Education – Go Africa News

28 Oct

African Union Expo 2016, Education, New York City Metro Area News

Services Profile: We are proud to welcome CUNY Citizenship Now! to the African Union Expo 2016

October 28, 2016
By Dr. Dennie Beach

We welcome CUNY Citizenship Now! to the Expo. CUNY Citizenship Now to the Expo will be providing confidential immigration law services and educational materials for small businesses and individuals for attendees at the event.

Visit AfricanUnionExpo.org for more information for Merchants and general Attendees or email info@africanunionexpo.com or phone 646-502-9778 Ext. 8002

CUNY Citizenship Now and Our Mission:

CUNY Citizenship Now! provides free, high quality, and confidential immigration law services to help individuals and families on their path to U.S. citizenship. Our attorneys and paralegals offer one-on-one consultations to assess participants’ eligibility for legal benefits and assist them in applying when qualified. We also coordinate community, educational, and volunteer initiatives to help expand opportunities for New York City’s immigrant population. on FaceBook @citizenshipnow

CUNY Citizenship Now! will be providing information and assistance for individuals during the Street Festival. For more information Contact

CARLOS SIERRA

Community Liaison

CUNY Citizenship Now!

New York State

Office for New Americans at CUNYXPRESS

CUNY Citizenship Now!
CUNY Express Immigration Center
5030 Broadway, Suite 615
New York, NY 10034
212-568-4692

16 Oct

East Africa news, Economic news, Education, General Information, Go Africa Coffee, New York City Metro Area News, Southern Africa news, U.S News, West Africa news

The types of Coffee Beans used in Go Africa®Coffee (Q&A)

October 16, 2016
By Dr. Dennie Beach

You can buy Go Africa Coffee at: www.amazon.com/shops/GoAfricaStore

The types of Coffee Beans used in Go Africa_®Coffee

We have received so many inquiries regarding which beans are used in Go Africa Coffee. Since we source are beans from the following countries: (Ethiopia, Kenya, Côte d’Ivoire, Tanzania, Cameroon, and Democratic Republic of the Congo) the short answer is it depends.

We have asked our resident Coffeelogist and Chief Roaster, Losseni Kone, to help provide an answer.

Coffee aficionados of all levels have without a doubt heard the words “Robusta” or “Arabica” However, Coffee is much more complex than just type of Coffee.

Below is a list of Countries and Types of beans sourced from the country for Go Africa Coffee. Keep in mind a Country can source more than one type of bean:

Ethiopia: (Arabica, Sadamo (Yirgachefe and Guji))
Kenya: (Bourbon, French Mission)
Côte d’Ivoire (Arabica, Gros Idente, Excelsea, Kouilou and Petit Indenize)
Tanzania: (Robusta)
Cameroon: (Arabica)
Democratic Republic of the Congo: (Robusta)

Below is a detail description of each type and subclass of Coffee Beans grown in the various regions of Africa.

Not all of Africa’s coffee production is limited to Robusta, however. Here’s an overview of the different coffee varieties that are grown frequently across the African continent (keep in mind that while some of these coffees are considered single origin in nature, most like Arabica and Robusta are not):

Sadamo:A type of Arabica (which you can find elsewhere in this list) grown as a single origin coffee source in Sadamo, Ethiopia, this variety of coffee is a small bean that produces a rich, spicy and almost chocolatey flavor. Individual types of Ethiopian Sadamo include Yirgachefe and Guji, both known to be of high quality. Another type of Ethiopian coffee is Harar, which is another Arabica but not grown in Sadamo. More on these types of coffees later.
Liberica:Coffea Liberica is a species separate from Arabica as well. It typically grows in the western areas of Africa – most notably Liberia. Liberica’s taste is closer to Robusta than that of Arabica, and the beans grow on trees that can grow as high as 10 to 15 meters tall.
Gros Idente: Similar to Liberica, Gros Idente coffee is grown in large trees in the western areas of Africa, such as the Ivory Coast.
Arabica:Yes, for all of our talk about Robusta growing in Africa, it can be easy to forget that Arabica coffee is also grown in Africa. Typically, the environments suited for growing Arabica in Africa are in mountainous areas – places like the mainland of the Ivory Coast and Cameroon are typical spots where Arabica coffee is grown.
Excelsea:Like Liberica coffee, these trees grow high. In fact, they are also grown in the Ivory Coast which contributes to much of their similarities to Liberica and Gros Idente coffees.
Robusta:Much of the African environment is suitable for Robusta growing, typically the lower-lying areas in the equatorial regions of Africa. Robusta is grown just about everywhere from Madagascar to Gabon – even if Vietnam is a leading producer of Robusta coffee, its African roots are hard to shake off.
Kouilou and Petit Indenize:Grown inland along the Ivory Coast, these are actually smaller coffee trees.
Bourbon:This type of coffee was already mentioned before, but its influence in African coffee is difficult to understate. Bourbon was planted in Reunion – an island off the eastern coast of Madagascar – in the 18th century. The type of coffee then mutated, producing Bourbon coffee, which was then moved around the world and cultivated in different areas.
French Mission:This refers to a type of Bourbon coffee that was planted by French missionaries in areas of East Africa around the turn of the 20th century. A Kenyan type of this coffee known as K7 is also grown in Africa.
Mayaguez:Another subset of Bourbon coffee, this coffee is grown in Rwanda. Typically, the Bourbon coffees planted in Africa are spread throughout the eastern portions of the continent and Madagascar.

Considering the degree of geographical, environmental, and climate differences on a large continent like Africa, it’s not surprising that so many different varieties of coffee are produced there to some degree – including the world-popular Arabica.

Coffee aficionados of all levels have without a doubt heard the words “Robusta” or “Arabica”. If you aren’t familiar with either, these two terms describe the two different species of beans grown commercially. They are the same in that when harvested, roasted and eventually brewed to become that magical thing we call coffee. However, that’s where the similarities end. Robusta and Arabica differ when it comes to taste, growing environments and quality:

Taste

Robusta has a neutral to harsh taste range and is often likened to having an “oatmeal-like” taste. When unroasted, the smell of Robusta beans is described as raw-peanutty.

Arabicas, on the other hand, have a very wide taste range (depending on its varietal). The range differs from sweet-soft to sharp-tangy. When unroasted, Arabica beans smell like blueberries. Their roasted smell is described as perfumey with notes of fruit and sugar tones.

Growing environments

Robusta coffee beans come from a resilient plant that is able to be grown in low altitudes of 200-800 meters. Robusta beans aren’t very susceptible to damage done by pests. Additionally, they produce more finished product per acre and require fairly low production costs.

Contrariwise, Arabica coffee beans are fragile and must grow in cool, subtropical climates. Arabica beans also need a lot of moisture, rich soil, shade and sun. Because of their fragility, Arabica beans are vulnerable to attack from various pests and can be damaged by cold temperatures or poor handling. This type of bean also needs to be grown at a higher elevation (600-2000 meters).

Which bean is better?

No contest! If you had to choose between an Arabica bean and a Robusta bean, it’s important to always choose Arabica.

Robusta fosters use mono-cropping, the practice of growing the same plant every year in one place. It yields more space since it involves clear-cutting the forest for the crop. Because Robusta is more a resilient plant than the delicate Arabica, it can be grown in more places. Large coffee companies buy huge amounts of rainforest, clear-cut the land and plant Robusta beans. Robusta is often mixed with Arabica, allowing the coffee companies to save a pretty penny and serve you a crappy cup. Not to mention, mono-cropping, when done excessively, also erodes soil and demolishes nutrients making the soil nearly unusable.

12 May

East Africa technology news, Education, North Africa technology news, Southern Africa technology news, Technology News, West Africa technology news

SAP to train more than 150,000 youth in 30 African countries (IT News Africa)

May 12, 2016
By Dr. Dennie Beach

Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GoAfricaNetwork

SAP has revealed that it will train more than 150,000 youth in 30 African countries this year to foster digital literacy and equip the continent’s rising generation with job-relevant digital skills. SAP’s Africa Code Week 2016 will run from October 15 – 23, 2016, with thousands of free coding workshops and online trainings offered to children and youth aged 8 to 24.

SAP to train more than 150,000 youth in 30 African countries

“Today literacy should go beyond just knowing how to read and write, even beyond digital literacy- knowing how to use computers. Basic literacy for the next generation should be about coding,’ commented Jean Philbert Nsengimana, The Minister of Youth and ICT of the government of Rwanda.

The Africa Code Week 2016 kickoff coincides with The World Economic Forum (WEF) on Africa in Kigali, Rwanda, on May 10 – 12*.

The World Economic Forum estimates that Africa’s growth will be just below 5% this year as the global economy continues to suffer. The continent has the fastest growing digital consumer market and the largest working-age population in the world. At the same time, African companies are scrambling to fill positions with employees who possess the right digital skills. Only one percent of African children leave school with basic coding skills.

Africa Code Week 2016 workshops for younger aged groups (8-11, 12-17) will be based on Scratch, a learning platform developed by the MIT Media Lab to simplify coding. Students will learn coding basics and program their own animations, quizzes, and games. Ages 18 and 24 will be taught Introduction to Web Technologies (HTML, CSS, Javascript, PHP, SQL), a workshop that will give them a basic understanding of typical website architecture while teaching them how to create a fully operational, mobile-friendly website.

Africa Code Week 2016 will be organized by SAP and hundreds of partners spanning local African governments, NPOs, NGOs, educational institutions and businesses including the Cape Town Science Centre, the Galway Education Centre, Google, AMPION, the King Baudouin Foundation, and ATOS.

“Digital literacy is the currency of the digital economy. Africa Code Week is a powerful way to spread digital literacy across the continent and contribute towards building the skilled workforce needed for Africa’s sustainable growth. SAP is proud to spearhead such a meaningful initiative in partnership with more than 100 local and international organizations from the public and private sector,” commented Brett Parker, Managing Director SAP Africa.

The initiative will run in Algeria, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Cameroon, Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Egypt, Ethiopia, The Gambia, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Critical to the success of the program is the training of thousands of teachers, parents and educators across the 30 African countries. Between the kick-off today and the start of Africa Code Week 2016 in October, SAP will conduct thousands of train-the-trainer sessions to help prepare them for the initiative. In addition, access to OpenSAP online courses enables further scale and impact.

2015 hugely surpassed expected participation Africa Code Week – the largest digital literacy initiative ever organized on the African continent – was launched by SAP and partners in 2015 with the goal of training 20,000 young people across 17 African countries. That goal was surpassed with an impressive 89,000 youth introduced to coding by 1,500 trained trainers across 17 countries in 10 days. Africa Code Week received a C4F award (category: ‘Education of the Future’) from the World Communications Forum in Davos on March 8, 2016.

Africa Code Week, addressing primary and secondary students, is part of SAP’s effort to bridge the digital skills gap and drive sustainable growth in Africa. The company invests in a full cycle of skills support for young people in Africa, including SAP Skills for Africa which gives recent university graduates the business and IT skills needed to be ready to enter the workforce.

Read more at: http://www.itnewsafrica.com/2016/05/sap-to-train-more-than-150000-youth-in-30-african-countries/

01 May

Education, The Africa Union

Coventry University unveils £1 million scholarship offer to African students (IT News Africa)

May 1, 2016
By Dr. Dennie Beach

Coventry University has unveiled a £500,000 scholarship offer for international students and announced the establishment of the Africa Institute for Transformational Entrepreneurship (AITE), which aims to boost socio-economic development across the African continent.

By Staff Writer (IT News Africa)

Coventry University unveils £1 million scholarship offer to African students. (Image Source: http://img.gawkerassets.com).

The announcements come as the university’s vice-chancellor and CEO, Professor John Latham, visits Abuja to meet with Coventry’s alumni in Nigeria and explore ways to continue building links between Coventry University and Africa.

In addition to highlighting the scholarship awards – which are detailed at www.coventry.ac.uk – Professor Latham will raise awareness of the new AITE, which seeks to promote transformational entrepreneurship in Africa through education, research and practice-based activity. The institute has been established on the premise that African universities – through the promotion of enterprise and entrepreneurship – have a pivotal role to play in the overall development of Africa.

“African tertiary education should be designed to address the continent’s specific problems. Entrepreneurship-based education and research in Africa’s institutions of higher learning can help address the issues of unemployment and inequality for sustainable socio-economic growth in Africa.” said Prof. John Latham

Coventry University aims to contribute to all areas of Africa’s development as a founding member of AITE. In collaboration with partners, the AAUand the British Council, Coventry University will run a collaborative programme of education, research and practice-based activity. AITE programmes will include interactive sessions, face-to-face workshops, research exchanges and online support channelled through its existing International Centre for Transformational Entrepreneurship (ICTE).

“We’re enormously excited to be launching this initiative and we’re confident it will make a difference in driving forward innovation and supporting wealth creation in an African continent that is fast coming to realize its enterprising spirit and potential for socio-economic growth.”, added Professor John Latham

“It’s also a pleasure to be extending our scholarships to prospective students in Nigeria,” said Professor Latham. “I visited Nigeria earlier this year, and was honoured to meet a lot of Coventry graduates, together with the parents of current students. The graduates I met were able to update us on their careers since leaving the University, and I’m pleased to say all had gone on to be very successful in their particular areas of work. It’s fantastic to be back in Abuja and to be continuing to build on our strong links in this lively and enterprising country.”

Read more at: http://www.itnewsafrica.com/2016/04/coventry-university-unveils-1-million-scholarship-offer-to-african-students/

23 Apr

Education, New York City Metro Area News, Technology News, U.S News

New York City schools tap Amazon for e-books (engadget.com)

April 23, 2016
By Dr. Dennie Beach

Follow us on FaceBook At: https://www.facebook.com/GoAfricaNetwork

The New York City Department of Education has awarded Amazon a $30 million contract to provide digital textbooks to its 1.1 million students over the next three years, the Wall Street Journal reports.

By Andrew Dalton

With the new contract, New York City schools will invest in electronic formats (and save precious locker space) by accessing materials through a private marketplace similar to what Amazon has rolled out to colleges and universities in the past. While this deal only covers the content, and not the hardware to read it on, the texts will be available on a range of devices from laptops and tablets to e-readers and smartphones.

In the 2016-2017 school year alone, New York has committed to spend about $4.3 million on Amazon materials. That number will double every year throughout the contract, with the option to extend for another two years and $34.5 million. Amazon will reportedly receive a healthy 10 to 15 percent cut of sales.

Stepping into the classrooms of the country’s largest school district is a big win for Amazon, which has been making strides to keep up with competition from Apple and Google in the education space. Last month, the online retail giant also quietly announced a “revolutionary” platform that promised “free and unlimited access to first-class course materials.”

read more at: http://www.engadget.com/2016/04/21/new-york-city-schools-amazon-e-books/

13 Apr

Economic news, Education, General news, Technology News, U.S News, West Africa general news, West Africa news

(Ghana Web) Future Ghanaian Scientist Invited to White House

April 13, 2016
By Madina Toure

Simon Peter Frimpong Photo from Ghana Web

Meet Simon-Peter Frimpong, a 13-year old Ghanaian American from Aurora, Colorado. The 8th-grader is one of about 100 top science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) students from across the USA who have been invited to the 2016 White House Science Fair, scheduled for this Wednesday, April 13th.

The fair, which is President Obama’s sixth and last, is a hands-on showcase of student innovation – robots, prototypes, tools to help us fight cancer and climate change – all researched, designed and built by the next generation of America’s scientists.

Simon-Peter and two of his schoolmates from Horizon Middle School, Maya Max-Villard, 13, and Grayson Fast, 14, were inspired by a veteran at nearby Buckley Air Force Base who needed a more comfortable and functional prosthetic limb. The three young scientists designed and built a new artificial leg using computer design, and 3-D printing of prototypes, as well as interviews with the veteran and others for feedback. The team built a prosthetic leg that will allow the amputee to hike, manage uneven terrain, and even skateboard!

The part designed by Simon-Peter is what makes the prosthesis unique. As their STEM teacher, Ms. Mel Possehl put it, “…with the design [Simon Frimpong] made, the bottom comes off. So you have a walking part, then you have a part that hooks onto a longboard or a snowboard, then you have a part that hooks onto skis, and then a part that can do multiple things. It’s a multiple-use prototype.” The project was so innovative that it was selected as a finalist in the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow national competition, and then to participate in the 2016 White House Science Fair.

Simon-Peter is the son of Mr. Tony Frimpong, and Mrs. Yaa Frimpong (popularly known as Obaa Yaa), who is the secretary of NPP Colorado Chapter, and 2nd Vice Chairperson of NPP-USA Branch.
[Partly culled from the White House blog https://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2016/04/08/science-fair-2016-meet-next-generation-americas-innovators]

The article was published on Ghana Web.

13 Apr

Education, General news, New York City Metro Area News, U.S News, West Africa general news, West Africa news

(The Root) NY Valedictorian Is Celebrating Her Acceptance to All 8 Ivy League Schools

April 13, 2016
By Madina Toure

BY: YESHA CALLAHAN

Posted: April 5 2016 9:26 AM

Augusta Uwamanzu-Nna

VIDEO SCREENSHOT

Augusta Uwamanzu-Nna, a high school student from Long Island, N.Y., has a big decision to make soon. The Elmont High School valedictorian has been accepted at all eight Ivy League schools!

Schools in the Ivy League are Brown University, Columbia University, Cornell University, Dartmouth College, Harvard University, Princeton University, the University of Pennsylvania and Yale University.

She also gained admission to Johns Hopkins University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, New York University and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

Augusta is the daughter of Nigerian immigrants, and she said her parents instilled in her the value of education.

“Though I was born here in America, I visited Nigeria many times,” she told WABC. “And I’ve seen that my cousins don’t have the same opportunities that I have. So definitely, whatever I do, I want to make sure that it has an impact on Nigeria.”

She also says that her own tenacity and persistence helped shape her into becoming a great student. But as with a lot of students, she did face hardships with some classes.

“I’ve struggled with numerous classes in the past,” Augusta told the station. “But I guess what allowed me to be successful, ultimately, in those classes, at the end, is my persistence and my tenacity.”

Augusta hasn’t decided which college to attend, but with a GPA of 101.6 and a recent invitation to the White House Science Fair, there’s no doubt that she’ll continue her academic excellence.

Read more at WRIC.

26 Feb

East Africa technology news, Education, North Africa technology news, Southern Africa technology news, Technology News, West Africa technology news

Top 10 Education Apps for Africa (IT News Africa)

February 26, 2016
By Dr. Dennie Beach

Leading academics, CIOs, regulators, NGOs, service providers, and EduTech entrepreneurs will convene at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Sandton, Johannesburg on the 17th of March 2016 for the upcoming 2016 Education Innovation Summit.

The Summit, which has been organised by IT News Africa and sponsored by Telkom, will see these leaders discuss vital topics around the impact of technology on education.

By Darryl Linington

Ahead of the summit, IT News Africa is highlighting some of the top education apps for Africa. The apps featured below offer users the opportunity to learn new languages, discover various facts about global history, as well as brush up on their math and science knowledge.

Top Education Apps for Africa.

Top Education Apps for Africa

1. Khan Academy (Free)
The Khan Academy application offers, according to the developers, over 10 000 educational videos that relate to subjects such as math, science, economics, history, and a variety of other subjects.

To add to the features, the Khan Academy app allows students to keep learning, while offline, by downloading the required content to their mobile device.

The app also allows students to learn using videos and in-depth articles in math (arithmetic, pre-algebra, algebra, geometry, trigonometry, statistics, calculus, linear algebra), science (biology, chemistry, physics), economics, and even the humanities with tutorials on art history, civics, finance, and more.

It also allows students to discover how the Krebs cycle works as well as learn about the fundamentals of music notation.

Download on Android Devices
Download on Apple Devices

2. Toca Lab (Paid for App)
For students aged 7 and up, Toca Lab Explores the colourful and electrifying world of science. The app introduces students to the Periodic Table and teaches them about 118 of its elements. However, the learning does not stop there. Toca Lab gives students the ability to use virtual lab equipment in order to conduct experiments.

Toca Lab is a place for playing, learning and having fun, and with it the developers have the hope that it will inspire kids to explore science.

Download on: Android Devices
Download on: Apple Devices

3. DuoLingo (Free)
African students who are looking to travel the world have the opportunity to learn English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Dutch, Irish, Danish, Swedish, Russian, Ukrainian, Esperanto, Polish and Turkish with the DuoLingo app.

Practice speaking, reading, listening and writing. Play a game, answer questions and complete lessons to improve your vocabulary and grammar. Start with basic verbs, phrases, and sentences, and learn new words daily.

Download on Android Devices
Download on Apple Devices

4. Math Expert (Free)
According to the Google Play Store, the Math Expert application has been downloaded over 1 million times. The app covers various topics such as basic arithmetic, area calculation, trigonometry, polynomal division and more.

Download on Android Devices
Download on Apple Devices

5. WhizApp (Free)
The WhizApp application is another free education app that ranks high. The main subject that the app focuses on is mathematics. Essentially, the application will test a student’s response speed and memory power in a fun yet challenging manner.

According to the developers, Whizapp is a simple yet fun application that trains the brain via mental calculations, increasing response speed, concentration and memory power.

Download on Android Devices

6. Yoruba101 (Paid For APP)
The Yoruba101 application is a paid for app. The application offers students and adults the opportunity to learn about the language and the culture of the Yoruba people – who are located in Southwestern and North central Nigeria as well as Southern and Central Benin in West Africa.

The app has interactive lessons and games with performance trackers to monitor user progress. The app was designed and developed by Genii studios as part of its Asa apps series.

Download on Android Devices
Download on Apple Devices

7. Complete Physics (Free)
The Complete Physics application offers students various tutorials when it comes to physics related formulas and practicals. The app also features a physics quiz and also includes a physics dictionary.

Complete Physics, according to the developers, covers the syllabus for exams like WAEC, NECO, JAMB, KCSE, Post JAMB and GCE.

The app also covers the following topics: Physics as a science, Kinematics, Fluid, Scalar and Vector, Force, Circular Motion, Energy, Momentum, Heat Energy and Thermodynamics, Optics, Waves and many more.

Download on Android Devices

8. Daily Art (Free)
Do you know why van Gogh cut off his ear? Or who is Vermeer’s girl with the pearl earring? With the Daily Art app art will no longer be a secret for you.

Daily Art, which is another free application, highlights an education field that is often neglected… Fine Art. The educational app showcases a new work of art each day. Each piece of art showcased comes with the name of the painting, date that is was released, and information relating to the painter.

Apart from daily showcases, the application also has an art archive. The art archive allows students to search through famous paintings, which include anything from the Eva Prima Pandora to the Elephant Hanno.

Download on Android Devices
Download on Apple Devices

9. Ted Talks
Access riveting talks from some of the world’s most fascinating people — wherever you are. TED’s official Android app presents bold, new thought leadership from education radicals, tech geniuses, medical mavericks, business gurus, music legends and other remarkable minds.

The app allows students as well as business executives to find thousands of inspiring talks that cover topics surrounding from inspirational, creativity, motivation to human psychology. for those looking to positively affect your knowledge base… this is the app for you.

Some of the most popular talks highlighted on the app include:
– Celeste Headlee: 10 Ways to have a better conversation
– David Gruber: Glow-in-the-dark sharks and other stunning sea creatures
– Linda Liukas: A delightful way to teach kids about computers
– Bono: Three actions for Africa
– Sugata Mitra – The child-driven education

Download on Android Devices
Download on Apple Devices

10. Today in History Calendar (Free)
If you are the type of student that wants to know what happened on this day in history… then this is the app for you. The app is packed full of interesting facts that relate to this day in history.

History buffs will get to learn about important events that took place on this day in history. Additionally, students will have the opportunity to learn about various events as well as deaths and births that occurred on each day.

Interesting facts provided by the app include:
1878 years ago: The roman emperor Hadrian adopts Antoninus Plus, effectively making him successor.

219 years ago: Colonel William Tate and his force of 1000-1500 soldiers surrender after the last invasion of Britain.

Download on Android Devices
Download on Apple Devices

Apart from the above mentioned Education Apps, IT News Africa also identified the Top 10 Healthcare Apps for Africa – which can be found by clicking here.

(AllAfrica) Signature of a Grant Agreement for the Contribution in the Response Plan for the Syrian Refugees Crisis in the Arab Republic of Egypt in the Education Sector

January 24, 2016
By Madina Toure

The Grant Agreement was signed on behalf of the Government of the Arab Republic of Egypt by the Minister of International Cooperation and on behalf of the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development by Mr. Abdulwahab Al-Bader, Director-General of the Fund. Photo Credit: Kuwait Fund

PRESS RELEASE

A Grant Agreement was signed today in Cairo between the Government of the Arab Republic of Egypt and the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development, whereby the Kuwait Fund provide a Grant in the amount of US$ 20 Million to help finance projects aimed at relieving socio-economic impacts in the education sector within Egyptian host communities of Syrian refugees.

The Grant Agreement was signed on behalf of the Government of the Arab Republic of Egypt by Her Excellency Dr. Sahar Ahmed Mohamed Abdel Moniem Nasar, Minister of International Cooperation on behalf of the Government of the Arab Republic of Egypt, and signed on behalf of the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development by Mr. Abdulwahab Al-Bader, Director-General of the Fund.

The Projects aim to address the education needs of Syrian refugees in host communities in the Arab Republic of Egypt, by raising the level of educational services provided to them, by supporting projects in the educational buildings sector, to ensure the continuity of providing the required education services in the areas where there is a concentration of refugees.

The Projects consist of the construction and equipping of about 30 schools with multiple educational stages in the Provinces of Cairo, Geza, Alexandria, Demyat, Deghaliyah and Sharquiah. The Projects are expected to start at the beginning of Year 2016, and to be finished before mid-Year 2017.

The total cost of the Projects is estimated at about US$ 20 million and the Kuwait Fund Grant will cover 100% of the cost.

It is worth mentioning that the number of development finance extended by the Kuwait Fund are 40 loans to the Government of the Arab Republic of Egypt or to public entities in the Arab Republic of Egypt with a total amount of about KD 721 million (equivalent to about US$ 2.4 billion). The Fund has also provided Egypt with ten technical assistance and other grants with a total amount of about KD 2.983 million (equivalent to about US$ 9.8 million) allocated for financing technical and economic feasibility studies for certain projects and financing other activities. Kuwait Fund also administered two grants provided by the Government of the State of Kuwait to the Arab Republic of Egypt, amounting in total to about KD 4.8 million (equivalent to about US$16.8 million) for the purpose of reconstruction of some schools that were affected by the earthquake in 1992, and the reconstruction of some villages that were damaged by floods in 1995.

Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development in Kuwait City is AllAfrica.com’s premium partner.

The press released was published on AllAfrica.com.

29 Dec

Economic news, Education, North Africa economic news, Southern Africa economic news, Southern Africa technology news, Technology News, West Africa economic news, West Africa technology news

Are you an African leader? join the Young African Leaders Initiative

December 29, 2015
By Dr. Dennie Beach

Providing the Tools, Training, and Technology to Promote Leadership: The YALI Network

The YALI Network provides virtual resources and vibrant physical spaces to equip young African leaders with the skills and connections they need to foster change in their communities and their countries. Established by the President in April 2014, the Network already includes almost 150,000 members. Using yali.state.gov and social media, the United States provides online courses and materials, and connects members with global leaders in their fields to help members develop leadership skills.

Join the YALI Network to take advantage of virtual training, tools, and technology:

Online courses & certificates: The YALI Network platform has created 13 tailor-made online courses on leadership, business and entrepreneurship, civic leadership, and public management featuring U.S. university professors and experts in their fields. The training videos provide tips on everything from creating a business model to developing public-private partnerships, with supplementary guides with discussion questions and developmental actions.
Follow YALI Network on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn for professional development and online discussions, including monthly #YALICHATs with experts, professors and U.S. Government officials.

YALI Network face2face group– the ability to make connections with other young leaders in person: the YALI Network face2face Facebook group enables members to connect, network and collaborate on new initiatives.

In addition to virtual resources, YALI Network members in 9 countries will soon have access to state-of-the-art YALI Spaces. Over the next two years, American Corners in Cote d’Ivoire, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Senegal, Ethiopia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Nigeria, and Rwanda will be outfitted to provide YALI Network members opportunities to meet, learn, and incubate their ideas. YALI staff or trainers will facilitate online courses and provide advising sessions on everything from business start-ups to opportunities for study abroad. Meeting rooms, collaboration spaces, and business tools will allow YALI Network members to work together to create social ventures, community service projects, and new business start-ups.

Partner with the YALI Network

YALI Network members appreciate the opportunity to connect with leaders from a wide variety of industries. They value the lessons to be learned from those who’ve succeeded in business, finance, civil society, agriculture, natural resource management, media and health care to name a few. Eager to develop personally and professionally, Network members gain valuable insight when leaders and innovators share their experiences and best practices. By connecting with the more than 140,000 members of the YALI Network, you are empowering these young African leaders to develop the skills and networks they need to build brighter futures for their communities, their countries and their continent. Don’t miss out on your chance to speak to the next generation of business, civil society and government leaders. If you’d like to know how you can make a difference to the future leaders of Africa, contact us at YALINetwork@state.gov.

more information is provided via the links below:

https://youngafricanleaders.state.gov/courses/

https://youngafricanleaders.state.gov/yali-network/