What Advice Would You Give to Women in Africa About using Web2.0 Tools to Advance their Work?

Oreoluwa Somolu

I've known Oreoluwa Somolu virtually for several years.   I came across Ore's writing via Sokari Ekine's fantastic bridge blogging of the African blogosphere on Global Voices.  I was a mentor on Ore's Blog Mentoring Project in Africa as Joitske Hulsebosch also writes about.  I also had a chance to work with Ore through Nancy White and KM4DEV Technology Stewardship issue.  It is amazing to me that we have this rich history of working on project together, but we have never met face-to-face!

Oreoluwa Somolu is Executive Director of the Women’s Technology Empowerment Centre (W.TEC).   So, when she invited to participate as a mentor in the Networking for Success project at the the Women’s Technology Empowerment Centre.   Of course, said yes.

The project will teach women how to use Web 2.0 tools and other ICTs to effectively develop and advance their work. Participants are learning how to use these tools to initiate and manage projects; as well as identify networking opportunities with other organizations. This project builds upon the work of the Blogs for African Women (BAWo) initiative; an earlier project aimed at introducing blogging to young Nigerian girls.

The mentors are assigned a topic and week and write a post.   The idea is to have a conversation with the participants.  They include:

• Oyindamola Akinpelu
• Olubusola Babalola
• Oluwatoyin Gbadegesin
• Obo Henshaw
• Phillicia Menewah-Deegha
• Olubunmi Osinuga
• Oluwatoyin Shinaba

So, this is my week to participate and my topic was "Effective Networking Online."  I decided to share some inspiration from two women bloggers who have often inspired me about effective personal networking — Liz
Strauss and Connie Bensen.   I've boiled it down to a few networking principles that work not matter what tool or site you're using. 

So, come join the conversation over at the project blog and share your thoughts with these amazing women in Africa about effective online networking.

Other posts that were part of this project:

Network Weaving Skills

Nurturing Relationships

Comments

[Connie Bensen]

Hi Beth,
I popped over to their blog but I can't see where to leave comments at? (I did notice that they're using the same blog theme that I'm using though). :)

Networking is one of the most gratifying things. Did you see Jeremiah's post on the importance of building a network before you need it?

Some new tips from me:
1. just like some talk about making a certain # of comments on blogs, take time to meet a certain # of new people each week. Do it on your social network - for example on Facebook browse thru friends of friends & find likeminded friends. Go into Facebook groups & find friends.

2. meet people from new areas - there is also value in meeting people from new areas. It forces you to learn new things. Expanding your horizons gets you out of your niche.

3. Don't ever feel like you're limited to preconceived ideas. My blogging & interactions continue to amaze me. I'm living in rural Minnesota & yet interacting with amazing people (thought leaders, authors, technical people, vendors, etc)! So no matter the locale believe that you can make a difference & go out & do that! If you're determined then you can make a difference.

[Ore]

Thanks for the honourable mention, Beth.

Connie, commenting on the blog is restricted to participants on the project and mentors. If it seems to defeat the purpose of social networking, it's only because we would like the participants to find their 'net feet' first in the somewhat safe haven of the project blog.

Ore

[Ore]

Thanks for the honourable mention, Beth.

Connie, commenting on the blog is restricted to participants on the project and mentors. If it seems to defeat the purpose of social networking, it's only because we would like the participants to find their 'net feet' first in the somewhat safe haven of the project blog.

Ore

[Liz Strauss]

The thing I've learned most about using Web 2.0 is that it's about being accessible, not getting access. If the message we have it one that's valuable, our voice doesn't need to be loud. Others will pass on what we said.

Look for the core of the idea when you comment. Speak with care so that the message you send is the one people receive. Meet friends by noticing people who have thoughts that intrigue you and begin by asking them to elaborate on what they said.

[Karin H.]

Share knowledge in a generous way: write about what you learned yourself and list it in little steps, so others can benefit from your experience, use it too and pass it on.

Karin H. (Keep It Simple Sweetheart, specially in business)