I went to a great meeting hosted by NetHope and Plan International in Cairo, Egypt during the last week of February. The idea was to get several of the NetHope partners together — both IT companies and INGOs — to discuss ways of working together in the area of ICTs and Education.
I took advantage of the meeting to make some more “Reality Videos”, similar to the mHealth Reality Videos that James Bon Tempo and I did during the mHealth Summit.
1) My Finnish colleague Mika Valitalo asks ‘Really, what’s all the fuss? We just got some equipment and dropped it off in the community and it all worked fine….’
2) Nzila shares what was learned at the workshop and focuses on Grapho Game, a tool to improve literacy in local language.
3) Marcha Neeling says throwing devices at people will not solve any development issues.
4) Mohamed Hussein talks about how ICT4D needs to be led by programs and supported by ICT staff, not the other way around.
5) Maria Berenguer notes that teachers need computer training first if they are to use computers with their students.
6) Chris Bane reminds us that we don’t always need super sophisticated tools. Sometimes very simple ICTs can make all the difference.
7) Edison Nsubega explains that it’s important to base your selection of ICT tools and platforms on the local context and situation that you are trying to resolve.
Some of the top organizations and corporations working in the mobile technology and health space will gather December 5–7 at the 
The Reality Booth is a place for practitioners working in rural settings or implementing programs in ‘developing’ countries to connect with others working in similar situations and facing comparable challenges. It offers a space to share and learn from peers who implement mHealth programs on the ground and to get advice on resolving the kinds of difficulties that probably won’t be highlighted during the official presentations.
Wait... What? 