A few QuirkStars, including myself, got back from the excellent Geek Retreat Stanford Valley last night, feeling exhasuted but enriched for the conversations we were lucky enough to take part in. The event brought minds together to collaborate on particular ways to “make the South African Internet better for all.” I for one feel lucky to have been there.

With the discussion focused on tools and projects for education and the Internet, the group included a great mix of academics, project managers, CEO’s for tech startups and IT journalists. Given our distance learning courses and passion for sharing content online, the QuirkStars were naturally pleased to be there and interested in what we could contribute.

The weekend was structured around sessions where everyone had a chance to either present their projects, challenges they were facing or talk on something they consider relevant or interesting.

Those in attendance were very conscious of making the weekend productive – whether by acknowledging that the connections made between people will bear fruit on their own or through starting projects that we can all take forward.

I found it incredibly rewarding to meet people on the grounds of a shared interest like this – and to learn from the experience in the room. If anything there were too many problems raised – solving the education crisis in South Africa is a giant project and two days is hardly long enough to agree on a master plan. The immediate benefit, I think, lies in focusing on the things that can be done or offering support for projects that are already making headway. Meaning that much can be achieved if the minds that shared with each other this weekend were made accessible to more NGO’s working in the South African education space.

Personally, I’d like to see more of a mix between academics and business and marketing people at other internet related local events - I think the different groups have a lot to offer each other.

Peer to Peer University, Cognician, Mobile phones for Literacy, Marlon Parker's work and Theft Based Civic Information from Stefan Magdalinski were all projects that made an impression on me. Great discussions were held around Mobile Payment mechanisms and Telecoms advocacy (something we should all know a bit more about).

Beyond the discussion, both online and off, I have to say that the setting was lovely. Thanks so much to the folks from Stanford Valley, Birkenhead Breweries (that was memorable!) and the community spirit that resulted in some real sharing of advice, some sponsored niceties like T-shirts and badges and a few awesome hoodies (nice one Downtempo!) and the exposure to some great minds.  Heather Ford, Eve D and the (very shy) Justin Spratt were excellent hosts and Yola, Seacom, IS, Skyrove, Orca wireless, eConsultant, Jackie Scala, Old Mutual, White Wall Web and Telamenta are all sponsors that helped to make it happen.

Also check out:

• Friday Fact Box - Online Education
• 6 Ways to Get Yourself an eMarketing Education
• A Free eMarketing Textbook from the Minds at Quirk