tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-55349570509920100742024-02-07T20:15:59.250+01:0038, StreetSmart AvenueI write about digital in life and life in digital.Adam N. Mukendihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06033399017983379486noreply@blogger.comBlogger47125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5534957050992010074.post-9058110574359695162020-01-17T20:45:00.003+01:002020-01-17T20:53:00.553+01:00Unconditional Cash Transfer and End of PovertyThe past decade has been characterised with a high-level mobile penetration in many African countries including the Democratic Republic of Congo. This penetration has made the adoption of mobile payment a viable alternative to traditional banking channels considering that financial institutions in Africa still criticised for low bank income, high bank fees and limited geographical reach for the rural or semi-urban cities.
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<br>Global development institutions focusing on the development potential of financial technology frequently cite M-Pesa as a major success story in poverty-reduction.<br/>
<br>There is no doubt that the digitalisation of finance offers new possibilities for greater financial inclusion. More, unconditional direct transfers through electronic payments solutions are credited to be more efficient and cost-effective at reducing poverty than traditional approaches.<br/>
<br>Nevertheless, in the context of a post war region like the East DR Congo where unemployment among the youth is very high and children exploited by their household and syndicate to work in clandestine mining, the provision of unconditional cash has the potential to produce the following unintended effects: First, alike the free education policy promulgated by the current President of the DR Congo, there may be fear that cash transfer to targeted households may not take the children out of child labour in the mines. Rather, the unconditional transfer may lead to an increase in fertility due to better access to cash. Secondly, there is potential for free cash transfers to generate work disincentive effects especially among the youth with a reduction in labour supply and job seeking efforts.<br/>
<br>Having said that, it is important that evidences from organisations working in the sphere in East Dr Congo be closely reviewed to make sure that their impact and legacy do not support these potential claims.<br/>
Adam N. Mukendihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06033399017983379486noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5534957050992010074.post-57407401663908842552011-05-30T14:12:00.009+01:002019-10-16T00:09:49.288+01:00Why No Youth Revolution for the Sub-Saharan Africa?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbRmVe9Tg-HrjAQ6rapx5c5mvK66R2WnNheDXqoIgdiqPPRuYMy0UCrjJKGHu1MbavxjecpabKY8Hp7lxZkn6ayJI6c2snuG88_v0anY5te1o2yUng9X_y87YrrP5KibzR_lw04A4fsC0/s1600/Lionsss.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612500323132810658" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbRmVe9Tg-HrjAQ6rapx5c5mvK66R2WnNheDXqoIgdiqPPRuYMy0UCrjJKGHu1MbavxjecpabKY8Hp7lxZkn6ayJI6c2snuG88_v0anY5te1o2yUng9X_y87YrrP5KibzR_lw04A4fsC0/s400/Lionsss.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 160px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /></a><br />
<span style="font-style: italic;">Last week I attended an opened debate on the Arab awakening organised by a major African nonprofit organisation and realised that nobody was tweeting nor the organiser had a functioning Twitter profile. Bang!!! That was a wake up call.</span><br />
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Since the beginning of this year, there has been hysteria about information communication technologies (ICTs) especially the use of mobile and online media. Nonprofit organisations and mainstream media have been stressing the importance and role that ICTs can play for human rights, development and social justice. More importantly, the Arabe awakening in the Middle East countries which echo the youth revolution in Tunisia has been an historical moment, evidence of the importance of new media for democracy.<br />
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While we acknowledge successful stories with the use of these tools and their potential in galvanising youth for civil activism and other sensitive issues, there is feeling that the sub-Saharan Africa region is behind and seems unable to seize the momentum with revolutions in Tunisia, Egypt and Libya. Should youth in Sub-Saharan countries expect identic revolutions or what should they do? <br />
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There are lessons to learn from these revolutions.<br />
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I strongly believe that every revolution has something specific and its media coverage has particular dimensions. Just as the army played a major role in the Egyptian uprising, I will expect tribes to define the outcomes of unrest in Yemen.<br />
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Therefore, I would oppose ideas that Africa or more specifically the sub-Saharan Africa will not experience a youth revolution because internet penetration and social media user numbers are lower, or because the role of tribes in Sub-Saharan countries is not as powerful as in Arabic countries. <br />
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Rather, I suggest looking at factors which played in favor of youth in Tunisia, Egypt and at certain extend Yemen. Doing such exercise will help us understand where Africa’s revolution may start and how should we approach what still be a dream for freedom and better life for millions of Africans oppressed in authoritarian regimes. There must be something specific that Sub-Saharan youth should build from.<br />
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Here are four small social facts which I think play a major role in youth revolution in North Africa and the Middle East:<br />
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1. Friday prayers: Is Islam more favorable to revolution than the Christian religion? – one could ask. This is a pertinent question worth a research that I will not try here to discuss. To say the truth I have not an answer to the question. However, on a simple consideration of the role Friday prayers play, we should realise that they served as catalysers to gather thousands. Consequently, though governments may have declared state-of-emergency and ipso facto restricts movement of population, they could not deny them their right to pray. <br />
As young, old, children and women go to pray on Friday and get to the street soon after, that was a blow to security forces. I personnaly believe that this wouldn’t be easy if people had to come from their home. <br />
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The context of Sub-Saharan African countries where religions are far more diversified, people are scattered between so many believes. The hope of a Friday prayer meeting effect in such a case is very small unless interfaith and faith based organisations take the lead to galvanised masses to get into street after their Sunday services.<br />
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2. Use of social media: While many things are still being said about Twitter and Facebook. I would like to emphasise that there are many other tools that have been used such as other arab networking sites. But more importantly, the fact that English was used mainly and not the Arabic, contributed to raise awareness to a far more bigger audience especially in the west. Which outcomes into more pressure on the regime.<br />
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In the Sub-Saharan region, there are particularities/preferences which must be taken in account. The region has francophone, anglophone and lusophone countries and each group has specific social networks. For example, in South Africa, more youth use Mxit while in French speaking countries Yahoo Messenger chat and MySpace not long ago were top social networking sites. A prerequisite research on most used network on the ground is indispensable if social medial as to play an important role alike in Middle East.<br />
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3. Geopolitic: International institutions such as the United Nations and the European Union have been criticised of double stardard when dealing with human rights abuses in some countries or regions. We cannot ignore the strategic importance that stability in some countries play for peace in the region or countries resources role in the global economy. I was not surprised to see how the USA/the West acted with urgency on the Egyptian revolution than they did in Tunisia. Egypt weights in the balance for Israel/Middle East peace process.<br />
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The chance for most sub-Saharan countries to get at the eye of the USA/the West and translate into their action will take Africa youth/protestors to play the right tune. Colonial powers, alike France and Great Britain have each different interest and often take firm action in their colonies. I was not surprised that France almost played it solo in Ivory Cost to help the elected president Alassane Ouattara gets into power. A concerted action such as in Libya, should it be needed in a Sub-Saharan francophone or Anglophone country is not likely I personally think. <br />
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4. Revolutions with no face: The fact that there was no leader to the revolution in Tunisia, Egypt and Yemen made it even more popular. Since the protest could not or abstain to get politicised, consequently it gained credibility to thousands of citizens.<br />
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Peaceful protest in the street of many African countries still has to be seen. Yet, if that should happen, protesters will have to stand their ground against the crackdown from regimes in place as well as resist opportunistic politicians who may highjack or weaken their revolution.<br />
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Overall, whatever we see or have seen in Egypt and Tunisia did not start this year. The revolution in Egypt did not just happened in Tahrir squared. It has been in gestation underground, inside and outside Egypt borders. Many events and circumstances contributed to shaping a revolution. <br />
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Just as the case in North Africa, many African countries are going through phase of protest and repression. <br />
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- DR Congo: Congolese diaspora in Europe, USA, Canada and South Africa have been protesting and disturbing gathering of whoever endorse publically president Kabila for the upcoming elections. Though these protests show a lack of coordination, more and more Congolese have started supporting this cause and oppose the re-election of Kabila who has been in charge for 10 years. Unless those in Kinshasa join and get to the streets, the regime won’t be pressure on the regime. I am writing this out of my personal experience, nine years ago in June 2003, I joined a student protest at the University of Kinshasa and we put our lives in line taking to the streets and shutting down the Capital to denounce nepotism and presence of foreign agents in key State ministries. Arrest warrant were launch against the group and myself which led to me seeking asylum in South Africa. Unless, more youth stand up to Kabila, he will remain in power and in worst case, he would organise elections but will still control the army, intelligence and key State ministries.<br />
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- Uganda: People got to the street to protest against the president Museveni reelection, the rising fuel price as well as food cost. Museveni regime did crackdown on the protest which since seem have lost momentum. I find it unfortunate that protestors endorsed Besigye, Museveni’s main opposant as the main figure to their cause. I still not see how events in Uganda can lead to a revolution because tribal alliances and citizens’ affinities toward Besigye will weaken it. Protestors’ grieves may not be viewed by other Ugandans as a common concern.<br />
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- Zimbabwe and Swaziland: We have heard about civil society organisations protests which had been violently suppressed. In these countries, internet penetration still at its lowest compared to other African countries and the cost of telecommunication is among the highest in the continent. Putting in place a massive protest would require the use of adequate off-line media that organisers do not have despite backing and supports from South African trade unions like COSATU which has been a think-tank for civil rights activists in the region.<br />
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- Rwanda: The government in Rwanda has nothing to fear from inside. The threat is outside – the opposition to Kagame has been organising. Reports that the Rwandans government made death threats onto two Rwandans in exile is not surprising. Hundreds of thousands of Hutu still in exile and some of them have been leaving in refugee camps in DR Congo and Central African Republic for more than 17 years fearing repression in Rwanda. Now, using social media and traditional media such as Al Jazeera, this group is lobbying its cause for freedom in Rwanda. Soon or later, if the regime in Kigali doesn’t become inclusive of other ethnic groups, another violent revolution is to be feared.<br />
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Definitely, the African continent is the host to the world longest regimes, with head-of-state into power for more than 20 years in countries like Angola, Zimbabwe, Uganda, Republic of Congo, Gabon and Burkina Faso. More than in any other continent, Africans as a whole deserve the right to freedom and development. However, the possibility with a revolution in sub-Saharan African countries will also rely on the youth’s courage to overcome institutional repression and the ability to coordinate massive protests. <br />
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There is no doubt that both African youth and head-of-states are learning from unfolding events in the Middle East and North Africa. Given this circumstance, only the courage, unpredictability and creativity of African youth will give them the upper hand over dictatorship. The digital divide is a fact in Sub-Saharan Africa with household crippled by unemployment and HIV/AIDS. Unless African youth learn to use what they have and bypass states censorship to mobilise the masses, the revolution will never happen.Adam N. Mukendihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06033399017983379486noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5534957050992010074.post-51956666249163865632012-10-11T10:43:00.002+01:002019-10-15T23:48:40.777+01:00Internet Security – Privacy Is the Exception <i>"Just because you are not paranoid it does not mean they are not out to get you" - Jacob Appelbaum.</i><br />
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Mobile phones and the Internet allow us to communicate instantly, stay abreast of current events and search for and find information on nearly anything. Telecommunication tools have made us social animals to an extent that we have become insensitive to privacy and carelessly exposed.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM-cqEa8FJQuyeCg0csXe7qpmtSyF7ENTrLFQGKtUNpXHZMy9-WEStPaa3ncAYbWR8f6JpxR8Un8egHKv5CumxuADUkzo0t8cfhD_d6fzbrjJcKtGDiTxuG9_eMzPHg-T1ZXMSkzAF9K0/s1600/wsed.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM-cqEa8FJQuyeCg0csXe7qpmtSyF7ENTrLFQGKtUNpXHZMy9-WEStPaa3ncAYbWR8f6JpxR8Un8egHKv5CumxuADUkzo0t8cfhD_d6fzbrjJcKtGDiTxuG9_eMzPHg-T1ZXMSkzAF9K0/s320/wsed.JPG" width="292" /></a></div>
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The Internet has become indispensable. The question is how should we use it?</div>
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I had the opportunity to attend a presentation by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacob_Appelbaum" target="_blank">Jacob Appelbaum</a>, an independent computer security researcher and hacker. Jacob has worked with Wikileaks and many other avant-guardists IT projects. Jacob’s Wiki is one of the few with a category titled: ‘Investigation and detainment’. I was fascinated to hear that he knows, he’s a ‘suspect’ and permanently under surveillance by security services because of his choice to protect his privacy and that of other human right activists.</div>
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Listening to questions during the presentation made me think that some human rights and social activists in Africa may be today in jail because they ignored threats to their privacy and to those involved in their projects. Therefore, it is important civil society members working or training on citizen journalism, social media or human rights advocacy take in consideration security of their members and provide them with alternative tools.</div>
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Long story short - allow be to present you some facts before sharing with you a number of tools that we can use to protect our self and those we are communicating with:</div>
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<li>We all leave a data trail every time we log into the Internet</li>
<li>State run telecommunication monopoly provides State with possibility to intercept communication (Waffle Interception which still passive in many African countries)</li>
<li>Powerhouse telecommunication companies do sell interceptive devices to oppressive regimes. These Support Contracts must be considered as human right violation</li>
<li>Any document you send via e-mail is lost, out of your control</li>
<li>Wireless connections in public places or hotels are just as insecure as tablets and smartphone </li>
<li>Whoever owns and carries a mobile phone has become a traceable object. The smarter the phone the more data we give away. The truth is iPhone and tablets’ users are more vulnerable understood that these devices can store data about the user without his consent or knowledge</li>
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Privacy<br />
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<li>Privacy include your location, relations, hobbies and communications</li>
<li>We all have something to hide. Today Internet is saying we must share everything. Privacy has become suspicious.</li>
<li>Whoever abstains to use a mobile phone or to create a Facebook profile is a ‘suspect’. Privacy is longer the norm but the exception</li>
<li>New surveillance by government and commercial entities is a threat to society</li>
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Things we should not take for granted<br />
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<li>‘Behaviour profiling’ by Google and Amazon can be consider as breach of privacy. How they can read your mind? As we have become dependent of technology – breach of privacy has become moral because it cannot be avoided</li>
<li>Facebook had complied to US federal law and has provided the US government with data on millions of its users. Now Facebook to data ‘Chat’. Some researches prove a relation between the increase in arrest warrant by police in the USA and provision of users personal data to US intelligence by social media platforms and telecommunication companies</li>
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What can we do – SAFETY PLAN<br />
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<>If we remove the ability to be identify, we remove the ability to be a target</div>
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<>We cannot hide completely but we can use tools that buy us and others time </div>
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1. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tor_(anonymity_network" target="_blank">ToR browser</a> is a traffic analysis privacy with secure backup use by human rights activist worldwide</div>
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When you use a Tor client, your Internet traffic is routed through Tor’s network. The traffic travels through several randomly selected relays (run by volunteers), before exiting the Tor network and arriving at your destination. This prevents your Internet service provider and people monitoring your local network from viewing the websites you access. It also prevents the websites themselves from knowing your physical location or IP address – they’ll see the IP address and location of the exit node instead. Even the relays don’t know who requested the traffic they’re passing along. All traffic within the Tor network is encrypted.</div>
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Tor strength is on using it to download <a href="https://www.martus.org/more_news.shtml" target="_blank">Martus</a> and then, use them together for greater protection.</div>
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2. <a href="https://www.martus.org/more_news.shtml" target="_blank">Martus</a> is an open-source technology tool that assists nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) collect information on human rights abuses. Martus cannot recover your data should you lose you log in. Martus and Tor are the most use tools but activists worldwide to protect their messages, browsing, location and identity. Tor and Martus are runned by volunteers. </div>
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3. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Off_the_record" target="_blank">Off The Record</a> (OTR) OTR messaging allows you to have private conversations over instant messaging by providing: Encryption (No one else can read your instant messages); Authentication (You are assured the correspondent is who you think it is); Deniability (The messages you send do not have digital signatures that are checkable by a third party. The messages are authentic and unmodified); Perfect forward secrecy (If you lose control of your private keys, no previous conversation is compromised)</div>
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4. <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.thoughtcrime.redphone" target="_blank">Red Phone</a> provides end-to-end encryption for your calls, securing your conversations so that nobody can listen in. - Easy to use available for Google and iPhone.</div>
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5. Private GSM provides end-to-end encryption for your message/chat. Available on iPhone.</div>
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6. <a href="https://guardianproject.info/wiki/Ostel" target="_blank">Ostel</a> promotes the use of free, open protocols, standards and software, to power end-to-end secure voice communications on mobile devices, as well as with desktop computers.</div>
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7. <a href="https://guardianproject.info/apps/gibber/" target="_blank">Gibberbot</a> is a secure chat client capable of firewall and filter circumvention, surveillance blocking and end-to-end encryption. Available for Android phones.</div>
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8. <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.thoughtcrime.securesms&hl=en" target="_blank">Text Secure</a> is a security enhanced text messaging application that serves as a full replacement for the default text messaging application. Available for android phones.</div>
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9. <a href="http://uniteforclimate.org/" target="_blank">Crabgrass</a> is software libre web application designed for social networking, group collaboration and network organizing.</div>
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Always remember the followings:</div>
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<li>We are not told the whole truth about platform and social media applications we are using.</li>
<li>There is privacy by policy and privacy by design. Most telecommunication and Internet platforms show what their policy/T&Cs say but not what their design do. Never trust privacy by policy – if you can, verify their codes to see if they don’t do more than what they say</li>
<li>Any device/app that can help you access/recover your data when you have lost your password - has total access to your data. Dropbox has become very popular. The fact that it can help you recover your data means it is not 100% secured.</li>
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The world is dark, immoral and disturbia. As democratic and repressive regimes worldwide are upping surveillance of their citizens, it is important that self-consciously everyone of us takes action to protect what we still can - our privacy. We are all aware of the rise of extreme right and socialism within many African countries. The attempt the State to control citizens freedom of speech and movement is a new trend in Tanzania where the party system dominated by Chama Cha Mapinduzi (Revolutionary State Party) through is upcoming leader John Magufuli called "the bulldozer" promises to adopt drastic measures to control citizens and increase the State control over technology and content that is shared internally and externally. Surely, when this happens it will be the retreat of East Africa best democratic country for decades to come.<br />
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"Internet insecurity is like HIV – none of us is immune. We all need to use ‘active’ protection" says Jacob Appelbaum.</div>
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Please let us know - should you have used any of the above tools.</div>
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<br />Adam N. Mukendihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06033399017983379486noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5534957050992010074.post-76195416248134567602017-05-22T18:58:00.001+01:002019-10-15T23:31:50.360+01:00Learning by doing - C'est Congolestic!In this century, social, economic and political life has undergone an unprecedented upheaval: the rise of a new economy emerging from the new information and communication technologies is undoubtedly a predominant feature of the period in which we live .<br />
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The originality of the Internet and the new information and communication technologies (ICT) lies in the fact that it affects all fields, all sectors and more generally everyone. The scope of use of these new technologies is as wide as any other technology can measure.<br />
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The rise ICTs signals and accompanies a profound transformation of societies and therefore plays a major role in development in the 21st century.<br />
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However,The use of ICTs in Africa and particularly in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) currently remains sporadic and Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education has only now starting to take baby steps with little clear guidance for their positive development and impact on sustainable development.
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More, my personal experience interacting at and in regional and international ICTs gatherings is that of a lack of representation or contribution thereof of DRC stakeholders' positions either on policy, development or draft declaration. Worst, the Congo appears only in 1/4 research studies' index published on the internet.<br />
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Taking these into consideration, I founded in 2015 what I called: CONGOLESTIC (LES CONGOLAIS ET LES TECHNOLOGIES DE L’INFORMATION ET DE LA COMMUNICATION) to inform, train and inspire the youth via robotics workshops and bring people together from various stakeholder groups as equals to discuss public policy issues related to ICTs and STEM education in the DRC. We aim to contribute and facilitate a common understanding of how to maximize ICT opportunities and address risks and challenges that arise from new technologies in the DRC.<br />
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<i>Logo: I came up with a French neologism, C'est "Congolestic"! Adjectif enunciates Authentic Congolese exchange between primitive communication the "<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lokole" target="_blank">lokole</a>" and that of modern data the "download". (and, I won't be surprised to see Africa following with: i.e: Togolestic, Rwandalestic, Mauritiuslestic, Burundilestic ...:) </i><br />
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CONGOLESTIC’s mission is to raise awareness, provide information, discussions and training on new technologies of communication and robotics in the DRC.<br />
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We organize courses and hands-on workshops on robotics, cybersecurity, internet of things and the right to Internet access. Also, we have set an incubator and work with groups of engineers and students on projects and innovations within the STEM field.<br />
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Do you know of a DR Congolese with expertise in technologies of information, based in Congo or abroad? We will be grateful to connect with him. Drop us an email to info@congolestic.org or DM us on social platforms. This is our website: www.congolestic.org<br />
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Feel free to contribute to our discussions. Your inputs are welcome.
Adam N. Mukendihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06033399017983379486noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5534957050992010074.post-7772483748864867262016-11-07T09:10:00.002+01:002017-01-03T09:34:31.249+01:008 Personalities to Look for When Assembling a Content TeamNot having enough of the right people on your content team is a problem for many of today’s marketers. In fact, 38% of B2B marketers say HR and staffing issues are responsible for delayed success in content marketing, and 22% blame a lack of training and education.<br />
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Developing, executing, and measuring a content marketing plan can be difficult under the best of circumstances. But when you’re not adequately staffed, even the most well-conceived content marketing plan can struggle.
That’s why it’s so crucial to have the right roles outlined and fulfilled by the people who can execute them the best. We’ve identified eight personalities that can strengthen your team. As you learn more about them, you might notice that many possess the same qualifications -- things like an ability to meet deadlines, good interpersonal skills, and task-specific marketing knowledge.
Check out more about these personalities below -- they’ll help bring your content strategy to fruition. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #4f4f4f;"><span style="font-size: 18px;"><b>1) The Taskmaster</b></span></span><br />
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This person is your project manager -- the one responsible for the successful execution of your projects and campaigns. While creative, the taskmaster should also be proactive and action-oriented. After all, this person is your closer, or as we like to say around here, the overseer of getting stuff done.</span></span><br />
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The importance of well-executed project management is especially clear when comparing high-performing companies to low-performing ones. According to the Project Management Institute, in a workplace culture that emphasizes project management, 71% of projects actually meet their original goals. Compare that to the 51% of projects in non-project-management cultures, and it’s clear -- companies that prioritize project management do better -- period.</span></span><br />
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The taskmaster has a lot on his or her plate -- things like budgets and being able to identify and prevent possible issues. But there’s technology out there that can benefit the taskmasters of the world, like the Projects app in your HubSpot software.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #4f4f4f;"><span style="font-size: 18px;"><b>2) The Wordsmith</b></span></span><br />
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Not only does this person write well, but he or she is agile enough to do so in different voices and tones, based on your content topics and personas. In other words, the wordsmith brings your ideas to life through language. Plus, this person is able to create compelling work quickly -- like the rest of the team, he or she should be deadline-driven enough to keep deliverables on track.</span></span><br />
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To state the obvious, you can’t create content without a content creator. And it’s not just about writing -- it’s about being able to do it well. These days, that’s a rare asset -- American businesses spend up to $3.1 billion on training employees for basic writing skills.</span></span><br />
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The wordsmith should be well-versed in the goals and audience of the content -- that’s what’s going to help him or her make it engaging. In many ways, this person is a translator who’s able to convert abstract ideas into tangible composition. And being able to work independently, as well as part of a team, is essential here, as the wordsmith must understand the ideas being communicated by his or her colleagues, and work with it autonomously.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #4f4f4f;"><span style="font-size: 18px;"><b>3) The Grammar Geek</b></span></span><br />
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While the wordsmith gives the content life, the grammar geek is an editor makes your brand look smart. He or she holds brand values high and serves as the champion for consistency and quality across all channels.</span></span><br />
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Here’s why your grammar geek is so vital. If you publish content that contains errors, you risk losing sales. For some businesses, in fact, a single typo was speculated to result in an 80% drop in sales.</span></span><br />
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The grammar geek has a passion for language -- preferably, the one in which your content is being published. But he or she also understands how to write specifically for the format of what you’re producing. Digital content, for example, sometimes takes on a different voice than print, so make sure this person is fluent in both.</span></span><br />
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And make sure this person works well with your wordsmith -- chances are, they’ll have to share a back-and-forth to get a polished finished result.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #4f4f4f;"><span style="font-size: 18px;"><b>4) The Artist</b></span></span><br />
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The strongest content teams have someone who can turns ideas and data into beautiful visuals. The artist supports your content marketing efforts by designing images, infographics, logos, and collateral -- online and print -- that adhere to brand style guidelines.</span></span><br />
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Compelling visuals are imperative in today’s landscape -- articles with one image for every 75-100 words get twice as many social shares than articles with fewer images. You’ll need someone who can create them in a way that aligns with your brand, and is proficient in the technology used to create them. An innate sense for color, text style and layout wouldn’t hurt, either.</span></span><br />
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Make sure this person will thrive in a client-facing role, too -- he or she will likely have to communicate with multiple parties and be able to understand their respective visions.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #4f4f4f;"><span style="font-size: 18px;"><b>5) The Growth Hacker</b></span></span><br />
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Of course, it’s always good to have a master of numbers and data on your team. How else can you accurately measure and analyze the ROI of your content marketing? This person love metrics, A/B testing, and proving that ROI. In fact, it's possible your growth hacker has a t-shirt with Peter Drucker’s famous management quote, "What gets measured, gets managed.”</span></span><br />
The growth hacker should be more than just a data hound, though. This person truly understands what Peter Drucker meant when he wrote, “Intelligence, imagination, and knowledge are essential resources, but only effectiveness converts them into results.”</span></span><br />
Your growth hacker helps reveal what's effective. That, in turn, shows the team how to funnel its time and talents into the right actions to produce the right results. That requires an ability to develop, execute and report on a comprehensive content strategy -- on that both attracts potential customers and retains existing ones. Plus, this person should be able to collaborate with sales and operations, because you’ll need their help to meet objectives.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #4f4f4f;"><span style="font-size: 18px;"><b>6) The Social Butterfly</b></span></span><br />
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Your social butterfly is in charge of content distribution, promotion, and amplification. They have an affinity for social media and branding and enjoy interacting with people online.</span></span><br />
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Why is this team member important? You can thank the rules of good, old-fashioned word-of-mouth marketing. After all, After all, content consumption on Twitter has increased by 25% in the past two years alone -- and 76% of its users are likely to recommend a brand after a positive social media interaction with it. </span></span><br />
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Like the rest of your content team, the social butterfly must understand the goals of the project and the audience -- that’s necessary in order to effectively communicate on social media. This person should be generally skilled in content distribution and promotion, and know how to engage influencers to drive interest around the brand and build customer loyalty. And it doesn’t hurt if this person knows how to manage paid promotions and campaigns on such social networks as Facebook, Pinterest, Google+, Instagram, and Snapchat.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #4f4f4f;"><span style="font-size: 18px;"><b>7) The Risk-Taker</b></span></span><br />
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Every content team needs someone who challenges colleagues to try something new. Your group needs this dreamer to come up with the occasional crazy idea — because it might just work after all -- and, you won’t know if you don’t try.</span></span><br />
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This individual's unique perspective keeps your content approach from getting stale, or lost in any project chaos. And while the risk-taker role is a scary one for some teams to embrace, there’s evidence that taking risks can be beneficial -- when done with caution.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #4f4f4f;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">But maybe that fear comes from a desire to emulate other brand leaders; if the big guys are doing it "this way," we should, too. Or, a team may be afraid of looking dumb or silly. If you find yourself a little uncertain about the risk-taker role, ask yourself, “What content have I seen that's really stood out to me lately? Was it the same-old-same-old, or was it something different, edgy or new?”</span></span><br />
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Obviously, your risk-taker should have a big-picture mindset, and a sense of adventure. This person shouldn’t be too preoccupied with what other people think, either. But remember: He or she must know how to take a calculated risk.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #4f4f4f;"><span style="font-size: 18px;"><b>8) The Rule-Follower</b></span></span><br />
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To keep the risk-taker (and everyone else) in check, make sure you fill the role of rule-player. This person ensures that your content follows industry best practices. If you’re in a regulated industry, this role becomes even more important -- violate any codes of conduct, and your content marketing efforts might get your company into hot water.</span></span><br />
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This rule-following team member is someone who executes on the finer, more mundane parts of the strategy. Though unsexy to some, the details are important, and they need to be thoroughly ironed out before your content goes live.</span></span><br />
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To that end, the rule-follower has a meticulous and methodical personality, with the ability to ask critical questions. And believe it or not, there are some who find joy in the execution, so to speak, and not just the strategizing -- this person should have that quality.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #4f4f4f;"><span style="font-size: 18px;"><b>Make It a Combo</b></span></span><br />
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So what happens if you can’t have a team this large? Not every company has the capacity for an eight-person content team. That’s okay -- combinations are possible, and some are more important than others.</span></span><br />
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Make sure you have one risk-taker and one rule-follower. The risk-taker can come up with all the outta-this-world ideas, and the rule-follower can reel them back to earth. One becomes the yin to the other’s yang.</span></span><br />
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However, your taskmaster and growth hacker can be combined. Both are usually super-organized and meticulous; they like numbers, project management tools, and spreadsheets, and it’s fairly easy to find these traits in the same person.</span></span><br />
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You cannot combine your wordsmith and your grammar geek. Everybody needs an editor, right? Or as Ann Handley wrote, “Editors are not optional. Period.” And while wordsmiths can make great editors, it’s always challenging to review your own work -- that’s why they call it a “second set of eyes.”</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #4f4f4f;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">But, you can combine your social butterfly with your wordsmith. Creative types have a natural affinity for promotion, and your wordsmith should be able to compose the right kind of copy for your social networks.</span></span><br />
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Most content marketers are familiar with the pain of trying to do too much with too few resources. The usual result? We end up doing little to none of it well. Having these personalities on your team will help you produce better, more consistent content that your audience will want to click, read, and share.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #4f4f4f;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">This great article was written by Anita Malik and published on the Hubspot website. For the past years, I have experience how diversity and multifaceted skills make a powerful communications team. It is a grace that Anita was so able to write down and explain so clearly. The time of the solo "communications" rangers is over.</span></span>
Adam N. Mukendihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06033399017983379486noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5534957050992010074.post-64993674433249837002016-01-13T23:05:00.001+01:002016-01-14T08:21:52.010+01:00What is your Leadership Philosophy? Here is mine<div class="MsoNormal">
I have been facing this question lately that I thought once for all to write up a short blog and share it with you. My hope is that as you read through you can think and refine yours and why not share with me what you think should really matter when defining ones’ leadership style.</div>
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<i>I understand leadership philosophy as a set of personal rules that guide me in my career and social life. These are principles I work to consistently live out.</i><br />
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Prior to considering any job title, or social etiquette, I have come to the realisation that I am at first a creation of God before being a leader. So, the backdrop of my philosophy to leading others is inspired by my faith in God and purpose of life as walking with Christ Jesus.</div>
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Having said that, above all I strive to seek peace and love either at my work place or in my household. I have been a witness to how love can bring the best out of people and how it does drive to go extra mile. Relax! I'm not preaching:)…my working principles are as follow:</div>
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<li>Fairness and respect - I treat others the way I want to be treated</li>
<li>Hardworking - I set the example and I expect others to do the same</li>
<li>Development - I commit to help others grow, develop and realise their potential</li>
<li>Accountability - I expect others to do what they say. They can count on me to do the same</li>
<li>Team Player - I do not know everything - I will listen to others and work together for a greater outcome</li>
<li>Excellence—I will pursue excellence (not perfection). I expect others to do their very best</li>
<li>Discipline - Every action has a consequence – I will forgive but discipline must take its course </li>
<li>Positive Attitude—I will bring a positive attitude and I expect others to do the same</li>
<li>Communication - I will provide regular feedback that is direct and constructive relative to our needs. I expect my partner and co-worker to do the same for me</li>
<li>Fun – I enjoy what I sign for. I expect others to do the same or resign</li>
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It is fact that there are many types or styles of leadership. Yet, the objective is to define the rules that guides you in delivering the best for everyone, yourself and the entreprise you are undertaking.</div>
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Leadership is not a privilege but a responsibility. Maturity is a privilege that makes you accept your responsibilities, and fun allows you to fulfil them with ease – says me:)</div>
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Looking forward to reading about your leadership style</div>
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Adam N. Mukendihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06033399017983379486noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5534957050992010074.post-68364087141106203912015-08-05T10:27:00.002+01:002015-08-05T10:27:52.043+01:00The Internet, the Right to Not be Connected and Forgotten<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<em>The Internet having become a human right should be coupled with the fundamental rights of choosing not to be connected and be disengaged with no data trail.</em><br />
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In September 2009, Bell Labs set a data transmission speed record at 100 petabits per second, equivalent to 100 billion megabits per second able to transmit 400 DVDs worth of data per second.<br />
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According to estimates by the international research firm, Gartner, “By 2020, there will be 25 billion of smart devices, transmitting tiny amounts of data to us, to the cloud and to each other.”<br />
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The Internet has grown out of independent networks into a global entity. It now serves as a platform for communication, business, entertainment, education and for many other means as data production, transmission and retention is increasing tremendously globally.<br />
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The Internet is just a few decades old, but in a short span of time it has experienced significant changes and presents us with exciting possibilities and questions.<br />
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How about the ‘Governance of the Internet’?<br />
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The more modern society depends on the Internet, the more crucial the issue of governance of the Internet becomes. The Internet has become a complex socio-technical system that has vested economic and political interests. Nation-states and societies are competing for the establishment of legal frameworks and public policy practices that preserve or expand national interests and social value systems.<br />
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Thus the governance of the Internet is no longer the only concern for government and corporates but for all those who use or do not use. Internet governance matters to all of us whether we are among the two billion who are using it or the next billion awaiting to be connected.<br />
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I had the opportunity to attend several Internet policy forums at regional and International level to realise that Internet Governance (IG) as a policy discussion and technical coordination of issues related to the exchange of information over the internet is moving increasingly into the public eye.<br />
It is important to state that IG fora produce non-binding discourse as they do not lead to traditional policy outcomes in the form of treaties - which constitutes their main weakness. Nevertheless, the emphasis on open participation and the involvement of non-state actors in local, regional and global Internet policy debates may constitute its strength.<br />
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Internet governance for a enables the voices of the marginalised to be heard and conflicting corporates and humanitarian interests can find a compromise.<br />
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Attending these fora, among others, the protection of privacy and human rights has been one of my focal points and that of many civil society activists. From Africa to Latin America, human rights activists view Internet governance from the perspective of freedom of expression, privacy and other basic human rights.<br />
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This has made me realised that nowadays living in a modern connected society, influencing political and technical infrastructure of the Internet is influencing the civil liberties that are impacted or enacted by this technology.<br />
<br /> How about the ‘Right to be Connected’?<br />
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It is important that principles of human rights and processes of Internet are equally balanced. A permanent dialogue between technical needs and rights of communities they impact on should be guaranteed in order to defend both human rights and a free and open Internet.<br />
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A United Nations report in 2011 has concluded that disconnecting people from the Internet is a human rights violation.<br />
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In its preamble, the African Declaration on Internet Rights and Freedoms emphasises that the Internet is an enabling space and resource for the realisation of all human rights, including the right to freedom of expression, the right of access to information, the right of freedom of assembly, the right to freedom of opinion, thought and belief, the right to be free from discrimination in all forms, the right to education, the right to culture and language, and the right of access to socio-economic services.<br />
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Access to the web is now a human right.<br />
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While I recognise how important the Internet is for the development of Africa, Africans and societies worldwide, I do think that we are sometimes moving too fast in overstating its relevancy or stature in people’s lives.<br />
<br />It is important to note that Internet access cannot be equally considered as a necessity in the day-to-day lives of all habitants of the planet earth and does not even come close to be considered a basic human right by some Americans.<br />
<br />
For the vast majority of people living in the United States, Internet use is a given, an expectation, a norm. A Pew Research study reports that there is still a considerable portion of Americans who do not turn to the Internet at all, stating they have no interest in it, did not think it is relevant to their lives or it is too difficult to use.<br />
<br />
This year, overall 15 percent of Americans exclude themselves from the Internet. Senior citizens made up a hefty portion of those who do not use the Internet. Thirty-nine percent of those 65 and older say they do not go online, compared with three percent of those ages 18 through 29, according to new data from Pew Research.<br />
<br />
Based on location, culture or ethnicity factors: people in rural areas in the United States are around twice as likely as those in urban or suburban locales to never go online. In its latest research based on a series of three polls conducted this year, Pew found that around 20 percent of African Americans and 18 percent of Hispanics say they do not use the Internet, compared with 14 percent of whites and five percent of English-speaking Asian Americans.<br />
<br />
Elsewhere, different circumstances still lead to the same realisation. In dense tropical forests in Central Africa and Amazon and in many remote areas, there are people who for generations have preserved their cultures and societies in balanced interaction with highly complex yet now vulnerable ecosystems. For centuries, these people have been marginalised on all fronts either on economic policy, global environmental policies or regional agreements. These communities have been victims to industrialisation, urbanisation and climate change. Now thinking that our modern value system is the best, there is a danger to using the Internet as a new tool of colonisation.<br />
<br />
Despite the hype over new technologies, it is important that we come to the realisation that people can and do live without Internet access, and many lead very successful lives. That is a fundamental right to be respected.<br />
<br /> Human rights are described as standards of behaviour that are inherent in every human being. They are the core principles underpinning human interaction in society. These include liberty, justice, freedom of religious beliefs and choice.<br />
<br />
To me considering the Internet as a human right should also imply that people’s choice ‘Not-Be-Connected’ should be respected. Consequently, forcing them on the network or to use a given technology would overstep their right to culture and that to be free from discrimination at certain extent. In this case, legal recognition of cultural rights of forest-based peoples and remote communities is crucial to the fulfilment of their human rights.<br />
<br />
Agree with me that you can live without the Internet. You just won't be part of today's society if you do. It seems to me that these individuals and ‘primitive’ societies still never wanted to be part of it.<br />
<br />
How about the 'Right to be Forgotten'?<br />
<br />
As the network evolves, Internet governance plays out as cultural politics in a debate about what values and core principles should be preserved.<br />
<br />
Corporates in telecommunications and web firms are researching and deploying innovative technologies to provide wide Internet access via balloons and satellites. In a short while, those who could not afford broadband costs will be connected at no cost. Yet, free access does not always come with the freedom to disengage or the ability to erase data trail.<br />
<br />
In 2014, a European court sided with a Spanish man attempting to have links to a negative story about him removed from the online search engine Google. Invoking a version of what is known as the ‘right to be forgotten’, the European Union Court of Justice ruled that citizens have the right to ask that links be removed if they contain information that is "inadequate, irrelevant or no longer relevant."<br />
<br />
However, critics contend that such a sweeping new right is sure to have unintended consequences - for starters, by potentially depriving the public of useful information. There are also questions as to whether enforcing a right to be forgotten is even practical.<br />
<br />
Few days ago, Google said no to French demand to expand right to be forgotten worldwide.<br />
<br />
In conclusion, many major web firms are struggling to deal with the fall-outs of applying the same rights across a number of different nations. This clearly shows how the Internet is never been equal and will never be if all stakeholders are not forced to comply, in the ‘right to be forgotten’ case is the private sector whose argument of protecting public useful information hides purely financial strategies that clearly favour corporations needs over individuals or users fundamental rights.<br />
<br />
Technological inventions and Internet processes have outgrown national legislations. Having said that, on one hand governments need to play their primary role of enforcing regulations as well as providing infrastructure for economic growth and welfare of its citizens. On the other hand, civil society should lobby and participate in global policy making to uphold rights of citizen over the ever growing influence of the Internet economy in society and multinational corporations. Coordination, strong action and engagement are needed from all stakeholders to ensure that the Internet as a human right is more than just a declaration, and sustainable development needs are in line with the respect of fundamental rights.<br />
<br />
<em>Tell me if you disagree. Leave me a comment or a DM on Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/adam_McKendi" target="_blank">@Adam_McKendi</a></em><br />
<em></em><br />
<em>My article was published on the NGO Pulse portal - </em><a href="http://www.ngopulse.org/"><em>www.ngopulse.org</em></a>Adam N. Mukendihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06033399017983379486noreply@blogger.com0Randburg, South Africa-26.093611 28.006389000000013-26.321718 27.683665500000014 -25.865503999999998 28.329112500000011tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5534957050992010074.post-38839182235423814962015-03-09T09:25:00.003+01:002015-03-09T10:19:05.545+01:00Advocacy Forecast for Africa<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNdQjPbyhRBpE4zUF8CSqCCEPR011s7xDOHkcc4nYUJp63dsipXFn_yILjWkLggPnsLBCLd94a1YpXou-K-DsNvFezlX0uf37HIvRwAt9SjekbQ2MS72zSNVTQnVk9CLJTUGaR6XJvq3Q/s1600/Capture.JPG1s1s4aaaww.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNdQjPbyhRBpE4zUF8CSqCCEPR011s7xDOHkcc4nYUJp63dsipXFn_yILjWkLggPnsLBCLd94a1YpXou-K-DsNvFezlX0uf37HIvRwAt9SjekbQ2MS72zSNVTQnVk9CLJTUGaR6XJvq3Q/s1600/Capture.JPG1s1s4aaaww.JPG" height="205" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b><i><br /></i></b></div>
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<b><i>Wind, cloud and technological disruptions are ahead of
NPOs - change is needed for an impactful advocacy approach in order to survive</i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
In 1995 the answer was nine when asked how many planets our
solar system contained. Twenty years later, we have a different answer.
Similarly, 10 years ago we were told that the client is king. Today, I guess
you hear that the content is.<br />
<br />
Operating and living in the same space, the context and knowledge have
tremendously changed. The art to communicate, plead for or against a cause, as
well as support or recommend a position has been taking in different techniques
and canvas.<br />
<br />
New buzzwords such as networking and multi-stakeholder are telling us that
advocacy is no longer a one man show. Knowledge alone no longer makes an effective
advocacy, but rather, collective action from many individuals, communities and
organisations that may work both inside and outside the organisation does. This
can only create and maintain a collaborative relationship and impactful
campaign that is truly inclusive.<br />
<br />
Subsequently, as you may have realised, the days of sensational fundraising
with malnourished African children are over. With the impact of the increase in
Internet access and digitisation of information, a new social consciousness
that favours multi-channelling has become not only the object of advocacy but
the subject in that it dictates and opposes irresistibly rooted practices,
values and marketing strategies.<br />
<br />
Also, it is clear that the monopoly of traditional media for advocacy is over.
The future looks more like screens and storytelling than just radio and
television.<br />
<br />
Today’s challenge with campaigns is about delivering the right content to
people where and when they want it and to ensure that the content stays on top.<br />
<br />
In Africa and all over the world this has become a major challenge threatening
nonprofit organisations’ (NPOs) income and traditional business growth
prospects.<br />
A growing number of international and local non-governmental organisations
(NGOs) are finding their existence under threat as they are challenged to
capitalise on changes in technology, audience behaviour, and the availability
of data to create innovative and relevant messaging.<br />
<br />
Change is difficult for those with a life-long legacy, routine advocacy and
work ethic scattered all over the world.<br />
<br />
Nonetheless, many NGOs and for-profit businesses are learning and the rise of
positions such as Chief Digital Officers and Digital Advocacy tells us just
that. The need to redefine their offerings, harness digital technology, and
improve stakeholders experience has become imperative.<br />
<br />
It is with the above in mind that I presume that a forecast of an impactful
advocacy approach in Africa requires considering the following elements:<br />
<br />
The Technological Landscape<br />
<br />
Mobile Internet: Research firm, Frost & Sullivan predict that by 2016,
sub-Saharan Africa will experience the fastest growth in mobile technology at
160 million mobile broadband connections. Mobile and self-service apps are
already transforming service delivery and content marketing all over the
continent. The fast increase in mobile payment in Africa also tells us about
possibilities with NGO donation and crowdfunding.<br />
<br />
Data analysis: The increase in connection consequently in data generation
offers a brighter prospect. Organisations need to master the use of digital
intelligence to track and draw insights from produced content, untapped
sources, statistical trends and other criteria to redefine their online
advocacy to specific audiences.<br />
<br />
Multichannel distribution: Nowadays what trends online makes radio and TV
headline. It is predicted that online media will grow at 20 percent this year.
Nevertheless, though digital marketing is considered the future of marketing,
traditional media such as print, radio and television still have a role to
play. Maximum benefit for advocacy lies on linking these outlets and
interconnection between new and traditional media.<br />
<br />
Stakeholders expectations: Beneficiaries and donors want immediate results.
Funding has declined and traditional proposal obsolete. Innovation seen in one
organisation is now expected in the other. Founders are increasingly looking
for new ideas that can bring better, cheaper and faster results.<br />
<br />
The Wind of Nationalism<br />
<br />
Worldwide economic insecurity and nationalist ideologies are on the rise.
Africa is not an exception. The identity crisis has led xenophobia and racist
attack in many African countries. As resources are becoming scarce, some
communities have fallen into narratives of the insider and outsider. As a matter
of fact, it seems many organisations have been taking this into account. For
example, the change in ‘faces’ of some international campaigns in Africa talks
somehow to the present need and belief to have African causes advocated for and
by Africans.<br />
<br />
The Cloud<br />
<br />
The increase in bandwidth capacities resulting from the landing of undersea
cables around the continent is a solid platform that steadily allows many
organisations to embrace technological benefits, enabling them to outsource and
manage their Information technology (IT) needs instantly. Applications which
were previously not available due to a lack of internal skills or budget have
become readily available to campaigners over the network through cloud
computing.<br />
<br />
The Fallouts of Ad-vocacy<br />
<br />
Years of challenging work and campaigning in the continent have provided many
NPOs with a huge membership and readership. The opportunity with the growth in
digital media intake in Africa comes with an idea of social entrepreneurship,
an expectation that these organisations could translate their online traffic
into an income revenue by allowing selective advertising on their platforms
rather than just relying on funding and donations.<br />
<br />
The Snowden effect<br />
<br />
The snowden effect is a pressing need to become conscience about the
Surveillance State and what that implies with regard to cyber scrutiny. This
talks to safety measures that need to be taken by human rights, environmental
and any given organisations lobbying and advocating against State policies or
interests.<br />
<br />
If you can forget all the above, I would like you to remember the following
quote by Campbell
Williams: <br />
<br />
<i>“You can’t be in marketing if you don’t understand digital. And you can’t
understand digital if you don’t understand technology.”</i><br />
<br />
Either you deal with a product, service or a cause - marketing is the heart of
any advocacy effort that attempts to communicate.<br />
<br />
Many have written about blurred lines between traditional IT and marketing
department on the face of a fast growing online world. The creation of hybrid
‘digital’ positions within organisations speaks of an urgent need to grasp at
once communication, technology and socioeconomic trends, threats and
opportunities while reaching out.<br />
<br />
The change is here and NGOs have to quickly embrace it or die.<br />
<br />
<i>- <b>Adam Mukendi Ntala</b> is the Digital Media Manager at
SANGONeT (Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/adam_McKendi" target="_blank">@adam_McKendi</a>), published on the NGO Pulse <a href="http://www.ngopulse.org/article/advocacy-forecast-africa" target="_blank">website</a>.</i><o:p></o:p></div>
Adam N. Mukendihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06033399017983379486noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5534957050992010074.post-31957582945256457122012-07-24T09:46:00.001+01:002013-10-18T10:51:20.556+01:00Citizen Journalism Project – Ups and Downs<br />
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For the past two years, I have been responding to questions
and e-mails concerning my experience with the citizen participation project that
I thought to write few paragraphs about challenges we faced, our approach,
achievements as well as our failures. Here we go - I hope it helps…<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnA2CyDHW5gqQOsVQKCn3OOYVjzkdiVcD1_PYR3fkOMXz6TPzhcXKWiHjn4bT_0aVEVZZ1pYVaOS2z5tmfTqqHtB-zvqcXXvnQ-vuRgRWAPi8zRqf7KwpDsa0vpxiVusuhiwOmdMgDNqQ/s1600/Captureedre.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="167" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnA2CyDHW5gqQOsVQKCn3OOYVjzkdiVcD1_PYR3fkOMXz6TPzhcXKWiHjn4bT_0aVEVZZ1pYVaOS2z5tmfTqqHtB-zvqcXXvnQ-vuRgRWAPi8zRqf7KwpDsa0vpxiVusuhiwOmdMgDNqQ/s320/Captureedre.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
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The Citizen Journalism in Africa (CJA) Project was a
partnership project between <a href="http://www.ngopulse.org/" target="_blank">SANGONeT</a> and <a href="http://www.hivos.nl/eng" target="_blank">Hivos</a> aimed at building capacity of
civil society organisations to use online and offline citizen journalism as a
mean of publication, lobby, networking and knowledge sharing with their
constituencies. <o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
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Participating organisations were selected on the basis of
their previous involvement with Hivos. Eighty organisations in six African
countries: South Africa, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Tanzania, Uganda and Mozambique have
been trained.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>How well participants performed</b><o:p></o:p></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
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<i>a. Member satisfaction, including initiative, coordination
among developing country partners and satisfactory correction of problems. </i><o:p></o:p></div>
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<i><br /></i></div>
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The fact that some organisations were based in remote rural
areas was a challenge. However, Country Focal Points (CFPs) - organisations trained to train other
organisations, were able to take the programme/training materials and train at
rural level in Africa languages that the audience could easily understand. As a result, online newsletters and rural
forum groups have been created. Some of our member organisations became very
active using in some cases community radio to encompass the lack of internet
coverage in some areas.<br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>b. Effectiveness of
key personnel including: effectiveness
and appropriateness of personnel for the job; and prompt and satisfactory action
when problems with members where identified. </i><o:p></o:p></div>
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<i><br /></i></div>
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The CJA project aimed at providing participating
organisations with an alternative platform (website) for online expression. But
more importantly, the project strived to transfer skills that would allow
stakeholders organisation improve their work and advocacy.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Among other capacity building tools, the project offered an
online module: e-learning digital telling and writing course. To help the
project users to improve their writing skills. The project had acquired the
services of a consultant, professional journalist (Brett Davidson) who role was
to proofread stakeholders' e-learning course submissions, blogs and articles
and re-sent the edited version with track changes to them for approval before
publishing on the CJA website.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The project had 80 participating organisation based in six
countries. In 2009 the CJA website was translated in Portuguese in 2010 to allow
stakeholders in Mozambique directly download translated content in Portuguese
for use offline since telephone communication was very poor between South
Africa and Mozambique.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>c. Timeliness of performance and efficient operation of
tasks. </i><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
One of the characteristic of the CJA project was the use of
intermediate organisations. These CFPs included two
selected representatives from organisations in each participating country. CFPs
were trained to train others CSOs and community media organisations as to
achieve better coordination and participation within the project. CFPs acted as
the local learning and networking hub to implement peer-to-peer training
activities. The Project Manager budgeted for CFPs’ training and operation tasks
cost.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>d. Control cost and forecast costs </i><o:p></o:p></div>
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<i><br /></i></div>
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The use of CFPs aimed at reducing the cost of traveling
and to also overcome language barrier (translation cost) as to ensure efficient
participation of all stakeholder organisations.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Instances of good
or poor performance, especially in the most critical areas</b><o:p></o:p></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It was critical for SANGONeT and HIVOS that the CJA project gave special attention to the development of sound and ethical journalistic skills to protect the project’s stakeholder organisations/participants from repressive legislations. Therefore, the CJA’s toolkit manual had a compilation of media regulatory acts of each stakeholder respective country as well as a course on ethic journalism.
</div>
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<br /></div>
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Nevertheless, the project faced poor performance and had to
manage few crises. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It is a fact that ethics challenge citizen journalists since
they think they have the right to say what is in their minds and express
themselves freely. At the same time, bloggers are at very nature partial,
unaccountable and subjective. As a consequence, in respect of Internet
policies, in more than one occasion we had to contact users and inform them
that they had no right to share content which was not creative commons licensed
and should not publish facts that could not be checked or proven.</div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>List significant
achievements and/or problems. </b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
One of biggest challenge in implementing such a project is
the problem of diversity and skills. Half of stakeholder organisations in the
project did not have the ‘technical-know-how’. That caused some participants to
not participate freely in discussions while others felt uncomfortable blogging.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
However, through perseverance, the CJA project was able to
create a sense of belonging, a safe bridge across backgrounds using tools such
as social media especially Facebook and Twitter feed. As result, stakeholder
organisations could identify each other social life beyond their professional
engagement and built trust which led to increasing their participation. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Overcoming broadband and high cost of Internet connectivity
was a major challenge in most participating countries. Access to broadband is indispensable
for online activism or participation. Stakeholder organisations in Zimbabwe and
Mozambique could not afford Internet cost. When they could, the connectivity
was very poor. This has negatively impacted on their participation in the
project. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We have been challenged by the so-called ‘brain drain’. Many
NGOs have lost skilled personnel since they could not afford their services due
to lack of funding.The instability in human resources within our member organisations had a negative impact on the project. </div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Both mobile and social network have shown potential in
activism and community building. It is unfortunate that the CJA project was
unable to take create/upgrade the CJA website to a mobile friendly site as
planned. Faced with unpredicted funding situation within key stakeholder
organisations, the project focused on getting the basics right and keep on training their new members.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Among achievements; in 2009, an article on the need for fast
Internet connection in Uganda posted on the CJA website has been republished by
one of Uganda’s main news <a href="http://tinyurl.com/yftb3ml" target="_blank">website</a>. An another
article from CJA titled “The Boda boda battle”, a story about motorcycle taxis
in Kampala was published in the <a href="http://tinyurl.com/y97nweg" target="_blank">Mobility Magazine</a>.
SANGONeT’s NGO Pulse e-newsletter also republished a number of articles from the
CJA website.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Last but not least, some of our trained members have
become Africa’s most admired young ICT advocates and have been speaking in
conferences and interviewed by mainstream media such as BBC and Al Jazeera. At date, many CJA stakeholder organisations have become vibrant users of ICT tools and human rights activists.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
Adam N. Mukendihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06033399017983379486noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5534957050992010074.post-61958795174449197832007-06-12T09:19:00.000+01:002012-09-20T12:44:22.056+01:00To late or too old for circumcisionAdam N. Mukendihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06033399017983379486noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5534957050992010074.post-63132188991684474492007-05-21T13:10:00.000+01:002012-09-20T12:43:57.282+01:00Metrobus – Citizenmetro, Knowledge as freedomAdam N. Mukendihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06033399017983379486noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5534957050992010074.post-56362748813640196022007-05-09T07:38:00.000+01:002012-09-20T12:43:51.110+01:00Decision...decisionAdam N. Mukendihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06033399017983379486noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5534957050992010074.post-16082921043222566002007-04-24T12:35:00.000+01:002012-09-20T12:43:14.533+01:00Two ears and one mouthAdam N. Mukendihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06033399017983379486noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5534957050992010074.post-55408119847319069132007-04-24T07:28:00.000+01:002012-09-20T12:43:06.112+01:00Takkies for Conflicts-ResolutionAdam N. Mukendihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06033399017983379486noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5534957050992010074.post-42288434611351171402007-04-19T12:15:00.000+01:002012-09-20T12:43:00.907+01:00There will not be such thing as Rhodesia’s storm or a 9/11 on Mugabe’s house; Morgan Tsvangirai is having a wrong dreamAdam N. Mukendihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06033399017983379486noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5534957050992010074.post-10110957629613072382007-04-13T17:10:00.001+01:002012-09-20T12:42:03.849+01:00Find the right option and do not shoot at your chancesAdam N. Mukendihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06033399017983379486noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5534957050992010074.post-9468527648038307482007-04-13T07:06:00.000+01:002012-09-20T12:41:54.016+01:00Why street-smartAdam N. Mukendihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06033399017983379486noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5534957050992010074.post-3001093848733143762007-04-12T16:44:00.000+01:002012-09-20T12:40:21.878+01:00The feedback I have received after my first words plublished in this blog makes me realise that blogging should be taken seriously.Adam N. Mukendihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06033399017983379486noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5534957050992010074.post-75615201734392620042007-06-12T11:30:00.000+01:002012-09-20T12:34:36.014+01:00A good Mentor shouldn't Juge<div align="justify">
I would like to share my feelings through this small story without remorse because I think that I have learnt something out of it.</div>
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I wonder how many people can define precisely who is a mentor or give the real meaning of mentoring without getting confused with other concepts such as coaching and counseling. For my concern, it is not my first time to hear about this word but I should confess that I didn’t take time to try and understand what this concept is about before attending the workshop.<br />
Last Saturday workshop on the topic ‘mentoring’ organized by the Wits Alumni and Wow 2007 was attended by entrepreneurs, professionals, academics and newly Wits’ graduated. Sitting randomly at tables, we all had to intervene in the discussion. </div>
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Among questions, the first was to define a mentor. As I said above, I did not check the real meaning of this word and had only a broadly understanding of what it means. </div>
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In my group after brainstorming ideas, we had a person who run his own business and introduced himself as a mentor. Obviously that sounded so fantastic to me as I thought that we will have more insights on our table. Then at the time to choose two key-words defining the best mentorship, the person took the lead and opted for growth and relationship.<br />
For my part, I couldn’t understand why this ‘mentor’ prefers the word relationship to training for example. I felt obliged to ask why relation should come in second place and I did. Strangely, instead of giving me light on the concept, the person answered that it might be a problem of language. At that point I felt so misunderstood and afflicted. I had a feeling as if I was wrong by asking that question. For my concern, that was a judgment. I was judged for what I belong too and not for what I did. I took it so bad that I was disturb during all the session. I do think that because a person does use a generic word that do not mean that he’s lacking content. I felt as if I was denied of my right to growth and right to knowledge by a person who presented himself as a 'mentor'. I have learnt by this fact that the person wasn’t a good mentor because mentoring involves support to growth, building of self-esteem and openness for relationship.</div>
Adam N. Mukendihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06033399017983379486noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5534957050992010074.post-75411871172316781752012-03-09T11:00:00.000+01:002012-06-27T08:08:33.372+01:00A Picture that #Kony2012 Video Does Not Show<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Do not just like a craft…know more, learn about the author.</span></i><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">A lot has been said about #Kony2012 trending <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4MnpzG5Sqc" target="_blank">video</a> by Jason Russell (of
Invisible Children, NGO apparently ‘raising awareness’ about crimes committed by the rebel </span><span style="font-weight: normal;">Joseph
Kony. One view that stands for me is that we should be careful before
supporting such a view in the video. What are real intentions???
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">Nowadays,
those who born in conflict zone in Africa, especially the great lakes
region have learnt to be cautious of such good and soul moving content. <o:p></o:p></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">I prefer not to say much, I recommend you to read two Ugandan bloggers;
<a href="http://jssozi.wordpress.com/2012/03/08/my-take-on-kony2012-campaign-and-lessons-learnt/" target="_blank">Javie</a>, an activist and <a href="http://dignityinpoverty.blogspot.com/2012/03/i-am-visible-child-from-northern-uganda.html?showComment=1331278282672#c2962531994230666435" target="_blank">Maureen</a>, a ‘visible child’ as she put it herself.<o:p></o:p></span>
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">END
comment: This is a picture of Jason Russell and
friends…<i>the activist claiming to care about children in Uganda more than
his fame.</i></span><span style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span>
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</span></span>Adam N. Mukendihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06033399017983379486noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5534957050992010074.post-56594439848794290262012-01-01T08:30:00.000+01:002012-01-01T08:45:57.339+01:00It's complicatedI am a married man and blissful father to a daughter. But it’s 1:34 am on 30 December 2011 and I am still not in bed. Bloody husband…<br />
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I have been watching (<strike>naked news</strike>) naked truth, a reality documentary by <a href="http://www.michaelmoore.com/">Michael Moore</a> which washed the sleep off my eyes.<br />
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I’ve realised that as the world economy navigates a downturn and inequalities threaten the world’s peace with wars of the poorest against the richest, life goes on.<br />
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Life goes on as millions die in hunger in Haiti and Somalia even if their situation is no more in the news headline;<br />
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Life goes on as millions of children are enslaved in China and DR Congo to make our shoes and feed the hype for new technologies;<br />
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Life goes on as thousand of livelihoods are at risk in island such as Mauritius, polluted by intensive exploitation and holidays waste;<br />
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Life goes on as defense departments fund billion dollars researches on unman military technologies while international law is lazy to keep the pace;<br />
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Life goes on as the world is losing its humanism.<br />
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<i>Fahrenheit 9/11</i> has reminded me why this year, my wife and I have chosen Top TV, an alternative to DSTV; a choice for more user generated content such as Current TV over mainstream media funded content.<br />
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Reality of events happening in the world is not as real as painted on TV or by governments. Of cause we all know that. But to realise how far the greed kill nowadays it’s really upsetting.<br />
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The year 2011 brought us stories of courage, success and inequalities as ever before.<br />
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I would wish that in 2012 you and I have a meaningful life by standing for the truth and justice.<br />
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'As complicated and desperate a situation may seem, a good will shall overcome the chains of injustice'<br />
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Let kill the greed in us.Adam N. Mukendihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06033399017983379486noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5534957050992010074.post-73693810919432902522010-11-02T09:02:00.006+01:002011-06-08T13:42:38.537+01:00Skip The Medium - Do it for yourself<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFwdzn6C8GFsObvazK1qDAULFBIwqdoNj16YT-ebiCAH-hEqMVrZM4SCST6bx1vJKodAdCL5fHc21h4_brGM8LYiemTlwCLCSpo4enAmvZzrQyRORZKjZE7BVrpFRyYeDvRAaAFpdouyE/s1600/adam_mukendi.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 133px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFwdzn6C8GFsObvazK1qDAULFBIwqdoNj16YT-ebiCAH-hEqMVrZM4SCST6bx1vJKodAdCL5fHc21h4_brGM8LYiemTlwCLCSpo4enAmvZzrQyRORZKjZE7BVrpFRyYeDvRAaAFpdouyE/s400/adam_mukendi.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534861040560458082" /></a><br />Few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to talk about citizen journalism at the 4th Gender and Media summit in Johannesburg. That was an interesting opportunity to interact with Southern African journalists and media organisations attending the event.<br /><br />Gender violence and women abuse are among big issues affecting women in Africa. Cultural background and socio-economic policies have not made it easy for women to raise their voices. In most of the cases, politically bias and socially unprogressive, traditional media in the southern region keeps its doors closed to claims and stories on gender activism. <br /><br />Having experienced the impact with the Citizen Journalism in Africa, project I had coordinated, my presence at the summit aimed at emphasising on the need for women rights activist to use alternative media. In other words, ‘report what you have seen - say it yourself – write it yourself’ using free tools with modern technology.<br /><br />Citizen journalism is among the current buzzwords in the media industry. The advent of the internet and its byproducts like blogs and similar channels provided for this phenomenon – the public serving as news sources. <br /><br />It is important that human rights activists in the region and citizens in general catch the train of new media revolution. National broadcasters in southern Africa do no more own the news or shouldn’t. Websites, mobile phones and online podcasting can serve efficiently freedom of expression and lead the region to a long term democracy and stop human rights violations. <br /><br />Here what Sandra Mandizvidza wrote about my presentation:<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">The rise of citizen journalism </span><br /><br />Gone are the days when reporting news was the preserve of an elite circle of journalists: they have been replaced by a new animal, the citizen journalist.<br /><br />The latter has the advantage of being at the right place at the right time and is able to cover news that would otherwise go unreported.<br /><br />These untrained journalists are taking photographs and filing reports on events which once would have been the sole preserve of our media outlets.<br /><br />They help online news sites deliver news faster by submitting text, pictures or even videos of events as they happen. The product of such news gathering and reporting is then called user-generated content (UGC).<br /><br />The idea behind the introduction of it was to encourage people without professional journalism training to use modern technology like cell phones and internet to help traditional journalists. These reporters are expected to report first-hand information of the situation on the ground.<br /><br />Large organisations such as the BBC and CNN have decided to embrace rather than fight the rise of citizen journalism. CNN has even launched "iReport", where anyone can blog or post videos about news.<br /><br />Adam Mukendi, the project coordinator for Citizen Journalism Africa (CJA), said citizen journalists are an important tool in the journalism fraternity as they write stories and take pictures which the traditional journalist would have missed.<br /><br />Mukendi, who runs a website for citizen journalists, said six countries came together to form a website for these untrained reporters. The objective of the website is to increase the outreach in local media of balanced, objective and informative reporting on the situation of targeted marginalised groups, including women.<br /><br />Mukendi said in order for citizen journalists to express themselves and to report on events happening in their community, they are provided with cameras and videos to do their work. They are also trained how to use equipment.<br /><br />"A number of people have benefited from the website especially on the use of social media and mobile technology," said Mukendi. "Despite a few challenges participants have been able to pass on and sustain the acquired knowledge back into their local organisation and today the CJA community is a vibrant group of proactive citizens and practitioners in Digital media."<br /><br />The website has a platform for people to write blogs, tout events, post pictures and videos. It is put out in both English and Portuguese.<br /><br />Though citizen journalism is quickly gaining popularity there are both advantages and dangers of using content from citizen journalists.<br /><br />Some of the advantages include having a chance for newspapers to find out issues about the people in the area. Journalists don't have eyes everywhere so having citizen reporters will give a chance to find out what's happening. Members of the public can witness police brutality and may snap a digital photo and post to for broadcasting.<br /><br />Arthur Mwansa, a journalist from Zambia, said: "Editors need to be careful they should check and recheck again the content from Citizen Journalists as they might give false information."<br /><br />And careful they will have to be, because as technology becomes easier to use and less expensive, it seems the citizen journalist is here to stay.Adam N. Mukendihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06033399017983379486noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5534957050992010074.post-38143224106384687642011-01-05T12:21:00.011+01:002011-06-08T13:40:50.953+01:00Congolese People in love with One South African Woman<span style="font-style:italic;">‘…not a polyandry talk but our deep appreciation’ says FOCAS Executive Director, Serge Mubuilu. </span><br /><br />Yesterday, the Congolese community led by the Forum of the Congolese Organizations in South Africa (FOCAS) walked the streets of Yeoville to raise awareness about prejudice and violation of Human Rights perpetrated by militia and neighbouring countries’ armies in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and used the occasion to praise the Judge Navanethem Pillay’s Mapping Report which clearly indicates that DRC’s neighbours are extremely implicated in destabilising the East Congo.<br /><br />Personally, I would wish that this be the starting of a new era of public awareness and truth about the situation in the Eastern DRC where violations of Human Rights have been so severe than in any other region in the world. Despite independent reports arguing that there has been bigger genocide in Eastern DRC than that of Tutsi in Rwanda - nobody really cares?<br /><br />It is not a secret that geopolitics and greediness of multinationals are pulling strings in the situation in DRC and International media agencies, international organisations on Human Rights and the Africa Union have been all passive to atrocities happening at date in what they call ‘the forgotten war’. <br /><br />I have no doubt that the deep hope of poor dispersed, killed or enslaved young men, women and children in the East is to see more alignment under Pillay’s courage foot-prints. <br /><br />May be the time has arrived to galvanise the whole Congolese civil society in perspective of presidential election next year. May be this is the time to take action and support those who dare to speak and expose the truth. <br /><br />A woman gave us Jesus…a woman may be showing us the way to courage. <br /><br />Here FOCAS Press Release:<br /><span style="font-style:italic;"><span style="font-weight:bold;">All the Congolese People in love with One South African woman</span><br /><br />On the 4th of January, Congolese people remember those of them who lost their lives for independence which should have triggered the advent of an economic justice different from the colonial economy of exploitation which caused the death of about Eight millions Congolese. After 50 year of independence, the Martyrs’ day was a double event that added on the commemoration of the martyrs of independence all the martyrs of Justice and victims of Human Rights violence, (Patrice Emery Lumumba, Floribert TShebeya,…,) atrocities, massacres and Genocide of the Congolese people that has happened in the country since 1993 up to date . <br /><br />Many Congolese and other Congo friends joined the barefoot march convened by the Forum of the Congolese Organizations in South Africa (FOCAS) along Rocky Street in Yeoville to commemorate the double event and demand Justice. <br /><br />Mr. Serge Mubilulu, the Executive Director of the Forum indicated that the barefoot march was organized to protest against genocide that is ongoing in their country and to demand the trial of perpetrators. We are determined to claim Justice for Congolese people and we want the all world to be aware of the genocide that happened in the DRC and therefore be actively involved in the justice process in the DRC, he said. We all love Judge Navanethem Pillay and thank our fellow African sister, a South African Mama who fought apartheid, for resisting different pressures from our enemies and publishing the UN mapping report that has laid an unyielding foundation of the justice process in the DRC, he added. <br /><br />In fact, last year in August French media(Le Monde) published a draft of the UN mapping report which accused Rwanda of committing genocide in the DRC and many neighboring countries’ armies, rebel groups and individuals in the DRC of perpetrating grave human rights violations and massacres in the DRC.<br /> <br />Later, in October last year, after many pressures from Rwanda and Kagame’s friends, the final report was published with changes uttering that crimes were committed and if investigated by an appropriate court, those massacres could be tantamount to Genocide. <br /><br />Taking that report as a strategic instrument of struggle for justice, the Congolese people are grateful to the South African woman who published it.<br /> <br />Mr. Bakengeshi Twendele, the Executive Secretary of FOCAS revealed that arrangements are on track to award human rights defender prize to Navanethem Pillay the South African woman loved by all the Congolese.--//<br /></span><br />Pillay's act may be a drop in ocean but joining positive action from each individual Congolese or non Congolese wanting to see change in Eastern DRC will make the differnce. It is sad though that FOCAS website is not operational. Hopefully they will get it back on track to lead those who care.Adam N. Mukendihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06033399017983379486noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5534957050992010074.post-22776109303356442272011-01-22T21:06:00.006+01:002011-06-08T13:39:29.247+01:00First nativity story<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_L2o9E7W5vIM/TTs8x_yCvbI/AAAAAAAABr4/PVbxVukma2I/s1600/IMG_3664.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_L2o9E7W5vIM/TTs8x_yCvbI/AAAAAAAABr4/PVbxVukma2I/s400/IMG_3664.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5565108594178964914" /></a><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">I wonder how I would react when the time to be born my first daughter arrives. I have heard that some jumped the wall out of panic though they had the gate remote…</span><br /><br />My one-day story starts from 1am on 18 January 2011 when I was awaken by my wife: ‘babs – I think my water is breaking’. From there on, started a day which seemed will never end.<br /><br />Twenty minutes later; I was in the hospital waiting room. Night shift nurses busy in their offices, I was left with 26 empty chairs, no Tv, nobody to talk to just a hope that my wife would give me a call to come over once emergency procedures were over. <br /><br />So lonely, yet so happy to end nine months of patience and ‘lost in mind’ at the idea to becoming a dad.<br /><br />I am checking my watch; I must be there in the delivery room when my girl arrives…<br />Twelve hours later, I was still at hospital, up and down, calling and smsing my wife in the maternity hall. She was in huge pain – more than we imagine. I became so stressed but I try keep my hope thinking that her being at this mother and child specialist’s hospital would avoid us biter surprises.<br /><br />Anyway, at 3pm, I decided to go back home and comeback later. As going, I found myself leaving the hospital behind seven “Sisi” with no idea that I was going to be part of an interesting ride back home.<br /><br />After the security guard checked my bag, I realised that none of them entered the taxi. Why? Because the back seat was empty. For those of you who never use public transport in Joburg, a standard taxi has 5 long seats to carry 13 passengers. But the inconvenience is that the back seat squeezes 4 people no-matter their size and shape. So, seeing those “Sisi” outside meant that I was candidate for the unwanted seat…eish. I played gentleman of cause, Kamikaze I should say…to be squashed by three hundreds pounds of “African shapes and curves”. Already two minutes in that seat, I could not feel my laps.<br /><br />Soon as the taxi was in motion, something interesting started…corporate gossip! Free-Good-gossip I would say. That helped me think about other things than just the woman I love that is in pain.<br /><br />Squeezed but so lucky though to seat just close to the main gossiper. Beautiful, strong and funny woman - my right neighbor hijacked the taxi. She got everyone attention and laughter with her jokes. These are situations that you would never experience alone in your own car…really free comedy. <br /><br />In fact, I could not understand everything but could grasp the funniest parts;…morata, flying hormones, don’t taste my knowledge, we are into trouble… I realised that these seven Sisi in medical uniform were soon to become doctors and that they have been attending a workshop at the hospital I spent my night at. One thing for sure, they hated their supervisors as she was giving them hard time.<br /><br />As unforgettable as was this nativity day, the contagious laugh in the taxi made everyone smiling. It was raining in Joburg and I had to go home, fix the house left in limbo of ‘water break’s’ panic. By the time I reach home, I have collected my pieces…I was in Adam’s mood. Going stronger, I realised that for these Sisi, the supervisor was just a step on their way to a bigger achievement. From there on, I remember stories I read and heard about how husbands panic when labour time nocks. I was doing no so bad – the gossip and laughter was a positive fate.<br /><br />Yet, Daddy-to-become I still to make my mind – should or should her not accept C-section after 11 hours into contractions. <br /><br />Thanks to technology, not only online forum provided us with so much step-by-step knowledge (insight) on pregnancy, also the use of mobile phone in maternity allowed me as talking to my wife to experience the screenings of women in contraction for the first time. I should say, out of what I listened; labour must be a painful experience. That explains why some of us love our mum so deeply. Women deserve respect and I love my wife even more! I told a friend soon after.<br /><br />Back at hospital an hour later, I have been told that she was no more in the same hall. Wondering what happened, I went up and down to check lists of newly deliveries. At the moment a black woman in the forties (Her Dr) asked me; is Mariah George your wife? It took seconds for me to say ‘YES’. I knew that would mean - yes to ‘daddihood’. She has done great and you have a baby girl, she said.<br /><br />From that instant until two days after, I did not know how to feel or react. Inside I was excited but overwhelmed at the same time with responsibilities now over my shoulder with this pretty, quiet human being. From the third day when I change my first nappy, I realised the bond that has started between her and myself. I suddenly fall in love with her…<br /><br />While my crush on her still getting stronger, Today, I took time out to read comments, wishes and reactions from friends and families. So touched by everyone of them. It’s great to have lovely friends. <br /><br />What have I learnt from my first nativity day? First of all, the joy that comes with becoming a daddy for the first time cannot be compared to how many sleepless night that may follow. Looking into my daughter “BLISS” innocent eyes and feel her trust is just osmosis. Secondly, if you want to live longer, you must learn to look at the good side of things. We chose to ignore lines that warn us about newborn hustles and sleepless nights. I remember being told, University studies are so hard, being married is so difficult life, pregnancy is a nightmare… and we have been through all of them.<br /><br />So, life goes on. New experiences come with new challenges and new challenges brew further joy.<br /><br />In God we trust.<br /><br />Hahaha…please allow to say: Being single sucks…<br /><br />I wish you find someone that you love. Life is about sharing.<br /><br />Mucha!!!Adam N. Mukendihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06033399017983379486noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5534957050992010074.post-73276606975321463502011-04-12T12:20:00.008+01:002011-06-08T13:38:35.694+01:00The leftoversAbove all expectations, South Africa has hosted ten months ago one of the best FIFA World Cup in history. However, once again, you may have been asking which legacy this event has left to South Africans or at least what the country has gained out of it. To find an answer, we should assess the fact around us. One way of doing is by looking out of your window, what do you see?<br /><br />The year 2010 saw the first FIFA World cup organised on an African soil. After years of polemics and pessimistic arguments from overseas media, South Africa won the BID and promised to hold the best tournament. With an event of such magnitude, consequently, millions of rands have been invested into infrastructures such as road, accommodations, leisure and tourism by both the private and public sector.<br /><br />Today, the prospect of new market, first time buyers/investors, expectation raised with hundreds of thousands fans entering the country last year has surely left some local investors better off or worst. <br /><br />Ten months after the event, looking back, which investment has been worth? I look out of my window.<br /><br />From my office at SANGONeT 29th floor UCS building (http://tinyurl.com/69upgws), the Protea Hotel Packtownian’s (http://tinyurl.com/643foz) rooftop is six floors below my window. I have eye witnessed fourteen months ago the refurbishing of the Hotel, especially its rooftop as they created few square meter four-holes artificial green pitch Golf on the pavement. <br /><br />Keeping things short, to juge by what I see in the past weeks, the Hotel’s small Gold green has been an attraction. <br /><br />First I was stroke in December to see a group of people on the Hotel roof for the first time. A group of Chinese with camera zoom were taking pictures. Were they of those expected to come back after the world cup?<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDrNxoL6Mjxcc07xD4Yj8mF0ZzmXHUSMReQNEkJ9OHDMCjO7nKWQMFn8nQ5-aen6LJgVrOh2DpT3KcudEusAW49T2Jii240GRXEc8A7NvqUB1YrxbPSVQfmIWHhetoBKDsrp7rInvEfLk/s1600/aaaaaaaaaaaa.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 356px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDrNxoL6Mjxcc07xD4Yj8mF0ZzmXHUSMReQNEkJ9OHDMCjO7nKWQMFn8nQ5-aen6LJgVrOh2DpT3KcudEusAW49T2Jii240GRXEc8A7NvqUB1YrxbPSVQfmIWHhetoBKDsrp7rInvEfLk/s400/aaaaaaaaaaaa.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594658028866074306" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguv1t9Q8ooTGJu-jmrbOZaaraWWxnsKz2eZkI_IgSVk-ntyU4D6Z0__ckijZVnhoQD9XiJTtXlbNAMydFLNspnewyBtWD06HR7EeUIM8QqJfZGI36dQcxTPlTl0oAJK7VwXVjQBH0mDmE/s1600/bbbbbbbbbbbbbbb.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 356px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguv1t9Q8ooTGJu-jmrbOZaaraWWxnsKz2eZkI_IgSVk-ntyU4D6Z0__ckijZVnhoQD9XiJTtXlbNAMydFLNspnewyBtWD06HR7EeUIM8QqJfZGI36dQcxTPlTl0oAJK7VwXVjQBH0mDmE/s400/bbbbbbbbbbbbbbb.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594658290509946754" /></a><br />Since, I have seen people/couple of young and old, playing to get balls in the holes - apparently they enjoy the game. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Z0OZHC3DO2H1o2mxuTwQmbmiV2OX1HXNHmL9NDjpgmHE77_B9NFtXAthYjcy83LnUYMuqjaDsvfdFDC4h2U3VHss8ohNsK67hygsabCEPkEbFZjzwZuf17Rp2cZZF-9KqzgAZxJtW9o/s1600/ps2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 356px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Z0OZHC3DO2H1o2mxuTwQmbmiV2OX1HXNHmL9NDjpgmHE77_B9NFtXAthYjcy83LnUYMuqjaDsvfdFDC4h2U3VHss8ohNsK67hygsabCEPkEbFZjzwZuf17Rp2cZZF-9KqzgAZxJtW9o/s400/ps2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594660817394161010" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEOi49u5RURHk-0dyPavNGKAT7TSB7om2LOXNBzfYk_fA-ButWfKBrDdgyELHk2sBELpnoxwNHwjwRSkUhrlM_iDIuPxRiySMSaGWUEkI8FnU5guRISWZA3zYX5JZb7vxuwGEfLFGWIU0/s1600/ps1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 356px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEOi49u5RURHk-0dyPavNGKAT7TSB7om2LOXNBzfYk_fA-ButWfKBrDdgyELHk2sBELpnoxwNHwjwRSkUhrlM_iDIuPxRiySMSaGWUEkI8FnU5guRISWZA3zYX5JZb7vxuwGEfLFGWIU0/s400/ps1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594660559895908194" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEUgXB_p4lDQwgjha41WUQ5IOtZHVh11-XSi8tjjaEJ3bi0V-EvHQH3oQcf5G2hjOfrGgQn0UB1S13S0HzJ6L-IiJTwprMV3LA8pX47asccmnOVcourHT5KWht3HDvuS58QfDxlgux0Vs/s1600/p11.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 356px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEUgXB_p4lDQwgjha41WUQ5IOtZHVh11-XSi8tjjaEJ3bi0V-EvHQH3oQcf5G2hjOfrGgQn0UB1S13S0HzJ6L-IiJTwprMV3LA8pX47asccmnOVcourHT5KWht3HDvuS58QfDxlgux0Vs/s400/p11.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594660180698061122" /></a><br /><br />What do you see? I have seen more than once music/show company’s actors and actresses in production at the Johannesburg Civic Theatre (http://tinyurl.com/5rvpw8z) tinning under Jozi’s sun on the rooftop. The hotel has an indoor swimming pool and they seem having fun playing ‘Golf’. Hopefully they will come back…<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzpIXq3wmXHV49VytJF_rShbRikfe1kYpCZKThfjH22MQ7iw9TsXVyPxDiQ59X8fpok2-SDFChT-ngEljPnGXf1y_QjAr0UnBLxEEsdcnfl8QuTlragNHoWU5Ad9b5LlQ8SWWQ8Ote_0Y/s1600/pp1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 356px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzpIXq3wmXHV49VytJF_rShbRikfe1kYpCZKThfjH22MQ7iw9TsXVyPxDiQ59X8fpok2-SDFChT-ngEljPnGXf1y_QjAr0UnBLxEEsdcnfl8QuTlragNHoWU5Ad9b5LlQ8SWWQ8Ote_0Y/s400/pp1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594661251499499682" /></a><br /><br />Two weeks ago the rooftop was seemingly set for a night civil wedding. Unfortunately I had to leave office and have lost the picture I took.<br /><br />The Hotel is hundred meters from the Civic Theatre and it is the second biggest Hotel in Braamfontein after the Devonshire Hotel - Orion (http://tinyurl.com/6btojoy). Thus, I would mislead to conclude that the busy on the roof/Parktownian Hotel is a fall out of 2010 World Cup or what so ever investment they have made. <br /><br />Nevertheless, the point I am trying to make is that millions in investments made last year will in a long run translate into assets and entrepreneurs will rip benefit. Operators should get creative and market infrastructures build for and around the 2010 FIFA Work Cup. There has been fear that built world class stadium stand as white elephant due to management/maintenance cost. And it’s unfortunate that marketings of Project like Rea Vaya (http://www.reavaya.org.za/ ) have gone to sleep soon as the event was over. <br /><br />Initiative such as which produced Bono’s U2 mega concert into the Soccer City has to be encouraged until South Africa hosts another major event. Who knows? With the unpredictable Africa, turmoil such in Libya if they have to happen in Gabon or Equatorial Guinea, South Africa will be hosting the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations again.Adam N. Mukendihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06033399017983379486noreply@blogger.com0