How to connect global civic-tech communities| T4NT Handover
Exchange Programme for Tech for Non-tech
Code for Japan, OpenUp South Africa, and Code for Australia came together in Cape Town, South Africa to learn how to deliver an educational program, Tech for Non Tech (T4NT).
T4NT is a one-day curriculum for all project leaders who need to learn how the technology works and how to work with developers. Code for Australia developed the handover of this program, which was originally created by Enspiral’s Dev Academy. OpenUp and Code for Japan were there to learn how to deliver this program and apply to their communities. The Exchange program was supported by Code for All which is a global network for the civic-tech organization.
5 reasons why T4NT is important?
You can learn about T4NT on Code for Australia webpage or their blog post. I would like to write about 5 reasons why I felt this program is very important.
T4NT is:
- designed to be handed over to external organizers.
- a good start to work with your potential partner for the first time.
- a great public speaking opportunity for engineers to talk about their project.
- all about its format to learn about something new for you.
- a great model to exchange knowledge which is developed in local communities.
🤝 T4NT is designed to be handed over to external organizers.
Runsheet, a checklist for items to prepare, even a marketing resource are all sorted. Facilitators can use sophisticated slides developed by Code for Australia. Technical Facilitators don’t have to worry about the content. By following the format of the slides, they can explain the concepts of technology.
🧠 T4NT is all about its format to learn about something new.
The program covers the history of computer and internet and the basics of web development. Learning the concept and you can see an actual project technical facilitator is working on. I believe learning the history and listing to actual experience from people in the field is the great basic format of learning. Jargon activity is remarkable. You can learn how to be good at quick reaching and better at connecting a new thing to concepts you already know.
🗣 T4NT is a great public speaking opportunity for engineers to talk about their project.
In T4NT, hosts assign a technical facilitator to this program. They introduce concepts of technology and how to work with developers.
PR person talks about their organization. Engineers are usually just working on their projects. It is a great opportunity for engineers to give a speech and also the organization to be represented by multiple people in different roles.
☝️ T4NT is a good start to work with your potential partner for the first time.
After meeting a great supporter, sometimes it is hard to maintain the relationship. The idea of civic-tech is not always very understandable.
Instead of working and client and vendor relationship, an organization can send their people to this program and they can learn what and who is civic-tech people by learning about basic of technology. Asking sponsoring the venue to your partners. It is also a good way to warm up a relationship.
✈️ T4NT is a great model to exchange knowledge which is developed in local communities.
I would say we would never work together if there was no opportunity to exchange curriculum. Through the process, organizations were able to interact with each other. I believe there was a deeper conversation; exchanging idea, learning from each other and discussing further collaborations. It is a different experience from just attending a conference and meeting people.
I am hoping T4NT become a model as an international knowledge exchange program. Spreading to the world, it can help all project leaders who need a technology solution to make the world better and connecting global civic-tech network.
By applying the T4NT program to the market in Japan, I will see how it works.
I have a special appreciation for…
Hal Seki and Hiromi Hagiwara at Code for Japan for working together,
Ben Ralph, and Lina Patel at Code for Australia for handing this program over to us,
Grace O’Hara at Code for Australia, Krzysztof Madejski at Code for All for coordinating this opportunity,
Lailah Ryklief and the team at OpenUp for hosting us.
