You have already seen ice cream corns under an umbrella. I now present to you telecentre services under an umbrella. Yes, we have wheels too for mobile.
I found this innovative model in the suburbs of Monrovia, Liberia. The owner, Robert explained to me how it works. He provides a wide range of secretarial services - typesetting, scanning, ID cards, lamination etc. I asked Robert what happens on rainy afternoon - which is often, by Monrovia weather. You see the little kiosk on the right on the photo? Well, he runs with the telecentre inside there. Good that it’s also fitted with wheels for maximum mobility. Check out the power generator in the background. It is turned on demand only.
When it rained the next day, I went back to see Robert - in the middle of the heavy pour. The second photo is what I found. The Umbrella is covering the power generator the rest is sheltered somewhere else.
Next time you think of a telecentre - you can think outside the box
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Teachers in training workshops in Liberia - I draw benefits too
On Monday, We-CARE Foundation opened two parallel teacher training workshops at St. Teresa Convent in Monrovia. The events marked Reading Liberia’s project expansion to 26 schools. The workshops will run for 5 days. On the first day, participants were introduced to choral reading and discussed techniques for teaching reading and writing using simple texts. The workshops will have a strong impact on the initial outcomes of the Reading Liberia project. Ten certified teacher trainers are facilitating the workshop with ease and confidence. They are also notably balanced by gender.
The exit cards at the end first day indicated that trainees were generally impressed. There were questions such as how to fit the ABC techniques into 45 minutes [which is the typical length of a lesson in most schools]. Trainees also asked for continued peer support.
I took away several things; established connections with the teachers and trainers and understood their respective working conditions better. There is no doubt that Reading Liberia has some amazing trainers – motivated, experienced and breeding confidence. I enjoyed talking to Florence, Mike, Johnson and Anna. It will be a huge help when we start up Reading Sierra Leone later in the year.
As a parent, I learned how to use read aloud technique and develop writers starting from simple pictures. I was reminded about the value of making voices, changing tones, making faces to bring the characters to life; the importance of reading through a story first to prepare when to build suspense or ask questions. With this, I should be able to help my two kids to become fluent readers and better writers.
so I spent time visiting schools and talking to students, teaching staff. I sought to understand the nature of challenge that Reading Liberia is faced with, where the children stand in terms of reading and writing abilities and efforts underway in the classrooms. I was pleasantly surprised that the classes I visited, mostly grades 4 & 5, had more girls than boys or equal numbers. And, the girls were very active in classroom activities. But the painful part is that the percentage of girls will drop to a mere 10% by junior high school according to Mike [who is well knowledgeable about Liberia’s education system]. And this statistic is up there among the grand injustices of our time. Don’t you agree?
If I had any doubts about the nature of the influence We-CARE has in the country, I got my answer this week. During one of our meetings, a phone rang and, on the end of the line was the Deputy Minister of Education. How did I know? I heard Mike say repeatedly “yes Minister”. When the call was done, I asked for details. The Minister had called inquiring if We-Care had any books he could buy. He had heard of the famous books and now a large donor was itching to spend some money on them! We then turned our discussion to finding the best way to respond to the Minister in light of our book production timelines. Things are looking up indeed. I am also wondering if 30,000 copies per title might be enough if USAID and the Ministry were to follow through on their interest to purchase books.
The exit cards at the end first day indicated that trainees were generally impressed. There were questions such as how to fit the ABC techniques into 45 minutes [which is the typical length of a lesson in most schools]. Trainees also asked for continued peer support.
I took away several things; established connections with the teachers and trainers and understood their respective working conditions better. There is no doubt that Reading Liberia has some amazing trainers – motivated, experienced and breeding confidence. I enjoyed talking to Florence, Mike, Johnson and Anna. It will be a huge help when we start up Reading Sierra Leone later in the year.
As a parent, I learned how to use read aloud technique and develop writers starting from simple pictures. I was reminded about the value of making voices, changing tones, making faces to bring the characters to life; the importance of reading through a story first to prepare when to build suspense or ask questions. With this, I should be able to help my two kids to become fluent readers and better writers.
so I spent time visiting schools and talking to students, teaching staff. I sought to understand the nature of challenge that Reading Liberia is faced with, where the children stand in terms of reading and writing abilities and efforts underway in the classrooms. I was pleasantly surprised that the classes I visited, mostly grades 4 & 5, had more girls than boys or equal numbers. And, the girls were very active in classroom activities. But the painful part is that the percentage of girls will drop to a mere 10% by junior high school according to Mike [who is well knowledgeable about Liberia’s education system]. And this statistic is up there among the grand injustices of our time. Don’t you agree?
If I had any doubts about the nature of the influence We-CARE has in the country, I got my answer this week. During one of our meetings, a phone rang and, on the end of the line was the Deputy Minister of Education. How did I know? I heard Mike say repeatedly “yes Minister”. When the call was done, I asked for details. The Minister had called inquiring if We-Care had any books he could buy. He had heard of the famous books and now a large donor was itching to spend some money on them! We then turned our discussion to finding the best way to respond to the Minister in light of our book production timelines. Things are looking up indeed. I am also wondering if 30,000 copies per title might be enough if USAID and the Ministry were to follow through on their interest to purchase books.
Teacher training workshops in Liberia - I grab something fo
We-CARE Foundation opened two parallel workshops at St. Teresa Convent in Monrovia, Monday 25 October 2010. Participants were introduced to choral reading and discussed techniques for teaching reading and writing using simple texts. The workshops have a strong influence of the first products of Reading Liberia project. Ten certified teacher trainers are facilitating the workshop with extreme comfort. They are also notably balanced by gender.
The exit cards at the end first day indicated that trainees were generally impressed. There were questions such as how to fit the ABC techniques into 45 minutes [which is the typical length of a lesson in most schools]. Trainees also asked for continued peer support.
I took away several things; established connections with the teachers and trainers and understood their respective working conditions better. There is no doubt that Reading Liberia has some amazing trainers – motivated, experienced and breeding confidence. I enjoyed talking to Florence, Mike, Johnson and Anna.
As a parent, I learned how to use read aloud technique and develop writers starting from simple pictures. I was reminded about the value of making voices, changing tones, making faces to bring the characters to life; the importance of reading through a story first to prepare when to build suspense or ask questions. With this, I should be able to help my two kids to become fluent readers and better writers.
so I spent time visiting schools and talking to students, teaching staff. I sought to understand the nature of challenge that Reading Liberia is faced with, where the children stand in terms of reading and writing abilities and efforts underway in the classrooms. I was pleasantly surprised that the classes I visited, mostly grades 4 & 5, had more girls than boys or equal numbers. And, the girls were very active in classroom activities. But the painful part is that the percentage of girls will drop to a mere 10% by junior high school according to Mike [who is well knowledgeable about Liberia’s education system]. And this statistic is up there among the grand injustices of our time. Don’t you agree?
If I had any doubts about the nature of the influence We-CARE has in the country, I got my answer this week. During one of our meetings, a phone rang and, on the end of the line was the Deputy Minister of Education. How did I know? I heard Mike say repeatedly “yes Minister”. When the call was done, I asked for details. The Minister had called inquiring if We-Care had any books he could buy. He had heard of the famous books and now a large donor was itching to spend some money on them! We then turned our discussion to finding the best way to respond to the Minister in light of our book production timelines. Things are looking up indeed. I am also wondering if 30,000 copies per title might be enough if USAID and the Ministry were to follow through on their interest to purchase books.
Teacher trining workshops in Liberia - I grab a t
We-CARE Foundation opened two parallel workshops at St. Teresa Convent in Monrovia, Monday 25 October 2010. Participants were introduced to choral reading and discussed techniques for teaching reading and writing using simple texts. The workshops have a strong influence of the first products of Reading Liberia project. Ten certified teacher trainers are facilitating the workshop with extreme comfort. They are also notably balanced by gender.
The exit cards at the end first day indicated that trainees were generally impressed. There were questions such as how to fit the ABC techniques into 45 minutes [which is the typical length of a lesson in most schools]. Trainees also asked for continued peer support.
I took away several things; established connections with the teachers and trainers and understood their respective working conditions better. There is no doubt that Reading Liberia has some amazing trainers – motivated, experienced and breeding confidence. I enjoyed talking to Florence, Mike, Johnson and Anna.
As a parent, I learned how to use read aloud technique and develop writers starting from simple pictures. I was reminded about the value of making voices, changing tones, making faces to bring the characters to life; the importance of reading through a story first to prepare when to build suspense or ask questions. With this, I should be able to help my two kids to become fluent readers and better writers.
so I spent time visiting schools and talking to students, teaching staff. I sought to understand the nature of challenge that Reading Liberia is faced with, where the children stand in terms of reading and writing abilities and efforts underway in the classrooms. I was pleasantly surprised that the classes I visited, mostly grades 4 & 5, had more girls than boys or equal numbers. And, the girls were very active in classroom activities. But the painful part is that the percentage of girls will drop to a mere 10% by junior high school according to Mike [who is well knowledgeable about Liberia’s education system]. And this statistic is up there among the grand injustices of our time. Don’t you agree?
If I had any doubts about the nature of the influence We-CARE has in the country, I got my answer this week. During one of our meetings, a phone rang and, on the end of the line was the Deputy Minister of Education. How did I know? I heard Mike say repeatedly “yes Minister”. When the call was done, I asked for details. The Minister had called inquiring if We-Care had any books he could buy. He had heard of the famous books and now a large donor was itching to spend some money on them! We then turned our discussion to finding the best way to respond to the Minister in light of our book production timelines. Things are looking up indeed. I am also wondering if 30,000 copies per title might be enough if USAID and the Ministry were to follow through on their interest to purchase books.
Monday, October 25, 2010
Learning 36,000 Feet Above Sea Level
Dr. Haddad Wadi of TechKnowLogia fame once described qualities of successful individuals in the 21 century to include the “ability to learn to learn” -literally looking at every experience to learn and grow.
I did just that on my flight from Brussels to Monrovia. I sat beside a non-assuming gentleman and a couple of minutes later we were discussing Liberia’s development strategies and the importance of education. Roland, who works with the Ministry of Finance, retold his moving story of survival during the civil war and of the challenges facing a nation with a huge youth group that must learn new skills to survive a new kind of enemy – poverty.
Roland told me that Liberia’s new Poverty Reduction Strategic Plan sits on four pillars namely; peace and national security, economic revitalization, governance and the rule of the law, and infrastructure and basic services. Education is a key priority and another university has been built. I was impressed by Roland’s mastery of the national vision, issues and challenges when he’s barely in his 30s. He narrated his experience on a visit to Rwanda after genocide and how what he saw in that country strengthened his commitment to diversity and support for Liberia’s development.
From the airport, I engaged my youthful driver to debate what matters to Liberian youth. Without any hesitation, Morrison retorted; education and jobs. He spent the best part of our 1-hour drive to my hotel painting a picture of what his life would have been like if he had gone far enough with his education. With four kids, Morrison reiterated that supporting his kids to get quality education is the biggest motivation for his work.
see: http://www.codecan.org/blog/
I did just that on my flight from Brussels to Monrovia. I sat beside a non-assuming gentleman and a couple of minutes later we were discussing Liberia’s development strategies and the importance of education. Roland, who works with the Ministry of Finance, retold his moving story of survival during the civil war and of the challenges facing a nation with a huge youth group that must learn new skills to survive a new kind of enemy – poverty.
Roland told me that Liberia’s new Poverty Reduction Strategic Plan sits on four pillars namely; peace and national security, economic revitalization, governance and the rule of the law, and infrastructure and basic services. Education is a key priority and another university has been built. I was impressed by Roland’s mastery of the national vision, issues and challenges when he’s barely in his 30s. He narrated his experience on a visit to Rwanda after genocide and how what he saw in that country strengthened his commitment to diversity and support for Liberia’s development.
From the airport, I engaged my youthful driver to debate what matters to Liberian youth. Without any hesitation, Morrison retorted; education and jobs. He spent the best part of our 1-hour drive to my hotel painting a picture of what his life would have been like if he had gone far enough with his education. With four kids, Morrison reiterated that supporting his kids to get quality education is the biggest motivation for his work.
see: http://www.codecan.org/blog/
Saturday, October 23, 2010
Making flying a more pleasant experience
If you are like me, air travel is very boring and stressful experience. Which is why, any attempt at lightening the cabin is welcome. Thankfully, the humour is slowly getting into it.
On an Air Canada flight from London (UK) to Ottawa a flight attendant while urging us to stay seated ... until the usual “plane on the gate” stuff, reminded us that “...through the airlines industry history, no passengers has got to the gate ahead of the plane”. And we all bust into a bi laugh. Nice way hit the gate.
But checkout Kalula airlines humour-packed flight experience. Next time I am in South Africa, I plan to get on board for a piece of stand-up comedy in the air. Read along and while you are at it, share with us your moments of humour in any transit - plane, train, taxi or bus.
Here we go:
On a Kulula flight, (there is no assigned seating, you sit where you want)passengers were apparently having a hard time choosing, when a
flight attendant announced, "People, people we're not picking out furniture here, find a seat and get in it!"
---o0o---
On another flight with a very "senior" flight attendant crew, the pilot said, "Ladies and gentlemen, we've reached cruising altitude and will be
turning down the cabin lights. This is for your comfort and to enhance the appearance of your flight attendants."
----o0o---
On landing, the stewardess said, "Please be sure to take all of your belongings. If you're going to leave anything, please make sure it's
something we'd like to have."
----o0o---
"There may be 50 ways to leave your lover, but there are only 4 ways out of this airplane."
---o0o---
"Thank you for flying Kulula. We hope you enjoyed giving us the business as much as we enjoyed taking you for a ride."
---o0o---
As the plane landed and was coming to a stop at Durban Airport , a lone voice came over the loudspeaker: "Whoa, big fella. WHOA!"
---o0o---
After a particularly rough landing during thunderstorms in the Karoo, a flight attendant on a flight announced, "Please take care when opening
the overhead compartments because, after a landing like that, sure as hell everything has shifted."
---o0o---
From a Kulula employee: " Welcome aboard Kulula 271 to Port Elizabeth. To operate your seat belt, insert the metal tab into the buckle, and
pull tight. It works just like every other seat belt; and, if you don't know how to operate one, ou probably shouldn't be out in public
unsupervised."
---o0o---
"In the event of a sudden loss of cabin pressure, masks will descend from the ceiling. Stop screaming, grab the mask, and pull it over your
face. If you have a small child travelling with you, secure your mask before assisting with theirs. If you are travelling with more than one
small child, pick your favourite."
---o0o---
Weather at our destination is 50 degrees with some broken clouds, but we'll try to have them fixed before we arrive. Thank you, and remember,
nobody loves you, or your money, more than Kulula Airlines."
----o0o---
"Your seats cushions can be used for flotation; and in the event of an emergency water landing, please paddle to shore and take them with our
compliments."
---o0o---
"As you exit the plane, make sure to gather all of your belongings. Anything left behind will be distributed evenly among the flight
attendants. Please do not leave children or spouses.."
---o0o---
And from the pilot during his welcome message: "Kulula Airlines is pleased to announce that we have some of the best flight attendants in
the industry. Unfortunately, none of them are on this flight!"
---o0o---
On Kulula flight 255 just after a very hard landing in Cape Town, the flight attendant came on the intercom and said, "That was quite a bump
and I know what y'all are thinking. I'm here to tell you it wasn't the airline's fault, it wasn't the pilot's fault, it wasn't the flight
attendant's fault. It was the asphalt."
---o0o---
On a Kulula flight into Cape Town on a particularly windy and bumpy day, during the final approach the Captain really had to fight
it. After an extremely hard landing, the Flight Attendant said, "Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to The Mother City. Please remain in your seats
with your seat belts fastened while the Captain taxis what's left of our airplane to the gate!"
---o0o---
Another flight attendant's comment on a less than perfect landing: "We ask you to please remain seated as Captain Kangaroo bounces us to
the terminal."
---o0o---
An airline pilot wrote that on this particular flight he had hammered his ship into the runway really hard. The airline had a policy which
required the first officer to stand at the door while the passengers exited, smile, and give them a "Thanks for flying our airline." He said
that, in light of his bad landing, he had a hard time looking the passengers in the eye, thinking that someone would have a smart comment.
Finally everyone had gotten off except for a little old lady walking with a cane. She said, "Sir, do you mind if I ask you a question?"
"Why, no Ma'am," said the pilot. "What is it?" The little old lady said, "Did we land, or were we shot down?"
---o0o---
After a real crusher of a landing in Johannesburg , the attendant came on with, "Ladies and Gentlemen, please remain in your seats until Captain
Crash and the Crew have brought the aircraft to a screeching halt against the gate. And, once the tire smoke has cleared and the warning
bells are silenced, we will open the door and you can pick your way through the wreckage to the terminal.."
http://www.southafrica.to/transport/Airlines/Kulula-flights/Kulula-humour.php5
On an Air Canada flight from London (UK) to Ottawa a flight attendant while urging us to stay seated ... until the usual “plane on the gate” stuff, reminded us that “...through the airlines industry history, no passengers has got to the gate ahead of the plane”. And we all bust into a bi laugh. Nice way hit the gate.
But checkout Kalula airlines humour-packed flight experience. Next time I am in South Africa, I plan to get on board for a piece of stand-up comedy in the air. Read along and while you are at it, share with us your moments of humour in any transit - plane, train, taxi or bus.
Here we go:
On a Kulula flight, (there is no assigned seating, you sit where you want)passengers were apparently having a hard time choosing, when a
flight attendant announced, "People, people we're not picking out furniture here, find a seat and get in it!"
---o0o---
On another flight with a very "senior" flight attendant crew, the pilot said, "Ladies and gentlemen, we've reached cruising altitude and will be
turning down the cabin lights. This is for your comfort and to enhance the appearance of your flight attendants."
----o0o---
On landing, the stewardess said, "Please be sure to take all of your belongings. If you're going to leave anything, please make sure it's
something we'd like to have."
----o0o---
"There may be 50 ways to leave your lover, but there are only 4 ways out of this airplane."
---o0o---
"Thank you for flying Kulula. We hope you enjoyed giving us the business as much as we enjoyed taking you for a ride."
---o0o---
As the plane landed and was coming to a stop at Durban Airport , a lone voice came over the loudspeaker: "Whoa, big fella. WHOA!"
---o0o---
After a particularly rough landing during thunderstorms in the Karoo, a flight attendant on a flight announced, "Please take care when opening
the overhead compartments because, after a landing like that, sure as hell everything has shifted."
---o0o---
From a Kulula employee: " Welcome aboard Kulula 271 to Port Elizabeth. To operate your seat belt, insert the metal tab into the buckle, and
pull tight. It works just like every other seat belt; and, if you don't know how to operate one, ou probably shouldn't be out in public
unsupervised."
---o0o---
"In the event of a sudden loss of cabin pressure, masks will descend from the ceiling. Stop screaming, grab the mask, and pull it over your
face. If you have a small child travelling with you, secure your mask before assisting with theirs. If you are travelling with more than one
small child, pick your favourite."
---o0o---
Weather at our destination is 50 degrees with some broken clouds, but we'll try to have them fixed before we arrive. Thank you, and remember,
nobody loves you, or your money, more than Kulula Airlines."
----o0o---
"Your seats cushions can be used for flotation; and in the event of an emergency water landing, please paddle to shore and take them with our
compliments."
---o0o---
"As you exit the plane, make sure to gather all of your belongings. Anything left behind will be distributed evenly among the flight
attendants. Please do not leave children or spouses.."
---o0o---
And from the pilot during his welcome message: "Kulula Airlines is pleased to announce that we have some of the best flight attendants in
the industry. Unfortunately, none of them are on this flight!"
---o0o---
On Kulula flight 255 just after a very hard landing in Cape Town, the flight attendant came on the intercom and said, "That was quite a bump
and I know what y'all are thinking. I'm here to tell you it wasn't the airline's fault, it wasn't the pilot's fault, it wasn't the flight
attendant's fault. It was the asphalt."
---o0o---
On a Kulula flight into Cape Town on a particularly windy and bumpy day, during the final approach the Captain really had to fight
it. After an extremely hard landing, the Flight Attendant said, "Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to The Mother City. Please remain in your seats
with your seat belts fastened while the Captain taxis what's left of our airplane to the gate!"
---o0o---
Another flight attendant's comment on a less than perfect landing: "We ask you to please remain seated as Captain Kangaroo bounces us to
the terminal."
---o0o---
An airline pilot wrote that on this particular flight he had hammered his ship into the runway really hard. The airline had a policy which
required the first officer to stand at the door while the passengers exited, smile, and give them a "Thanks for flying our airline." He said
that, in light of his bad landing, he had a hard time looking the passengers in the eye, thinking that someone would have a smart comment.
Finally everyone had gotten off except for a little old lady walking with a cane. She said, "Sir, do you mind if I ask you a question?"
"Why, no Ma'am," said the pilot. "What is it?" The little old lady said, "Did we land, or were we shot down?"
---o0o---
After a real crusher of a landing in Johannesburg , the attendant came on with, "Ladies and Gentlemen, please remain in your seats until Captain
Crash and the Crew have brought the aircraft to a screeching halt against the gate. And, once the tire smoke has cleared and the warning
bells are silenced, we will open the door and you can pick your way through the wreckage to the terminal.."
http://www.southafrica.to/transport/Airlines/Kulula-flights/Kulula-humour.php5
Maiden flight to Liberia... back to Ghana
I am right now full of optimism and indescribable expectation. It’s my maiden flight to Liberia and a return to Ghana. I have done my best to prepare for this trip - like connecting with our local partners in both countries and reviewing their current affairs.
First part of the trip is to Liberia. After reading various articles about them, I am already inspired by the Liberians and their love for education. Take for instance David Klooster, who, in one of his dispatches writes: …”visitors are struck by the numerous signs [on billboards] around the capital city [Monrovia] urging progress i.e: “Our youth need good education and jobs, not weapons,”
I will be working with CODE’s local partner We Care Foundation, a respected NGO. The foundation is to reading promotion what pandas are to bamboo.
In Ghana, I will work with our partner Ghana Book Trust, will visit schools and meet the best of Ghanaian writers. I will also represent CODE at the first Burt Award ceremony. The award recognizes excellence in young adult fiction by Africa for Africans. We hope the Burt Award can grow into a Pan-African initiative. And how befitting that the second of such ceremonies is in Ghana? You see, Ghana has been at the centre of key Pan African initiatives going back several decades.
You see, Ghana has been at the centre of key Pan African initiatives going back several decades. In the same breath, one could mention the key role Ghanians played in creating the wave of African Independence that swept across the continent, the tremendous influence of Kwame Nkuruma as one of the fathers of Africa’s self determination, and Ghana’s recent leadership in drafting the Accra Declaration.
Do you see grounds for my optimism? And the best part is that I will share my thoughts and reflections with you along the way.
First part of the trip is to Liberia. After reading various articles about them, I am already inspired by the Liberians and their love for education. Take for instance David Klooster, who, in one of his dispatches writes: …”visitors are struck by the numerous signs [on billboards] around the capital city [Monrovia] urging progress i.e: “Our youth need good education and jobs, not weapons,”
I will be working with CODE’s local partner We Care Foundation, a respected NGO. The foundation is to reading promotion what pandas are to bamboo.
In Ghana, I will work with our partner Ghana Book Trust, will visit schools and meet the best of Ghanaian writers. I will also represent CODE at the first Burt Award ceremony. The award recognizes excellence in young adult fiction by Africa for Africans. We hope the Burt Award can grow into a Pan-African initiative. And how befitting that the second of such ceremonies is in Ghana? You see, Ghana has been at the centre of key Pan African initiatives going back several decades.
You see, Ghana has been at the centre of key Pan African initiatives going back several decades. In the same breath, one could mention the key role Ghanians played in creating the wave of African Independence that swept across the continent, the tremendous influence of Kwame Nkuruma as one of the fathers of Africa’s self determination, and Ghana’s recent leadership in drafting the Accra Declaration.
Do you see grounds for my optimism? And the best part is that I will share my thoughts and reflections with you along the way.
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