Beginning

This page gives you information on getting started on your blogging journey. There are additional resources about blogging and online safety for you to explore.

  • What is blogging   all about?    
  • How will this project   work?
  • How long is this   project?
  • Staying safe online   (For Mentees)
  • How to make the   most of your mentoring experience (For Mentors)
  • Other blogging resources

WHAT IS BLOGGING ALL ABOUT?                                                                              Blogging is the act of writing in a weblog. A blog (or weblog) is a website in which items are posted on a regular basis and displayed with the newest at the top. Like other media, blogs often focus on a particular subject, such as food, politics, or local news. Some blogs function as online diaries. A typical blog combines text, images, and links to other blogs, web pages, and other media related to its topic. Since its appearance in 1995, blogging has emerged as a popular means of communication, affecting public opinion and mass media around the world.

Blogs can be hosted by dedicated blog hosting services, or they can be run using blog software on regular web hosting services. (Definition from Wikipedia)

HOW WILL THIS PROJECT WORK?

  • Each week, a mentor   will guide the girls' work on the blog. On Sunday, the mentor for that   week will write (or post) about a particular topic.
  • Between Monday and   Thursday, the girls will read the mentor's post and use this as a guide   for their own posts that week.
  • The mentors will   comment on the girls' posts. The girls should also comment on each other's   posts.
  • I will come in every   Friday or every other Friday to see how the girls are doing with the   project and to answer any questions that they might have. Sometimes,   I will bring guests who will talk to them about blogging, technology/Internet.

HOW LONG IS THIS PROJECT?

The project will run from early May to the middle of July.

STAYING SAFE ONLINE (FOR MENTEES)

Blogging is a fun way to keep in touch with distant friends, make new ones and tell your own stories. However, there are a few things that you need to know about keeping safe online (‘Online’ means being on an Internet website or weblog. ‘Offline’ means real life i.e. not on the Internet).

  • Guard Your Private   Information: Keep your personal information to yourself e.g. full   name, address, telephone number, or links to other websites that might   give away this information. This also means that you should not post   your picture on the Internet. These measures are meant to protect you   from people who would want to use this information fraudulently.
  • Online Friends   Are Not Necessarily Real Friends: You will meet many people via   blogging and on the Internet who you might feel like you connect with.   Remember that it is hard to get really get to know a person unless you   know them in real life. When chatting with people online, it is okay   to be friendly but don’t open up to them like you would with a real   friend.
  • Beware of   ‘419’: Beware of ‘419’ emails that promise you easy money.   For example, the late General Abacha’s widow emails you to tell you   that you can get Four Million Naira if you send her some money first.   If it was so easy to get this money, why aren’t more people getting   it and why is she offering to share it with someone who she doesn’t   even know?
  • Think Before   You Send: Before publishing a blog post, read it over carefully   to make sure that it says what you really want it to say. This is because   online it can be easy for people to misunderstand what others are trying   to say, because you cannot see their facial expressions or hear their   voice to know if they are joking or not.
  • Take 5: If   someone upsets you by something they have written, take a break before   deciding what to do. Often when we come back and re-read the email,   we find that it was not meant to be vindictive. However, if you still   feel upset by it, talk to an adult about it.
  • R-E-S-P-E-C-T:   Good manners are not for real life only. They also apply to our blogs.   Remember to use words like ‘Please’, ‘Thank you’ and generally   show respect for other peoples’ feelings.
  • Adults Are There   to Help: Remember that this project is supposed to be fun for you.   If anything bothers you, please contact either of the project coordinators, Sokari   or Ore; or your computer teacher, Mr. Ashiyanbi.

Additional Resources on Staying Safe Online:


HOW TO MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR MENTORING EXPERIENCE (FOR MENTORS)

Program Logistics:

• Mentors are asked not to publicise the blog URL. We are only making the link available to mentors and mentees of the program.

• The mentoring relationship is a voluntary one and each party has the right to withdraw from the contact if the relationship is not satisfactory.

• Both the mentor and mentee should respect each others time and responsibilities and try not to impose on the other.

• The mentor is expected to provide support and constructive feedback to the mentee and if necessary engage in a discussion on a particular area of concern.

• The mentor is expected to post at the start of their assigned week and comment on the mentees’ posts during that week. Mentors are also encouraged to comment in the other weeks.

• Here’s the schedule for each week:

o Sunday: Mentor posts blog entry
o Monday – Wednesday: Students read mentors’ blog
o Monday – Wednesday: Students post blog entries
o Monday – Friday: Students and mentors write comments on mentors’ posts, as well as on each others’ posts
o Saturday: Week ends and mentor writes goodbye post

Blogging:

• The mentees are new to blogging and so may be slow in commenting initially. Please remember this and so feel free to comment on each others’ posts until the girls get more comfortable.

• When you write your blog entry, please give the girls a clear set of instructions at the end of your post, for example: “Now you know how I feel about the uses of technology in the classroom. Let’s hear what you think about it. Please write a blog entry on the topic of “Technology in the Classroom” before Wednesday. Then read and comment on other blog entries throughout the week. If you have any trouble, write me a comment and I’ll try to help you as best as I can.”

Relationship with Mentees:

• The mentor should be sensitive to the mentees who are young girls of an impressionable age. Care should be taken with language and approach to avoid any misunderstanding.

• The mentor and mentee should be open and honest with each other. If there is any cause for concern by either the mentor or mentee the matter should be forwarded to either Ore or Sokari for advice.

• Mentors should keep the relationship relevant to the blogging tasks. If in doubt about anything please contact Ore or Sokari.

• Remember you are the one with the experience and knowledge. Please be patient and nurturing in your approach and dealings with the mentees.

Additional Resources

Here are some links for safety and security when working with children and early teens. The sites also provide some safety tips which might help you understand the issues for the mentees and also general information that is useful to us all when using the internet.

For Parents: http://www.bebo.com/CyberBullying.jsp

MySpace:
http://collect.myspace.com/misc/safetytips.html?z=1

NetzSmart:
http://www.netsmartz.org/news/blogbeware_pg3.htm

Safe Teens:
http://www.safeteens.com/

Web Wise Kids:
http://www.wiredwithwisdom.org/

OTHER BLOGGING RESOURCES


Lessons Learnt: The Kenyan Blogging Ring

Young Caucasus Women (Mentoring project for young bloggers and inspiration for BAWo)

Digital Divide Network

Africa Network Project

Security and Safety for those blogging who need to protect themselves such as blogging from a repressive regime or human rights defenders.

Committee to Protect Bloggers

NGO in a box - Open Source security software

Handbook for Cyber Dissidents (Everything you need to know about blogging - Reporters without Borders)

Anoniblog Wiki