SummitShare's 2023 concluded with a pivotal meeting at the French embassy in Zambia, paving the way for future collaborations.
The last meeting the SummitShare team had in 2023 was particularly significant, worthy of being the last. The core team ended their year with an engaging discussion at the French embassy in Lusaka, Zambia.
In Q4 of 2024, SummitShare received an invitation from the embassy to discuss their project with a delegation led by Ms. Chrysoula Zacharopoulou, the French Secretary of State for Development, Francophonie, and International Partnerships, along with other dignitaries at the embassy. The discussion began with President Macron's commitment to repatriation, highlighted by his 2016 announcement and subsequent efforts, including the commissioning of the Sarr and Savoy report. This report underscores the need for a digital solution to bridge the gap created by the lengthy bureaucratic process of physical repatriation. The team also addressed challenges associated with digital solutions, such as ownership and rights of distribution.
Ms. Zacharopoulou inquired about the origins of the project and any government involvement that led to its creation. The team defined SummitShare as an open-source project driven by passionate individuals seeking an alternative solution using new technology, technology that enables sharing of information across geographic borders in a borderless way and supports universal ownership. They elaborated on the specifics of the project and discussed the prospect of support from the French government. Ms. Zacharopoulou expressed her intent to present the project to President Macron and proposed a demo in Paris. She also offered to connect the team with the Quai Branly Museum in Paris, which holds the largest African collection in order to do a spotlight on the project.
Overall, the meeting was a success, and SummitShare is excited about the future and opportunities to collaborate at both governmental and institutional levels to advance their project and solution.
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