N2Y2 Con: NABUUR: The Global Neighbour Network Intro Presentation

NABUUR: The Global Neighbour Network is a Featured Project at the 2nd NetSquared Conference.

Project Summary

www.nabuur.com is an internet platform where villages in developing countries get direct assistance. Online volunteers help create whatever is needed in 150 villages now and with your help 10,000 soon: a potential revolution!

NABUUR has developed a unique platform for person-to-person hands-on problem solving. Villages from developing countries put their issues on the internet and online volunteers from different continents help create solutions, as neighbours (�NABUUR� in Dutch) in the global village: a stable with cows in Khunti (India), instructions on bee-keeping in Gbongay (Sierra Leone), or an internet centre with computers and training in Zapotillo (Ecuador). The support entails more than providing knowledge: from the physical building of a hospital to the reframing of a problem; from ensuring that goods get through customs to finding transport for an international shipment, etc. Both experts and non- experts are needed. NABUUR opens the unique collaboration possibilities of internet communities to villages around the world so that they can better master their destiny . The potential is simply huge.

NABUUR combines the best of the old with the best of the new: a time-tested community phenomenon - neighbourly help- with the 2.0 power of the internet. It is so promising that president Clinton invited us and mentioned NABUUR publicly (see www.nabuur.com).

But even though the present rate of growth is impressive from an ngo perspective (45 villages connected in 2005, 150 in 2006, 300 at the end of 2007), it needs to speed up more to reach significant numbers. For that it must become easier, more authentic, smoother, more fun. Your help in making that happen is very much appreciated.