Volunteer benefit from UN Internet cafe in Meulaboh<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Meulaboh<\/p>\n
A daughter who has a penchant for flying off to odd corners of
\nthe earth to help people in distress is any mother's nightmare --
\nunless, as is thankfully easy these days, she can be phoned or
\ncontacted via the internet.<\/p>\n
So from cold Hastings in England to the sweltering coastal
\ntown of Meulaboh, the mother of volunteer Kim Sanders-Fisher can
\nbe at peace, knowing from the gay voice across the oceans that
\nall must be well.<\/p>\n
This is thanks to the \"UN internet cafe\" (see photo), as it is
\nknown here, a short drive from downtown Meulaboh, turning left in
\nLapang area.<\/p>\n
The entry to the fenced off site reveals a little colony of
\ntents, neatly separated by planks of woods serving as pathways.<\/p>\n
The \"cafe\" is in one of these tents -- the one with the
\nbeach-side folding chairs outside, convenient to plonk in and
\nchat or work on wireless computers.<\/p>\n
Since the early weeks of the tsunami three months ago, many of
\nthe staff of relief agencies have left, but the \"internet cafe\"
\nstaffers say they still see customers from dozens of agencies
\nthroughout the week. Meulaboh still sees frequent electricity
\ncuts and for each agency to have their own internet connection is
\nfar from efficient.<\/p>\n
There are prices for printing and cool drinks at the cafe --
\nbut the phone and internet is free, which is of course the best
\npart, apart from the late hours and good connection.<\/p>\n
\"We close at 10 p.m.,\" says Henry Moore, a volunteer here.
\nHe's come all the way from \"home\" -- meaning Jayapura in Papua
\nprovince, where he's an electrician at Yayasan Jasa Aviasi (the
\nAviation Services Foundation).<\/p>\n
\"Sometimes it's very noisy here, sometimes very quiet\", he
\nsays, with everyone engrossed in their online world.<\/p>\n
The volunteers say the service is made possible through a
\nnumber of contributions to cover the total cost of US$3,000 a
\nmonth, mostly for satellite costs apart from the laptops and
\ngenerator.<\/p>\n
California, the home of Silicon Valley, is the home base of
\none of the contributors -- Pactec International, as well as,
\namong others, Air Service International, and Loral Skynet for the
\nsatellite connection.<\/p>\n
They cannot be sure how long the service will be around -- but
\nthe crowd at the tent would sorely miss the \"Cafe\", not to
\nmention the families and friends of so many volunteers across the
\ncontinents.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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