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Last week, I had invited for innovation lab, it   was the second time, which I did invited for this lab.   It’s a great opportunities for me.  and other people that could be together to solve the problems through the new technologies.

 Innovation lab was held for the second time in Kabul, to bring the stakeholders from different sectors like ICT , media and entrepreneurs to share their experiences together and finding the best solution for  Afghan media to use digital technologies  would be able to reach more audiences and distribute their content.

Last time, I was joined with 5 (five) more from my company.  and my clerks Fereshteh Forough  and Heray Farzan, that I could feel their empty place or nonexistence  in this time. The first innovation lab was held to find the best solution for Afghan Governments organization. All  participants were divided to different groups and Fereshteh’s team was the winner for that event.

The idea of innovation lab was get to gather all the young experts in ICT, media and business to find an innovated solution. How we can use the technologies to support media through each other.

 USAID says, “ that which  young Afghan software  engineers and ICT experts will work in small groups to create innovative technical solutions such as apps, tools, and games for leading Afghan media agencies.”

Aimal Marjan, the Director for ICT at the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MoCIT) also in the opening date said, that “ICT has proved to be one of the tools that helps a nation to deal with some of its problems, so why not Afghanistan?” Marjan noted “great successes have been achieved just in last ten years in both the ICT and media sectors. Promising enormous potential for future innovation and economic growth for a country many often only associate with conflict.”

I was in the group of (C), which it was needed to find a solution for Radio Balkhi, that how to connected women voices to the different government sectors for their support and get legal advice. Our idea was to use the IVR and SMS line for those women, who need advice or find a legal way for solving their problems.

They could called to the specific number or send a SMS, those will go to our Database and would share with three organization like Women Affair, human rights and courts. Then  these organizations find a solution and use two ways public way, that Radio Balkhi without saying  the name or location , only give the advice through their studio  and upload on the Ushihadi map, the other  way for the security propose only give to the  person.  For this idea, as well as the people also could give their questions through twitter and face book. The public answer could be found again the Ushaididhi map.

I believe that Womenannex project is also an innovate idea that FilmAnnex and Citadel of NYC lunched it to make a self-sustaining digital platform and ecosystem to promotes and supports women’s empowerment within and outside of Central And South Asia with videos and blogs. Using the technologies for different innovative ideas can bring a huge changes in life of people in developing countries.

 I did like the idea of innovation lab as it is new and innovative initative fostering team-based and entrepreneurial activities and deepening interactions among different groups.

I did start to work with Film Annex earlier of 2012; we could establish together different innovative projects and reach lots of Afghan girls in Herat.

The innovation lab in Kabul, remind me about our online incubator that the best idea or solution of the group of students can get investment or awards.

The Afghan Business Incubator will focus on the eLearning and social Media strategic and other target markets.

Till now This Incubator did investment hundreds of thousands of money on our Examer the online Educational platform with Micro schoership payment that developed. This is a great example of what Afghan Business Incubator is doing in realities. "Your Buzz" technology is used for the development and testing of Social Media, Educational, and Gaming Software for Teens and Pre-Teens. Our focus will be included:

• Educational games and applications.
• Language and translation.
• Film production and post production.
• Social Media Strategies.
• Coding and software development.
• Fashion and culinary.

 

We are excited about opening of the schools to start the training and be ready for our innovation lab in Herat.

 

@Roya Mahboob