Leveraging on Youth Entrepreneurship to Solve Africa's Development Challenges
This Meeting's Highlights
Program: Leveraging on Youth Entrepreneurship to Solve Africa's Development ChallengesSpeaker: Abiodun Dominic OdunugaMeeting for the week of March 7th to March 13th, 2016* * *
Is this your first time to visit us? If so, welcome to our meeting!Each Monday our week’s meeting is posted early in the morning, U.S. Pacific Time. These meetings are designed so that you can read and watch what we post anytime during the week. The entire meeting takes about 45 minutes to complete, with the video conference recording of the program being the bulk of the time.Note that you can easily read this meeting with your favorite device, so feel free to take our meeting on the go with you; read it while on public transit, waiting in line for coffee, or even at the park! Please also make sure to complete the attendance form at the bottom and leave a comment. Enjoy!
Note for Visiting Rotarians seeking makeup credit: We only provide makeup credit for those attending our current week’s meeting! If you scroll to the very bottom of this page and the attendance survey is already closed, this you will not receive makeup credit for this meeting!
Greetings
Message from our Club President
Welcome, everyone!You've found your way to the Rotary eClub of Silicon Valley, and we greet you with open arms!
Arms Wide open by mafleen from Flickr (CC by-nc-sa 2.0)
The statue in the picture above is of "The Angel of the North," in Harlow Green, Gateshead, in England. The sculptor, Sir Antony Gormley, angled the arms forward slightly to give a sense of embrace, in part, to "grasp hold of the future, expressing our transition from the industrial to the information age." (Gateshead Council website)Apparently the site is one over which miners wrestled with the earth for its coal for two centuries. Given the nature of such work, perhaps an angel is the perfect symbol of hope for the future. I suspect our history and our hope are best intertwined to allow us to see new possibilities based on both cultivated strengths and an awareness of the sacrifices of others.May this be a week when we greet others with warmth, be willing to explore important questions of our history, and work to craft something new that gives hope to others.Rotarian guests, we ask that you consider contributing something - whatever for you is the regular cost of a Rotary meal, perhaps - to the efforts of our club. Please choose one of the options below:
Send via our secure Happy Dollars form.
Send via PayPal.
Send via Google Wallet* to: ecsv.rotary@gmail.com
Send via check to the mailing address, below.
* To pay via Google Wallet, you'll need to log in to your account to donate.Those of you who prefer a more traditional approach can mail a check made out to the Rotary eClub of Silicon Valley to our treasurer: ℅ Allen Thompson, 13500 Cascade Ct., Bakersfield CA 93314.Non-Rotarian guests, there is no need for a donation from you. As we see it, your job is to simply enjoy what you read and watch, though at the end we do ask that you let us know you were here and also leave a comment letting us know what you think. This club is loaded with folks who love sharing ideas, and we look forward to your sharing yours!
Yours in service,
Rushton Hurley,
Club President
Rotary eClub of Silicon Valley
The Power of Images
They say a picture says a thousand words. Every week we try to bring you a picture that we think will inspire you a thousand times.
This week's photo is from our Club Camera Czar Keith Marsh:Keith says, "Last week, I went to Yosemite with a friend to photograph the "Fire Fall." This is not the actual fire fall that they used to push off Glacier Point. That event was ended by the Park in 1968. This one is created when Horse Tail Falls near El Capitan is illuminated by the setting sun at a narrow angle during the month of February. The reflection of the sun off the granite cliff makes the falls glow with a bright orange color for about 10 minutes. We got there at 10:15 am and found that photographers were already setting up to save a good spot. We did the same, and eight hours later there were 300 photographers within a 100 yard radius of our location on the banks of the Merced River. At few seconds after this photo was taken, the sun dipped behind a cloud and the event was over. I think it was worth the wait."[Well worth it, Keith - amazing!]
The Power of Ideas
A good idea is one that catches our attention, and then catches our breath. We try to share quotes that live up to that each week in this section.
A speaker, telling of a trip to the Grand Canyon, told someone who lived near it how impressed he was to see such beauty. "It's a hole in the ground," replied the local.Each day, we pass by things that carry immense beauty. Whether we notice may be a function of what's in our head and heart, much more than what lies around us.How glorious a greeting the sun gives the mountains!- John Muir
More Than Just the Moon
We haven't used many trailers for our thought-provoking videos, but were there more like this, we probably would.
What's your moonshot?
Our Events & Projects
This section of our meeting is where you learn about both recent and upcoming events and projects our club is leading or supporting. We welcome guests to all of our events and service projects listed here.
Upcoming Events:
Did you miss our past events? Come join us for any of our upcoming events! Guests, you are welcome too!All times are in Pacific Time (San Francisco, CA, USA time!)Tech Mini-Workshop for Rotarians on Wednesday, Mar 16th, 7:00p:
We are providing an opportunity for Rotarians around the district to learn about various technologies which are free and useful to clubs. The gig will be at the Krause Center for Innovation at Foothill College, and you can learn about the details on this page.
If you can help with setup and coordination (tech skills welcome, but not required!), please email Rushton (president@siliconvalleyrotary.com) to let him know you can be there.
Oakland Ed Fund’s Run for Schools 5K on Sunday, Mar 20th, 6:30a:
Join us in raising money for schools in Oakland by running or walking a brisk 5K with the Oakland Public Education Fund team at the Oakland Running Festival. The Ed Fund team tent will have tea for early morning runners, sunglasses, T-shirts, a photo booth, and other giveaways throughout the day. There will also be lots of great booths to explore, showcasing food vendors and other local businesses. We’ll be meeting at 6:30am on March 20th at Snow Park on Harrison and 19th Street. The race will then start at 7:30am. If you have any questions or you’re interested in going, please let Andrew know at service@siliconvalleyrotary.com.
Nightlife Exploration at the California Science Academy on Thursday, Mar 24th, 7p:
Come to San Francisco with our club to explore the amazing exhibits and experiences at the planetarium during the evening for California Science Academy’s Nightlife program! We will be meeting at the California Science Academy in San Francisco on Thursday, March 24th, at 7p for an exciting night of science adventures! Open to all members and guests. Tickets will be available for purchase. More details coming in early March.
Justin’s House Chili Cookoff on Sunday, Apr 24th, 9:30a-3p:
Do you think you have the best chili in town? We’re putting together a team (maximum 4 people) for the first Justin’s House Chili Cookoff, to be held Sunday, April 24th, in Santa Clara, from 9:30 to 3:00. We’re helping raise money for a great cause during a fun day of ‘competition’ and food. We could win, too! If you’re interested, find out more about the Justin’s House Chili Cookoff day by clicking here. To learn how you can get involved with our club's team, please email Gene Tognetti (gene.tognetti@gmail.com).
The World of Rotary
We are part of the Rotary International family, with over 1.2 million members in over 180 countries around the world. Rotary’s reach is global. Here we tell our members and guests about Rotary’s initiatives and events.
Perhaps you remember our meeting from the week of February 22nd, when President-nominee Stephen Zhou greeted us with a message about Rotary's 111th birthday. It turns out that dozens of clubs from around the world sent images to Rotary to show how they celebrated the birthday, and you can see an impressive slideshow of them on Rotary's blog at this page.
For Members: Service Survey
It's time to share what we've been up to! Every month, we encourage our members to let us know what they have been doing in the realm of service to others, whether it affects one or many. Our hope is to inspire an awareness of possibilities for service that allow each of us to be ready when opportunities to serve arise.
Over the last month:
Nate Gildart planned a music fundraiser for TELL (suicide prevention lifeline / mental health care services) for January 30th in Osaka, Japan. He also set up for and played a show to support TELL in Kobe. The purpose was to raise funds and awareness of TELL, and educate people on mental health care available in Japan generally, and the Kansai region specifically.
François Tessier worked on registering the Ayubowan Foundation by gathering a potential board of directors. He also spent many hours preparing for the next trip to Sri Lanka to reinforce the clinic's relationship with governmental institutions and get official recognition of the Ayubowan Foundation.
Paul Mosso helped jump-start a neighbor’s car during the last five minutes of the Super Bowl, but reports that he made it back to see the last two minutes of the game! "Go Broncos!" he says.
Rushton Hurley counseled teachers at several educational technology events.
John Lozano organized a training for adult leaders for the CISV (Children's International Summer Village) program. These adults will lead youth to summer and winter programs to international destinations (Finland, Norway, Brazil) and domestic locations (Philadelphia). The training included activities developing leadership, cultural understanding, risk management, human rights issues, and sustainable development. He organized a second event for CISV to discuss how sustainable development impacts our community. The discussion format event gathered youth and adults from the organization to explore how to make an impact in the community.
Tzviatko Chiderov participated in Design2Transform, a one-day event in Nairobi which aims to help Community Based Organizations (CBOs) improve their online presence. My team was matched with the Touch-Life Children Centre in Korogocho (one of the largest slums in Nairobi). In just a few hours, we built a new website for the center, created a new logo for them, and worked on strengthening their social media presence. The best part for me, however, was a few days later, when we went to visit the center and formally deliver our product. We got to see the place in person, and meet and interact with the kids and administrators.
Yvonne Kwan spent a weekend with Interactors from District 5170 at their Presidents' Winter Retreat in Camp Campbell (Boulder Creek, CA).
Martin Fox spent time doing some pro-bono advising/mentoring for nonprofit and NGOs.
Mitty Chang volunteered as a chaperone / camp counselor for Interact District 5170's annual Presidents' Winter Retreat at Camp Campbell in Boulder Creek, California, one weekend from Friday night to late afternoon Sunday. The leadership camp was designed to inspire and train the incoming Interact club presidents-elect.
Richard Knaggs was moved to pay a child's outstanding debt at a store.
Gene Tognetti joined Yvonne, Catherine Liu, and Andrew Taw to do some bird habitat restoration in San Francisco.
What have you been up to? Whatever it is, please let us know using the survey, below.
The Rotary eClub of Silicon Valley Service Survey
Happy Dollars
Happy Dollars is the segment of our meeting where anyone can choose to make a voluntary donation to tell us a short story about something good that has happened to them this past week. Maybe someone paid for your coffee, gave you a ride somewhere, or you got a job promotion.
This is your chance to brag about it or give a shout-out to someone deserving, while giving some of that karma back to our community.
Here are happy dollars from last week:
From member Linda Tangren ($20):Had a great time at our last event in Livermore's Rentzlaff Winery. Looking forward to Academy of Science event.
From member Chris Cochrane ($20):Celebrating a successful trip to Hollywood with Toronto's mayor, John Tory. Deals finalized by the Mayor and his team (which includes myself ) result in over one billion dollars in film/TV series and related productions will be created / spent in Toronto (Hollywood North) in 2016. Happy to help my friend of 30+ years, Mayor John Tory, bring more work to the 25,000 people employed in my hometown,Toronto, in the film/TV production business.
From member Brian Liddicoat ($15):Yesterday, I did my first ever oral argument at the appellate level, arguing a case on appeal before a 3-judge panel at the California Court of Appeals in San Jose. It's a major step up from regular trial work and very gratifying for a litigator like me. Won't find out for a few months if we won or lost, but I can't wait to do it again.
From member Nate Gildart ($10):"As International Women's Day approaches!"
Member Allen Thompson ($5):Celebrating the liquid from heaven that fell on California this week. Clean air smells so good!m
Member Linda Tangren ($25):In memory of Mark Dohn's Mother.
Member Rushton Hurley ($25):In honor of Mark Dohn's mother and family, and of our club for the many messages of condolences and encouragement sent to him.
Members, there may have been a moment in the last week that stood out to you in some powerful way. If so, we hope you'll toss a dollar or two into the club's do-good-jar and tell us about it. The donation will help others, and the shared story will allow us to get to know you better!
Birthdays
We have no birthdays for the remainder of March, but are looking ahead to celebrating those of members Chris Cochrane and Gene Tognetti in April!
The Tidbit
Every week, we feature a new tech tidbit or life hack to make something easier, more convenient, or more fun!
Here's a quick Tidbit that shows you how to go directly to a website from an icon on your desktop. Enjoy!
A Little Humor
We think a chuckle and a smile is a good way to spend a moment. Well, friends, here are our attempts to bring on both!
Last week was the beginning of the MLB spring training games. In their honor, we offer up this perspective on the future:I wondered why the baseball was getting bigger. Then it hit me.Ouch.
Selected Comments from Last Week
What from our reports, videos, stories, and speaker stands out for you this week? We hope you'll tell us, as the feedback from our members and guests gives us nice insights on how we are growing as a club!Last week's meeting with the program from Karen Fasimpaur ("Choosing a Different Life: Slowing Down off the Grid") prompted insights and reflections, and here are some of what was shared:
From member Martin Fox (Utah, USA):"Love the screencastify - thanks Nate. Karen, I love your version of off-the-grid and it is a dream of mine. I also grew up in a very small farming/ranching town and I miss that closeness. You've inspired me to start turning the off-the-grid dream into a long-term strategy."
From member Nate Gildart (Tokyo, Japan):"What a tremendous learning experience you've had! Amazing story! I'm inspired by your sense of environmental stewardship and concern for social justice. The kind of life-shift you've made would scare most of us."
From member Brian Liddicoat (California, USA):"I loved living vicariously through Karen's experience. I would never do this myself, but what a great treat to see the world through Karen's eyes."
From member Gene Tognetti (California, USA):"Wow Karen - what an undertaking! Seems like a wonderful place to have landed as you fulfill your dreams! On another note, thanks so much to Andrew for organizing the bird habitat restoration day at Golden Gate Park - very fulfilling to me to help out up there! Now that several days have elapsed, I'm almost not sore anymore, too! And, still looking for a couple chili cook off team members to support Justin's House on 4/24! Please email me if interested."
From member Manju Ramachandran (California, USA):"Karen, Thanks for sharing! The pics are beautiful, but I'm a city girl at heart. Thanks for the updates on the upcoming mixers and gatherings - the chili cook off sounds super interesting. I'll have to see what I can do with my calendaring!"
From member Tzviatko Chiderov (Nairobi, Kenya):"This is a fascinating story on so many levels. Wow. Thanks for sharing this with us Karen. It's really cool that you're doing so much on your own, with so little prior experience. And being a lot more connected to nature - that beautiful view, weather, sun, plants, animals - sounds amazing."
From member-to-be Linda Diekman (Illinois, USA):"Karen, I loved your story and the photos from your home are breathtaking. One (of many) comments you made really has made me think... that of being in a city and we're so far removed from the process of "living" - be it our food, trash disposal, etc. We are so far removed, and we take so much for granted. In turn, we waste more and exploit more resources. Thanks for starting me thinking."[Karen's reply: Truly that is one of the things about rural living that I didn't really foresee. It has been a gift to be more connected with the natural environment.]
From member Keith Marsh (California, USA):"Karen, this is an amazing adventure. Not sure I could do it. I grew up in Idaho, but moved to California to be closer to all of the things you no longer have access to (culture, sports, shopping, restaurants, etc.). Your home looks wonderful and you have a good attitude."[Karen's reply: Thanks. There are city things I miss (culture, diversity) but we do love it here! I think that a dramatic change once in a while is a good thing!]
From member Andrew Taw (California, USA):"What a great story and wonderful pictures Karen! I love the way you've learned along the way, I've just started a potted garden in my patio and was struck by how great your plants look! What kind of challenges do you face growing plants in the desert?"[Karen's reply: Thanks, Andrew! I had never gardened before I lived here, so I don't have much to compare to, but I have found it very gratifying, though also challenging. Of course, we have to irrigate here, and our biggest challenge is pests -- bugs, birds (we have had quail eat our garlic plants to the ground), javelinas (wild pigs who seem to love watermelon especially), and even turtles (I learned to put socks over things like cucumbers and eggplants to keep them from being devoured). Through this I've learned to plant a lot and to try not to get too attached to any one thing. Some things won't work out, but other things will. They say that gardening/farming is an act of faith. :) For anyone just getting started with gardening, I've found herbs and lettuce/greens to be easy things to begin with.]
From member Rushton Hurley (California, USA):"Karen, that's a wonderful story; thanks again for the presentation! For our club, I see the image from Keith, the story and pictures from Andrew, the Tidbit from Nate, all the formatting help from Mitty, and the comments, Happy Dollars donations, and the Service Survey submissions from the members, and I'm reminded yet again of how cool this club is - thanks, everyone!"
From member Francois Tessier (Quebec, Canada):"Only one word to describe this presentation: WONDERFUL!"
The Program
Each week we bring stories from people near and far, giving us a sense of where innovative, entrepreneurial, and/or educational possibilities may await.
This week, we hear from Abiodun Dominic Odunuga, a Nigerian living in Paris working to help shine a light on the potential of Africa's youth.
According to Abiodun, Africa remains the most youthful continent in the world, with 70 percent of its people under the age of 30. This youth bulge has become a burden on the continent because their inherent potential has remained untapped. According to some, this demography constitutes a time bomb of instability, but it can become Africa's next great resource if harnessed properly.One way to tap this resource is through unleashing creative genius through entrepreneurial education, and today, you will hear of Abiodun's vision for making this happen.Abiodun Dominic Odunuga is a development practitioner and social entrepreneur. His consulting and delegation experience derives from various projects and forums alongside organizations such as the United Nations (UN), Africa Development Bank (AfDB), and The Commonwealth on themes related to education, environment and sustainability.As a social entrepreneur, he has co-founded four different social enterprises focusing on Africa as it relates with Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), IT empowerment, and youth development, all aimed at reducing youth unemployment. He holds a Masters in Development Practice (MDP) degree from Sciences Po, Paris. He is passionate about sustainable development, with a core concentration on Africa.Members and guests, welcome Abiodun!
Links:Learn more about Asejere's efforts via their website, and follow Abiodun on Twitter. You can find great detail about the near future of Africa through the reports of African Economic Outlook on their website.
Upcoming Programs
Now that you have completed watching this week’s program and meeting, here are some programs that you can expect in the coming weeks.
Week of Mar 14th: Brewster Kahle - Universal Access to All Knowledge
Week of Mar 21st: Ian Pollock - Storytelling and Platform Innovations in Design Education
You’re Almost Done! One last thing: The Attendance Survey..
Thanks for reading and watching this week’s meeting. You have two last things to do before you’re done. First, we have a very short attendance survey below for you to fill out to record your attendance.
Visiting Rotarians, this is how you can get an email receipt to pass along to your club’s secretary as proof that you’ve attended our meeting if you need it for makeups.
Non-Rotarian Guests, we would love to see who is dropping by our meetings! This part is optional for you though.
More importantly, for all members and guests — we strongly recommend and ask that you leave a comment below in our comments area below. Tell us how you enjoyed the program. Ask this week’s speaker any questions you might have. Or just stop by and say hello and tell us where you’re from!
