reeling at the new ideas arriving. The question is of presenting the local community with a capacity to do projects... it all comes back to that. The content must be driven by their plans and personalities, in their words.

I will be watching to see what you can devise!

Hosting: I use www.ipower.com - about $100 a year allows hosting of six domains. On one of these I have www.aplaceof.info www.newzof.us www.tomerong.org www.newbushtelegraph.net www.truereconciliationdecade.net (in construction) and another reserved for a friend. On the other so far just www.ourcongo.net - with the subdomain (any number of those) of www.womenof.ourcongo.net

Please note that I have made a very simple, easy start to web presence for another project here:
http://nairobiyouthsports.blogspot.com/

Took minutes to make the start with that, a little longer to get the local representative confident to write. Frankly, when I think about it, that would have been a much easier way to begin with web presence! The blog option wasn't there when I started. You can use a blog to practice how you want to speak to the world. And it quickly becomes a place you can point people to, an indication of community life in an environment with which people are increasingly familiar.

best wishes

Dennis

Hi all,
the work of selecting a domain name can take a parallel route. meanwhile let the designing begin. you can point a domain at a later point also if the name has to be changed. there is not information in the wiki. i am a designer myself and also a hosting person. so somebody kindly update me as to how to go ahead with the content. i can copyright but need some more insight.

Hello Everyone,

Thank you for all the input and suggestions! I also have 4 other volunteers lined up to assist.

To answer the question regarding the wiki, there is no content as of yet. We are just in the planning stages and we want the community very much involved in deciding on content and structure and design.

The comments on name are well taken.

Barb

Hi All,
It seems that we might get a Hosting sponsor, will keep you updated. :-D

Hi everyone, I seem to be listed as one of the neighbours here. Didn't realise that. Thanks. Well, I run an internet consultancy and have always recommended PHP-Nuke or Joomla for community sites, preferably PHP-Nuke. I could register a domain, set up the hosting and install a PHP-Nuke on it within the next few days if all agree to a domain name. All this at no cost at all. I have done this for a few other villages on Nabuur. For those who are not familiar with PHP-Nuke, it is an easy to manage Content Management System (CMS) and updating and adding material (articles, pictures, news, etc) is quite simple. There is also a module for fund raising. Just say the word. Again, let me say again that ALL IS FREE!. Regards to all, Onye

Hello again. On the name, and further to my earlier post, I have since searched the following domains:
kenyaorphans.org (not available)
yatima.org (not available)
kiye.org (available)
kenyayatima.org (available)
kabondorphans.org (available)
kabondoorphans.org (available)
kabondo-orphans.org (available)
kabondo.org (not available)

I feel that kabondo-orphans.org would be the best to go for as it very clearly ties in with the project. So let me know what the choice is and we could have this up and running by Tuesday 23rd October, 2007. Regards to All. Onye

Hello Onye and everyone,

Thank you for taking responsibility for this task. I just have a few questions. Website design and hosting is not my area of expertise, so please forgive my ignorance of what is involved. Could you please provide some more information on the PHP and CMS and some of the other items you mention? What exactly are they? Is this something that once established, a member of the community could learn how to upkeep and maintain?

I ask because this is very important for the community. They would like to be involved in the development, providing content, pictures, etc., and ultimately teaching one of the orphans to maintain the site, as this would be a valuable skill to learn and share. It also means they have control over the site and a sense of ownership.

If you could provide examples or links to information on CMS and PHP, it would be appreciated.

Regarding the process for developing the site, if we break it down into phases or tasks that we can focus on, that would be good, so as I am not an expert, would some neighbours provide input on what steps need to be taken to develop the site. However, we also need to keep in mind the overall purpose, vision and overall design of the website so there is continuity and it serves the purposes of the community.

Regards,
Barb

Hello everyone, this is Giri from India. If someone is taking up the actual designing of the Website, I can help in writing and editing the content. I would also like to get involved in any discussion on the "branding aspects" of the web site (such as positioning, choice of links, colors, and so on).

Regards,
Giri.

Hello Giridharan,

Thank you for joining this discussion! Yes that would be great if you could assist with the editing and branding aspects. I will be breaking this task into smaller parts or steps once I have a better idea of what all the aspects are.

Barb

Hello Barb, information on php-nuke can be found at PHP-Nuke.

The following are a few examples of php-nuke sites:
Newhall FC
Christian Poems
Ethical Investment

A php-nuke site is one that can be updated and maintained by anyone with an internet connection who can type. It does not require any special skills. For instance Christian Poems has been managed by my daughter since she was 11. The community can take over the site from day 1.

If I am asked, I will register the chosen domain, set up the hosting and install php-nuke all in one go. Once php-nuke is installed, I will guide the local rep or whoever is designated to begin customise the site to their needs and to add content to the site. They should be able to take over the site and run it on their own.

If there are any design issues, then Giri and a few others have offered to help with design and content. But as I said, the community will be quite able to operate and maintain the site. It will only take a few hours to get them started. Moreover, I am available 24/7 to help with any problems.

I hope I have given you enough information.

Regards

Onye

Dear Onye

I have been building sites so fast I have not had time to master php-Nuke or Joomla - they always say it is so easy but the explanations of what to do after you download the script lacks some clarity. If you could provide the 'step by step' guide that would be wonderful. If it could be done in a document accessible for any or many communities at Nabuur, we could all move forward

best wishes

Dennis

Hi Dennis and All, here's the link to PHP-Nuke handbook

Hope this helps

Regards

Onye

Thank you Dennis and Onye,

This should be helpful!

Barb

Hi Barb, thanks for the email you sent with regards to the team for the web development. As, we now have a team, I guesss it's ok to go to specifics.

As mentioned earlier, I am prepared to register whatever domain name is chosen at my expense and continue to renew it. I will also provide free web hosting for the website. This will be on my servers so there is really no cost to me.

These two things we can at least start doing right away.

Regards

Onye