Simon Wezel—"Growing
younger with the Internet"
Last year saw the explosion of the Worlg Wide Web with websites of
every genre imaginable. The trend is not about to change for this year. The growth of sites will continue and
an important focus this year will be security of websites against hackers and crackers, As E-Commerce seeks
to reinvent itself after the dot.com .bubble burst, more interesting websites are expected catering for
selected audiences in creating a niche market. The content for websites becomes very important here in
choosing whom to attract. Either way, let us hope the sites featured in the column will continue to broaden
your horizons on the information super highway. This week and hopefully for the next few weeks. we take a
break away from the usual hottest sites to feature different folks in the country who are avid users and
might I say players in the Internet Revolution down \pard plain here. For the past few weeks, the focus has been
on up and coming computer whiz kids but not to be outdone, this week we feature someone who is actually
growing younger with the Internet. Agc ain't nothing but a number and this fine gentleman is certainly a
testament to this statement. He started way back in the days with the commodore 64, Amstrad machines and all
sorts of computer gear we deem archaic now. In his own words, "they saw the Internet coming a long time ago"
He started his programming days working for a transport company between UK and Holland and his programs are
still in use, engineered with a millennium touch. He is also a member of the Institute of Analysts and
Programmers. Simon Wezel is the name and he is the founder and Secretary General of Kingfisher Trust whose
aim is to assist and support the smiling coast in more ways than one. Buoyed by his use of computers.
no time was wasted to get Kingfisher Trust online. Designed by him,
www.kinglisher.gm stands out in cyberspace and not only does it champion the cause of the charity but it also
carries numerous appeals for other causes. There are photos of some of the repairs that need to he carried
out at the Campama psychiatric Hospital and appeals for donations to support this cause. The websitc is also
host to the Tanje Village Museum site, the cute GambiCats page. Gambia Unesco clubs, and the soon to he added
page of Sima Vocational Training Centre. As Simon points out. the main aim of the site is also to promote
other Gambian non-profit and youth organisations in cyberspace at no cost He is calling on all similar
organisations to take this opportunity to have an online presence free of charge courtesy of kingfisher.gin.
In his own words. computers and the Internet for that matter can become a gateway to a whole host of
resources if harnessed the right way. He believes that the introduction of IT in schools is long overdue and
if introduced, the benefits of computers and the Internet will begin to he felt by all sectors of society.
Ask him about his age and he will tell you that computers and the Internet are just unbelievable and at times
he just feels like a whiz kid on top of the world! Eitherway, I might just start a campaign targeting the
Social Security . Corporation to introduce computers with Internet access to the package of pensioners all
around the country. A thought Simon certainly shares...............
Simon's Hottest Sites
1 www.kingfisher.gm
2 www.bbc.co.uk
3 www.discovery.com
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