Africa has largely been slow to be affected by the COVID-19 outbreak. Most African countries report modest figures compared to Asia, the Americas, and Europe. However, this might not last. Experts believe that Africa needs to prepare itself for the breakout, even as its health facilities are inadequate to fight any outbreak.  On March 22, 2020 on the onset of the virus outbreak in Africa, the World Health Organization, through its Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, told the continent to prepare for the worst.  "In other countries, we have seen how the virus accelerates after a certain tipping point, so the best advice for Africa is to prepare for the worst and prepare today," he instructed. "WHO's recommendation is actually that mass gatherings should be avoided," he added, urging Africa to "cut it from the bud, expecting that the worst can happen." "My continent should wake up!" he stressed unequivocally.  The poor health sectors spanning the continent are at the center of the calls. In usual times, most African nations cannot handle specialized treatment, let alone a pandemic.  Most countries have now locked down their spaces, both inward and outward. But this move has economic consequences. Most low-end workers have reported a loss of jobs, and the tourism sector in Africa and the air transport industry have suffered the most.  Other sectors are also shedding profitability and workforce as the pandemic continues to ravage the world.  It's not all gloom, however. Africa, being the region with the lowest numbers, should take measures early enough to clamp down on any other effects. Beyond the health issues, governments have other things that they can do to lessen the impact of the global pandemic. Fighting Misinformation with Transparency The resurgence of interest in the movie Contagion (2011) is not a surprise since its storylines mirrors what is currently happening with the COVID-19 pandemic. On the movie poster, one line stands out: "Nothing spreads like fear."  Understandably, the world is currently going through a collective process of fear and anxiety as the number of those infected with the Coronavirus soars to new heights every day. At the center of the anxiety: no cure or vaccine is available. Moreso than it is a novel virus, many scientists do not fully understand its far-reaching effects.  Fear is something that occupies a place where information is scarce. The saying, "you fear something because you do not understand it," has never made much meaning as it does now.  In Africa, like in any other place, the vacuum that information has left has been filled with misinformation, fake news, and disinformation. In a country that wants to fight the disease, fear cannot supersede facts.  To ward off the minions of misinformation, African governments need to be open and transparent when they pass on information about how they are fighting the disease. One would argue that to prevent mass panic, governments should hold on to information, and process sensitive information to a broader audience without stoking a panic. Some questions that citizens might have are: "Am I safe?", "What is going to happen tomorrow?" "Does my government have proper measures to fight the disease?" Answering these questions before the public asks is one way of assuring citizens that a government is tackling the situation headfirst.  Fake news has been a burden on every government's shoulder, and fighting it should not slow down. Fake news could expose many to the virus. Subduing any information that could render the fight against the virus meaningless should be at the forefront of a government strategy.  A Call to Reawaken the Research Arm in Africa For Africa, the continent has been caught flat-footed in research. The outbreak of the virus exposes this more than anything else. Most research information about the virus emanates from Asia or America, revealing how far the sciences are in Africa. It could be because most governments in Africa do not invest in research, especially in institutions of higher learning. According to Data from Unesco, South Africa's research budget is the highest in Africa at USD 5.5 Billion, while Kenya only spends USD 788,005 on research. This is compared to the United States, China, and Japan with USD 476 billion, USD 372 billion, and USD 170 billion, respectively. To note, the research budgets are on the medical field and encompass all industries.  The above example shows how investments in the research sector in Africa are not encouraging. Africa Centers for Disease Control (Africa CDC) is already under resource pressure in responding to the COVID-19 outbreak. The deputy director of Africa CDC stated that their thin budgets are limiting their response to pandemics, not just the COVID-19.  "Domestic funding for disaster preparedness is very thin. We have made governments aware of this regularly, but we are not seeing an outpouring of allocations," Dr. Ahmed Ogwell told the Kenyan daily, Nation. However, it is encouraging to see Ethiopia as a leading light in igniting its research arm into the COVID-19 virus. According to newspaper reports, the country is making headways in discovering a treatment for the virus.  Post COVID-19 pandemic, African countries need to go back to the drawing board on how to grow research in science for their own prosperity.  It is widely expected that many people will lose their jobs as the world economy grapples with the aftermath of the pandemic. Africa will be the worst hit with already unstable economies devoid of the COVID-19 pandemic. Leaders in the continent need to act now to lessen the effects of job losses and slow down the economy.  Many countries, including the US, Kenya, Botswana, and the UK, have provided relief subsidies to companies to move past the season without much loss. But more needs to be done to uplift industries and make the economy run again.  One aspect that has been taunted is the prospect of Africa realigning itself with the new realities. Lack of local manufacturing industries and heavy reliance on imports has not only exposed Africa's soft underbelly but highlighted the missed opportunities in building strong economies. This cannot be the same post the COVID-19 era. Africa's leaders now need to develop their industries from manufacturing to food production and install heavy internal reliance other than imports. The support for the health sector has also been highlighted, with most countries caught flat-footed in the pandemic. It is sad to see the people in the frontline, who are supposed to save our lives, having little protection and support to fight the invisible enemy. This also has to change going forward.  A recurring joke in Africa is that, now that the world has closed its doors, African leaders have to contend with the little development they have made in health and now have an impetus to change it for the masses going forward.  Africa, we can still win the war on Coronavirus while learning new and valuable lessons. The world has changed, and we have to change with it.   

When Munga Maseru, an IT expert working in Kenya, joined a MOOC (Massive Open Online Course) class online, a new wave of possibilities dawned on him to learn software development professionally.  "For many years now, I've been testing software and training people how to use software," he said. "I love providing users with software solutions that help them solve problems in their day-to-day operations." From simply testing software, his interest has now shifted to developing it. Like thousands of Kenyans interested in software development, Maseru jumped online to find educational resources tied to said interest. Platforms such as edX, Udemy, Udacity, and Coursera have gained popularity over the years, especially among web designers and developers. "With online courses like edX, you have very responsive mobile-friendly solutions for learning on the go. I've watched videos and done exercises on the bus while commuting," he explained. The lack of relevant courses in public and private institutions has led many others to sign up for online courses.  Learning software development online is quite possible with every MOOC platform and paid online courses propping up in every corner. This is aided by the access to the internet that the young people in countries such as South Africa, Rwanda, Kenya, Uganda, and Nigeria enjoy.  Recent studies, however, have revealed that the global lack of tech talent still stifles regions such as Europe and the US. But if developed economies are facing these shortages, then there is a more significant shortfall affecting African industries. There is a gap to train youth on the onset of the fourth industrial revolution that will not only push Africa's economy further but take it a step closer to being at par with industry leaders.  Where is the Government? Africa's education system does great injustice to budding software developers across the continent. There is little effort to improve computer science education to fit into the new skills and programs that are in use in the industry. Earlier, we have established that learning software engineering could be achieved online with access to broadband becoming more pervasive. However, this coverage has only favored developed urban areas, not rural Africa.  This is where government-based software training centers come in to bridge that gap. There is more talent in the rural, undeveloped areas than thought, and they should not be left behind. Rwanda, a landlocked country in East Africa, has taken digital talent to a higher level. The said country played a critical role in improving its IT infrastructure and training IT and software talent to improve its service delivery.  In October 2020, the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS) launched its African Masters in Machine Intelligence in its Rwandan campus and onboarded partners such as Facebook and Google.        "AMMI is novel one-year intensive foundational masters that will offer Africa's talented scientists and innovators world-class training in machine intelligence, preparing them to think about new ways to solve local and global challenges," the report from Africa.com said. The country has in the past supported progressive learning institutions such as Carnegie Mellon to set up in the country and train local talent. Such initiatives are a positive step in nurturing local skills.   The Emphasis on Local Digital Training Facebook, Microsoft, and other multinationals have driven many initiatives to give digital skills to youth in various African countries. Even though this is an excellent move needed, there is a bias towards introducing foreign software tools on the continent. Do we have to have everything made by Africans? No. The software world is based on collaboration and synergies, significantly witnessed through standard collaboration tools such as Git, Trello, etc.  However, we should not look at only producing software engineers who can replicate what the leaders have done. Still, for them to come up with solutions that address the challenges, Africa faces directly, and in the process creating our own "Microsoft" and "Google." However, the private sector has done its little share to grow expert-level skills without government interest.  Funtrench Limited is a school within Nairobi, emphasizing driving knowledge on the growing blockchain landscape. "We train the general public and professionals in blockchain technology topics (including cryptocurrency mining and trading) to improve awareness and create the needed pool of talent to enable widespread adoption of this revolutionary new technology," Kingsley Ndiewo, the founder and CEO, said.  Entrepreneurs such as Ndiewo can only leverage their private expertise to push knowledge adoption on new technology through their own means.  "We offer various courses and workshops. We also develop blockchain-based solutions. We are currently working on projects for clients alongside our products. These include integrating private blockchains to ERP and accounting systems for better fraud-resistance among other applications," he concluded.  Jobs of the Future Africa cannot let the fourth industrial revolution pass it like its predecessors. The advancement of internet technology ensures us that we can jump on the bandwagon, through public, private, or a combination of both, to grow local industries.  Maseru's enthusiasm is a positive mark in the country and the continent at large. He hopes to provide private solutions to local companies, especially in the ERP landscape. His success would mean locally built solutions that speak to the market needs.  "I'd love to be able to work more with ERP solutions, specifically Odoo. Learning to program would enable me to provide a sort of end-to-end solution for enterprises, from deployment to implementation, to support and customization," he said.  "Being able to develop software allows me the opportunity to build my own software solutions for any business opportunities that I may want to pursue. It empowers me to be less reliant on service providers," he added.  Shiny new tech might only land us in the service of foreign companies, but building skills might craft a future for Africa's rapid industrialization.

When the former US president Barack Obama visited Kenya in 2015, one of his remarks that remained etched into the psyche of his audience was his pearl of wisdom on equality. “You know, we're in a sports center. Imagine if you have a team and you don't let half of the team play. That's stupid. That makes no sense,” the president quipped. He continued that, “Evidence shows that communities that give their daughters the same opportunities as their sons, they are more peaceful, they are more prosperous, they develop faster, they are more likely to succeed. That's true in America. That's true here in Kenya. It doesn’t matter.” The fight to give equality in education to girls is something that is being won, albeit slowly. The cogs of implementing laws that allow girls education access is slowly turning. More parents are being illuminated on the advantage of taking their girls to school and even to higher learning education. In the view of the benefit of society, an educated woman is one more factor in the community that can lift it out of its ills. Over the decades, educated women have broken boundaries in various fields and can perform as much as men would. From science to art and law, women have proven that they are capable of making a difference in society.  But how has the education of girls contributed to society in the last several years and why should we not relent in pushing this agenda? Changing Financial Prospects The man of the home was designated as the sole breadwinner of the family. However, tragedy would befall the family if he was incapacitated, deserted the family or died. Investing in women’s empowerment can impact the family positively. Education is the first step in lighting the staircase for girls all over the continent. Financial prospects for the family and society double if the wife also generating income on her own. Widows need not be designated to a life of poverty if they do not have financial income. Single women, yet to be married need not peg their existence to a benevolent partner. They can roll their sleeves and provide for themselves and their dependents. Not only do families need this extra and crucial financial source, but African development also depends on strengthening the position of the woman in society and financial inclusion. “Women and girls shoulder the global burden of poverty. Decades of research show that poverty deprives women of vital health, education, and socioeconomic opportunities throughout their lives. As a result, women earn less, own fewer assets, and are underrepresented in economic and political decision-making,” a research by Bill & Melinda Gates titled Women’s Digital Financial Inclusion in Africa said. “This inequality means they experience fewer benefits from economic growth and suffer more of the challenges of a life lived in poverty,” the research continues. Girls Education in Improving Health A United Nations report denoted that education for girls has been identified as one of the best solutions to reverse the trend of disease devastating large portions of sub-Saharan Africa. Health is an important aspect in developing communities. It is a global factor that determines the success of any economy. Sick individuals lead to low productivity that in turn affects economic activities.  With improved incomes come greater access to health facilities and services. Women who cannot afford a meal can rarely take care of their children and themselves. Diseases and illnesses in Africa are known causes of poverty. “Households facing health shocks may find themselves permanently impoverished due to loss of income associated with illness and the cost of access to health care,” a research paper by Health Economics Review revealed. It adds: “In the short term, households facing health shocks are forced to substitute consumer and production spending for health care. In the long term, net flows of investment in productive activities tend to decrease. In the process, there is a possibility that health shocks may lead households to poverty or make them even poorer in the near future.” This cycle of poverty can be broken by adequate and relevant education for all, especially girls. A continent’s fortunes can be turned around for the better if we have a well-functioning working class. Women in Turning the Wheels of Education A woman who knows the benefits of education and how it opens other possibilities will be burdened to pass the buck to the next generation. As nurtures and caregivers, women have the heart to see others, especially their children, surpass them in having better lives. In his speech to Kenyans, the former president of the US Barack Obama reiterated this point. He said: “And by the way, if you educate girls -- they grow up to be moms -- and they, because they’re educated, are more likely to produce educated children. So Kenya will not succeed if it treats women and girls as second-class citizens. I want to be very clear about that.” His sentiments are supported by well-founded research. “The educational level of parents, principally of mothers, determines their sons’ and daughters’ educational achievement. The higher the level of education of the mother, the greater the chances that their daughters will have access to and remain in basic education,” a UNESCO research found out. It adds that, “Mothers continue to occupy a central place in the initial education of their sons and daughters, as transmitters of basic social skills and values and as those responsible for emotional development.” An educated woman will spur others to achieve the same heights or higher, increasing the value in her community.    Conclusion: Eliminating Obstacles to Girl’s Education All these pointers are good. However, a myriad of challenges exist and the desired community we have described cannot flourish if society does not deal with them. One of the biggest obstacles in denying education to girls is poverty. Fighting this pandemic especially in emerging markets such as Africa does improve the lives of both men and women. With more money in the pockets of guardians, girls can access education. Another key challenge is the early pregnancies. Most girls drop out of school due to early pregnancies and the majority of them are not accepted back or encouraged to finish their education. This has to change especially in Africa. Early pregnancy prevention must go toe to toe with the rehabilitation of young mothers in regards to education. Other issues that affect girl’s education that need to be critically looked at include access to sanitary towels, security for the school going girl, access to technology and infrastructure. Societies and economies are set to benefit from the empowerment of women through education from the early stages to higher education. As we approach the International Women’s day, on March 8th, we must singularly think of how we can ensure the girl-child has sufficient access to education. As the saying goes, empower a woman, she empowers a whole society.  Education Truly Changes EVERYTHING! Since 2006, Develop Africa has prioritized the education of girls. On International Women's Day and every day, we need to remind ourselves of the importance of the need to level the playing field and provide better and equal opportunities for girls.       Join us in changing everything for girls like Alice today at http://goto.gg/3935   #IWD2020 #internationalwomensday2020 #internationalwomensday  #eachforequal   

The debate on diversity still rages on even as underserved groups clamor for representation in government and in the corporate world. In the McKinsey & Company report titled Delivering through Diversity, companies are more likely to get better financial returns if they incorporated gender and ethnic diversity in the workplace. “In the original research, using 2014 diversity data, we found that companies in the top quartile for gender diversity on their executive teams were 15 percent more likely to experience above-average profitability than companies in the fourth quartile,” the report stated. It continued that, “In our expanded 2017 data set, this number rose to 21 percent and continued to be statistically significant. For ethnic and cultural diversity, the 2014 finding was a 35 percent likelihood of outperformance, comparable to the 2017 finding of a 33 percent likelihood of outperformance on EBIT margin; both were also statistically significant.” However, it is more likely that a company can achieve diversity in both gender and ethnic realms if its management also reflects talent from different backgrounds. When individuals from under-represented groups see themselves in leadership, whether in governance or in the corporate world, they feel part and parcel of the society.  This is important and helps to break image stereotypes, particularly among kids and youths. Every community has different individuals living among them. These individuals add value to the community in different ways. The differences might be tribe, race, gender, religion, and various disabilities. Depending on the geographic location, the importance of diversity might be varied. Why is it Important? As the world moves forward in technology and advancement, there are dangers that a number of social groups might be left behind because they are a minority and nobody represents their interests. Even as companies tap the same pool of talent for the workforce, many untapped talents and skills waste away due to reasons that are not even attached to their skills. For example, women have been disadvantaged while harboring skills and talents that could benefit different industries. Disabled persons might not get opportunities to achieve their dream because of prejudice against them. Employers would assume that they could not complete tasks that might not need their physical strength.  It is not only important for the minorities to be included in the workforce, but it is beneficial for the whole society when we tap quality talent regardless of where they reside. That is why inclusion and diversity in the workplace are important. “More diverse companies, we believe, are better able to win top talent and improve their customer orientation, employee satisfaction, and decision making, and all that leads to a virtuous cycle of increasing returns,” a report from McKinsey & Company, on a 2015 report titled, Why Diversity Matters, read.   Diversity in Leadership Even as the world speaks about diversity in the workplace, the conversation should go higher to the leadership of communities and organizations. There is no reason why CEOs, Team Leaders, Managing Directors, Politicians should not represent the diversity that they lead.  But it shouldn’t be representation to fulfill a criterion but inclusion even in the decision making in companies. A report by the Institute of Economic Affairs titled Diversity Management and Pluralism in Kenya’s Major Private Sector Firms (PDF) details the advantages of having a diverse management team. “The changing demographics in workforce composition in Kenya not only increases the amount of diversity that organizations need to manage but also affects business operations, productivity, balance sheets and, inevitably, the overall economic well-being of the country,” the report says. It added that “For private sector organizations operating in Kenya to not simply continue being effective but in fact enhance their effectiveness and productivity in a global economy, their top leadership and management should leverage on the diversity of their employees.” The IEA pushes for the idea of pluralism which goes beyond viewing diversity as a mere numerical representation of certain groups, to deeper interaction and genuine engagement between diverse groups, resulting in greater understanding and appreciation of the existing differences in a group. “The private sector should move beyond merely creating diverse workplaces, to ensuring pluralism,” it added. Diversity in leadership places value on individuals from diverse backgrounds, not for the sake of achieving a patterned look, but says, “you are up to the task” even to the highest offices. The ripple effect of having diverse representation in leadership is immense. Young girls can be inspired that they are up to the task in any industry vertical; the disabled will know there are no boundaries they can’t overcome; people from different races and religions will know they are valued in society. Diversity in leadership only begets more diversity in the society and everyone feels included and represented.   How to Achieve Diversity in Leadership “The lack of women in senior positions is an issue that starts at tertiary-level educational institutions which find fewer women applying to study technology-related subjects and even earlier at school,” Sylvia Mulinge the Chief Customer Officer at Safaricom, largest East African telecom said In an article appearing in the Business Daily (Business Daily on March 25th, 2019). “In the latest Sustainable Business Report, Safaricom reported that it had 32 percent women in senior management. Our target is to make this a 50-50 ratio by 2020,” she added. This was to be achieved by ensuring diversity in the tertiary and training institutions. Senior or leadership positions will not be handed over to people, simply because they are less represented. It will go hand in hand with the advantages they offer the organization or company. Skill in this matter is of utmost importance. Women, the disabled, and minority groups cannot lurch on to these positions if they are not qualified to run them. In retrospect, governments need to re-look at the tertiary institutions and ensure they not only give quality training but they admit students from different backgrounds. Only then could we have professionals and potential managers being churned into the economy. Having an organizational policy to improve diversity could help in attaining representation in organizations. The report from IEA supports this: “Organizational leadership and top management in the private sector are, for the most part, responsible for the success of diversity policies and strategies and the promotion of pluralism in the workplace by developing diversity policies and initiatives, and ensuring that policies developed are incorporated into each aspect of the organization’s functions and mission.” “They also have the responsibility of supporting employees in learning how to effectively appreciate, interact with, and manage people in a diverse workplace. There is a need for greater awareness of the benefits of diverse and pluralistic workplaces, given the accruing benefits, not only to organizations in the sector but the nation at large,” it stated.     ========= About Me: I am the founder of Develop Africa, a 501c3 nonprofit organization - headquarters in Tennesse, USA. We are strategically empowering lives in Africa by providing educational opportunities and resources. We strengthen self-reliance so that individuals, families, and communities can create positive change in their own lives. How We Can Help: If you or your company/organization is looking for ways to make a difference in Africa, please don't hesitate to connect with me / message me.

What did I do on #BlackFriday, the day after #ThanksGiving? I did not do any shopping online or in-store.  Allow me to go back a bit to explain and join the dots... On Wednesday, I received an urgent request from a friend and the head of a partner organization. She explained that she is flying out to Africa next week. She asked if we could send some pencils and crayons for a school where we had shared copies of the Pencil Project Book. As I watched a video clip from the school on Wednesday, my heart went out to the kids. Their faces were full of potential. I realized afresh that my decision of how I spent 2 hours on #BlackFriday would make a difference in providing them with vital educational tools. I decided to make time to go in, pack and ship out a box. So on Friday, I spent a couple of hours taking inventory of a box of supplies received from Cassidy (see photo below). Cassidy organized a school supply drive in one of her classes and sent the supplies to Develop Africa. Cassidy is in school ... and one of the many exceptional people who send boxes of school and office supplies to Develop Africa each year. Cassidy’s box was received at the office on Tuesday. I packed the supplies into a large box, printed a shipping label and dropped the box off at my local #Fedex store. Cassidy’s supplies, along with other supplies previously received, will be in use in a classroom in Africa in 2 to 3 weeks.  I have so much to be thankful for.  Many people known and unknown made a difference in my life. I am #thankful for the opportunity to give back to the lives of the kids in Africa who will receive these school supplies.       How are you giving back to people who do not know and will never meet you?  

Isata is a sixteen and a half years old young lady from Sierra Leone. Like many of her peers, she comes from a poor homestead. Isata’s father abandoned them when she was young and only her mother fends for her and her five siblings. They live in a slum dwelling and she sells charcoal for a living. Isata used to sell charcoal alongside her mother, who also did not finish her education. Their economic situation did not allow her to send her children to school. Instead, the children helped at home by fetching water, cooking, and helping clean the house. Janet, a member of Develop Africa’s board, noticed Isata’s plight. "One day Isata and her mother went to sell charcoal in my compound. At age eleven years, Isata had not started school. Upon inquiry I found out that she was not going to school because her mother could not afford her school fees,” she narrated. “I asked the mother to enroll Isata in school with the assurance of sponsorship. I enrolled Isata in the Develop Africa sponsorship project," Janet said. Through this scholarship, Isata has been able to attend school for the past eight years. She has been working hard at school would like to be a nurse when she grows up. Develop Africa is confident that Isata will be a future nurse thanks to generous donors that help support Develop Africa's sponsorship program.     This program provides educational assistance in the form of scholarships to bright but needy students. Solar lights help the students can study at night. Mosquito nets help ensure the children are safe from malaria. Poverty and literacy have an inverse relationship if poverty is high, literacy is low. In sub-Saharan Africa, there are 76 literate women for 100 adult literate men (Atilola, 2015; Beegle et al., 2016). Indigenous people have lower literacy rates than foreigners because of inadequate access to formal schooling. (John, 2018). African countries need to come to the conclusion that a key element in fighting poverty is the provision of affordable and high-quality education. This will result in high skilled labor for the development of the continent’s economy.  Most drop-outs end up working in the informal school where there is minimal to no application of reading and writing abilities. In most African countries conventional measures of literacy have yielded higher values than direct testing of literacy. Conventional testing includes the use of national censuses to ask household members if they are literate or not while the direct testing method includes testing of reading and writing skills (Thompson 2015; Zimmerman and Howie 2016).    The Problem with Education in Africa There is a drive-in most democracies to expand early childhood care and education. Currently, most countries in sub-Saharan Africa failed to achieve universal primary education by 2015. In addition, the achievement of universal primary education involves a drive to promote gender equality and empower women. Most African countries aimed at eliminating gender disparity by 2005 and no later than 2015 but have failed to achieve it (Prah, 2017). There is an inadequate positive drive in girls’ enrollment in primary (Smith-Greenaway, 2015). The children from disenfranchised homes are more likely to be excluded. The enrollment is considerably higher for urban children than those living in rural areas (Lucas et al., 2014). The progress in sub-Saharan countries with very low indicators has shown that school fees charged in most schools are a barrier to school enrollment. Immigration has also impacted literacy negatively. Most immigrants are refugees running from war-torn countries into mildly stable economies where they increase the burden of illiteracy (Smith, 2015). This includes refugee camps like Dadaab and Kakuma in the Republic of Kenya. The residents of rural settings also have lower literacy levels than their counterparts in urban settings. Approximately 44% of rural residents have access to education compared to 72% of urban dwellers. This has also been influenced mostly by cultural practices such as child marriages (Nguyen et al., 2014).   Solving the Literacy Challenge in Africa According to UNESCO’s 1978 definition of functional literacy, i.e. relevant application of cognitive skills of reading and writing, most African economies still lag behind in this respect. Countries such as Kenya which introduced free primary education did not envision the application of the gained skills. The recommendation as per the goals set out by UNESCO would be to promote the acquisition of universal quality basic education for girls and boys with an emphasis on the empowerment of girl children predicated on social-cultural bias against female education in most African communities. The reduction of school fees for high school and tertiary education would allow more access to education for rural dwellers and immigrants. There should also be an emphasis on the health and nutrition of the population to allow the young to focus on education and acquisition of the necessary literacy skills. There should also be partnerships with the private sector and national coordination to enhance youth and adult literacy programs in most sub-Saharan countries. There is a need for the development of a good school curriculum with emphasis on the acquisition of relevant and applicable skills in the job market with a focus on innovation and technological revolution (Serpell, 2014). The world is currently in a technological revolution and innovation as opposed to blind rote learning will be important in positioning Africa for the next horizon (Mnkeni-Saurombe, 2015).   Focused, Ongoing Initiatives are Building a New, Stronger and Skilled African Population The role of Develop Africa is to help stimulate development in Africa. To stimulate development, literacy skills are vital. Literacy is a right enshrined in most constitutions in African democracies. It is the foundation for higher learning (Abubakar, 2015). Literacy has deep self and communal benefits. It aids in the decrease in poverty in African states that have embraced literacy for all (Easton, 2014). It is a right that is inaccessible to approximately 771 million adults and has been neglected on policy agendas (Welch and Glennie, 2016). With such focused initiatives, girls like Isata will not only have access to education but will be the building pillars of Africa’s industrialization. Isata started school in class one at the Saint Thomas Municipal School in 2009. She was always among the top ten pupils in the class. Isata has graduated from Junior Secondary School (JSS) at a well-known school in Freetown. Isata and her mother are very grateful to Develop Africa and its donors whose sponsorship has made it possible for her to go to school. Isata is working hard in her new school to achieve her goals. Today, 9 years later, Isata’s dream of becoming a nurse is alive and well. Isata’s future is colorful and bright. We are thankful for the opportunity to help her achieve her dream. We are excited about the future role that she will play, helping to meet the need for qualified nurses, in post Ebola Sierra Leone.   Join us in providing scholarships and a brighter future for girls like Isata.     References 1.     Abubakar, H. A. (2015). Entrepreneurship development and financial literacy in Africa. World Journal of Entrepreneurship, Management and Sustainable Development, 11(4), 281-294. 2.     Easton, P. (2014). Sustaining literacy in Africa: Developing a literate environment. UNESCO. 3.     Welch, T., & Glennie, J. (2016). OER contributing to early literacy in Africa: Evidence from Saide’s African Storybook. 4.     Abu-Fadil, M., Torrent, J., & Grizzle, A. (Eds.). (2016). Opportunities for media and information literacy in the Middle East and North Africa. International Clearinghouse on Children, Youth and Media at Nordicom, University of Gothenburg. 5.     Abrami, P. C., Wade, C. A., Lysenko, L., Marsh, J., & Gioko, A. (2016). Using educational technology to develop early literacy skills in Sub-Saharan Africa. Education and Information Technologies, 21(4), 945-964. 6.     Prah, K. K. (2017). Language, Literacy, and Knowledge Production in Africa. Literacies and Language Education, 121-132. 7.     Smith-Greenaway, E. (2015). Are literacy skills associated with young adults' health in Africa? Evidence from Malawi. Social Science & Medicine, 127, 124-133. 8.     Lucas, A. M., McEwan, P. J., Ngware, M., & Oketch, M. (2014). Improving Early‐Grade Literacy In East Africa: Experimental Evidence From Kenya And Uganda. Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, 33(4), 950-976. 9.     Murris, K. (2016). Philosophy with children as part of the solution to the early literacy education crisis in South Africa. European Early Childhood Education Research Journal, 24(5), 652-667. 10. Kerfoot, C., & Simon-Vandenbergen, A. M. (2015). Language in epistemic access: mobilising multilingualism and literacy development for more equitable education in South Africa. 11. Anyanwu, R., Le Grange, L., & Beets, P. (2015). Climate change science: the literacy of geography teachers in the Western Cape Province, South Africa. South African Journal of Education, 35(3). 12. Lyons, A., & Kass-Hanna, J. (2018). Financial Inclusion, Financial Literacy and Economically Vulnerable Populations in the Middle East and North Africa. 13. John, P. (2018). Language Teaching and Literacy Learning in Tanzania Primary Education: A Critical Review. Papers in Education and Development, (35). 14. Atilola, O. (2015). Level of community mental health literacy in sub-Saharan Africa: current studies are limited in number, scope, spread, and cognizance of cultural nuances. Nordic journal of psychiatry, 69 (2), 93-101. 15. Nguyen, M. C., Wodon, Q., & Wodon, Q. (2014). Impact of child marriage on literacy and education attainment in Africa. UNICEF and UNESCO Statistics. Washington, DC: The World Bank. Retrieved from http://allinschool. org/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/OOSC-2014-QW-Child-Marriage-final. pdf. 16. Beegle, K., Christiaensen, L., Dabalen, A., & Gaddis, I. (2016). Poverty in a rising Africa. The World Bank. 17. Thompson, R. D. (2015). Philosophy for children in a foundation phase literacy classroom in South Africa: multimodal representations of knowledge (Doctoral dissertation). 18. Smith-Greenaway, E. (2015). Educational attainment and adult literacy: A descriptive account of 31 Sub-Saharan Africa countries. Demographic research, 33, 1015. 19. Zimmerman, L., & Howie, S. J. (2016). Moving from a discourse of access to reading instructional materials to the management and utilisation thereof: Progress in International Reading Literacy Study at Grade 4 in South Africa. Mousaion, 34(2), 31-53. 20. Anyanwu, R., & Grange, L. L. (2017). The influence of teacher variables on climate change science literacy of Geography teachers in the Western Cape, South Africa. International Research in Geographical and Environmental Education, 26(3), 193-206. 21. Obikili, N. (2015). The Impact of the Slave Trade on Literacy in West Africa: Evidence from the Colonial Era. Journal of African Economies, 25(1), 1-27. 22. Serpell, R. (2014). Promotion of Literacy in Sub-Saharan Africa: goals and prospects of CAPOLSA at the University of Zambia. Human Technology: An Interdisciplinary Journal on Humans in ICT Environments. 23. Mnkeni-Saurombe, N. (2015). Information literacy: A cornerstone for open distance learning at the University of South Africa. Journal of Librarianship and Information Science, 47(2), 156-165.

Equality based on gender and female empowerment is a core development objective. This can be considered as a fundamental factor in the realization of human rights and effective and sustainable development outcomes.  According to the World Bank (World Bank, 2015), gender equality is achieved when both men and women enjoy the same socio-economic rights and opportunities and have equal access to education, health care, decent work, and representation in political and economic decision-making processes. Gender equality can be effectively achieved through empowerment, comprising three broad categories, namely: Agency: which describes the ability to make decisions regardless of existing power relations;  Resources: including health, education, and physical assets—are the channels through which agency is exercised; and  Achievements: such as economic opportunities and improved socio-political status—the outcomes of agency  History shows us no society can develop successfully without providing balanced opportunities and resources for both genders so that they can shape their own lives and contribute to their families, communities, countries, and the world as a whole. Although gender gaps have narrowed over the past two decades, substantial inequalities remain across many sectors, particularly in low-income and conflict-affected countries and among disadvantaged groups. Much progress has been made to lessen gender gaps and advance the status of women and girls over the past three decades. Yet, substantial gender gaps remain across sectors in all countries around the world which show a significant number of the same in economically underdeveloped and developing countries and regions of the world.   Africa, the second largest continent in our world, has a population of around 1.284 Billion of which more than 45% is assumed to be females. This percentage is a significant amount when it comes to the distribution of for example education only two-thirds of girls complete their primary school, four in ten complete lower secondary schools in Sub-Saharan Africa according to the global study on the cost of not educating girls released in 2018. This as compared to that of the boys is very small which shows the unequal distribution of education based on gender.  Additional statistics shed further light on the disparities. According to UNESCO, in Ethiopia, only 47% of females aged 15-24 years old are literate, compared to 63% of males the same age (UNESCO, 2016). According to a report by USAID, although the primary school enrollment rate of girls in Ethiopia has climbed from 21 to 91% in the last three decades, the majority are unable to transition to secondary and tertiary school due to distance, personal security, and economic challenges (USAID, 2019). As girls grow older, academic participation becomes increasingly difficult as it takes time away from essential income-generating activities. Only 35% of undergraduate university students are female and 5% drop out in the first year. At the same time, female-led instruction at the university level is extremely low at only 11%. This can also be seen in government positions in which women are very few, especially in top-ranking positions. For instance, if we see the average percentage of women parliamentarians in Sub-Saharan Africa, it is around 23.6% of the total parliamentarians as of November 2018 which is virtually half of that of the Nordic countries which are 42.3% (UNDP, 2015) It is a generally known fact that gender inequality has costs for individuals and societies and which pass through generations. For instance, women’s economic dependency on men reduces their ability to exercise safer sex options to protect themselves against unwanted pregnancies and HIV infection. When women cannot participate in the labor force, are prevented by law or practice from entering certain occupations, or are excluded from management positions, GDP growth can suffer by as much as 2%. In contrast to this fact, gender equality not only benefits individual males and females but whole sectors and societies. For instance, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) estimates in its 2011 yearly report that if women had the same access to productive resources as men, they could increase yields on their farms by 20% to 30%, which in turn could raise total agricultural output in developing countries by 2.5% to 4% and reduce the number of hungry people in the world by 12% to 17%, up to 150 million people (FAO, 2011). In Ethiopia, 80 % of the population resides in rural areas and women provide the majority of the agricultural labor in these communities. However, their contributions often go largely unrecognized and their fathers or husbands often restrict access to resources and community participation. Worse, one in three women experience physical, emotional, or sexual violence, 65% of women have experienced female genital mutilation, and only half of the girls who enroll in primary schools ever make it to grade 5 according to a report by USAID. Although this is the case, tremendous work is underway to curve this trend in Africa with stakeholders working in this area. Although these initiatives are hindering back due to systemic gender barriers fueled by deeply held and persistent stereotypes, they are bringing improvements in many sectors of female empowerment. For example, if we take the case of the involvement of women in politics and government positions, Ethiopia and Rwanda gave 50% of their ministerial positions to females which shows significant improvement as compared to the previous scenario in which females are highly underrepresented in government positions. A similar scenario of an encouraging improvement in empowering women can be seen in Uganda through a multidimensional policy intervention attempting to jump-start adolescent women’s empowerment in Uganda, a context in which 60% of the population is aged below twenty. The intervention aims to relax human capital constraints that adolescent girls face by simultaneously providing them with vocational training and information on sex, reproduction, and marriage.  Accomplishment reports show that four years’ post-intervention, adolescent girls in treated communities show a 48% increase over baseline levels of women more likely to engage in income-generating activities, an impact almost entirely driven by their greater engagement in self-employment. Teen pregnancy falls by a third, and early entry into marriage/cohabitation also falls rapidly. In line with this the share of girls reporting sex against their will drops by close to a third and aspired ages at which to marry and start childbearing move forward. The results highlight the potential of a multidimensional program that provides skills transfers as a viable and cost-effective policy intervention to improve the economic and social empowerment of adolescent girls.   Another exemplary success case in Africa is the Yaajeende Nutritional Value Chain Project, which started in 2010 in Senegal, which was a five-year USAID Feed the Future project to counter deeply entrenched cultural biases against women owning land (Women Deliver, 2016). The project was extended due to its successful holistic model, making it a seven-year program. The project works to harmonize legal regulations and customary practices by engaging local leaders to identify culturally-appropriate means for women to gain land ownership. Local leaders identified degraded land that was thought unprofitable and allowed women’s groups — as opposed to individual women — to own the land as a collective. The Yaajeende project works with the women’s groups to make the land profitable using an integrated approach that incorporates nutrition, economic empowerment, and environmental sustainability. Now, men in the local communities recognize the value of this reclaimed land, as well as the importance of women’s collectives to have ownership and decision-making power over it.  Looking ahead: The issue of gender awareness is critical as can be seen from the few scenarios seen above and tons of other evidence in the area. The successful equal participation of men and women in political, economic, and other sectors contributes to the development of a family, society, country, and the world in general. Hence in order to realize this, all stakeholders should exert their effort in order to promote women in the aforementioned and other related sectors. In order to be successful this process of empowering women and ensuring gender equality should be backed by the governments of African nations.  All government leadership positions should be open to women also and there should be fair competition for placement, if not some favoring women. All stakeholders should work through different economic programs in order to relieve the economic and resource dependency of women which is seen as a basic source of women empowerment problems in Africa. In addition, girls should be educated and some incentives should be given to them in order to tackle the problem of women's illiteracy in societies in Africa which should also be backed by cultural change initiatives that discourage girls’ education.       References World Bank, 2012,  World Development Report 2012: Gender Equality and Development UNESCO, 2017, Literacy Rates Continue to Rise from One Generation to the Next  USAID, 2019, Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment  FAO, 2011, Closing the gender gap in agriculture  Women Deliver, 2016, The Yaajeende Nutritional Value Chain Project in Senegal   How You Can Help: Join Develop Africa in providing increased opportunities for girls by making a donation     Connect with me: Twitter: www.twitter.com/sylrenner Facebook: www.fb.com/sylsocent

One of the primary focuses of business is to generate wealth.  From the idea conception to research, to raising start-up capital, implementing and realizing a business vision, and constructing and establishing a successful business is not easy. At the center of such ventures are self-driven risk-takers who often sacrifice big time, energy, and resources to reach their objectives. These courageous dreamers go to lengths to find solutions, create and innovate ways to do things faster, more efficiently, and with enormous dividends for end users.  And after years of hard work and confronting daunting challenges and variables which they cannot control by themselves, it brings great joy and blessing for the entrepreneur when business profits and cash flow become stable and constant.  At this point, it is almost impossible for a business owner not to take credit, not to rejoice, and not do everything to secure and jealously guard the gains. At this same point, to speak of giving or 'dishing' out funds to contribute to various charitable, governmental, or civic causes may constitute a provocation. Such requests encounter resistance from the business owner. A perceptive or wise entrepreneur will not lose sight of the role that these sectors of society play in guaranteeing their business's very security. A business thrives where there are relatively constant guarantees of social stability.  The political environment of a country can make or break a business. Therefore the successful entrepreneur must read the political climate and atmosphere in which business functions. Investment contracts and projections are often directly linked to the very environment within which a business operates. In many countries, invitations from Government and Non Governmental organizations to attend fund-raising activities can exert considerable pressure on the entrepreneur's mood and psyche. These public and private events may act as an opportunity for social visibility for a business person but may sometimes come at a higher price than the business can afford. So, like or not, the sheer social-pressure of a cause to spend on 'charitable' objectives as the contributors and catalysts to social change in a Nation, no matter how good, may not be as welcome to Business people, as the Public images may suggest, in TV News Journals, Documentaries or Magazines. And yet, despite any feelings that many Patrons of profitable organizations may harbor about making contributions to society, Governments do their best to entice contributions from the moguls and wealth gurus through Tax "Incentives" and Public Tenders, for example.  In some countries, where the gap between the rich and the poor is extreme, you may hear empty threats by the poor about a coming day of rebellion and revenge against the rich. They often appear to be waiting for an opportune time to vent their frustrations upon the wealthy.   The poor may hold the view that the rich: have exploited them and their resources.  are wicked do not want to share their wealth.  are selfish and do not care about others  are too proud and arrogant.  And so the dissatisfied poor are waiting for the day when their frustrations would peak during unsettled periods of political elections, or in times of local 'ethnic' or 'religious' tensions, to ignite civil unrest and even civil war. During these seasons of civil upheaval, the poor and despised amongst the nations will make a beeline for the homes or businesses of the perceived privileged wealthy (in the business community or the Government). The economically productive segments of society become easy prey to the sizeable low-income labor force in times of social unrest. A wise business person should read the times and seasons of politics and accurately interpret the frustrations of the majority poor and do something about their situation.  When one listens carefully, one can hear the cries of the youth, for example. Their constant appeals for a good education, employment, healthy and hygienic living conditions, and general recognition and respect are pretty much the same in nearly every country. The businessperson must understand and relate to what is going on at the bottom of the social ladder.  The Wealthy Businessman must not merely be sensitive to what is going on within society's rank and file. Still, he must be ready to do something about the people's plight and appropriately address some of the felt needs. They must not bribe the police to intimidate and silence the voices of protest. No, they must ensure that organizations, who are usually community-centric and supplement Government efforts, like Charitable Health and Community Help Organizations, are adequately provided to help reduce social pressure and frustrations in a controlled manner. The relationship between Government, Non-Governmental, and Business Sectors of a National Economy must be so fair and balanced that the Social Temperature is stable and well-controlled. The business community or persons should consider peace as a business resource or asset. And peace comes at a price. Check this out: https://youtu.be/Dx2j9-xN54E In a particular country, an extremely wealthy director of a cell phone company was approached and challenged to build standard and affordable homes for young couples. He was encouraged to consider that his company could act as a social radiator to cool down the palpable tension that was brewing hot in the country. His response flat out was that this was not his company's responsibility. He could not perceive the connection between his company's stability and prosperity and the social stability of his business environment. His eyes were focused upon his financial graphs' upward arrows and not upon the same community's conditions, which could guarantee a continued stable atmosphere for his business. You see, many people have seen the impact of national instability. They have seen the humiliation of businesspeople in times of rebellion. They have witnessed the destruction and bankruptcy of entire life investments in just a few minutes of conflagrations, started by mob-inspired dynamics, during social unrest. Your business can positively impact your community. And you need to continually remember that the factors that help to perpetuate your prosperity are usually that portion of society that pays returns for your investments, in blood, sweat, and many tears, to enable your business to thrive. Therefore, it is only conscionable to make efforts to target annual or periodic contributions to help guarantee a stable future atmosphere for business.  Check this out: https://youtu.be/AYnvz8_o9H0 As mentioned earlier, the beautiful thing is that your business does not necessarily have to be the one responsible for getting its hands into the down and dirty work. However, this may be laudable and highly commendable. Many other organizations have mastered the art of creating and maintaining the social satisfaction of the masses. By building excellent links and public relations with such charitable and critical institutions and entities, you may well find that your investment may last to prosper for many more years, doing profitable business in peace.   Always remember. A Good Business can be a Good Social Radiator. Business and social benefits are mutual or win-win.

Every company aspires to be known, and its brand elicits positive feelings from potential clients. This is partly what is known as brand awareness. Every enterprise wants the general public to be well informed regarding what its product does and what it stands for.  With changes in technology and how people come about information, advertising has also taken a shift. Millions of dollars have been poured into advertising to ensure that the targeted audience knows about the brand. More people recognize ads that are pushed down their throats, and these days, there are now options to skip ads.  "With the speed that crowd-sourced, social media commentary now has to influence public opinion, and with the Millennials' 'brand wash' radars better attuned than ever to fake news, greenwash, and brand spin, we can only expect consumers' expectations on purpose and shared values to rise," an article from Business Fights Poverty said.  Another way progressive companies have employed to get brand awareness is to devote their spending to community initiatives that address current challenges. These include being active in climate change initiatives, supporting small-scale traders, voicing the issues women and minority groups go through, or being part of an environmental campaign.  It is an understatement as to what positive brand awareness can emanate from championing positive social impact projects, not just for a season but also for the long haul. How can businesses change their perspective towards "Impact Marketing"? Not Just About Profits Today's consumer does not care about companies or brands that ultimately push their product to the market. The neo-consumers respond better to a brand that takes time to go beyond their purview and create meaning in today's world.  Over 90% of global consumers expect companies to do more than make a profit and operate responsibly to address social and environmental issues, a 2015 research by Cone Communications/Ebiquity Global CSR Study states.     "When it comes to purchasing with a cause in mind, consumers say they consistently seek out responsible products, but they are not necessarily following through with action. Companies can help consumers close this gap by not only giving them more opportunities to act but also through translating how their purchases can create personal impact," the study continues. A brand's survival clearly will rely on how it sits in the consumer's memory. When a business cares about the environment and does something visible in the consumers' lives, its sentiments grow in favor of the spending consumer.  Eighty-four percent of global consumers say that they try to purchase products or services that are socially or environmentally responsible whenever possible. But their thirst for these products has not yet been satiated. This presents an opportunity for companies to provide consumers with the responsible options they've been clamoring for, the Cone Communications research states.  "While it may seem counter-intuitive to not include the profit motive – after all, what will shareholders think? – the benefits are clear. Having a purpose is not about forgetting about profits; it's about changing how you think about the positive outcomes that happen when you make profits," Emotive Brands states.  It continues that emotional impact with its audience derived from meaningful outcomes the brand produces through its products, policies, procedures, and behaviors.  "The outcomes to which the purpose points are the positive impacts that are made by the brand across the personal, social, or environmental realms," it asserts. What the New Consumers Want A recent survey done by Clutch in the US stated that seventy percent (70%) of Generation Xers (ages 35-54) and 54% of millennials (ages 18-34) are likely to stop shopping at a company that supports an issue they disagree with compared to 37% of baby boomers (ages 55+)." The consumer age is becoming younger and younger. These new consumers have different needs than the previous generations. This means that brands should be aware and change their values according to the needs of the new consumers.  The Clutch survey added that "Three-fourths of people (75%) are likely to start shopping at a company that chooses to support an issue they agree with." Deloitte's research: The Deloitte Global Millennial Survey 2019 carries insights into Millennials' new demands on brands.  "Millennials' opinions about business continue to diminish. This showing is driven, in part, by growing views that businesses focus on their own agendas rather than considering wider society—76 percent agree with that sentiment—and that they have no ambition beyond wanting to make money (64 percent agree). It also is likely influenced by a continuing misalignment between millennials' priorities and what they perceived to be business's purpose," the research said.  The same research also stated that the consumer's needs are becoming diverse. This means brands have their work cut out to determine what their consumers care about in the community and respond appropriately. More people of other races and nationalities are entering the global marketplace. Diverse voices that were never heard before are growing their disposable income.  Social needs are shaping the things people buy from us. These needs keep on changing with the demographic. In-depth research is needed to understand the new consumer if a brand's name remains relevant.  World Economic Forum's report also states the changing shift with the changing population. It says that the average millennial is motivated by purpose. This might seem strange, but the inherent culture of the generation motivates the demography to donate and volunteer more, indulging in philanthropic causes and civic engagements.  Having a purpose for business that is beyond their own interest is something that pulls these new consumers to businesses.  Conclusion:  Having a vibrant business is at the heart of every entrepreneur. This means getting as many consumers to agree with what your brand stands for. However, the consumer is rapidly changing and is not interested in the profits an enterprise makes rather than how it impacts the world around it.  The above research shows that caring or not caring for these consumer issues could be detrimental to an organization's bottom line. It is no longer a choice of what a company wants to as its corporate social responsibility, but more of what the consumer wants it to do.

I have a lot to be thankful for today and every day.  One of the reasons why I am thankful is the gift of friends and mentors. Over the years, tens of people have played the role of "mentor" by encouraging me, speaking into my life, and helping to open doors of opportunity. These kind people have helped me become a better person today.   Some of them believed in me when I did not believe in myself.   Some of them saw my weakness, imperfections, and rottenness. But they took a chance on me.   They provided counsel and loved on me. They made recommendations. They encouraged me. I will forever be grateful. Today, I am standing on the shoulders of friends, mentors, and peers I would not be where I am today without these kind souls. One of the reasons why I started Develop Africa is to help do the same for others. One of the ways that we are doing this is by mentoring and counseling youths. More than ever, today's youths need us who have gone ahead to put a little love in our hearts and provide a helping word of encouragement.   Mentoring helps young people go through challenging life transitions, including dealing with stressful changes at home, critical decision-making, problem-solving, or transitioning to adulthood.   Mentoring helps young people grow and become the best version of themselves.   Mentoring programs can positively affect the lives of vulnerable kids. Kids participating in mentoring programs demonstrate better school attendance, a higher likelihood of going on to higher education, and a better attitude toward school than non-mentored kids.   Participation in mentoring programs strengthens positive social attitudes and peer relationships, and kids in mentoring relationships have more trusting relationships and better communication with their parents.   Mentoring helps mentees overcome their internal challenges by guiding how they can remain confident while setting their goals.   Mentoring offers encouragement.   Mentoring helps youths make informed decisions.   Girls mentoring is the roadmap to narrowing the gap of gender inequality.    The hope of getting there begins with asking someone who has been there.   So I am asking you today to join me in donating towards mentoring support.   Your donations will help cover transportation costs to group sessions, food, speaker honorariums, supplies, take-home gifts such as toiletries, mentee needs, counselor salaries, etc.   I hope you have a great holiday season with family and friends.   Make your Giving Tuesday or year-end donation at the following GlobalGiving link: https://www.globalgiving.org/fundraisers/mentoring-empowers   Help me spread the reach of this video by liking and sharing this.   Thanks so much   Sylvester   #mentoringmatters #mentoring #mentoringprogram #givingtuesday #givingtuesday2022 #givingback #opportunity #people #help #africa #genderequality