Educate the Future Leaders of Sierra Leone

Here is a feel-good report that I just received from Freetown:

"Thanks be to God for Develop Africa and its donor partners who have brought hope and dignity to the lives of many children and their families. Sponsorships from your generous donations continue to help children in Sierra Leone to forge ahead with their education and prepare them for a brighter future. Indeed without your sponsorship, many of these children would never have darkened the walls of  schools, whiles very few would barely have made it at primary level.

Students and their families are deeply grateful to donors who have opened a door of hope for them. Indeed your sponsorship is a lifelong assistance to the children and Sierra Leone as a whole. May God richly bless you all as you strive to develop our children into useful citizens."

This report includes a photo of Janet - one of the rising leaders receiving sponsorship funds through this project. We are continually pumped and excited about being able to together help rising leaders like Janet forge ahead with their education.  Our support is creating a definite and unchangeable bright future!  It sure feels good to be a change maker!  Nelson Mandela said, "Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world".

Giving Tuesday: Have you ever heard about Giving Tuesday:  #GivingTuesday will run on November 27, 2012 from 12:01 AM ET (what time in your city?) to 11:59 PM ET November 27, 2012. This year Microsoft is matching donations made to our microprojects - http://bit.ly/giveyouth by credit card or PayPal at 50% donations.  This is a great way to invest in further change.  Please join us and donate as early as you can on that date (after 12:01 am to ensure we secure matching funds. 

 Thanks so much for your support and best wishes.

Links:

• Give for Youth - Spark Change

It's my pleasure to bring you a summary report from Develop Africa's first Forward Thinking and Creative Leadership Conference & Workshop - held in partnership with the Excellent Student Network International, at the British Council - July 2012.

The conference was well attended with a total of 65 students.  Trainees came from different institutions such as Fourah Bay College, Institute of Public Administration and Management, College of Medicine and Allied Health Sciences, etc.  The conference was also attended by non-registered participants and included guests from all works of life including, the Justice Sector, the World Bank, Save the Children and several other distinguished guests.

Participants in the conference learnt through an interactive workshop and training about what Forward Thinking and Creative leadership meant. Through active interaction, engagement and collaboration, participants engaged in dissecting case scenarios of critical challenges facing the African continent and suggested best practices and consultative steps using the mind-set of a forward-thinking  and a creative Leader.

Participants were divided into five distinct groups each presented with a set of facts that form a case scenario of a typical challenging issue confronted by Africa nations. Members of the group break-out and consultative sessions addressed the issues presented in the interactive case scenarios and reported their findings in the main conference auditorium in the afternoon session of the conference. Each group was presented with unique case scenarios to tackle and to make recommendations and best practices as Forward-thinking and Creative Leaders.

Dr. Jasmine Renner the conference facilitator and workshop speaker provided examples, characteristics and hands -on description of what a forward thinking and a creative leader is through interactive discussions with participants. Africa’s top ten billionaires and their stories on how they acquired wealth were creative and forward thinking was discussed. A case study of Nelson Mandela as a forward thinker leader was also presented for analysis and discussion.

The conference was very lively, interactive, engaging, impactful and timely as participants demonstrated through questions and answers about what it means to them to become and develop forward thinking leadership traits and creativity globally and in the African continent.

Each conference participant who attended the morning and afternoon sessions was presented with a certificate of completion by Develop Africa Inc.  Mr. Maada Massaquoi, Computer Instructor at Develop Africa/ FAWE lab in collaboration with Dr. Jasmine Renner presented the certificates of completion to each participant attendee.

Mr. Josie Kamara-Cole the President of the Excellent Student Network International was also presented with an Asus E netbook / laptop donated by Develop Africa for his tireless efforts, perseverance and organizational abilities.

The conference ended on a high note with participants all impacted and motivated to impact their  nation and generation through small incremental but gradual progression into solutions using forward thinking and creative leadership mindsets.

Thank you, sponsors, partners and donors for your selfless investment in developing human capacity.  Together, we are sowing seeds and positioning the youths / young adults of Africa to make history in their generation.