Saturday, 17 September 2022

INSIDE STUFF 4 YOUTH

NBA Africa and Royal Bafokeng Nation Expand Long-Term Youth Development Partnership in South Africa

6 months ago TOPAFRICANEWS

NBA Africa and the Royal Bafokeng Nation, through its sports development arm Royal Bafokeng Sports (RBS), announced an expansion of their youth development partnership

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, March 24, 2022/ — 12th year of Royal Bafokeng jr. NBA (www.NBA.com) programme will reach more than 20,000 boys and girls from 44 schools across the Royal Bafokeng Nation and Greater Rustenburg region; Programme has reached more than 100,000 youth since 2011 through basketball development and youth engagement initiatives.

NBA Africa and the Royal Bafokeng Nation, through its sports development arm Royal Bafokeng Sports (RBS), today announced an expansion of their long-term youth development partnership. The expanded partnership will see the 12^th year of the Royal Bafokeng Jr. NBA Programme reach more than 20,000 boys and girls from 44 schools across the Royal Bafokeng Nation and Greater Rustenburg Region in South Africa.

The Royal Bafokeng Jr. NBA Programme, which launched in 2011 with 36 boys and girls teams from 18 middle and high schools across all five regions of the Royal Bafokeng Nation, has reached more than 100,000 youth over the past 12 years through basketball development and youth engagement initiatives. The programme features a youth basketball league for boys and girls in primary and high schools, elite development camps for the top 50 boys and girls in the programme, monthly clinics and camps, coaching clinics and certification programmes, and basketball court refurbishments.

“Basketball has been much more than a sport among the Bafokeng youth,” said Kgosi Leruo Molotlegi, the 36^th king of the Royal Bafokeng Nation. “Through the support of the NBA and RBS, the programme has helped develop and inspire top athletes and coaching staffs, create educational opportunities, and grow the sport not only for the RBN community, but across the continent. The RBN welcomes the continued partnership and success with the NBA.”

“Launched more than 10 years ago, the Royal Bafokeng Jr. NBA Programme was the NBA’s first youth development programme on the continent,” said NBA Africa CEO Victor Williams. “We are excited to expand our partnership with RBS and look forward to continuing to use the transformative power of basketball to inspire more boys and girls in the North West Province in the years to come.”

The Royal Bafokeng Jr. NBA Programme is the league’s largest Jr. NBA programme in Africa and has achieved a number of milestones since its launch in 2011. More than 120 youth and 15 coaches from the programme have represented the North West Province in national tournaments. Six girls and two boys went on to represent South Africa in international tournaments at the youth and senior levels, and two girls and two coaches participated in the Jr. NBA Global Championships in Orlando, Fla., in 2018 and 2019. In addition, more than 100 former participants have gone on to study at universities and colleges in South Africa, with two alumni receiving full scholarships to high schools and universities in the United States.

In August 2017, the programme hosted the first Jr. NBA Africa Festival, which featured Jr. NBA teams from Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa and Zimbabwe competing against one another and participating in life-skills programming in the lead-up to the NBA Africa Game 2017. That same year, the programme was recognised with the Development Programme of the Year Award at the Sport Industry Awards in South Africa.

The Royal Bafokeng Nation has an ambitious and aggressive strategy over the next few years to place sports, education, and elite sporting academies at the forefront of the Nation’s vision of diversification, sustainability and social cohesion, which the NBA and RBS play a critical role in delivering.

The NBA has a long history in Africa and opened its African headquarters in Johannesburg in 2010. Since then, the league’s efforts on the continent have focused on increasing access to basketball and the NBA through social responsibility, grassroots and elite development, media distribution, corporate partnerships, NBA Africa Games, the launch of the Basketball Africa League (BAL), and more. The BAL’s second season tipped off earlier this month in Dakar, Senegal. South Africa’s Cape Town Tigers will make their BAL debut during the league’s Nile Conference group phase at Hassan Mostafa Indoor Sports Complex in Cairo, Egypt, from April 9-19.

Friday, 16 September 2022

YOUTH STUFF

Jobs for Youth in Africa Strategy will equip 50 million with employable skills

By THANDISIZWE MGUDLWA

-NEWS GHANA

July 16, 2022

African Development Bank’s Coding for Employment Program Selects 500 Digital Ambassadors to Lead Peer-to-Peer Training Model

The Digital Ambassadors Program has come at the right time when the Bank is putting finishing touches to the Skills for Employability and Productivity in Africa Action Plan 2022–2025, says Martha Phiri, the AfDB’s Director for Human Capital, Youth and Skills Development.

She added, the Action Plan will equip African youth with the skills that are in high demand; skills the labour market requires. Both will complement each other and will create positive impact on Africa’s workforce and lead to economic transformation,” stated Phiri.

The African Development Bank’s Coding for Employment program has selected 500 changemakers, AT least 45% of whom are women, from four countries for the pilot Digital Ambassadors Program.

The selected Digital Ambassadors will embark on a three-month course during which they will be equipped with in-demand digital skills, such as software development, as well as soft skills, such as problem solving, project management and communication.

They will then lead a peer-to-peer training model that seeks to expand digital skills to more African youth, especially in rural communities with limited internet connectivity.

The Bank and its technical partner, Microsoft, selected the Digital Ambassadors from more than 21,000 applications received from all over Africa.

For this first edition, the 500 Digital Ambassadors were selected from four countries where the Coding for Employment program is operational, namely Côte d’Ivoire (75), Kenya (100), Nigeria (150) and Senegal (175).

Moreover, after graduation, the Digital Ambassadors will receive information and communication technology toolkits from the Bank and Microsoft so they can offer the same training within their local communities.

The Bank launched the Coding for Employment in 2018 to equip African youth with demand-driven information and communication technology skills to position them competitively for the global labour market.

The program has established information and communication technology centers with partner universities across its countries of operation and provided digital skills training to over 150,000 youth, including 135,000 reached through the Coding for Employment eLearning platform and the Digital Nigeria platform.

The Coding for Employment Program is at the center of the AfDB’s Jobs for Youth in Africa Strategy, which aims to propel Africa’s youth onto a path to prosperity.

By 2025, the Jobs for Youth in Africa Strategy will equip 50 million youth with employable skills and create 25 million jobs in agriculture, information and communication technology and other key industries across Africa.

“We are delighted by the enthusiasm and the passion the candidates have shown for the program. We have sifted through all the applications to identify candidates whose background and qualifications closely match the selection criteria. The 500 candidates will not only acquire skills that can help them find work but will also be able to create their own jobs while also training others,” said Hendrina Doroba, the Bank’s Manager for Education and Skills Development.

Carelle Laetitia, one of the Digital Ambassadors, commented, “When I received the selection email, I felt happy and above all proud. I know it was not easy to be selected among hundreds of talented youths. I hope to build a strong network and acquire solid digital skills in order to share them with my community.”

Over the years, the AfDB has invested $1.64 billion in programs to prepare the youth for careers in science, technology and innovation.

The Digital Ambassadors Program is aligned to the Skills for Employability and Productivity in Africa, and both tie in with one of the Bank’s five priorities—improving the quality of life for the people of Africa.

Thursday, 15 September 2022

YOUTH LEADERSHIP

AUC Chair Calls On Youth To Drive Change In Their Communities

THANDISIZWE MGUDLWA l Thursday, August 18, 2022

Starconnect Media

AUC chair preaches change in communities

CAPE TOWN, South Africa – In joining hands with the youth in celebration of International Youth Day, Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat declared, “I encourage all Youth to keep advocating, championing and driving change in their communities as we journey towards achieving the Africa We Want”.

In commemoration of International Youth Day, this week the Office of the African Union Chairperson’s Youth Envoy, hosted an academic webinar with The Africa Center for Strategic Studies and The African Union’s Youth4Peace Africa Program.

The AU noted that the academic webinar was aimed at assessing the magnitude and scope of security risks and opportunities associated with the youth bulge in Africa and discussing the role of youth in promoting security and peace.

Over 500 participants drawn from 68 countries and across sectors including the private sector, military, civil society, government ministries and youth groups had registered for the webinar which was held under International Youth Day theme ‘Building Intergenerational Solidarity.’

Moreover, the AUC Chairperson’s Envoy on Youth, Chido Mpemba in giving remarks alluded to the need to demystify the security sector for young people and to create pathways for young people to dialogue and contribute towards peace building.

“Young people are a useful resource that must be meaningfully included in peace and security decisions, policy frameworks and accountability mechanisms. They are part of the solution to combat the security challenges and must be rightfully given the voice”, said Mpemba.

Furthermore, the Academic Webinar was opened by Ambassador Bankole Adeoye, Commissioner for The African Union Political Affairs Peace and Security, who gave his assurance to young people and spoke on the commitments of the Peace and Security Council to create pathways for continuous engagement with the youth, as well as some of the commitments made by the African Union through the implementation of mechanisms such as the continental framework on Youth, Peace and Security affirming the roles and responsibilities that the youth play in conflicts, acknowledging protection efforts and promoting their contributions towards peace efforts.

According to the AU, the Academic webinar will build on a series to highlight some of the African Union Continental frameworks, providing a platform for engagement, peer learning and sharing.

TAGGED: AU, Youth for change

Wednesday, 14 September 2022

YOUTH DEVELOPMENT

Uganda joins vision of reaching 300 million young people by 2030 under the 1 Million Next Level Initiative

By THANDISIZWE MGUDLWA

-NEWS GHANA

July 19, 2022

Unpacking volunteerism as a pathway to employability

UGANDAN President Yoweri Museveni has become the latest leader to commit his country to reaching over 1 million young people in Uganda annually with opportunities to accelerate the African Union Commission’s vision of reaching 300 million young people by 2030 under the 1 Million Next Level initiative.

Authorities this week noted that this pledge has set a great pace and tone for many Heads of State to join this commitment.

“Youth development is at the heart of the Government of Uganda. I would like to state that, we will work with all the relevant sectors to upscale youth development and empower 1 million young people annually as a step and our commitment towards the AUC’s 1 Million Next Level initiative”.

Museveni said in his statement at the high-level opening ceremony during the 3rd African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) Youth Consultation Symposium which took place in Kampala, Uganda from 5th to 9th July 2022.

The symposium convened over 800 young people from across the continent to discuss the role of youth in the implementation of the Africa Union’s Agenda 2063, and related national aspirations, while enhancing the implementation of the objectives of the South-South triangular cooperation.

The 1 Million Next Level Initiative is a continental programme and a successor of the 1 Million by 2021. It falls within the African Union Youth Charter article 11 which called for equal participation of young people in all spheres and a contributor to the achievement of the Agenda 2063 especially Aspiration 6: “An Africa Whose Development is people driven, relying on the potential offered by African People, especially its Women and Youth, and caring for Children”.

The goal of the 1million Next Level is to reach over 300 million African youth with opportunities along the 5 priority areas of impact, namely; Education, Employment, Entrepreneurship, Engagement and Health and Wellbeing (4Es and H) as targeted efforts to unleash the potential of youth across the continent.

According to the Acting Director of the Women, Gender and Youth Directorate at the AUC, Prudence Ngwenya, the President’s pledge is an unprecedented one and a good step towards positively impacting the lives of Africa’s youth.

“The African Union will continue to work with the Government of Uganda in ensuring that young people are empowered and ignited for change. Young people are brilliant, creative and innovative, and these are the catalytic skills the continent requires to fully unleash the potential of Africa’s youth”, She said in her remarks during the 3rd African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) Youth Consultation Symposium.

Moreover, the APRM prioritized youth mainstreaming as a critical element for building prosperous, secure, and self-sustaining African economies.

And the 3rd APRM Youth Symposium was therefore a successful platform for youth-tailored conversations on governance, developing Africa.

On the sideline of the symposium, the AU, through the Women and Youth Directorate hosted several sessions to empower and engage the Youth in governance and development processes.

These were themed across the 4Es and H of the 1 Million Next Level Initiative and included;

An intergenerational dialogue titled “Leveraging the 1 Million Next Level Initiative to unleash the potential of Youth”;

A youth consultation on transforming education in Africa;

A youth engagement session on amplifying the Bingwa Initiative;

An Egumeni Session addressing violence against women and girls which was titled; “You Are Not Alone: Flattening the Curve of the Shadow Pandemic”;

A youth validation session on the AU Women and Youth Financial and Economic Inclusion (WYFEI) 2030 Strategy; A session unpacking volunteerism as a pathway to employability.

Monday, 12 September 2022

ECOSOCC, AUC, ILO &100 Million Campaign Improving Condition Of The African Child

African News Liberia Society Liberian News Uncategorised

NEWS PUBLIC TRUST

THANDISIZWE MGUDLWA

June 24, 2022

8 2 minutes read

(Last Updated On: June 24, 2022)

CAPE TOWN- CHILDREN deserve the best care, support, protection, love and attention that all countries must commit to bring about.

The100 Million Campaign is a global campaign to mobilise 100 million youths to devote themselves for a better future for 100 million marginalised children who have been denied their rights and liberty.

Since its launch in 2016, youth, civil society organisations, trade unions, schools and universities from more than 36 countries have joined this campaign, and are working together to protect the rights
of children of their respective countries.

And this is the reason that the African Union Economic, Social, and Cultural Council (ECOSOCC) have joined forces with the African Union Commission (AUC), International Labour Organization (ILO) and 100
Million Campaign to advocate for and raise awareness on the promotion and protection of the rights and welfare of children in Africa, with the specific goal of ultimately putting an end to child labour in
Africa.

The partnership was formed in preparation for the 5th Global Conference (V Conference) on Child Labour which was held in Durban, South Africa, from 15 – 20 May 2022.

The Vth Conference convened governments, leaders, and civil society organisations (CSOs) to speak with one voice and act collectively to ensure that the voices and demands of children and young people who
have experienced the injustices of child labour are echoed and heard across the continent.

To commemorate the World Day Against Child Labour and International Day of the African Child, ECOSOCC teamed up with ECOSOCC member CSOs and the 100 Million Campaign to tell the stories of child labour survivors through recorded testimonies.

On June 12, ECOSOCC, its members and the partners launched a week-long social media awareness campaign, posting a visual testimony from a child labour survivor every day to share their stories and call for action from both the African and international communities to end child labour.

The social media campaign sought to promote children’s rights in Africa and around the world, in line with the African Union’s efforts to promote and protect the rights and welfare of children in Africa in accordance with Aspiration 6 of Agenda 2063 which envisages an “Africa whose development is people-driven, relying on the potential of African people, especially its women and youth, and caring for children.”

The collaboration of ECOSOCC, AUC ILO, and the 100 Million Campaign demonstrates a paradigm shift within the African community, particularly among civil society, in their efforts to shed more light on the living realities of children and youth, as well as the complexities of the labour market.

The campaign also presents an opportunity for all relevant stakeholders, including member states and policy makers at all levels to accelerate their efforts to end child labour and secure the rights of children in Africa.

ECOSOCC was established in July 2004 as an Advisory Organ composed of different social and professional groups of AU Member States.

The mandate of ECOSOCC is to contribute, through advice, to the effective translation of the objectives, principles and policies of the African Union into concrete programmes, as well as the evaluation of these programmes.

Wednesday, 31 August 2022

Les Brown, The Adopted Twin Who Became A Top Motivational Speaker

THE BULRUSHES

/August 16, 2022
/Thandisizwe Mgudlwa

WORLD-RENOWNED: Les Brown is a motivational speaker, trainer, author, radio DJ, former television host, and ex-politician

Les Brown is a world-renowned trainer, and a prolific and great motivational speaker of all time.

Students and business associates describe him as a “dynamic personality”.

Brown, a highly sought-after resource in the business and professional circles for Fortune 500 CEOs, small business owners, non-profits, and community leaders from all sectors of society looking to expand opportunities has been at it for close to 50 years.

For more than four decades he has not only studied the science of achievement.

Brown has mastered the science of achievement by interviewing hundreds of successful business leaders.

He has also collaborated with business leaders in the boardroom translating theory into bottom-line results for his clients.

A regular speaker, visitor, and friend of Africa, Brown’s professional record speaks for itself.

He is a premier keynote speaker and leading authority on achievement for audiences as large as 80 000.

He does this – for instance – when commenting on “Your Decision to Make a Difference in the World with Your Voice and Your Story” programme.

Brown remarks: “I’m excited about developing 100 000 voices of hope and inspiration.”

Les Brown energises people to meet the challenges of the world around them.

When he skilfully tells his compelling life story into the fabric of our daily lives, he is capable of moving the coldest of hearts.

Leslie Calvin “Les” Brown was born on 17 February 1945.

He is an American-based motivational speaker, author, radio DJ, former television host, and former politician.

As a politician, he is a former member of the Ohio House of Representatives.

As a motivational speaker, he uses the catchphrase “it’s possible!” and teaches people to follow their dreams as he learned to do.

He was the host of The Les Brown Show.

Brown was born with his twin brother, Wesley, in an abandoned building in Liberty City, a low-income section of Miami, Florida.

He was subsequently given up for adoption and adopted by Mamie Brown, a 38-year-old single woman who worked as a cafeteria attendant and domestic assistant.

In grade school, Brown was mistakenly declared, “educable mentally retarded,” and teachers did not recognise his true potential.

Despite the self-esteem and confidence loss this situation caused, Brown learned how to reach his full potential with the encouragement of his mother and assistance from a helpful teacher in high school

This would prove to be a key point in many motivational speeches he now gives.

Brown says: “The thread is forever strengthened, touting why you can’t afford to be complacent and to aim high, achieve and actively make an impact on the world.”

His followers attest that Les Brown “never tires of using his energies to better the world, well-beyond the podium and public appearances.”

He is also known for meshing traditional and social media to empower his audiences.

Hundreds of thousands are watching him on YouTube and tens of thousands interact with him regularly on Facebook on a regular basis.

Addressing audiences from Denmark to Dubai, Canada to the Caribbean, Spain to South Africa, Les Brown is invited back again and again for his powerful message and the ability to connect deeply with people from all walks of life.

It isn’t just his great smile and his way with words that motivates people to take action like never before.

When people face roadblocks or adversity it is the depth of their knowledge on achievement that creates lasting results.

Brown’s straight-from-the-heart, passion, and high-energy, motivate audiences to step beyond their limitations and into their greatness in many ways.

Over the past decade, Brown has expanded his role from keynote speaker to master trainer, creating the kind of workshop learning experience that got him committed to personal-and-professional development many years earlier.

His charisma, warmth, and humour have transformed ordinary people into extraordinary achievers by using his own life. And his in-depth study of others’ challenges, to build an understanding of what works, what doesn’t work, and why.

Legions of followers flock to stadiums and arenas to hear a man who never stops believing that with proper guidance and training you can achieve anything you desire in life.

However, he used determination, persistence, and belief in his ability to unleash a course of amazing achievements including broadcast station manager, political commentator, and multi-term state representative in Ohio.

Brown is committed to motivating and training today’s generation to be achievers and leaders.

He introduces new audiences every day to “It’s Not Over Until You Win, Up Thoughts for Down Times, and Fight For Your Dream”, which is also available in book form.

Brown’s audio series, “Choosing Your Future,” remains his all-time bestseller for its acclaimed impact worldwide.

In business as in real life there are always going to be ups and downs, says Brown.

However, “where there is a will, there is always a way to achieve amazing results for your organisation”.

Brown always fills the room with his high-impact, customised message and gets a standing ovation for the performance.

He has a keen way of turning what he touches into gold.

More than 25 years ago, he won a Chicago-area Emmy for his unsurpassed fundraising pledge drive for the Public Broadcasting System.

This was followed by several bestselling books and hosting popular national talk shows on television and radio.

Revered as an icon by his colleagues, Brown received the National Speakers Association coveted Council of Peers Award of Excellence (CPAE), and ultimately, its most prestigious Golden Gavel Award for achievement and leadership in communication.

Toastmasters International also voted him one of the Top Five Outstanding Speakers worldwide.

Brown is deeply involved in wealth-building programmes; like Financial Destiny (7 Steps To Control Your Financial Destiny); The Journey To Wealth (12 steps to becoming wealthy) and of course his lasted book, The 12 Laws of Success, a book that took him 22 years to write, as we wanted to produce the ultimate guide to help people achieve their full potential in life.

His other more recent notable projects include the Les Brown International, Les Brown Institute, Les Brown Enterprises, and the Les Brown University.

His signature statement is: “You have something special! You have Greatness within you! That’s my story. And I’m sticking to it.”

Black Billionaire Byron Allen Just Keeps Growing His Media Empire

By Thandisizwe Mgudlwa

CAPE TOWN/South Africa: Byron Allen has become an authoritative voice in the media industry.

This astute American businessman, has come a long way as a comedian to becoming a television producer, philanthropist, and the head of the U.S. entertainment company, Entertainment Studios.

Also Read:

Allen already owns the Weather Channel, TheGrio, HBCU CO and several other networks. And now he has just purchased the BNC the Black News Channel.

Notable shows Allen hosted or co-hosted include: Real People, The Byron Allen Show, Entertainers with Byron Allen, Comics Unleashed and Kickin’ It with Byron Allen.

He is also the creator and executive producer of Funny You Should Ask, which he appeared on frequently.

Thanks to comedian Jimmie Walker who saw Allen’s stand-up act and invited the 14-year-old comedian to join his comedy writing team alongside promising young comedians Jay Leno and David Letterman.

And at age 18, Allen made his television debut on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, becoming the youngest stand-up comedian on the show.

One of his earliest roles was as a regular television presenter on the NBC series Real People, joining the cast at the beginning of the second season.

His show Jammin’ was picked up as Kickin’ It with Byron Allen in 1992, which ran for more than 21 seasons.

Allen’s foray into television production began in Los Angeles in 1993, when he founded Entertainment Studios with the launch of his first series Entertainers with Byron Allen.

It was a weekly, one-hour interview series profiling current stars of film and television.

And in 2018, Entertainment Studios acquired The Weather Channel from NBCUniversal, Bain Capital and Blackstone Inc.

In 2019, he partnered with Sinclair Broadcast Group in Diamond Sports Group to acquire the regional Fox Sports Networks, which The Walt Disney Company agreed to sell as a condition of its purchase of 21^st Century Fox and Diamond Holding Group rebranded as Bally Sports.

In February 2022, Allen made a bid to buy the Denver Broncos. But he was ultimately outbid by S. Robson Walton.

Earlier in 2018, Allen was selected for the Bloomberg 50 as one of “the people in business, entertainment, finance, politics, technology and science whose 2018 accomplishments were particularly noteworthy”.

In January 2019, Allen was a recipient of the National Association of Television Program Executive’s 16th Annual Brandon Tartikoff Legacy Awards, presented during the annual NATPE Miami Marketplace & Conference.

He was also selected for the 100 Most Intriguing Entrepreneurs at the Goldman Sachs Builders & Innovators Summit 2018, and he was honored by The Salvation Army and the Los Angeles Metropolitan advisory board at the Salvation Army’s 11th annual Christmas Kettle luncheon.

Allen received the 2019 Whitney Young Award at the 46th annual Los Angeles Urban League Awards dinner. Allen was born in Detroit, but grew up in Los Angeles.

His interest in show business began during his childhood when he accompanied his mother, Carolyn Folks, to NBC Studios in Burbank, where she worked as a publicist.

At age 14, Allen put together his first stand-up routine, and began appearing on amateur night at comedy clubs throughout the Los Angeles area.

Allen attended high school at Fairfax High School in Los Angeles and college at the University of Southern California. Allen is on the Motion Picture & Television Fund Board of Governors.

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