I won't make a website for you – but i will build one with you!

On this page: [ i do sometimes | when i do this ]

Yes, i do build websites sometimes ...

If building a website will help my teaching.

Building effective websites is not easy. There is a lot more to a website than basic HTML and CSS. And the technology is changing rapidly. The only way for me to keep up, so that i can be a real teacher, is to be involved in building real websites.

My first priority is teaching. If building a website will help my teaching ... (and if there is time to do it while i am teaching) ... i may take part in building a site ... if the project meets the following criteria:

When do i do this?

I do not make my decision based on the purpose of the organisation, or personal relationships. That is not any part of my mission.

I look for these things:

• The technical aspect that the website will specialise in (Videos, CMS, webcasting, etc.) is something that Tibetans here and elsewhere are getting interested in. By building this website with you, i can educate myself on the advanced aspects of the technology, so i can teach others.
• The organisation is doing some kind of community work. It doesn't matter if i agree with their goals or their politics (as long as it does not involve violence or hatred).
• The organisation as a whole is committed to practical support of their IT needs — internet access, email, adequate computers, as well as their websites — the same as it provides for an office space, accountant, information officer, etc.
• The organisation supports one or more staff members who are dedicated to the website, as part of their regular office-hour duties. And the organisation understands that maintaining a website is not trivial, but requires skills, ongoing training, and a lot of time.
• The organisation supports their web person by giving them all-day web access. You can't make websites if you don't use websites!
• The organisation has at least one staff member who wants to learn the things i am doing. Somebody will be working and learning with me — we will build the site together.
• There will be a project manager in the organisation. This person will actually be managing the site-building project, has a vision for the web, and also has an overall technical understanding of how websites work.
• The organisation and its staff will be taking over full maintenance of the website after it is completed. (Of course i am happy to always be available for consultation!)
• I have enough time: am not too busy with teaching people directly.

If all of these points can be fulfilled, i may be able to build a website with you – but not for you!

I hope you understand!

Every site that i have helped build here, fulfilled every point in the list above.