User:JohnBCoy13/Open source NGO

Concept

An Open Source Non-governmental organization (NGO) works on the concept of self automation. Donors are abele to pick and choose which NGO project they wish to fund and which Freelancer NGO workers they wish to work on it. This is a new organizational concept in the NGO world. It is a mix of Wiki, Dungeons & Dragons, and progressive NGO power-sharing management where the stakeholders are the aid recipients.

Structure

Its basic organizational structure is taken from the concept of open source programming where all the users (in this case the givers) have the ability to make changes and freely use any piece of information.

This form of organization leads to hyper transparency, though has been known to also lead to errors. In the case of an Open source NGO, scams are the biggest worry.

Advice from a Open Source NGO participant John Coy []:

"In the past people who have engaged in OSNF have been heavily advised to do research before funding a project directly, and to consult the target community to find out what they actually need. In the Open source NGO format (OSNF), the [giver] is not the boss. The [giver] is actually working for the impoverished, sick, and dis-empowered people; their interests come before all else."

Operatives

Freelancer NGO operatives are people in developing countries who care aboutspecific issues affecting their community and want to do projects to try and improve their dire circumstances relating to issues such as AIDS, Malnourishment and Preventable Diseases.

The first known Operative of this kind is Felix B. Chaya[].

Known Operatives

Issues

John Coy discussed the trust issue during the December 9th 2008 EWB Concordia [] meeting. “As the old saying goes, ‘in the worst of all places you often meet the best of all people,’. However it is also true that the worst of all people are often present in those situations as well, and if you are a foreigner, it can sometimes be hard to tell who is who. Coy stated that most people can agree that it is hard to know who to trust, and when it comes to development or aid the colour of truth is always gray. Trust is an important and difficult aspect. Stranded auditing practices are highly recommended in the Open source NGO format (OSNF); however, they have been known to be difficult and expensive. In OSNF, it is also important to record anything that happens, prior to engaging in funding actions with an operative. It is not recommended to ask one operative (who is not an auditor) to audit another one. In theory, it creates an unhealthily competitive situation."

History

The first known open source NGO action was taken by John Coy in December 2008 when he decided to directly pay Felix B. Chaya, a Volunteer HIV/AIDS Councilor, to carry out a charitable operation which he knew Felix believed was necessary to help fight stigmatism in his community. John wrote up a budget of 300 Canadian dollars, dividing it into two major sections forming an operation budget. His first project was crude however in the future budgets would go into greater detail taking into consideration: the true cost of transportation, communications (cell phones), diplomatic lobbying of tribal leaders, salaries as well as equipment.

Photos Information and photos on the first OSNF Operative and HIV/AIDS in Malawi can be found on the avert.org []

""Letters""

From: Felix B. Chaya

To: John Coy

15, March, 2010

“Hie my friend John coy, firstly let me ask you about your life there in America, How are doing ? long time passes without receiving any mail from you friend. Here in Malawi everything its okey. I wish to inform that I a have a baby boy born on 17 December 2009 named John after your name.

I would like to inform you that in 2009 I was selected to be the best HIV testing and counseling Counselor and also chosen to be an HTC supervisor of my fellow volunteers in our District Nsanje.

The aim of writing this is to remind you about scholarship of HIV /AIDS Management and Rural development diploma/degree course in Malawi or outside. Here in Malawi some institution the fees including examination fees it cost $3000 for 2 years. I said this because Iam still facing a lot of challenges on finding resources because my treadle pump was stolen by thieves in November 2009 at my house.

Lastly, Iam requesting to continue assist me and my HIV/AIDS project because there is a lot to be done on the programme especially training of other HTC counselor as part of capacity bulding that can lead to behaviour change and trying to all people tested positive to services like ARV clinic, and to People living with HIV support groups in their respective areas next to them.

When replying remember to enclose your photos, I will download them and printing them, put them in a beautiful picture flame and paste in the wall in my house.

I will be looking forward to your response. I really trust you.

your friend

Felix B. Chaya  “