Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to common questions about managing Dzaleka Online Services
Getting Started
What is Dzaleka Online Services?
Dzaleka Online Services is a comprehensive digital platform serving the Dzaleka Refugee Camp community in Malawi. We provide a service directory (100+ organizations), resource library (140+ resources), event management, news & stories, photo archive, job board, and skills exchange marketplace.
Where do I start as a new staff member?
Start with the Staff Onboarding page, then read the Contributing Guidelines and review the Training Materials. Ask your supervisor for your login credentials and first assignment.
Do I need coding knowledge to contribute?
No! Most content can be submitted through user-friendly web forms. We have forms for events, services, photos, and community voices. Only technical staff working with the codebase need development skills.
Content Management
How do I publish news articles?
News articles are published through Blogger.com. Log in with your credentials, create your article following our guidelines, add categories and tags, then publish. Articles appear on dzaleka.com automatically.
What are the image requirements?
Images should be JPG, PNG, or WebP format, minimum 800x600 pixels (1200x800 recommended for hero images), and maximum 2MB file size. Always include descriptive alt text and photographer attribution. Upload to Cloudinary for automatic optimization or store in public/images/.
How do I add new services to the directory?
Use the Service Registration Form to submit new services. Include organization name, description, category, contact details, location, and operating hours. Services are reviewed within 24-48 hours.
How do I create an event?
Use the Event Submission Form. Required fields include title, description, date, location, category, and organizer. Optional fields include registration URL, panelists, and contact information. Events are reviewed before being published.
What content collections are available?
We have 13 content collections: news (6 categories), events, services, resources, docs, photos, stories, inspirational-stories, community-voices, profiles, jobs, talents, and more. Each has specific frontmatter requirements detailed in the Contributing Guidelines.
Photos & Media
How do I submit photos?
Use the Photo Submission Form. Include the photo title, description, photographer name and bio, date, location, and tags. All photos must have proper attribution and photographer consent.
Should I use Cloudinary or local storage for images?
Cloudinary is recommended for automatic optimization, faster loading, and WebP conversion. Upload to Cloudinary and use the provided URL in your content. For local storage, place images in public/images/ and optimize them before uploading (max 2MB).
Do I need permission to photograph people?
Yes! Always obtain consent before photographing individuals, especially children. Ensure people understand how their photos will be used. For sensitive content, consider anonymizing subjects or obtaining written consent.
How do I add alt text to images?
Alt text describes the image for accessibility. Be descriptive and specific (e.g., "Children playing soccer in Dzaleka refugee camp" not just "children playing"). Include in the image frontmatter or form field when submitting content.
Resource Management
How do I add resources to the library?
Create a markdown file in src/content/resources/ with frontmatter including title, description, category, author, date, and either a pdfUrl (for downloadable PDFs in public/resources/pdf/) or resourceUrl (for external links). We have 140+ resources including reports, guides, legal documents, and educational materials.
What types of resources should I include?
Include research reports, policy documents, educational guides, legal resources, health information, business templates, and community studies. Resources must be relevant to Dzaleka community, refugees, or humanitarian work. Common categories include education, legal, health, business, advocacy, and culture.
How do I upload PDF files?
Place PDF files in public/resources/pdf/ directory using descriptive filenames (e.g., unhcr-malawi-factsheet-2025.pdf). Reference them in your resource frontmatter as pdfUrl: "/resources/pdf/filename.pdf". Include file size in the description (e.g., "PDF, 2.5 MB"). For external resources, use resourceUrl instead.
What metadata should I include with resources?
Include title, description (2-3 sentences), author/organization, publication date, category, tags, file type and size, and download URL or external link. Optional: ISBN, language, related resources. Good metadata helps community members find relevant resources through search.
Technical Support
How do I report bugs or technical issues?
Use the Help Desk to submit a support ticket. Include: what you were doing, what happened, what you expected, browser/device info, and screenshots if relevant. For urgent issues, contact the technical team directly. Most issues are resolved within 24-48 hours.
What browsers and devices are supported?
The platform works best on modern browsers: Chrome 90+, Firefox 88+, Safari 14+, Edge 90+. Mobile browsers are fully supported. For development work, you'll need Node.js 18+ installed. Ensure stable internet connection for uploading images and PDFs.
How does deployment work?
The site is hosted on Netlify with automatic deployment. When changes are pushed to the main branch on GitHub, Netlify automatically builds and deploys the site (typically 2-3 minutes). You can view build status and logs in the Netlify dashboard. No manual deployment needed!
What development commands should I know?
For technical staff: npm run dev starts local development server (http://localhost:4321), npm run build builds for production, npm run preview previews production build. Always test locally before pushing to GitHub. See Staff Onboarding for setup details.
Where is content stored and backed up?
All content is stored in the GitHub repository (Dzaleka-Connect/dos) with full version history. GitHub provides automatic backups. Images are stored on Cloudinary (with backups) or in public/images/. PDFs are in public/resources/pdf/. Always keep local copies of important files before uploading.
Workflow & Best Practices
What's the typical content creation workflow?
1) Draft content in your preferred editor, 2) Prepare images/files (optimize and upload to Cloudinary if needed), 3) Submit via web form or create markdown file with frontmatter, 4) Review for accuracy and completeness, 5) Submit for review (24-48 hours), 6) Address feedback if needed, 7) Content is published and appears on the site.
How do I ensure my content is accessible?
Always include descriptive alt text for images, use proper heading hierarchy (h2, h3, h4), write clear link text (not "click here"), ensure color contrast meets WCAG standards, keep paragraphs short and scannable, and use bullet points for lists. See Contributing Guidelines for details.
How can I improve SEO for my content?
Write descriptive titles (50-60 characters), include compelling meta descriptions (150-160 characters), use relevant tags and categories, optimize images with descriptive filenames and alt text, link to related content within the site, and keep URLs short and descriptive. Good content naturally attracts search traffic!
Who do I contact for different types of help?
Content questions → Training Materials & Contributing Guidelines. Technical issues → Help Desk. Urgent matters → Email supervisor. General questions → This FAQ page. First time → Staff Onboarding.
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