This is to inform you all of two Open Source Mapping courses that Mapping Across Borders, a Canadian Non-Profit, will be running in July. Over the past three years, Mapping Across Borders has run approximately a dozen Open Source Mapping courses to over 150 participants in East Africa. The goal is to provide GIS knowledge and skill transfer through in person and virtual training programs. They run five day classes and cover GIS from the ground up using QGIS and other relevant software (Google Earth, GRASS, GPS Babel, etc.) and are currently building virtual resources training resources, including peer to peer and crowd mentoring services. At the in-person events the philosophy is to teach the concepts of GIS and apply them using free and open source software using examples from participant’s experiences and job descriptions.

This July, they will be running two courses:

Ethiopia
Location: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Venue: Agri Service Ethiopia Training Centre (behind Global Hotel)
Skill Level: Beginner to Intermediate
Date: July 9 – 13, 2012
Price: Starting at 3,000 Ethiopian Birr (see website for details)
Included: Lunch each day & tea/coffee/snacks
Website: http://www.mappingacrossborders.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=67&Itemid=81

Kenya
Location: Kisumu, Kenya
Venue: Whirlspring Hotel
Skill Level: Beginner to Intermediate
Date: July 37 -27, 2012
Price: Starting at 16, 500 Kenyan Shilling (see website for details)
Included: Lunch each day & tea/coffee/snacks
Website: http://www.mappingacrossborders.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=68

All details of course content, pace and registration are available via our training websites. I welcome all of you to have a look at our courses and to follow up with me or the contacts posted online if you are interested in joining us, or are just looking for more information. If you know any people that you think may be interested in the course, please feel free to pass this message along...