Online Resources for Ngos

Youth Organisations and the Web Online Resources for NGOs

1) Radio Streaming. 2) Blog Building 3) About Forums 4) Web communities 5) Tips for Visibility 6) be realistic

Most of the links you will find in this paper were searched by simply typing the keywords on google, you can do the same, there are lots more than this.

Free Radio Streaming Hosts: Look for : a) free hosting b) 24/7 hosting most free stream hosts don’t do that.

Some ideas …

1) http://www.streamzilla.eu: English, German, Dutch (free) 2) http://www.mediastreaming.it : Italian (free) 3) http://shoutcast.setnine.com : English (free) 4) http://www.httpdnet.com : English, French, Italian (€) 5) http://www.freewebspace.net/: English (directory for free sources) 6) http://www.viastreaming.com : English (€) 7) http://www.radiostreamer.com/index.php : English (free) 8) http://www.mymusicstream.com/ : International (free) 9) http://www.hoststreamingaudio.com/ : International (Database) 10) www.live365.com : International (free)

…Or as an alternative create your own

There are more choices today for creating and distributing your own Radio program than any time in history! That’s really amazing when you think of it. What used to only be only possible through AM and FM radio stations (aside from amateur radio) can now be done through the Internet via streaming or Podcasting. What's more: for practically nothing, you can reach a global audience!

Anyone with a small budget can create their own Internet Radio station to air his or her own programs. Or, you can spend practically no money and Podcast. Podcasting has quickly become cost efficient and in some cases, free. Plus: it’s now easier than ever to create your own Podcast and you don't need to learn any coding.

The Main Difference - Delivery

The main difference between streaming audio and Podcasting is the distribution method and the content load. Generally, a streaming station can carry more than one program continuously, should you

1 choose. That means you can webcast you all day and all night. All someone needs to do is have a software player to tune in.

Streaming means you're serving up the audio and wherever it is in your programming schedule is where the listener will start listening when he/she tunes in.

Podcasting is different. Podcasts are usually smaller, self-contained programs which are pre-recorded by you and uploaded to a location (server) where they reside until a listener decides to retrieve the audio program. The listener decides which program to listen to and when.

Your Own Show on Your Own Station

If you air your Radio program on your own Internet radio station, you should keep in mind that the stream will most likely be available 24-hours-a-day. You might want to continuously loop your program and as you add more, just fill in the schedule. Or, you might want to offer space on your station to others who are creating similar programs. And remember: when using a provider like Live365.com (Buy Direct) to host a stream, you can create pre-recorded shows (or programming segments) or do live broadcasts. There’s a lot of flexibility for very little cost.

If the thought of being the “Program Director” of an Internet radio station as well as a “talent” creating a program seems a little much, then consider starting out offering your show as a Podcast.

Podcasting Can be a Simpler Solution

Podcasts are very flexible. You can create any length show, as often or as seldom as you like. Then, you can upload it into your blog or Podcast provider and let listeners retrieve it and listen as they like.

Once you create a show it will be available as long as you wish. Using Podcasts, you can quickly build a library of shows to offer listeners.

Podcasts are generally recorded ahead of time, allowing you to fuss and mix everything just right. Although all you need is an inexpensive microphone and your computer to create a simple Podcast, some enthusiasts create elaborate sound studios in their home or office to build very professional shows. This is a personal preference. I advise people to start out slow and small and see how you like it. Then, as you grow so can your tools.

Resources

There are many resources for both creating programs on streaming Internet Radio stations or as Podcasts.

If you already have decided that you want to stream an Internet station from your own server and you're looking for Windows or MAC sofware solutions, see the Server Software for Streaming Audio and Internet Radio Broadcasting section within the Radio.about.com website.

But, for easy and economical Internet Radio streaming options which require no technical knowledge, familiarize yourself with Live365.com (Buy Direct)

2 For good suggestion on easy ways to create a Podcast, see: Tools to Create Podcasts within the Radio.about.com site.

Building a Blog/online journal

Look for: 1) Free hosting 2) Language Support 3) Image Support

Some ideas…: 1) www.blogger.net 2) http://www.blogates.com/ 3) http://wordpress.com/ 4) http://www.thefreecountry.com/webhosting/freeblogging.shtml 5) http://www.aeonity.com/ 6) http://www.tblog.com/ 7) http://www.blogeasy.com/ 8) http://www.blogscene.co.uk/home.php 9) http://www.blogsboom.com/ 10) http://www.blogicas.com/

Newbie FAQ 101 - How to make a blog

I've been getting numerous hits from various search engines about the question "How to make a blog". Well; since I haven't answered it generally in the past, I will make a feeble attempt here:

First of all - WHY to start blogging:

 Because you have something to say  Because you want to stay in touch with new and old friends  A whole lot of other reasons

Next: So you've got something to say - now how do you get it online?

If you're starting from scratch and do not want to install either software, cgi scripts or any other techical things (you do not even have to know what those things are), try visiting any of the below sites, which will allow you to set up a blog either for free or at a very low cost:

 TypePad - a brand new service that charges a (small) fee but gives you a lot of nice features. From what I hear it can be recommended!  Blogger - the original; provides you with free tools and a free website of your own (which they'll run advertising on, but you could always move on later (I did))  LiveJournal - less blogging, more online journals, free all the same...

If you already own a website and you'd like to funk it up with a blog, but without installing anything, Blogger (mentioned above) can be set up to upload blog-files to your website. Very handy.

3 All of these tools, and some of the below as well, allow you to instantly become a web-publisher simply by using your normal web-browser; no software needed. If you're looking for a tool for your desktop, try Radio.

If you own a website and you're into fiddling with your own HTML templates and not afraid of installing a bit of scripts:

 Movable Type is the granddaddy of script-based blog software. It's the most widely used by top bloggers and very flexible (more about this later). Download it for free, but remember to donate to its creators if you like it (you will!)  Some people use Blosxom and are happy  Some people use other tools - there are loads

If you go for Movable Type (the tool used to update this blog), you might want to read through the following posts I've written in the past in my Movable Type category:

 My Movable Type Installation  More "GoogleJuice"  Get more readers  XML Syndication  Some information on meta-tags  Category XML feeds  You might also want to expand the functionality by using Plugins, but all this is for the people with time and knowledge to play with tech bits... If you want a plain and simple website, go back to the top of this page and check out TypePad or Blogger...

http://www.jacobsen.no/anders/blog/archives/2003/08/07/newbie_faq_101_how_to_make_a_blo g.html

How to Make Your Blog Accessible to Blind Readers

Quick Tips for Bloggers

So you have a blog, and you're worried that it might not be accessible to people with disabilities? Don't worry! A few simple changes can increase your blog's potential readership.

1. Choose an Accessible Service 2. Describe Your Images 3. Avoid the Dreaded "Click Here" or "More..."! 4. Put Your Blogroll on the Right-Hand Side 5. Check the Comment Form—Is It Labeled Properly? 6. Use Flexible Font Sizes 7. Don't Force Links to Open in New Windows

1. Choose an Accessible Service

If you haven't chosen a service yet, why not support one that doesn't put up obstacles to blind bloggers like the need to "enter the characters seen in this picture"?

4 Some services confront users with the instruction to complete their registration by "entering the words they see in the picture." An accessible alternative is sometimes offered, but it is considered the "advanced setup" option and therefore requires highly technical information from the user.

See Is Blogging Accessible to People with Vision Loss? The American Foundation for the Blind Answers for more detail on the differences between services.

2. Describe Your Images

Provide descriptive text for any images you post, including those that are part of your template. In HTML, you can provide alternative text for images by adding alt="your description of the image" within the image tag. Here is an example of a properly alt-tagged image:

Tips for Writing Effective Image Descriptions

 Brief is better.  The usual rule is to be informative, not poetic. But it's your blog, so feel free to let your personality come through in the alt text, as well.  If the graphic includes text, put all of the words in the alt text.  Put the most important information first. For example, "Acme Logo: Sun rising over white sand dunes" is better than "Sun rising over white sand dunes: Acme Logo."  Check your spelling and try to avoid abbreviations. Screen readers will mispronounce words that are misspelled.

3. Avoid the Dreaded "Click Here" or "More..."!

People who use a screen reader to visit web sites will often tab from link to link, skipping over your carefully crafted explanatory text. It's a quick way to scan the page and get a sense of what the options are. "Click here" is purely mystifying, especially when heard over and over again. "Create your own blog" is self-explanatory, and lets the reader know what to expect.

Some blogging services allow you to display the opening sentences of a long post and then link to the whole post with an automated link that reads "(more...)". If there is more than one such link on the page, you can see the problem: more what? Most blogging tools allow you to customize that link to provide more information to the user, which will make your site more accessible. An additional bonus: Descriptive links make it easier for search engines to find your content.

Try to avoid using image links, which are hard for people with low vision to decipher, but definitely provide alt text if you do. In this case, the alt text should tell users where they are going.

4. Put Your Blogroll on the Right-Hand Side

Blind users find top and left-hand navigation bars annoying because the screen reader starts at the top of the page and reads from left to right. It is very time-consuming to listen to the same list of links every time you visit a page. You can get people right to your latest post by putting your navigation links on the right-hand side.

5 If you are wedded to left-hand navigation, then place a tiny "skip link" at the top, so blind users can jump to the new content. Just don't forget the anchor! Learn more about how to implement skip links on your site.

5. Check the Comment Form—Is It Labeled Properly?

Do you want to make sure that users who are blind can comment on your blog? For users who access your site using screen readers, it can be extremely difficult to know what is required in forms. A user moving through an incorrectly marked up form may hear no more than "Edit, edit, edit, radio button not checked, submit button."

But there is an easy fix. Check the comment form to see if it includes tags. Every element in a form should have its own label.

Here is a sample of a text field that has been labeled correctly:

E-mail:

Note that the ID and LABEL FOR must be equal to the same value.

Learn more about designing accessible web forms.

6. Use Flexible Font Sizes

Blogs are usually stylesheet-driven, which is great news for readers with low vision. If you use relative font sizes (expressed in percentages or ems), rather than absolute font sizes (expressed in points or pixels), then users will be able to make the text larger or smaller as desired—an important feature for users with low vision.

7. Don't Force Links to Open in New Windows

Coding your links so that they automatically open up a new window can be very disorienting for a visually impaired user. Only the most recent versions of screen readers give blind users any indication that a new window has been opened. Popping open a new window also resets the back button, effectively "breaking" it. Avoid the use of target="new" in your links.

Conclusion

If you describe your images, supply informative text for links, put navigation links on the right-hand side, use relative font sizes, and have a properly labeled comment form, then congratulations! You are well on your way to an accessible blog. http://www.afb.org/Section.asp?SectionID=4&TopicID=167&DocumentID=2757

About Forums Some tips… 1) as youth organisation search for forums with high moderations and firewalls for the sake of protection and safety and minors.

An Internet forum is a web application for holding discussions and posting user-generated content.[1][2] Internet forums are also commonly referred to as Web forums, newsgroups, message boards, 6 discussion boards, (electronic) discussion groups, discussion forums, bulletin boards, fora (the Latin plural) or simply forums. The terms "forum" and "board" may refer to the entire community or to a specific sub-forum dealing with a distinct topic. Messages within these sub-forums are then displayed either in chronological order or as threaded discussions. In many cases a gateway allows access to the same data via an HTTP or an NNTP interface.

Such forums perform a function similar to that of dial-up bulletin board systems that were common from the late 1970s to the 1990s. Early web-based forums date back as far as 1996. A sense of virtual community often develops around forums that have regular users. Technology, computer games and/or video games, sports, fashion, religion, and politics are popular areas for forum themes, but there are forums for a huge number of topics. Internet slang and image macros popular across the internet are abundant and widely used in internet forums.

About Forums

1) http://www.makeforum.org/home.php 2) http://www.freeforums.org/ 3) http://www.siteground.com/forum-hosting.htm 4) http://www.forumer.com/ 5) http://www.eamped.com/ 6) http://www.prophpbb.com/index.hml 7) http://www.iphorum.com/ 8) http://www.atfreeforum.com/ 9) http://thinkofit.com/webconf/hostsites.htm 10) http://www.invisionplus.net/

A forum is public meeting place for open discussion of various topics. Online, a forum may also be referred to as a bulletin board or discussion area.

Forums come in all shapes and sizes. The main objective is to provide an area where users can interact with questions, answers and discussions on a given topic.

There are literally thousands and thousands of topical forums online. Each forum usually states the topic and tries to keep the discussions on topic. However, this can often vary from forum to forum.

How do I Use a Forum?

Forum use will vary from forum to forum. In general you are required to create an online identity [ID or nickname] to be used on the forum. While some forums are free, others have a paid membership requirement. Be sure to read privacy policy before creating any identity online. Parental permission is usually required for reputable forums.

Some forums allow "Guest" access so you can view the forum before joining. This is a good way to check out a forum before you decide if you want to join. Look for a "Guest" option before signing up. You will not be able to actively participate in most forums as a guest.

If you decide to join a forum and have your forum ID you will be able to log in the forum, read what has previously been posted, start your own discussions or reply to discussions already started.

Are there Rules for Using a Forum?

7 Each forum usually has it own rules and regulations. Be sure to read details and FAQs before logging into a forum. In general common sense prevails. Most forums do not allow "flaming", or being rude to other forum users. Most forums prefer to stay on topic but some do have areas set up to provide places for off topic discussions.

Like all online areas that are interactive, common sense Internet safety rules should be followed. Never give out personal information in a public area. Remember, anyone, anywhere will be reading what you have posted.

Can Kids Use Forums?

There are many forums online set up specifically for kids to use. These forums are often monitored by adults to help provide a safe online experience.

Forums set up for youth usually have a PG-13 Rating and require parental permission to join. Parents are strongly encouraged to view a forum for kids prior to allowing their kids to join the discussions.

Forums are a great way to meet people who share similar interests and to learn more about the topic you are interested in. They can be fun, educational and supportive. Remember, forums are public. Anything you post is being read by everyone else on the forum. Never post anything you don't want made public. http://www.kidsturncentral.com/topics/computers/forums.htm

Forum Moderation and Forum Administration

A forum moderator, often shortened to just mod, is a person granted special powers to enforce the rules of an Internet forum (message board) or electronic mailing list. Almost all moderators on all forums can move discussions to different sections of the forum, close discussions, edit the content of individual postings, answer questions (or help people with problems), and 'stick' discussions so they remain visible in their forum section even if no new postings are made to them. Different forums may give their moderators further powers, such as being able to block/ban people from the message board who are trolling or breaking the rules of the message board.

A forum administrator typically has the ability to edit, delete, move or otherwise modify any thread on the forum. Administrators also usually have the ability to close the board, change major software items, change global skins, modify the board, and ban, delete, or create members. Moderators have a subset of these powers, which may include editing, deleting, and moving threads, mass pruning, warning members for offences, and changing minor forum details. It is often possible for moderator privileges to be delegated to other forum members.

A board's moderation system can include moderation of the moderators via a meta-moderation system. The board software may also allow administrators to create wordfilters, automated scripts which strip undesirable text from users' messages. Other features may include sticky threads, allowing moderators and administrators to cause significant threads to display at the top of the forum's index.

For more information: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forum_administrator

Beware Of: 8 Netiquette:

Forum netiquette can vary on different forums. On default, individuals must agree to a Registry Agreement that defines a forum's rules before joining that particular forum, but whether those rules are actively enforced varies from forum to forum. For example, a family friendly forum would prohibit sexually explicit content, but a sex-oriented forum would encourage it. Also, some forums are more tolerant of cursing and rude behavior than others. Rowdy forum users often engage in flaming.

For more information: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Netiquette

Flaming:

Flaming is the hostile and insulting interaction between Internet users. Flaming usually occurs in the social context of a discussion board, Internet Relay Chat (IRC) or even through e-mail. An Internet user typically generates a flame response to other posts or users posting on a site, and such a response is usually not constructive, does not clarify a discussion, and does not persuade others. Sometimes, flamers attempt to assert their authority, or establish a position of superiority over other users. Other times, a flamer is simply an individual who believes he or she carries the only valid opinion. This leads him or her to personally attack those who disagree. In some cases, flamers wish to upset and offend other members of the forum, in which case they can be called "trolls". Most often however, flames are angry or insulting messages transmitted by people who have strong feelings about a subject. Some equate flaming with simply letting off steam, though the receiving party may be less than pleased. Similarly, a normal, non-flame message may have elements of a flame -- it may be hostile, for example -- but it is not a flame if its author seriously intends to advance the discussion. The word flaming is also sometimes used for long, intensive and heated discussions, even though insults do not occur. Although the trading of insults is as old as human speech, flaming on the Internet, like many other online 'actions,' started in the Usenet hierarchies (although it was known to occur in the WWIVnet and FidoNet computer networks as well). Recently, several online forums have actively encouraged flaming amongst fellow posters.

For more information: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flaming_%28internet%29

Now Something about web communities:

Web Communities can be a very powerful tool, to recruit, to get your message across and to be known.

For example: www.facebook.com www.myspace.com are very widely used. Or some yahoogroups:

(shortly upcoming)

Some Ethical Webhosts