Hi folks,
I'm writing to suggest an overall structure for the
planned Free Gambia Web site. Given that there's still a lot more work
that needs to be done in regards the formation of an umbrella organization, I
suggest we use "Free Gambia" as a title for the Web site, rather
than a name of an organization. In the event, hopefully, that the Web
site becomes a semblance of the umbrella organization we are all working toward,
we can then formally adopt the name of the Web site as that of the organization
when it's formed.
I've discussed the Free Gambia site at different
times with a number of people, and below is a draft of the basic structure
I would suggest for it. For your information, I was planning to send this
e-mail only those that are, as of now, involved with hashing out details of
creating the site, but I decided to forward it to Gambia-L instead because it
will help if we get feedback before we put pen to paper, fingers to
keyboard. Please take a look at the draft I'm sending below, and tell us
how we can make the Web site better.
DRAFT FREE GAMBIA SITE
STRUCTURE
1. Homepage
a) "Free Gambia" logo
and/or stylized text that will serve as the site's official graphical
identity.
b) Brief introduction to
the site,
c) Links to other
sections (shown below) of the Web site, and external resources of interest to
visitors
2. Purpose of the Free Gambia
site
a) A response to
the April 10 and 11 killings in the Gambia
b) A start toward
the formation of an umbrella Gambian organization aimed at fostering democracy
and human rights in The Gambia
c) A clearing house
for information about, and a directory of Gambian organizations around the
world
3. Projects
a) Response to the
April 2000 Killings in The Gambia (news, demonstrations, meetings,
etc.)
b) A Peaceful End
to the Jammeh Government
4. Web Tools
a) Directory of
Gambian Organizations
b) Global Gambian
Community Calendar
c) Discussion
Board
d) Chat
e) Mailing
Lists
f) Surveys and
Polls
5. Links to External
Resources
a) Gambia-related
b) Africa-related
c) Human Rights and
Democracy Resources
6. FAQ (Frequently Asked
Questions)
a) Answers to
FAQs
b) Ask a
question
7. How to Help
a) Helping the Free
Gambia Web site
b) Gambian Organizations
needing help
c) Individuals
needing help
9. Contact Us
a) Phone/fax
b) e-mail
c) Regular or
"snail" mail
10. The Culprits
"Guilty as charged", the
people that helped put this together
I mentioned that I have spoken to a few people
about the site, and for your information, Dr. Amadou Janneh has registered the
freegambia.org and freegambia.com domains for us, George Sarr (of http://www.gambiansonline.com) has
offered to help with graphics, design and programming work, Latjor Ndow has also
agreed to help with some Web work, and I'll be helping anyway I can. Other
people who have offered to help include, off the top of my head, Jabou Joh,
Karamba Touray, Saul Khan, and Bakary Sonko. We will be focusing on
getting the site up, and later invite people to send in articles for inclusion
in the site. You can, by the way contact us at the following
addresses:
As always, keep the ideas coming. If
anything, they go to show that we have a pool of talent that just needs to be
tapped and harnessed to make The Gambia better. Have a great weekend, and
best wishes.
Katim