WHAT CAN WE DO?
During the November 2005 humanitarian crisis after the earthquake in Kashmir, Paola and Angelo had a chat. (So howzit going?... Help is so slow..)
There is a lot of frustration, politics and red tape going on that slows down relief and aid operations. What can we do? Why not set up a direct aid service, where people can login their needs, and other people can help to fulfil them? The idea of p2pAid was born.
WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM OUR FRIENDS
We had a couple of chats wih people around, and yes, there is a lot of good software out there which can be used to do what we were proposing, but which way to go?
John runs a hosting company in the Usa, he did not hesitate to give us free space, and a couple of friends here and there found that the idea was actually great and supported p2pAid with their enthusiasm and ideas.
OUR NEW SITE
The current version of the site is being launched on 20 February 2006. The majority of the functionality of this Drupal site is provided by custom modules written by Fabio to support our proposed concept and workflow.
Much work lies ahead to make this concept work and useful on a large scale, but we can start it on a small scale.
We suggest to begin very small, with local problem situations that each of us must know of. When we locate a 'need', we should create a 'microproject' page and maybe pop an email to a few potential donors, we can start a useful network of hope where the main actors are the people who contribute.
The old site is here if there is something in there you want to look up, but that was just a placeholder really.
Get INVOLVED, PERSONALLY
You can help us develop/fix the current version in several ways, we have a long list of 'To Do' on our Group Wiki (courtesy of Global Voices) and welcome more suggestions.
You can simply promote the site and all its potential to your friends a colleagues who you think might be intersted in the concept and it taking part. Do you know a potential donor? Tell them to sign up and be ready to share whatever they've got with this site users.
Add yourself to Project Team by signing up to our Google Group and drop a mail discussing whatever you want to discuss, and by adding yourself to our
Group Map
For bugs please go to the relevant Bugs Report Forum or just use the Contact Form we'll reply shortly.
Lookin' forward to your input!
Our Code of Conduct
We operate under self regulation, we take responsibility for our own actions and make sure that everything that we do is discussed and documented, to ensure operational transparency.
All users of this site accept to abide to our Code of Conduct which also represents our Terms and Conditions of Usage.
WHAT IF THINGS GO WRONG?
People get misunderstood. Different cultures, different languages.
Someone may try to help, and some other may get offended.
Someone says one thing, and someone understands exactly the opposite. Words and actions are often twisted.
People sometimes have second motives. This is the world that we live in.
But we have to believe that better communication tools can improve the way people communicate, hence their relationships.
Be tolerant, be clear and not aftaid to express your intentions and feelings. Communicate, make yourself clear.
If someone or something offends you, please post your problem in our 'Complaints' forum, and we'll try to deal with it at our best.
Do not leave without having attempted to resolve a conflict!
Respect!
p2pAid Team
