launched in August 2008, offers the largest cash prize awards of its kind in Brunei Darussalam. The main aim is to motivate local entrepreneurs to realise their ideas in the field of information and communications technology (ICT) with the opportunity to develop their business ideas and enhance their creativity; as well as to provide a platform for identifying, nurturing and showcasing entrepreneurial talents in Brunei. This competition also provides the participants access to global resources and the entrepreneurial process through workshops and mentoring programme.

39 ICT enthusiasts including 7 iCentre incubatees with background ranging from online games and shops, online malls and schools, portal, social networking, mobile applications to enterprise solutions. RanoAdidas, one of the well-known local blogger and finalist in the competition, sees

the judges are pretty tough as well and it’s like a simulated pitch to real investors and venture capitalists (VC). This exercise has given me more experience and also the confidence to pitch to potential investors one day. I hope iCentre will continue this competition to encourage more participants and of course, encouraging more entrepreneurs.

As reported by  AnakBrunei, the winners are:

• Winning the ICT Business Plan category was Brumesh by Rafiqun WDSI with cash prize of $20,000;
• YouGotSnapped by Expansys Technology in the second place with cash prize of $10,000;
• Outsource Contact Centre by 24-7 Assist in the third place with cash prize of $5,000.
• the Special Islamic Merit Award for Islamic Application was given to Mimit e-Technology with a cash prize of $2,000.

Interesting enough, three of the winners have also recently  inked separate deals with Philippine-based Crestar Communications, which will provide the platform for the iCentre firms to tap into the Philippine ICT market, as reported by the Brunei Times.

Antonio Peralta, Crestar chief executive, said the collaboration with the iCentre companies is a defining step towards the realisation of Brunei's goal of becoming a hub for ICT in the Bimp-Eaga region.

Expansys Technologies aims to launch its text or short messaging system gateway technology as the preferred platform in delivering the integrated systems of Mesh, IPTV and GPS technology in the Philippines.

Mimit e-Technology intends to launch its V-track system, a global positioning system tracking system for fleets as well as e-ilmu, an Islamic mobile content application developed for the Muslim communities in the Philippines.

Rafiqun WDSI plans to deliver its Wireless Mesh Device and IPTV to serve the Philippines market.

They will also be bringing in their expertise in wireless design, e-commerce and e-government consultancy services to the country.

Congratulations to those  winning IT companies that are going regional! Hope this will serve an inspiration for other new IT companies or SMEs that are thinking of venturing regionally!

Blog for a Cause!, the Global Voices Guide of Blog Advocacy, is now available in Spanish thanks to this translation by María Florencia Puente from Global voices en Español.

The guide outlines easy-to-follow tips on how to use blogs as part of campaigns against injustice and features successful examples of advocacy blogs from around the world. It is divided into five sections:

1. Frequently asked questions about what blog advocacy is
2. The 5 key elements of any successful advocacy blog
3. The 4 steps to creating an advocacy blog
4. How to make your blog a vibrant community of active volunteers
5. Tips to help blog activists stay safe online.

Blog Por Una Causa! is availble for download as a PDF file. You may need to install the free Adobe Acrobat Reader to view it.

Please download Blog Por Una Causa! and help us translating the guide in your language.

For further information please contact Mary at MaryCJoyce [ at ] gmail [ dot ] com or Global Voices Advocacy Coordinator Sami Ben Gharbia at advocacy [ at ] globalvoicesonline [ dot ] org

Click on the image to download

Global Voices Advocacy is pleased to announce the second of several planned manuals focused on the topics of circumventing internet filtering, anonymous blogging and effective use of Internet-based tools in campaigns for social and political change.

Blog for a Cause!: The Global Voices Guide of Blog Advocacy explains how activists can use blogs as part of campaigns against injustice around the world. Blogging can help activists in several ways. It is a quick and inexpensive way to create a presence on the Internet, to disseminate information about a cause, and to organize actions to lobby decision-makers.

The goal of Blog for a Cause!: is twofold: to inform and to inspire. The guide is designed to be accessible and practical, giving activists a number of easy-to-follow tips on how to use a blog to further their particular cause.

The guide is divided into five sections:

1. Frequently asked questions about what blog advocacy is
2. The 5 key elements of any successful advocacy blog
3. The 4 steps to creating an advocacy blog
4. How to make your blog a vibrant community of active volunteers
5. Tips to help blog activists stay safe online

In addition to the information provided above, the guide is also full of examples of advocacy blogs from around the world, to inspire readers with a glimpse of what is possible. These featured advocacy blogs have a variety of goals, ranging from freeing a jailed blogger in Saudi Arabia to protecting the environment in Hong Kong and opposing the conflict in Darfur.

The guide was written by Mary Joyce, a student of digital activism based in Boston, and was commissioned by Global Voices Advocacy, an anti-censorship project of Global Voices online.

If you found this guide useful when setting up your blog campaign, please email us to let us know.

Download Blog for a Cause!: in English and help us translating the guide in your language.

For further information please contact Mary at MaryCJoyce [ at ] gmail [ dot ] com or Global Voices Advocacy Coordinator Sami Ben Gharbia at advocacy [ at ] globalvoicesonline [ dot ] org