Haiti Networking Successes With Your Support
Inveneo has been on the ground less than a week, and we’ve already deployed long-distance WiFi links between ten NetHope member organizations, bringing high-speed Internet access – critical communication capacity – to relief agencies making a difference in Haitian lives.
We’re creating a robust network that’s spanning the entire city – quite a feat in the cluttered urban landscape. But Mark Summer, Andris Bjornson, and the rest of the Inveneo team could not have done this alone. We’ve had amazing support from the entire technology and relief communities.
First, we’d like to thank the outstanding team at NetHope and their member organizations. Working together to do everything from finding the GPS coordinates of various offices, providing transportation to get us there, and even duct taping sandbags to stabilize our antennas, the NetHope response has been impressive. To quote one satisfied customer, “NetHope really has become a synonym for ‘teamwork’!”
Next, the outpouring of volunteer talent and resources has truly been amazing, helping organize our deployment, to hacking code for our in-country work, to getting the word out on our progress. Of specific note are OpenStreetMap and Open NMS.
OpenStreetMap volunteers are turning post-quake satellite images into street maps that we can load onto handheld GPS units. This is an immense help in finding sites and our way back home in the Port-au-Prince chaos. Remember, most street signs and landmarks were destroyed in the earthquake, so navigation is challenge – even for Haitians.
OpenNMS is a critical aspect of our WiFi network, because it allows us manage the load across fifteen different sites spanning a dozen organizations. Using it, we’re able to throttle or expand bandwidth where necessary to keep vital Internet data flowing. The OpenNMS team has volunteered many hours of time already and even created an account for us in their commercial support system – generosity we truly appreciate.
To quote Andris, “OpenNMS has been awesome, allowing us to stay on top of problems even before they develop.”
Long-distance WiFi links to relief
Expanding Our Impact
As we complete the initial NetHope network, we’re receiving requests for assistance from other organizations in Haiti to rebuild and expand their ICT infrastructure. Haitian ICT entrepreneurs are also eager to build their own skills, and participate in the reconstruction of their country.
This is an opportunity to increase our impact, help Haitians rebuild their businesses, and build lasting capacity in Haiti by expanding our innovative technology model into the country.
You can stay involved in these efforts by following us in real-time via RSS, Twitter, or Facebook.
Contribute To Our Response
We also hope you’ll join NetHope, the EKTA Foundation, Aruba Networks, the Orr Foundation, Steve Okay and Andrea Longo, and many of your friends and colleagues in supporting Inveneo’s Haiti response.
We are appealing for donations to cover the basic costs associated with this expansion of our Haiti relief efforts, including equipment, logistics and on the ground expenses. Please considerdonating to Inveneo using PayPal or Google Checkout below.
Inveneo is a US-based 501(c)3 non-profit charitable organization. If you are a US resident, and donate before February 28th, your donation may be tax deductible for the 2009 tax year.
All donations through February 28, 2010 will be used only for Haiti relief efforts, including the project to get connectivity to the major NGOs in Haiti.
Donate via Google Checkout
You can make a donation through this Google Checkout link:
Donate via Paypal
You can make a donation through this Paypal link:
Donate via Check or Money Order
Or send a check to Inveneo:
- Inveneo
- 972 Mission Street, Fifth Floor
- San Francisco, CA 94103 USA
