Monday, August 23, 2010

YouthBank in Lagos

Introducing this formidable initiative with a revolutionary vision:

That street youth in the world's biggest cities and most formidable slums can become socially responsible business owners and pull their communities out of poverty.


And guess what, it is run by an all-volunteer group!


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YouthBank is a small business incubator connecting street youth (aged 18-28) with the skills, mentors, and resources they need to launch their own businesses and pull themselves out of poverty.

At the heart of YouthBank is a unique business model that delivers impact in two phases:

1. A fellowship phase in which YouthBank Fellows (former street youth) learn business skills on the job as employees in a community business, and
2. An entrepreneurship phase in which high-performing Fellows pitch their own business ideas and receive asset-equivalent microfinance loans and mentorship.


Once their loans are repaid, YouthBank Fellows become independent business owners -- and local employers.

Unlike job training programs that prepare youth for employment, YouthBank prepares its Fellows for entrepreneurship.

Unlike most nonprofits, each YouthBank Center generates its own revenue through a core business, which both offsets operating costs and serves as a living business school classroom for the Fellows.

Throughout, it emphasizes community responsibility: Fellows hold community events to share what they learn, and they commit to hiring and training other street youth as a condition of receiving a loan.

Friday, July 23, 2010

IPAS Youth Art Contest

$400 prize for each of the top three entries.

Each year, more than 67,000 women and girls die from unsafe abortion and millions more are injured. More than half are under the age of 25. Nearly 5.5 million unsafe abortions take place in Africa—and more than half the women who die from unsafe abortion live there. How has unsafe abortion affected your life? Do you know someone who has been injured? Do you know someone who has had to resort to an unsafe abortion because she had no other options? Have you lost someone you loved? What can you do to break the silence of unsafe abortion and support women? Tell the story in your art.

Entries can include any written or visual artwork, like tattoos, stickers, painting, photography, videos, collage, creative writing and more. Videos can include dance, theater or documentary or fictional films. Please include a brief written description of your work (1-5 sentences).
Contest Rules

* Contest begins May 1, 2010 and the deadline has been extended to July 30, 2010. All eligible entries must be submitted between these dates.
* Open to all people in Africa under the age of 25, except Ipas employees.
* Winners will be announced by the end of October, 2010.
* Entries are limited to the first three submissions per person.
* Artwork should be high resolution, print-quality photos (300 dpi).
o Don't submit your original art, take a digital photo and submit below.
o Artwork must be in .jpg, .gif, .png or .tiff format.
* Essays must be at least 500 words and no more than 1600 words.
o Written work must be submitted in .doc, .txt or .rtf format.
* Videos must be:
o Less than 10 minutes
o Digital
o Submitted in .zip format

* Submissions will be judged by a panel chosen by Ipas.
* All entrants must hold exclusive rights to the artwork they submit and by entering are claiming such ownership. If it is determined an entrant has fraudulently claimed ownership of their submission, the entry will immediately become void and ineligible.
* By entering a submission, entrants are granting Ipas perpetual, royalty-free, non-exclusive rights to display, distribute, reproduce and create derivative works of their entry. When reproduced, all entries will be credited to the artist when possible. Ipas will not sell or give away entries to other parties without the permission of the owner.
* Failure by Ipas to enforce any of its rights at any point does not constitute a waiver of these rights. Ipas reserves the right to suspend or cancel the Contest or modify these rules at its discretion.
* By receiving a prize, winners agree to release and hold harmless Ipas and its employees, directors and agents from and against any claim or cause of action arising out of or related to participation in the Contest or receipt or use of any prize, whether under a theory of contract, tort or otherwise.

Tell us your story and help raise awareness about the impact of unsafe abortion in Africa.


Questions?

E-mail: artcontest@ipas.org

Wednesday, July 7, 2010

Faites passer le message

I love this video campaign on HIV transmission sponsored by the Minsitry of Health in France and the Institute for Prevention and Education for Health (l’Institut national de prévention et d’éducation pour la santé (INPES)) aimed at sensitizing ("sensibiliser") African immigrants in France, after a recent survey revealed that 25% of the (immigrant) population surveyed still think that HIV can be transmitted from a physical embrace (hug).

Video features le capitaine des Elephants, Didier Drogba, as well as famous African artists - Camerounian singer, Manu Dibango; Congolese rapper, Youssoupha; Fally Ipupa, Awa Imani and Gabonaise hip-hop artists, Movaizhaleine.




Contre le SIDA, on est là, on se bat (Against AIDS, we are here and we fight)

2010 Legatum Africa Awards for Entrepreneurship

Random finding for the day:


The 2010 Legatum Africa Awards for Entrepreneurship is now open for entries from the very best small and medium-sized businesses from across 15 countries in sub-Saharan Africa. The Grand Prize is US$100,000 with a further five runners-up winning prizes of US$50,000 each.

Winning companies must demonstrate visionary leadership, innovation, strong growth and a company culture that adheres to its core values. Winning companies must also have had an impact within their communities, either by fostering job creation, improved community living standards or by expanding into overseas markets.

Apply now or nominate others (Deadline - August 31, 2010)