Just to let you know, posting is probably going to be a bit lighter from now on given that we've only got the Awards Day and fundraising for the library on the agenda until the next Programme starts in October. Do keep checking back for updates though, especially if you are interested in applying for a place to be a mentor when the time comes (which will be very soon!) You can expect to see information about the application process after the Awards Day (which is happening on Saturday 14th August). Spread the word!
Friday, July 30, 2010
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
For all US residents out there
I've recently noticed on our blog counter that we seem to been getting quite a few hits from the United States. I've got a little something for you guys:
Our friends over at ONE are running a petition to push Congress to pass a bill essential for the delivery of President Obama's promise of donating over a billion dollars to Haiti to help with reconstruction. You can add you name to show your support here.
Similarly, the Millennium Campus Network is pushing for Obama and Congress to make the necessary policy changes to achieve the Millennium Development Goals by 2015 (specifically, global education, global health and sustainable development in Haiti). You can sign their petition here.
Unfortunately, those of us outside the United States are unable to add our voices to these causes. We hope those of you who can will join us in holding leaders accountable for their promises in the fight against poverty. I'll be sharing any updates as I see them, so keep an eye out for those!
--Updates-->>
Great news! early this morning (last night for you Yanks), Congress voted to pass the bill that will make the promised funding to assist with Haiti's reconstruction and debt relief possible. More details here. Result! Now let's rally behind the Millennium Campus Network campaign to see those policy changes happen!!
***
President Obama has released his MDG plans; you can check them out here! I'd like to say a huge thank you to everyone who supported these campaigns... little by little, we're all able to make a difference :)
Our friends over at ONE are running a petition to push Congress to pass a bill essential for the delivery of President Obama's promise of donating over a billion dollars to Haiti to help with reconstruction. You can add you name to show your support here.
Similarly, the Millennium Campus Network is pushing for Obama and Congress to make the necessary policy changes to achieve the Millennium Development Goals by 2015 (specifically, global education, global health and sustainable development in Haiti). You can sign their petition here.
Unfortunately, those of us outside the United States are unable to add our voices to these causes. We hope those of you who can will join us in holding leaders accountable for their promises in the fight against poverty. I'll be sharing any updates as I see them, so keep an eye out for those!
--Updates-->>
Great news! early this morning (last night for you Yanks), Congress voted to pass the bill that will make the promised funding to assist with Haiti's reconstruction and debt relief possible. More details here. Result! Now let's rally behind the Millennium Campus Network campaign to see those policy changes happen!!
***
President Obama has released his MDG plans; you can check them out here! I'd like to say a huge thank you to everyone who supported these campaigns... little by little, we're all able to make a difference :)
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
ONE Africa Award
Do you own or work with a company that works to advance the Millennium Development Goals in Africa? If so, you might want to consider applying for the ONE Africa Award for a chance to win up to $100,000. From ONE's website:
Applications must be submitted by Friday 24th September either via their online application form or an uploaded Microsoft Word or PDF document. Applications should be sent to oneaward@one.org. You can also send any questions you have to this address.
Click here for award criteria and here for eligibility requirements. Best of luck!
"Throughout Africa, there is amazing progress to end extreme poverty and preventable disease. New ideas and exciting approaches are transforming lives one day at a time. The ONE Africa Award seeks to highlight the dynamism and achievements of African individuals and civil society organizations who are building a better future for their communities, countries and continent."
Applications must be submitted by Friday 24th September either via their online application form or an uploaded Microsoft Word or PDF document. Applications should be sent to oneaward@one.org. You can also send any questions you have to this address.
Click here for award criteria and here for eligibility requirements. Best of luck!
We've been reading...
Looking to cell phones to deliver aid in [Niger]
Wall Street Journal -- After a crisis, aid workers have found that giving a limited amount of money to the poorest people can help them buy food and weather the storm. But especially in remote or unstable places, doling out cash can be a logistical challenge. Enter the mobile phone. Workers in Niger are testing a system that allows people to store credits on cell phones and transfer the money to vendors to buy things like millet and rice. It might sound more complicated or expensive than physically giving out money, but it doesn’t require things like armed guards and trucks regularly travelling hundreds of miles with bundles of cash…
Leaders accused of breaking their promises as AU talks start
Daily Nation -- African leaders have not kept their promises and are failing their citizens, according to a new report released today as Heads of State arrive in Kampala for the African Union summit. The “State of the Union” coalition is the first of its kind set up to monitor how African governments are delivering on their development commitments — from increasing investment in health care and agriculture to improving human rights and tackling corruption. Drawing on studies from 10 key AU nations, the report paints a picture of unfulfilled agreements, missed targets, and failure to invest in the development of the continent. Most of the landmark announcements made at previous AU Summits are far from being implemented. A scorecard issued with the report rated South Africa as the best performer of the 10, closely followed by Algeria, Egypt and Senegal, but it noted that all the governments have a lot more to do. Nigeria and Cameroon came last...
Why women are the economic backbone of Rwanda
CNN -- Six days a week Bernadette Ndizigiye puts her skillful hands to work. Stretched out on the floor of an empty classroom in Kigali, Ndizigiye and 20 other women weave baskets to earn their keep. Her job at the Agaseke Project, a government run cooperative, has earned Ndizigiye a steady wage, her first savings account, and a taste of financial empowerment. "I can pay school fees for my children. I can buy them clothes and food and when I go out to the street people can see that I am really smart," she said. Women like Ndizigiye are the economic backbone of today's Rwanda. The 1994 genocide left behind a population 70 percent female and when the bloodshed stopped it was women who picked up the pieces and started to rebuild...
Access to Water is Transforming Life in Rural Areas
allAfrica -- Kalla Niang, 12, is highly self assured and energetic. She is busily preparing herself for high school, an opportunity that, until recently, would not have been available to her. She lives in the village of Darou Ngaraf in northern Senegal. Like many girls in rural Senegal, Kalla and her sisters are responsible for many daily chores, including drawing water from a communal well that is located far from their village. "My sisters and I had to rise before dawn to fetch water, and we were very often late for school," she said. "We always arrived very tired because drawing and carrying water is not easy." Lack of energy and time for an education was not the only danger that Kalla and the other villagers faced by not having access to a reliable source of water. Drawing water from unregulated sources of water put them at risk of diarrhoea and malaria...
Lites
Fighting corruption with tattoos
Historic 200% Capital Increase Recommended for African Development Bank
AU, Nepad And AfDB Launch Reinvigorated PIDA in Kampala
Wall Street Journal -- After a crisis, aid workers have found that giving a limited amount of money to the poorest people can help them buy food and weather the storm. But especially in remote or unstable places, doling out cash can be a logistical challenge. Enter the mobile phone. Workers in Niger are testing a system that allows people to store credits on cell phones and transfer the money to vendors to buy things like millet and rice. It might sound more complicated or expensive than physically giving out money, but it doesn’t require things like armed guards and trucks regularly travelling hundreds of miles with bundles of cash…
Leaders accused of breaking their promises as AU talks start
Daily Nation -- African leaders have not kept their promises and are failing their citizens, according to a new report released today as Heads of State arrive in Kampala for the African Union summit. The “State of the Union” coalition is the first of its kind set up to monitor how African governments are delivering on their development commitments — from increasing investment in health care and agriculture to improving human rights and tackling corruption. Drawing on studies from 10 key AU nations, the report paints a picture of unfulfilled agreements, missed targets, and failure to invest in the development of the continent. Most of the landmark announcements made at previous AU Summits are far from being implemented. A scorecard issued with the report rated South Africa as the best performer of the 10, closely followed by Algeria, Egypt and Senegal, but it noted that all the governments have a lot more to do. Nigeria and Cameroon came last...
Why women are the economic backbone of Rwanda
CNN -- Six days a week Bernadette Ndizigiye puts her skillful hands to work. Stretched out on the floor of an empty classroom in Kigali, Ndizigiye and 20 other women weave baskets to earn their keep. Her job at the Agaseke Project, a government run cooperative, has earned Ndizigiye a steady wage, her first savings account, and a taste of financial empowerment. "I can pay school fees for my children. I can buy them clothes and food and when I go out to the street people can see that I am really smart," she said. Women like Ndizigiye are the economic backbone of today's Rwanda. The 1994 genocide left behind a population 70 percent female and when the bloodshed stopped it was women who picked up the pieces and started to rebuild...
Access to Water is Transforming Life in Rural Areas
allAfrica -- Kalla Niang, 12, is highly self assured and energetic. She is busily preparing herself for high school, an opportunity that, until recently, would not have been available to her. She lives in the village of Darou Ngaraf in northern Senegal. Like many girls in rural Senegal, Kalla and her sisters are responsible for many daily chores, including drawing water from a communal well that is located far from their village. "My sisters and I had to rise before dawn to fetch water, and we were very often late for school," she said. "We always arrived very tired because drawing and carrying water is not easy." Lack of energy and time for an education was not the only danger that Kalla and the other villagers faced by not having access to a reliable source of water. Drawing water from unregulated sources of water put them at risk of diarrhoea and malaria...
Lites
Fighting corruption with tattoos
Historic 200% Capital Increase Recommended for African Development Bank
AU, Nepad And AfDB Launch Reinvigorated PIDA in Kampala
15th AU Summit draws to a close
Although the theme for this years AU Summit was supposed to revolve around maternal and infant health, the issue of Somalia quickly became a priority. One week before the Summit was due to start, a series of bombings targeted at innocent civilians watching the World Cup occurred in Kampala. These incidents were subsequently found to have links with Somalia. The AU has agreed to deploy an additional 2000 troops to Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia.
Other issues, such as climate change, NEPAD (New Partnership for Africa's Development), and of course, maternal and child health were discussed. For a more detailed account, see here. Here is a summary of issues discussed and the measures agreed to address them (from New Vision Online):
Bashir and the International Criminal Court
Mutharika said the AU asked the International Criminal Court (ICC) to suspend its indictments against Sudanese president Omar El-Bashir for one year as the union investigated the allegations against him. The ICC issued two arrest warrants against Bashir, accusing him of crimes against humanity and genocide in Darfur. The latest warrant was issued last month. Mutharika asked if the court had a right to try Bashir, when Sudan is not a member of the ICC.
AMISOM’s mandate in Somalia unchanged
Mutharika said the UPDF together with the Burundi forces making up the AMISOM made strident gains against the Al-Shabaab terrorists. He appealed for co-operation from international bodies like the UN, saying the problem was no longer for Africa alone. He added that the recent terrorist bombings in Kampala were meant to discourage them from attending the summit, but their attendance had shown that terrorism has no place in today’s world. Asked whether the summit had changed the mandate of AMISOM from mere peacekeeping to combat, he said they had not debated it but it would be decided by the Peace and Security Council. Ping added that changing the mandate would call for new equipment like helicopters, which are not available. Guinea and Djibouti willing to contribute troops, he added.
Maternal, infant and child health
Ping said the members agreed to form a group to monitor and report on the progress of maternal, infant and child health. Mutharika said the summit had agreed to place the welfare of women and safe motherhood at the forefront of their development agendas this year. “If we improve the welfare of women, access to food and health care, maternal mortality will significantly reduce,” he said.
Other issues, such as climate change, NEPAD (New Partnership for Africa's Development), and of course, maternal and child health were discussed. For a more detailed account, see here. Here is a summary of issues discussed and the measures agreed to address them (from New Vision Online):
Bashir and the International Criminal Court
Mutharika said the AU asked the International Criminal Court (ICC) to suspend its indictments against Sudanese president Omar El-Bashir for one year as the union investigated the allegations against him. The ICC issued two arrest warrants against Bashir, accusing him of crimes against humanity and genocide in Darfur. The latest warrant was issued last month. Mutharika asked if the court had a right to try Bashir, when Sudan is not a member of the ICC.
AMISOM’s mandate in Somalia unchanged
Mutharika said the UPDF together with the Burundi forces making up the AMISOM made strident gains against the Al-Shabaab terrorists. He appealed for co-operation from international bodies like the UN, saying the problem was no longer for Africa alone. He added that the recent terrorist bombings in Kampala were meant to discourage them from attending the summit, but their attendance had shown that terrorism has no place in today’s world. Asked whether the summit had changed the mandate of AMISOM from mere peacekeeping to combat, he said they had not debated it but it would be decided by the Peace and Security Council. Ping added that changing the mandate would call for new equipment like helicopters, which are not available. Guinea and Djibouti willing to contribute troops, he added.
Maternal, infant and child health
Ping said the members agreed to form a group to monitor and report on the progress of maternal, infant and child health. Mutharika said the summit had agreed to place the welfare of women and safe motherhood at the forefront of their development agendas this year. “If we improve the welfare of women, access to food and health care, maternal mortality will significantly reduce,” he said.
Friday, July 23, 2010
5 Leadership Lessons
Posts seem to be getting a bit sparse again. Hmm. Anyway, here's an excerpt of an article I saw on 'Leading Blog', one of the blogs we follow. They share 5 leadership lessons from Joseph S. Nye's book, The Powers to Lead:
Joseph Nye is a professor at Harvard University. You can read the article in its entirety here.
1. Almost anyone can become a leader. Leadership can be learned. It depends on nature and nurture. Leadership can exist at any level, with or without formal authority. Most people are both leader and followers. They “lead from the middle."
2. Smart leaders need both soft and hard power skills: co-optive and command styles. Both transformational and transactional objectives and styles can be useful. One is not automatically better than the other. Leaders depend on and are partly shaped by followers. Some degree of soft power is necessary. Presence/magnetism is inherent in some personalities more than others, but “charisma” is largely bestowed by followers.
3. Appropriate style depends on the context. There are “autocratic situations” and “democratic situations,” normal and crisis conditions, and routine and novel crises. Good diagnosis of the need for change (or not) is essential for contextual intelligence.
4. Leadership for crisis conditions requires advance preparation, emotional maturity, and the ability to distinguish the roles of operational, analytical, and political work. The appropriate mix of styles and skills varies with the stage of the crisis.
5. The information revolution and democratization are causing a long-term secular shift in the context of postmodern organizations—a shift along the continuum from command to co-optive style. Network organizations require a more consultative style. While sometimes stereotyped as a feminine style, both men and women face this change and need to adapt to it. A consultative style is more costly in terms of time, but it provides more information, creates buy-in, and empowers followers.
Joseph Nye is a professor at Harvard University. You can read the article in its entirety here.
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
YLMP Awards Day
As promised in my email a few weeks ago, I have some more details for you about our fast approaching Awards Day. But first, to remind you:
Where: Databank
When: 14th August 2010
Time: 10am – 12pm
It will be a day to reflect on how far we've come since the Programme started, and of course, to honour you as mentors. Everyone who participated in the Programme (all mentors and mentees) will receive certificates. In addition to this, there will be awards for the 3 best junior and senior mentors* as well as for the winners of our 'Mentee's Choice' awards - Most positive, Most hardworking, Natural born leader, Future president, Always on time, and Most likely to write a book in future.
Please note that attendance to the Awards Day is strictly by invitation only. We have, however, made provisions for all mentors, mentees and speakers of the YLMP to attend.
*Awards are calculated across a set of six criteria such as meeting and Mini Seminar attendance and handing in Appraisal Forms. Points are allocated to each mentor depending on their performance on each criterion. Awards will be presented to mentors with the highest total score.
Where: Databank
When: 14th August 2010
Time: 10am – 12pm
It will be a day to reflect on how far we've come since the Programme started, and of course, to honour you as mentors. Everyone who participated in the Programme (all mentors and mentees) will receive certificates. In addition to this, there will be awards for the 3 best junior and senior mentors* as well as for the winners of our 'Mentee's Choice' awards - Most positive, Most hardworking, Natural born leader, Future president, Always on time, and Most likely to write a book in future.
Please note that attendance to the Awards Day is strictly by invitation only. We have, however, made provisions for all mentors, mentees and speakers of the YLMP to attend.
*Awards are calculated across a set of six criteria such as meeting and Mini Seminar attendance and handing in Appraisal Forms. Points are allocated to each mentor depending on their performance on each criterion. Awards will be presented to mentors with the highest total score.
Friday, July 16, 2010
Technology & Development
We are, as they say, in the age of the computer. To many, it seems strange to imagine keeping in touch without mobile phones, or looking for information without the internet. With technological advances come many different possibilities for advancement... to save time here, to make more money there. Smart phones are becoming more and more common place, bringing with them a wealth of applications that support a vast range of functions. Technologies are now able to work in a synergy with each other - phones with the internet, mp3 players with maps and satellite navigation, even watches serve as USB data storage systems these days. All these allow for an increased free-flow of information which is crucial to development.Developing countries are often cited as being technologically backward, and (perhaps more often) lagging behind their more developed counterparts. Encouragingly however, increasing numbers of people are realising the benefits of technology and are becoming more and more innovative in its use. Even better, individuals in developing countries are adapting this technology and making it work to solve their specific problems and address their needs.
The question about technology is not whether or not it brings benefits - because for the most part, those are clear for all to see. To some, technology is simply a means by which to make life easier. To others, it has become an absolute necessity. Can we then say that technology is absolutely necessary for development? In cases such as areas of rural Zambia were the internet is allegedly more accessible than clean water, you have to wonder whether priorities have been set correctly, if at all.
This is not to say that these targets should be made at the expense of technological advancement. In some areas, mobile phone technology is being used to save lives, and to say advances in technology should be scrapped in favour of other 'more important' issues would be foolhardy. Where then, do we draw the line?
Some would say there is no need for such a line to exist. If, for example, there is a way of using one to achieve progress in another, that would optimise benefit for all concerned. An example of such a case can be found with Zack Matere, a Kenyan potato farmer - and from what it sounds - a would-be entrepreneur and philanthropist as well.
The 50 Kenyan shillings (about 66 US cents) he spends a day accessing information on the internet each day proves to be too expensive (or as some might say, frivolous) for the majority of people in his local community. Recognising the benefits and potential for advancement that can be gained by the wealth of information online, Zack plans to post useful information (on agriculture, health and education) on his local information boards.
"The internet is quite an individual pursuit. But a noticeboard is more of a group thing", he explained to the BBC. "So if I post an item on a noticeboard on potato disease, for example, the community can read it, talk together and come to a decision."
You can read more about Zack's story here. It is this kind of innovative thought that can propel development in rural and even urban areas, even if this can only initially be achieved by taking baby steps.
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Women mentors night
This is for all lady university students and graduates out there. The Eagle Women Empowerment Club is organising a Ladies Mentoring Night in collaboration with Vital Voices (one of the blogs on our Blog widget on the side) and the National Union of Students. It is planned to be a "forum for peer learning, information exchange, business development and access to resources and tools, all of which are supportive of building networks for women in Ghana.
"The Programme is designed to engage experienced Resource persons who have excelled to interact with tertiary students."
It will be held in the British Council Hall on Friday 23rd July between 5 and 8pm. Speakers will include Juliet Asante (CEO of Eagle Productions Limited) and Comfort Ocran (CEO of Legacy & Legacy), fellows of the Africa Leadership Initiative, a programme Databank Foundation is involved with. The following topics will be discussed:
· Becoming An Entrepreneur
· Choosing a Career
· Investments
For further information you can call 0244- 228288, 0244-075678 or 020-9210718.
Thanks for the information David!
"The Programme is designed to engage experienced Resource persons who have excelled to interact with tertiary students."
It will be held in the British Council Hall on Friday 23rd July between 5 and 8pm. Speakers will include Juliet Asante (CEO of Eagle Productions Limited) and Comfort Ocran (CEO of Legacy & Legacy), fellows of the Africa Leadership Initiative, a programme Databank Foundation is involved with. The following topics will be discussed:
· Becoming An Entrepreneur
· Choosing a Career
· Investments
For further information you can call 0244- 228288, 0244-075678 or 020-9210718.
Thanks for the information David!
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
We've been reading...
New power in Africa... and beyond
Patricia Sellers, FORTUNE -- Leadership, essentially, is about inspiring others to carry on a mission. The leadership opportunity compounds in a connected, viral, global community. Here's how leadership can spread: In 2006, Fortune and the U.S. State Department launched the Global Women Leaders Mentoring Partnership. Every year since then, we've selected two dozen or more of the best and brightest young women leaders in developing countries and invited them to the U.S. to shadow women who attend the annual Fortune Most Powerful Women Summit. Mentor/CEOs like Andrea Jung of Avon (AVP), Ellen Kullman of DuPont (DD), Ann Moore of Time Inc. (TWX), and Ursula Burns and Anne Mulcahy (now chairman) of Xerox (XRX)--plus top women execs at companies like Wal-Mart (WMT) and Exxon-Mobil--have hosted these international women. Ideally, the mentees return home and apply what they learned to improve their own community...
Single Entity to promote women's empowerment
UN -- In a bid to accelerate the empowerment of women, the General Assembly today voted unanimously to create a dynamic new entity merging four United Nations offices focusing on gender equality, a move hailed by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and other senior officials. “The newest member of the UN family has been born today,” Mr. Ban told the Assembly after it passed the resolution setting up the new UN Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women, to be known as UN Women. “This is truly a watershed day,” he declared. The new body will merge four of the world body’s agencies and offices: UN Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM), the Division for the Advancement of Women (DAW), the Office of the Special Adviser on Gender Issues, and the UN International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women (UN-INSTRAW)...
Tony Hayward and the failure of leadership accountability
Rosabeth Kanter, Bloomberg -- BP doesn't need an engineer at the helm. It needs a leader. Of course engineers matter, when the task is stemming damage from the largest oil spill in U.S. history. BP needs all the talent it can get. Scientists, engineers, and technicians, including the 2500 BOP employees sent to the Gulf from all over the world, have a critical role to play in cleaning up the environmental mess. But BP must also clean up an organizational and cultural mess. The company needs a leader who engenders confidence. CEO Tony Hayward has had over six weeks in the spotlight to demonstrate his leadership capabilities. Yet the situation keeps getting worse: escalating damage in the Gulf and a whopping 35% drop in BP's stock price...
Has the G8 delivered on its Africa promise?
BBC -- In July 2005, leaders of the G8 group of developed nations promised a $50bn (£33bn) aid-boost to poorer countries. Five years on, Ian Brimacombe of BBC World Service explores how the decision affected the lives of some people in Africa. It was 12 years ago when Ethiopian cancer survivor Fantu Shoamare had her first cancer scare. She had just had a baby and noticed a lump while breastfeeding. Her family raised money for her treatment, and she was able to arrange to receive drugs from abroad. They were not available inside Ethiopia at the time. "I was very very lucky to get the medicine, to get the specialist treatment," she says. "I am lucky. God helps me. Now I am OK"...
Lites
Indian investment in Africa
China to build $8bn oil refinery in Nigeria
World Cup an economic success
Government hints of ‘mentoring’ under NYEP
Ethiopia on Track to Halve the Poverty Rate by 2015
Patricia Sellers, FORTUNE -- Leadership, essentially, is about inspiring others to carry on a mission. The leadership opportunity compounds in a connected, viral, global community. Here's how leadership can spread: In 2006, Fortune and the U.S. State Department launched the Global Women Leaders Mentoring Partnership. Every year since then, we've selected two dozen or more of the best and brightest young women leaders in developing countries and invited them to the U.S. to shadow women who attend the annual Fortune Most Powerful Women Summit. Mentor/CEOs like Andrea Jung of Avon (AVP), Ellen Kullman of DuPont (DD), Ann Moore of Time Inc. (TWX), and Ursula Burns and Anne Mulcahy (now chairman) of Xerox (XRX)--plus top women execs at companies like Wal-Mart (WMT) and Exxon-Mobil--have hosted these international women. Ideally, the mentees return home and apply what they learned to improve their own community...
Single Entity to promote women's empowerment
UN -- In a bid to accelerate the empowerment of women, the General Assembly today voted unanimously to create a dynamic new entity merging four United Nations offices focusing on gender equality, a move hailed by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and other senior officials. “The newest member of the UN family has been born today,” Mr. Ban told the Assembly after it passed the resolution setting up the new UN Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women, to be known as UN Women. “This is truly a watershed day,” he declared. The new body will merge four of the world body’s agencies and offices: UN Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM), the Division for the Advancement of Women (DAW), the Office of the Special Adviser on Gender Issues, and the UN International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women (UN-INSTRAW)...
Tony Hayward and the failure of leadership accountability
Rosabeth Kanter, Bloomberg -- BP doesn't need an engineer at the helm. It needs a leader. Of course engineers matter, when the task is stemming damage from the largest oil spill in U.S. history. BP needs all the talent it can get. Scientists, engineers, and technicians, including the 2500 BOP employees sent to the Gulf from all over the world, have a critical role to play in cleaning up the environmental mess. But BP must also clean up an organizational and cultural mess. The company needs a leader who engenders confidence. CEO Tony Hayward has had over six weeks in the spotlight to demonstrate his leadership capabilities. Yet the situation keeps getting worse: escalating damage in the Gulf and a whopping 35% drop in BP's stock price...
Has the G8 delivered on its Africa promise?
BBC -- In July 2005, leaders of the G8 group of developed nations promised a $50bn (£33bn) aid-boost to poorer countries. Five years on, Ian Brimacombe of BBC World Service explores how the decision affected the lives of some people in Africa. It was 12 years ago when Ethiopian cancer survivor Fantu Shoamare had her first cancer scare. She had just had a baby and noticed a lump while breastfeeding. Her family raised money for her treatment, and she was able to arrange to receive drugs from abroad. They were not available inside Ethiopia at the time. "I was very very lucky to get the medicine, to get the specialist treatment," she says. "I am lucky. God helps me. Now I am OK"...
Lites
Indian investment in Africa
China to build $8bn oil refinery in Nigeria
World Cup an economic success
Government hints of ‘mentoring’ under NYEP
Ethiopia on Track to Halve the Poverty Rate by 2015
15th African Union Summit
The African Union's 15th Summit kicks off this coming Monday the 19th of July. It's being held in Kampala, Uganda. Similar to the G8 summit a few weeks ago, this year's theme will be "Maternal, Infant and Child Health and Development in Africa". You might have noticed that maternal and child health are a passion of mine, but I'm writing about this today not only because of that, but because this is a great opportunity for us to look at Africa's united body of leadership. With the first World Cup hosted in Africa successfully completed, this is Africa's next chance to show the world that we too are capable of great things. Unfortunately there isn't much information about the summit on the AU website at the moment, but keep checking back here if you're interested - I'll be adding more details as I find them.
Update
There is a little information here, on the African Development Bank Group website. You can also have a look at the schedule for the summit here.
Update
There is a little information here, on the African Development Bank Group website. You can also have a look at the schedule for the summit here.
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
YLMP mentee's feedback questionnaire
As you will already know, we had our last mini seminar for the current programme last Friday. Evaluation is an integral part of the mentoring process, and we have been trying to do that in many ways: the Appraisal Forms, the Assessment Sheets, etc. We developed a feedback questionnaire for mentees to fill out, I thought it would be nice for you to see a selection of their responses (good and bad). Here they are:
How has your behaviour and character changed since starting the programme?
“At first, I used to misbehave in class. I did not know my aim but now I have changed because of the programme.”
“I have learnt to be disciplined at all times. And how to be punctual.”
“It has helped in choosing my future career.”
“I used to think that I was not going to be able to do things the intelligent student could do but now my spirit is high and I have the courage and faith to do things. Through this programme I am doing very well in class.”
“I have really had a great experience as to knowing what I can do even as I am young. I also know that in everything I should think positively and I have changed for the good.”
‘Well to be honest I am someone who is quite shy and with a low spirit but with the help of this programme I have been able to overcome these challenges so I am no longer with a down spirit and no longer shy.”
“Friends say I behave like a matured or elderly person.”
How have your academic habits changed since starting the programme?
“My academic habits have changed a lot because since the programme started we had a lot of talk about how to use our time wisely. I have learnt how to schedule my time especially to learn and to save with the little money I have.”
“My academic performances has really changed a lot, at times I find things difficult but through this programme I believe in the can do spirit and I work towards it.”
“It has helped me to be serious in class.”
“It’s quite normal not all that extremely better but has improved from its previous state. Because during the programme we were taught how to learn and using those methods has moulded me to someone better.”
“My academic habits have improved, examples are elective maths and core maths. I am working hard and I am not giving up until I have gotten what I want.”
“I have been learning hard to improve on my academic performance and to pass my exams.”
“Yes, I was very weak in some subjects but through this I have been able to achieve my goals.”
How has your behaviour and character changed since starting the programme?
“At first, I used to misbehave in class. I did not know my aim but now I have changed because of the programme.”
“I have learnt to be disciplined at all times. And how to be punctual.”
“It has helped in choosing my future career.”
“I used to think that I was not going to be able to do things the intelligent student could do but now my spirit is high and I have the courage and faith to do things. Through this programme I am doing very well in class.”
“I have really had a great experience as to knowing what I can do even as I am young. I also know that in everything I should think positively and I have changed for the good.”
‘Well to be honest I am someone who is quite shy and with a low spirit but with the help of this programme I have been able to overcome these challenges so I am no longer with a down spirit and no longer shy.”
“Friends say I behave like a matured or elderly person.”
How have your academic habits changed since starting the programme?
“My academic habits have changed a lot because since the programme started we had a lot of talk about how to use our time wisely. I have learnt how to schedule my time especially to learn and to save with the little money I have.”
“My academic performances has really changed a lot, at times I find things difficult but through this programme I believe in the can do spirit and I work towards it.”
“It has helped me to be serious in class.”
“It’s quite normal not all that extremely better but has improved from its previous state. Because during the programme we were taught how to learn and using those methods has moulded me to someone better.”
“My academic habits have improved, examples are elective maths and core maths. I am working hard and I am not giving up until I have gotten what I want.”
“I have been learning hard to improve on my academic performance and to pass my exams.”
“Yes, I was very weak in some subjects but through this I have been able to achieve my goals.”
Friday, July 9, 2010
Mini Seminar: Career Development
Today, we had our last Mini Seminar for the 09/10 Programme. Albert Ankrah of Regent University and Hope Coalition International - a company he set up with his brother - lead the seminar. It was an exciting and interactive session that had all mentees involved at every stage.
The seminar was titled 'Fixing the Puzzle: Your career and you'. Mr Ankrah started off by asking various mentees what their parents did for a living. He followed by asking why they were in that profession, and whether they enjoyed it or not. He explained that although many people view finding the right career as a process that 'just happens' or that happens after some time in the workforce, it does not have to happen that way. Finding a career that is right for you is something we all have to take an active part in, and Mr Ankrah wanted to set each mentee on the path to finding theirs.
Mr Ankrah also stressed the importance of knowing oneself, and gave tips on how to discover 'hidden' talents. He ended with two - exercises the True Colour System, and the Successful Life Cycle. You can take the True Colour System (a tool designed to help you find a career suited to your personality traits) here.
The seminar was titled 'Fixing the Puzzle: Your career and you'. Mr Ankrah started off by asking various mentees what their parents did for a living. He followed by asking why they were in that profession, and whether they enjoyed it or not. He explained that although many people view finding the right career as a process that 'just happens' or that happens after some time in the workforce, it does not have to happen that way. Finding a career that is right for you is something we all have to take an active part in, and Mr Ankrah wanted to set each mentee on the path to finding theirs.
Mr Ankrah also stressed the importance of knowing oneself, and gave tips on how to discover 'hidden' talents. He ended with two - exercises the True Colour System, and the Successful Life Cycle. You can take the True Colour System (a tool designed to help you find a career suited to your personality traits) here.
Library Club @ Kinbu, Part 2
This week, junior mentors have been working on a proposed action plan to implement the Library Club at Kinbu. Yesterday, we held a meeting for a presentation and a discussion in order to fine tune the action plan and make some final decisions as to how everything was going to work. The presentation turned out to be incredibly detailed (kudos to you guys, you did great), so there wasn't as much to discuss and decide as we had anticipated. Nevertheless, we had a discussion and threw some ideas around. Here are some of the main points:
> We have been working closely with Kinbu in the formation of the action plan for the Library Club so that implementation can be as smooth as possible. We are waiting on the school to release their schedule for next term so we can fine tune our schedule and ensure nothing clashes.
> We also want the students of Kinbu (not just mentees) to be involved. We are waiting for their suggestions by way of a patron. Divine Akortsu (whom we have been working with) has been suggested by the assistant headmaster, and he will be suggested to the students. We will also present them with a list of recommended activities, books, etc to choose from.
> We toyed with the possibility of having the library open to students during the holidays, but this did not seem likely. Instead we decided it would be a good idea to take students to public libraries as part of their Library Club trips. This way, they can learn how to use their local libraries and reading would become much more accessible to them.
>We'd like to sensitise students to their Ghanaian and African heritage, including literature. We agreed that it would be good to look into having groups visit the school to perform books or plays they might be reading (e.g. Efua Sutherland)
> A rough schedule was put together (this will be fine-tuned after we receive a schedule from Kinbu). One key factor was that reading competitions take place after exams. This means that students can be given a recommended list of books to read during the holidays on which the competitions will be based.
> The plan of action included key performance indicators and critical success factors as a means of ensuring we are on track. In addition to these, the Library Club will be required to submit regular reports both to the headmistress and to Databank.
> You might remember from a visit to the Kinbu library a while back that there was a large stack of books that were not being (and would not be) used. It was pointed out that the Ministry of Education buys old books and recycles them - this could be another way we could use to generate funds for the refurbishment of the library. We could also approach the Rotary and Lions Clubs.
> We have been working closely with Kinbu in the formation of the action plan for the Library Club so that implementation can be as smooth as possible. We are waiting on the school to release their schedule for next term so we can fine tune our schedule and ensure nothing clashes.
> We also want the students of Kinbu (not just mentees) to be involved. We are waiting for their suggestions by way of a patron. Divine Akortsu (whom we have been working with) has been suggested by the assistant headmaster, and he will be suggested to the students. We will also present them with a list of recommended activities, books, etc to choose from.
> We toyed with the possibility of having the library open to students during the holidays, but this did not seem likely. Instead we decided it would be a good idea to take students to public libraries as part of their Library Club trips. This way, they can learn how to use their local libraries and reading would become much more accessible to them.
>We'd like to sensitise students to their Ghanaian and African heritage, including literature. We agreed that it would be good to look into having groups visit the school to perform books or plays they might be reading (e.g. Efua Sutherland)
> A rough schedule was put together (this will be fine-tuned after we receive a schedule from Kinbu). One key factor was that reading competitions take place after exams. This means that students can be given a recommended list of books to read during the holidays on which the competitions will be based.
> The plan of action included key performance indicators and critical success factors as a means of ensuring we are on track. In addition to these, the Library Club will be required to submit regular reports both to the headmistress and to Databank.
> You might remember from a visit to the Kinbu library a while back that there was a large stack of books that were not being (and would not be) used. It was pointed out that the Ministry of Education buys old books and recycles them - this could be another way we could use to generate funds for the refurbishment of the library. We could also approach the Rotary and Lions Clubs.
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Leadership lessons from the World Cup (and some from cricket)
Here's a post for all you sports fans out there. There's been no getting away from football this summer. What with all the national pride, action and heartbreak, the World Cup has been a force to be reckoned with for the past few weeks. After the Black Stars' particularly painful exit, I began thinking about other ways to look at the World Cup; aside from all the hype and emotion, what lessons can we learn? Since Databank is all about leadership, I figured it would be pretty cool to link the two. They go well together; no team (football or otherwise) can be successful without effective leadership (as highlighted by this article on Fabio Capello's disgraceful campaign). After a little rooting around, I came across an article by Roseabeth Moss Kanter, a Harvard Business School professor. Here's an excerpt:
The World Cup has drawn on national pride to captivate hundreds of millions around the globe in the most-watched TV event ever. Most people watch the action. As a leadership groupie, I watch for lessons about the circumstances behind the action, the factors that propel any organization to victory.You can read the article in full here.
Consider the contrast between the emotional meltdown of the French team, which was eliminated early, and the German team's discipline as it advanced to the semifinals and perhaps to the Cup. Or the African comparison pointed out in the Wall Street Journal between Ghana, with a stable, transparent democracy and the proud achievement of being only the third African team ever to play in the quarterfinals, and Nigeria, whose losses were accompanied by a corruption investigation into the Nigerian Football Federation. Fair, transparent, collaborative = winning. Corrupt, chaotic, petty = losing.
The leadership culture surrounding teams shapes outcomes. Whether in the boardroom, locker room, or living room, success is derived from not just the talents of individuals but the context surrounding them.
This principle is visible in another international sport: cricket. To Americans, cricket is unfamiliar and incomprehensible. At least it was to me until my British student Emma Herbert explained it. But cricket is tremendously important to the countries from the former British empire that send teams to world cricket championships — Australia, Bangladesh, England, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, and a 14-country coalition from the West Indies. Like the World Cup, cricket carries the weight of national attitudes and aspirations. Teams compete in three to six matches, each several days in length, or about 25 days of cricket, about the length of the World Cup.
As part of the research for my book Confidence: How Winning Streaks and Losing Streaks Begin and End, Herbert and I examined why one formerly dominant team, West Indies, slid into decline, while another, Australia, came from behind to dominate the sport. Both involved culture and leadership.
Well done Black Stars!!!
We've been reading...
The East African common market
Africa Business Pages -- In a major development in East Africa, Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania decided to join hands and form a trade bloc called East African Community (EAC) in 2001. The new trade bloc aims to work towards economic policies that are pro-market, pro-private sector and pro-liberalisation. By pooling in their resources and promoting free trade within the region, the East African Community aims to emerge as a leading trade entity in East Africa. In a simple ceremony held in Arusha, Tanzania, Kenya's former President Daniel arap Moi, Uganda's Yoweri Museveni and Tanzania's Benjamin Mkapa, formalised the EAC treaty to pave way for an economic and, ultimately, political union of the three countries...
African countries top list of countries making most progress on MDGs
UN Millennium Campaign, ODI* -- As G8 and G20 leaders prepare to gather in Canada, new analysis issued by the Overseas Development Institute and the United Nations Millennium Campaign finds that, in absolute terms, many of the world’s poorest countries are making the most overall progress towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals – the set of promises world leaders made to significantly reduce extreme poverty, illiteracy and disease by 2015. Particularly relevant for G8 countries are the findings which underline the importance of open trade and effective and timely aid in driving this success. For poor countries, political leadership, accountability and adequate budgetary allocations for the Goals are cited as key criteria to drive sustained progress...
*Overseas Development Institute
Satya Capital to invest $200 million in Africa this year
Reuters -- Satya Capital, a London-based private equity fund owned by Sudanese Mo Ibrahim, plans to invest some $200 million in Africa this year, Ibrahim said late on Thursday. Known for making a fortune from the mobile phone business and funding a major prize in support of leadership, Ibrahim said the continent offered high returns on investments. "I would not be investing in Africa if I'm not bullish about Africa," he told Reuters on the sidelines of a media conference. He said the global financial crisis had showed risks to investments abounded in any region of the world and bolstered Africa's position as an investment destination.
Afghan women jailed for 'bad character'
BBC -- Meet Sorarya and you meet "attitude". It has something to do with the way she wears her red tunic and trousers, her short cropped black leather jacket, and the way she chews gum and rolls her eyes. "What are you here for?" I ask as we sit in a makeshift beauty parlour, surrounded by a group of Afghan women in less flamboyant attire. "Should I tell her?" she asks the other women with a mischievous grin. "Bad character," she says after a moment's hesitation. She suppresses a giggle then doubles over with laughter...
Lites
Equatorial Guinea president pledges reforms
Liberia's $4.9 Billion Debt Cleared
Africa 'winning the war on AIDS'
UN to set up agency promoting women's rights
Africa Business Pages -- In a major development in East Africa, Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania decided to join hands and form a trade bloc called East African Community (EAC) in 2001. The new trade bloc aims to work towards economic policies that are pro-market, pro-private sector and pro-liberalisation. By pooling in their resources and promoting free trade within the region, the East African Community aims to emerge as a leading trade entity in East Africa. In a simple ceremony held in Arusha, Tanzania, Kenya's former President Daniel arap Moi, Uganda's Yoweri Museveni and Tanzania's Benjamin Mkapa, formalised the EAC treaty to pave way for an economic and, ultimately, political union of the three countries...
African countries top list of countries making most progress on MDGs
UN Millennium Campaign, ODI* -- As G8 and G20 leaders prepare to gather in Canada, new analysis issued by the Overseas Development Institute and the United Nations Millennium Campaign finds that, in absolute terms, many of the world’s poorest countries are making the most overall progress towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals – the set of promises world leaders made to significantly reduce extreme poverty, illiteracy and disease by 2015. Particularly relevant for G8 countries are the findings which underline the importance of open trade and effective and timely aid in driving this success. For poor countries, political leadership, accountability and adequate budgetary allocations for the Goals are cited as key criteria to drive sustained progress...
*Overseas Development Institute
Satya Capital to invest $200 million in Africa this year
Reuters -- Satya Capital, a London-based private equity fund owned by Sudanese Mo Ibrahim, plans to invest some $200 million in Africa this year, Ibrahim said late on Thursday. Known for making a fortune from the mobile phone business and funding a major prize in support of leadership, Ibrahim said the continent offered high returns on investments. "I would not be investing in Africa if I'm not bullish about Africa," he told Reuters on the sidelines of a media conference. He said the global financial crisis had showed risks to investments abounded in any region of the world and bolstered Africa's position as an investment destination.
Afghan women jailed for 'bad character'
BBC -- Meet Sorarya and you meet "attitude". It has something to do with the way she wears her red tunic and trousers, her short cropped black leather jacket, and the way she chews gum and rolls her eyes. "What are you here for?" I ask as we sit in a makeshift beauty parlour, surrounded by a group of Afghan women in less flamboyant attire. "Should I tell her?" she asks the other women with a mischievous grin. "Bad character," she says after a moment's hesitation. She suppresses a giggle then doubles over with laughter...
Lites
Equatorial Guinea president pledges reforms
Liberia's $4.9 Billion Debt Cleared
Africa 'winning the war on AIDS'
UN to set up agency promoting women's rights
Well done Black Stars!!!
Monday, July 5, 2010
The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People
I'm sure you are all familiar with Stephen Covey's bestselling book The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People. First published in 1989, it has sold over 15 million copies and has been translated into over 38 languages. We were toying with the possibility of adding this book to the reading list for this year, but we decided against it. It might feature in programmes to come though, so you might want to keep an eye out if you're a fan.
I've decided to a feature on it today because it's been a while since I've done anything on books. Which reminds me - if you've read anything that you think might be relevant to the Programme and what we're about (leadership, mentoring, development, etc) and would like to share, please let me know. You can have a look at all the books that have featured on the blog under the Books tag.
So, onto The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People. The title makes the message of the book pretty clear. On Stephen Covey's website, there is a brief breakdown of each habit. I'll share an excerpt of each (clicking on each habit will take you to the corresponding page on Covey's website):
Habit 1: Be proactive
Be Proactive is about taking responsibility for your life. You can't keep blaming everything on your parents or grandparents. Proactive people recognize that they are "response-able." They don't blame genetics, circumstances, conditions, or conditioning for their behavior. They know they choose their behavior. Reactive people, on the other hand, are often affected by their physical environment. They find external sources to blame for their behavior. If the weather is good, they feel good. If it isn't, it affects their attitude and performance, and they blame the weather. All of these external forces act as stimuli that we respond to. Between the stimulus and the response is your greatest power - you have the freedom to choose your response. One of the most important things you choose is what you say. Your language is a good indicator of how you see yourself. A proactive person uses proactive language - I can, I will, I prefer, etc. A reactive person uses reactive language - I can't, I have to, if only. Reactive people believe they are not responsible for what they say and do - they have no choice.
Habit 2: Begin with the end in mind
Habit 2 is based on imagination - the ability to envision in your mind what you cannot at present see with your eyes. It is based on the principle that all things are created twice. There is a mental (first) creation, and a physical (second) creation. The physical creation follows the mental, just as a building follows a blueprint. If you don't make a conscious effort to visualize who you are and what you want in life, then you empower other people and circumstances to shape you and your life by default. It's about connecting again with your own uniqueness and then defining the personal, moral, and ethical guidelines within which you can most happily express and fulfill. Begin with the End in Mind means to begin each day, task, or project with a clear vision of your desired direction and destination, and then continue by flexing your proactive muscles to make things happen.
Habit 3: Put first things first
Habit 3 is the second creation, the physical creation. This habit is where Habits 1 and 2 come together. It happens day in and day out, moment-by-moment. It deals with many of the questions addressed in the field of time management. But that's not all it's about. Habit 3 is about life management as well - your purpose, values, roles, and priorities. What are "first things?" First things are those things you, personally, find of most worth. If you put first things first, you are organizing and managing time and events according to the personal priorities you established in Habit 2.
I've decided to a feature on it today because it's been a while since I've done anything on books. Which reminds me - if you've read anything that you think might be relevant to the Programme and what we're about (leadership, mentoring, development, etc) and would like to share, please let me know. You can have a look at all the books that have featured on the blog under the Books tag.
So, onto The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People. The title makes the message of the book pretty clear. On Stephen Covey's website, there is a brief breakdown of each habit. I'll share an excerpt of each (clicking on each habit will take you to the corresponding page on Covey's website):
Habit 1: Be proactive
Be Proactive is about taking responsibility for your life. You can't keep blaming everything on your parents or grandparents. Proactive people recognize that they are "response-able." They don't blame genetics, circumstances, conditions, or conditioning for their behavior. They know they choose their behavior. Reactive people, on the other hand, are often affected by their physical environment. They find external sources to blame for their behavior. If the weather is good, they feel good. If it isn't, it affects their attitude and performance, and they blame the weather. All of these external forces act as stimuli that we respond to. Between the stimulus and the response is your greatest power - you have the freedom to choose your response. One of the most important things you choose is what you say. Your language is a good indicator of how you see yourself. A proactive person uses proactive language - I can, I will, I prefer, etc. A reactive person uses reactive language - I can't, I have to, if only. Reactive people believe they are not responsible for what they say and do - they have no choice.
Habit 2: Begin with the end in mind
Habit 2 is based on imagination - the ability to envision in your mind what you cannot at present see with your eyes. It is based on the principle that all things are created twice. There is a mental (first) creation, and a physical (second) creation. The physical creation follows the mental, just as a building follows a blueprint. If you don't make a conscious effort to visualize who you are and what you want in life, then you empower other people and circumstances to shape you and your life by default. It's about connecting again with your own uniqueness and then defining the personal, moral, and ethical guidelines within which you can most happily express and fulfill. Begin with the End in Mind means to begin each day, task, or project with a clear vision of your desired direction and destination, and then continue by flexing your proactive muscles to make things happen.
Habit 3: Put first things first
Habit 3 is the second creation, the physical creation. This habit is where Habits 1 and 2 come together. It happens day in and day out, moment-by-moment. It deals with many of the questions addressed in the field of time management. But that's not all it's about. Habit 3 is about life management as well - your purpose, values, roles, and priorities. What are "first things?" First things are those things you, personally, find of most worth. If you put first things first, you are organizing and managing time and events according to the personal priorities you established in Habit 2.
Mini Seminar: The Power of Positive Thinking Pt. 2
On Friday we had our second to last Mini Seminar, The Power of Positive Thinking Part 2. Mr K. B. Nyantekyi Owusu led the Seminar again, opening with a brief run-through of what he had discussed in his previous session. He spoke of the importance of joy, hope, courage... of thoughts that make us feel good. Again he stressed the fact that it's not our circumstances or background that will determine our level of success, but the way we choose to see and think about certain things.He then went to speak on ways to 'toughen up' mentally; on how to train your brain, as it were. It was a very practical talk that I'm sure all who attended benefited from in one way or another. He also spoke on memory, and how you can do simple everyday exercises to improve it. Thanks a lot Mr Nyantekyi for all your support of the Programme.
Our next (and last) Mini Seminar will be held on the 9th of July, when Albert Ankrah will be talking about career development. Hope to see you there!
Well done Black Stars!!!
Friday, July 2, 2010
A message from David Lane
On July 18, Nelson Mandela turns 92. Help us honour him on his birthday and thank him for nearly a century of life-changing work [and insightful leadership].
Add your photo to the giant birthday card that will be personally delivered to Nelson Mandela. You can easily submit a photo using Facebook or click here to upload your own.
When Mandela was born, his father named him Rolihlahla, an Xhosa word affectionately meaning "troublemaker". While the world would later come to know this boy as Nelson—the English name given by his teacher on his first day of school—Mandela has spent a lifetime stirring up an inspiring dose of trouble.
From an early age, Mandela acted boldly for those in need. He battled against apartheid, spending almost 27 years in prison to stand up for what he knew was right. He fought to make sure that every South African was given the honour of a vote, leading the country to its first free and fair election. He turned the tragedy of family death into an opportunity to educate his country about HIV/AIDS. He rallied on behalf of the hungry. He lobbied for equal education. He called for the world to come together and free those trapped in the prison of poverty. He challenged our generation to lead with action, not just words.
He's shown the world what a difference just one troublemaker can make.
Nelson Mandela has devoted his life to serving his community, fighting for his country and speaking out on behalf of the poor. Let's wish him happy birthday and show him our thanks.
Add your photo to the card.
As Nelson Mandela said on the eve of his presidential election, "I stand before you humbled by your courage, with a heart full of love." Now it's our turn to stand before him and do the same.
David Lane,
ONE's President and CEO
Add your photo to the giant birthday card that will be personally delivered to Nelson Mandela. You can easily submit a photo using Facebook or click here to upload your own.
When Mandela was born, his father named him Rolihlahla, an Xhosa word affectionately meaning "troublemaker". While the world would later come to know this boy as Nelson—the English name given by his teacher on his first day of school—Mandela has spent a lifetime stirring up an inspiring dose of trouble.
From an early age, Mandela acted boldly for those in need. He battled against apartheid, spending almost 27 years in prison to stand up for what he knew was right. He fought to make sure that every South African was given the honour of a vote, leading the country to its first free and fair election. He turned the tragedy of family death into an opportunity to educate his country about HIV/AIDS. He rallied on behalf of the hungry. He lobbied for equal education. He called for the world to come together and free those trapped in the prison of poverty. He challenged our generation to lead with action, not just words.
He's shown the world what a difference just one troublemaker can make.
Nelson Mandela has devoted his life to serving his community, fighting for his country and speaking out on behalf of the poor. Let's wish him happy birthday and show him our thanks.
Add your photo to the card.
As Nelson Mandela said on the eve of his presidential election, "I stand before you humbled by your courage, with a heart full of love." Now it's our turn to stand before him and do the same.
David Lane,
ONE's President and CEO
Go Black Stars!!
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