The document discusses a project called B.O.S.C.O. that aims to provide internet and phone access to internally displaced persons (IDP) camps in northern Uganda. It notes that the rate of violent deaths in northern Uganda is three times higher than in Iraq, with over 2 million people living in IDP camps with no electricity or communication. The B.O.S.C.O. project would install wireless internet and VoIP phone services in 20 camps initially, with plans to eventually cover all camps in the regions, in order to help end the isolation of those living there and draw media attention to their plight. It provides details on the technical design, locations, costs and security measures for the initial

1. B.O.S.C.O Battery Operated Systems for Community Outreach Breaking the Silence

2. Northern Uganda Death Rate Thrice Iraq's The rate of violent deaths in war-ravaged northern Uganda is three times higher than in Iraq, according to a report by 50 international and local agencies released recently. The report, by the Civil Society Organizations for Peace in Northern Uganda, says there are 146 violent deaths a week in northern Uganda or 0.17 violent deaths per 10,000 people per day. " Rates of violent death are three times higher that those reported in Iraq following the Allied Invasion in 2003 ," said the report, entitled "Counting the Cost: Twenty Years of War in Northern Uganda".

3. Darfur and the LRA UPDF's Operation Iron Fist inside southern Sudan, instead of crushing the rebels, has stirred up a hornets' nest driving most of the LRA back into northern Uganda where it began a brutal campaign.. In Uganda between 1994 and 2002, 25,000 children have been abducted in the region and 95 per cent of the people in Gulu, Kitgum and Pader are living in absolute poverty.

4. The Invisible Tragedy The Invisible Children The tragedy of Uganda is unthinkable in modern times. Were people to witness the events of these years on their Television, they would surely be outraged. Here we have the first, of two, documentaries which humanize their plight. This is a short trailer for “The Invisible Children”. This site also contains links to many other valuable media. The Invisible Children (and “Journey into Sunset”, viewed on our next slide), dramatize the silent tragedy that is northern Uganda in a fashion we wish to duplicate, in part, with B.O.S.C.O.

5. Breaking the Silence Journey Into Sunset Seeing, hearing, feeling. These emotions are powerful forces we can bring to bear on this situation. Help will come when people see it. When they hear it. When they feel it. We believe our B.O.S.C.O. project will help to make this happen This documentary also uses all of these. We urge you to see both of them!

6. Project Genesis: The Bosco project was formulated in response to the difficulties of our friends in northern Uganda who live in Internally Displaced Persons Camps. There are about 2 million people who live in these camps in the Gulu, Kitgum and Pader provinces of Northern Uganda. They have been displaced from their land for up to 20 years. They were displaced by what can only be called a demonic insurgency which mutilates people and kidnaps children to force them to become soldiers.

7. Genesis (cont.) The people in these IDP camps have no electrical service or communication with the outside world whatsoever They are huddled together in small huts, often eating starvation rations of grain provided by outside organizations.

8. Genesis (cont.) One of the worst, and most dangerous, features of camp life is their radical isolation from each other and the outside world. In order to deal with this situation, we pondered a difficult question: What could we do? Our hopes hung on the answer -- Do we have the technology to link the camps to the world?

9. Genesis (cont.) After a time of research we realized that the technology was available to provide broadband internet access and real-time Voice-Over-IP (VoIP) telephone service to the camps. Phone service would then be at local rates between Uganda & the USA. High-Speed Internet will provide video upload capacity: The world (and the media!) will see the events in Uganda as they unfold.

10. Purpose and Goals: Providing high-speed Internet/Voice service to the IDP camps will do at least 5 things. 1) P rovide emergency communication with each other. 2) Enable communication with and within the Church. 3) Provide educational opportunities 4) Enable the people in the camps to do their own advocacy--to let them speak for themselves over the Internet. 5) The power of Image, Video, and Voice, to focus the attention of the Western & International broadcast media on the plight of what, until now, has been an "invisible" tragedy .

11. Economic & Long Term Viability Will this project eventually pay for itself? When war ends, perhaps soon, BOSCO will enrich the lives and economic fortunes of both the Acholi people AND attract investment, as so many other regional projects have already done. Please view this testimonial from our partner, Inveneo: YouTube - Inveneo on CNN Global Challenges

12. If not now, then what? UN High Commissioner Jan Egland called the situation in Northern Uganda the “ World’s most forgotten humanitarian disaster ”. Giving the people in the camps Internet/Voice access will end their isolation from the rest of the world. Allowing this situation to continue, and worsen, is unthinkable.

13. Solutions? The next set of slides lay out the geography, camp location, and project proposal, to put a “face” to this heretofore invisible tragedy, and to provide communication, coordination, and safety to the northern Ugandan millions.

14. Geopolitical Africa Today Political Reference Map of Africa Uganda sits directly between Africa’s Geopolitical hotspots of the last 25 years

15. Uganda’s Geography: The Source of the Nile Uganda, The Nile, & Central Africa The Geography of Uganda. At the Source of the Nile, with Lake Victoria & Lake Albert, Uganda is blessed with great beauty, fertile farm land, and natural resources. Uganda is nevertheless surrounded by Troubled Neighbors

16. Political Uganda 2006 Uganda Today Political divisions in Uganda today: Cities, Provinces & Geography Gulu, Kitgum, & Pader provinces, in the far north, contain most of the IDP camps

17. Survey and Camp Locations Our next map is a geographical survey of Gulu, Pader, and Kitgum at a scale of 1:500,000, dated 1973.

19. Recent IDP Camp Growth The following slide shows the Gulu province a few years ago, with 33 camps containing 440,000 people.

20. The Situation now:

21. Recent Camp Conditions This slide is current, and shows the current 53 camps & security conditions. All maps will be available in detail at the close of this presentation.

22. The Situation now:

23. Current Camps & Refugees Gulu IDP camps This slide also shows all 53 camps in Gulu, in greater detail and higher resolution, by name and population. Please note the index at page’s bottom.

24. Technical Solution Next, a schematic diagram showing how the BOSCO network will be designed. This array will service the 20 camps we have designated, considering size, population, location and geographic area coverage: Please note VoIP phone & Digital movie camera locations.

25. Technical Solution

26. WiFi Internet Locations Locations and relative Distance, Latitude, Longitude, and Elevation are shown on this next slide. All locations are within a 15KM distance compatible with WiFi Broadband:

27. BOSCO Camp Selections

28. Drawing of Sites Next, these planned BOSCO locations are shown, on a hand-drawn map, on our next slide: All relative distances, in KM, are marked Critical to Technical planning, these distances were determined via means of GPS systems.

30. Proof? It’s begun to work, already! Two documentaries, and advance word of our project, have improved security in Northern Uganda. Several hours more per day are now considered safe for travel. The Ugandan government is in the process of licensing our project. They will wish to secure the source of their licensing fees.

31. Security? Government licensing, as mentioned. Publicity: Local print media, and advance copies of our PowerPoint Show, have apparently given pause to those who would create trouble. The Ugandan government is now providing security on the roads which connect our sites during daytime hours.

32. Security (cont.) All of our hardware is fully mobile, and easily moved. All of our WiFi infrastructure is covered by extended 5 yr. warrantee. Any defect is monitored, 24/7, by remote service professionals. All hardware is replaceable, under warrantee, in case of fatal error.

33. Deployment Plans Phase I to consist of 7 IDP camps to lower init. cost & test system on the ground Phase II to deploy full 20 Gulu area camps Phase III to cover 60 IDP camps. Gulu, Kitgum & Pader each to receive VSAT hub + 20 site deployments

34. Detailed Cost of BOSCO Please refer to your printed estimates, or ask your host to provide our line by line invoice for full Phase I deployment installation, and annual cost invoice Brief cost analysis follows in next slide

35. Deployment Phase I: 7 IDP camps + VSAT Hub 1: IDP equipment=$15,409 2: Power equipment=$20,570 3: Expenses for deploy.=$32,040 4: Project management=$8,000 5: Misc. expenses=$7,400 6: VSAT equipment= $12,030.00 7: VSAT power equip.= $11,446 8: VSAT ISP service=$6,388,80 annually 9: Travel & lodging = $7,000.00 10: IT consult & admin.=$22,400.00 11: Ongoing Support = $8000 annually BOSCO Phase I TOTAL= $150,683.40

36. Phase II & III Phase II to include all remaining 13 sites, and cost will consider the following: Approx. $60,000 in new equipment New deployment expenses, yet to be calculated regarding travel, consulting etc. PROJECT TOTAL COST at end of 2008 estimated to be: $563, 445 Phase III Annual ISP, maintenance & admin= $23,888 x 3 installations. Cost to be sourced locally

37. Detailed Layout After this presentation, your host can show you each of these maps and schematics in greater detail. Thank you for your time and your interest in this dire situation, and our proposal! Please submit your email address to your host, if you wish to receive a list of URL’s for all maps and drawings from this presentation.

38. Now is the time! “ To build may have to be the slow and laborious task of years. To destroy can be the thoughtless act of a single day.” Sir Winston Churchill