Media Relations 101 - Getting media coverage

I work for a strategic communications firm that caters to a strictly non-profit clientele; as such, I have had to do a lot of research for clients on issues as diverse as arts education, community colleges, healthcare for the elderly, and immigration. Any social entrepreneur will need to learn the ropes about communications and media relations, i.e., getting the word out there. Seeing as there is so much to learn and know, I will be posting up articles regularly on strategic communications. Sharing the knowledge is what it is all about!

What are “media relations” and “strategic communications”?

Every startup wants to project a favorable image of itself in the media. In order to accomplish this, in-house or contracted public relations professionals develop a rapport with media outlets, reporters, producers, etc. This is media relations. If your startup has to do with arts and East African women, you would develop relationships with key members of the media, such as reporters in arts, women’s rights, social issues, economics, business, and education, for example.

This goes to say that when your startup wants to let the media know about something your organization is doing or premiered, you would probably release a press release and pitch a story to the media. We’ll have more on that below.

Strategic communications means developing communications plans and initiatives to further an organization’s goal. Web sites, news conferences, brochures, and social media are all examples of strategic communications. How does your web site further your goal as an entrepreneur? What can the website do for you? What aims will social media address? These are questions you should ask yourself.

The first thing I’ll discuss today will be “pitching” a story and creating a reporter’s database.

What is “pitching”? It means getting on the phone or e-mail and letting reporters know what’s going on. How do you know which reporters to target? If your startup is local, regional, or national in focus, it should target media outlets that also have coverage on that level. However, some media outlets with national coverage also have local bureaus depending on the locality; you can also contact them if you want to target a local, audience for example. Once you have honed in on what kind of publication you want, read the paper, listen to that radio station, or watch that TV news channel. Look up on Google or on the outlet’s website “education, arts, women, East Africa, social issues” and see which reporters are writing about those issues. Sometimes you can get the reporter’s e-mail address from the website; if not, phone the media outlet and ask for the reporter’s contact information. When you are pitching, you want the reporter to know you have read their articles. For our example, you may want to tell the reporter you have read their latest article on an NGO using theater to empower women in small villages, and you thought they would be interested in knowing about an event a women’s arts organization will be hosting.

Before you start pitching, you should begin with researching media outlets and reporters who may be interested in your story. Identifying key players is of utmost importance. You don’t want to contact a reporter who writes about parenting if you really want to speak with someone who writes about business; in the event you don’t know who to contact, call the media outlet, and briefly explain your aim. Then ask who would be the right person to speak with. If there are many, ask for an editor.

You will want to create a database of names and contacts for that particular story. If your arts and women’s startup wanted to get coverage of a panel discussion from business leaders who will be talking about arts and business, make sure you target those kinds of reporters. On a simple, Microsoft Excel worksheet, put in pertinent info such as “Salutation”, “Name”, “Outlet”, “Beat”, “E-mail”, “Phone”, “Website”. A “beat” is the topic a reporter covers; a business reporter’s beat will be “business”; a news reporter who writes about “social issues” will have “social issues” as a beat. Once your list is completed you can start pitching!

Another important thing; don’t pitch the same story to two or more reporters in the same media outlet; if an education reporter and metro (or local news) reporter from Newspaper X find out they are to cover the same event, they’ll get annoyed. The key is identifying THE key folks, and no one else.

Follow Stephanie on Twitter: @radiomorillo

READ MORE:

Bad Pitch Blog - things to do and NOT to do when pitching to journalists. Great resource and links to many other sites.

This week from SriBuo

Artist: Kwabena Kwabena
Album: Bibini (album review here)

Download free album samples:
Kwabena Kwabena: "Bibini"
Kwabena Kwabena: "Abotere"

Buy album:
- on iTunes
- on Amazon

Album art:
- SriBuo Media

Andrew Mwenda takes a new look at Africa

Quoted form the TED website: "In this provocative talk, journalist Andrew Mwenda asks us to reframe the "African question" -- to look beyond the media's stories of poverty, civil war and helplessness and see the opportunities for creating wealth and happiness throughout the continent".

About the speaker (from TED speaker description): "Andrew Mwenda is a print, radio and television journalist, and an active critic of many forms of Western aid to Africa. Too much of the aid from rich nations, he says, goes to the worst African countries to fuel war and government abuse. Such money not only never gets to its intended recipients, Africa's truly needy -- it actively plays a part in making their lives worse".

We have covered some stories on foreign aid previously. Click here to read more.

Kibera Good Governance Festival - Nairobi

A new event is being born on Madaraka Day 1st June. Kibera Good Governance Festival will be held just outside Kibera, on the DC's Ground in Makina, starting with local artists performing from 12 noon. Headlining artists include Juliani (KE), Abbi (KE), Mzungu Kichaa (TZ/DK) & VQEE (KE/DK).

For more info, contact Mzungu Kichaa (via facebook) or email: kichaamusic (at) gmail (dot) com.

More Tanzania statistics

I was inspired by SN's post about the TEDxDar statistics on Tanzania.

In case anyone's looking, here are two solid (and possibly interconnected) sources of demographic, political, economic and social information and statistics on Tanzania:

CIA World Factbook Tanzania Page. Includes:

• Geography
• People
• Economy
• Government
• Communications
• Transport
• Military
• Transnational issues

EconomyWatch.com Tanzania Page. Includes:

• Annual economic indicators from 1980 - 2015
  
• Aggregate indicators (per field)

It may be worth setting up a country-data section on our resources page - let us know what you think and we'll work on it. Happy reading.

TANZANIA

(C) K Bomani
Source: TEDxDar facebook page

Kimya chenye mshindo mkuu

Hatimaye kile kimya cha muda mrefu cha Nakaaya Sumari kimeisha. Baada ya da' Nakaaya kuanzisha blog yake na kutangaza kujiunga na Chama cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo aliingia chimboni.

Wachache wetu tulisikia tetesi juu juu tu mwanzoni mwa wiki hii kuwa Nakaaya anapanga kugombea ubunge kwa tiketi ya CHADEMA. Na mchana wa leo Nakaaya amevunja ukimya kwa kutangaza nia yake ya kugombea ubunge wa viti maalumu Arusha.

Binafsi, napenda kuchukua fursa hii - kama Kijana - kumpongeza kwa kujishughulisha na Siasa na kuamua kupigania anachoamini. Wale wenzangu ambao bado wanadhani kujitosa kwenye Siasa ni kupoteza muda, labda matukio kama haya yatawafanya mfikirie upya.

Lakini, kama nilivyosema siku chache zilizopita, kwa kuwa hawa Vijana wenzetu wana mvuto kwa watu wa rika letu, ningependa kuwasikia wakitueleza mambo ya msingi. Nini kinawasukuma kujiunga na chama fulani? Sera gani hasa za vyama wanazoziangalia?

Kwahiyo mimi kama mshabiki wa baadhi ya hawa Vijana waliojiteza na kujitosa kwenye Siasa, nitaiminya kura yangu mpaka nitakapopata majibu!

Picha kwa hisani ya Nakaaya blog.

Backyard Studio na Uchaguzi Mkuu

Studio ya Backyard ya jijini Dar es Salaam inatoka na changamoto kabambe kwa wasanii wa muziki wa aina yote. Backyard Studio inatoa offer ya kurekodi bure kwa msanii yeyote mwenye nyimbo ambayo inahusiana na uchaguzi mkuu ujao.

Samuel Andrew Mbwana a.ka Braton anaelezea nia na madhumuni ya offer hii kwa kusema, “nimeona nitoe offer hii ili mradi wasanii wapate nafasi ya kutosha katika kuelimisha jamii kuhusu uchaguzi wa amani, faida kupiga kura na kuelimisha jamii kuhusu viongozi wanao tufaa katika jamii".



Hii ni changamoto tosha kwa wasanii, hivyo mjitokeze na kuelimisha jamii. Tunatarajia kuona wengi wenu mkijitokeza na kuchangamkia fursa hii ambayo ni adimu. Tukiwa bado tunasononeka na wengi wenu kutojitokeza na kutunga nyimbo kuhusiana na kombe la dunia, basi tunategemea mtatumia hii nafasi vyema kutunga nyimbo kuhusu uchaguzi mkuu.

Habari kwa hisani ya Issa Michuzi

New kid on the block

Jamani, jamani!

I couldn't just keep to myself what I came across just a few minutes ago. And I believe there are a number of poetry fanatics visiting Vijana FM who would surely appreciate this post.

Name: Maya Wegerif _____________________________________Location: Dar

I'll be honest with you guys first: Poetry is not my thing (yes, I said it... I know it's controversial in some quarters and all that). But I do tend to enjoy reading excellent poems once in a while that keep me going. In case you missed it, the most important words in the previous sentence are 'excellent' and 'poems'!

So, while I am chillin here waiting for The Trail of Bahati's Shadows (I know, it's taking like forever!), I am certainly enjoying Maya's poems. There is something about the kid.

I am that girl that runs barefoot on the heels of her happily-ever-after
I’m going to be that person that dares to claim the sky with my laughter
I will refuse to be called mistress because I don’t have a master
and f**% it I’ll curse if that gets to the point faster...

Visit the following blog to read her poems: http://mayawegerif.blogspot.com . You can also get in touch with her on Twitter.

Madenge, Lodi lofa et al

Unakumbuka visa vya akina Komredi Kipepe, Dr. Love Pimbi, Lodi Lofa, Ndumi la kuwili na Madenge kwenye gazeti la SANI ?

Miaka ile, katuni hizi zilikuwa maarufu kiasi kwamba baadhi yetu tulibamkikiwa majina yao kama majina ya utani - nadhani mimi nilikuwa madenge. Mtunzi wa katuni hizi ni marehemu Philip Ndunguru, aliyefariki mwaka 1986 akiwa na umri wa miaka 24. Katuni zake ziliendelea kuleta tabasamu miaka kadhaa iliyofuata. Kwa kumkumbuka mtunzi huyu, na kufurahia kazi zake, embu tazama visa hivi.

VijanaFM @ TEDxDar

I was able to attend TEDxDar on Saturday along with another member of VijanaFM so I wanted to do a quick review of the event while it was still fresh in my mind. I've been trying to post this since Monday, but alas the internet in Dar has been letting me down.

The event overall was very well organized and coordinated for a grassroots effort and the first event of its kind in Dar. It was even streamed live on the net as well as supported by live blogging and tweeting. There were some minor technical hiccups and heavy rain but those were overcome relatively smoothly. It was also a great networking opportunity to meet likeminded folks in the city as well as drive change through collaborative work.

There were a range of speakers at the event ranging from a retired professor speaking about the need for equality between Swahili and English to a social entrepreneur working on a carbon offset venture. They spoke along the themes of ‘What would Nyerere do?’, ‘Hadithi zetu’ and ‘In Between the spaces’ each sharing their perspective on one of the themes.

To give you a feel of each of the speakers I’ll try summarizing some quick points:

Prof Pete Mhunzi

• Why equal bilingualism (giving Swahili the same importance as English in business and formal communication) is key to shaping Tanzania’s identity and culture.

Jamie Yang (Co-Founder EGG Energy):

• Spoke about what he has learned through his startup.

• Its expensive to be poor because water, money and electricity cost more per unit than in the ‘west’?
• The poor actively manage their finances and have their own unique portfolio of cash, assets as well as short and long term borrowing.
• The poor value quality products and will pay for them.
• We need to see more social investment.
• More businesses need to serve the poor first then grow up instead of the other way round.

Sarah Mikes and Mejah Mbuya (Street Level):

• Promoting preservation of Dar Es Salaam’s architectural and cultural heritage.
• Created a series of cartoon sketches that depict daily life in Dar as well as landmark buildings.
• Dar is a dynamic city with a lot of history.
• How can we create a more sustainable city?
• How can we influence policy makers to be more sustainable?

Babu Sikare – Spoke about his experiences with albinism from his childhood days till present. He also expressed his reaction towards the albino killings in Tanzania. He’s started an NGO – Afrobino Inc that is working to educate albino’s about their condition and what they can do to prevent skin cancer which kills an average albino before the age of 35.

Rakesh Rajani – Told two stories. One of despair and another of hope. His first story illustrated the lack of education and medical in rural Tanzania. Swanky clinics are being built but there are not sufficient teachers, medical equipment, medical staff etc. ‘The hardware exists but none of the software’ is available. The second story was about a farmer who on the surface was just a subsistence farmer but in reality had a lot of profitable side businesses. Plenty of dynamism and innovation exists, we just need to get out of people’s way.

Selemani Kinyunyu – Started east Africa’s first carbon offset company ‘Offset Africa.’ He’s working with rural communities to offset carbon emissions whilst also improving local farming/environmental practices.

Vicensia Shule – Spoke about art, drama and dance in Tanzania and in particular about the cultural policies that have been established over time since independence. She was critical of Mwalimu Nyerere in that a concrete cultural policy was not defined during his tenure which left a gap till today in how the government views cultural affairs.

Modesta – Discussed the lack of human resource talent in Tanzania. She envisions confident, tenacious, professional, altruistic, entrepreneurial and patriotic Tanzanians and this will only be possible if we have a national vision to fill this gap with every policy geared towards this vision.

Young Kimaro - Described how each and every Tanzanian must change their cultural habits so that they do the best they can every day, every week, every month, every year if we are to compete with other nations. She compared how tiny Mauritius is able to draw 100 times more tourists because of their great service all the time.

My biggest critique of the sessions was that a lot of the discussion was geared around identifying or communicating problems that exist and less on identifying concrete solutions that could be put into place. Maybe I’m a little too optimistic.


What are your thoughts on the themes/issues discussed? Did you attend the event in person or online? Please leave your comments.

Tumesahau sakata la Mara?

As-Salaam Alaikum Vijana.

Takribani miezi mitatu iliyopita, blogs zetu zilijaa taswira za wananchi wenzetu walioathirika na uchafuzi wa mazingira - mto Tighithe. Bila shaka macho yako yalishuhudia picha ifuatayo:

Na nina uhakika wengi wetu tulitoa maoni na vilio vyetu. Pia, kuna wale ambao waliahidi kutusaidia kufikisha hili suala kwenye vyombo vya habari vyenye nguvu (Kanada na Marekani). Ni matumaini yangu kuwa zile nguvu, hasira, vilio, mayowe, machozi n.k. hazikuishia kwenye majabali.

Kwa bahati mbaya au nzuri, Vijana FM ilifanikiwa kupata nakala za mikutano na ripoti za mambo yaliyokuwa yanaendelea (kuanzia Mei 2009 hadi mwanzoni mwa mwaka 2010). Binafsi, nadhani kitu muhimu zaidi kilikuwa ni ripoti ya utafiti wa kisayansi uliofanywa na Åsgeir R. Almås, Charles Kweyunga na Mkwabwa LK Manoko.

Sina uhakika watu wangapi walisoma zile makala hapa Vijana FM (tulikuwa ndio kwanza tunaanza...). Uchambuzi wa ripoti za Wizara ya Nishati na Madini unapatikana hapa. Na utafiti uliofanywa na Åsgeir R. Almås et al unapatikana hapa.

Mara ya mwisho niliambiwa kuwa watu wa Foundation HELP waliwapeleka waathirika nane kwenye hospitali ya Muhimbili kwa lengo la kufanyiwa uchunguzi. Mimi sio mtaalamu wa baiolojia, lakini nilitegemea kuwa vitu kama nywele, kucha, n.k. za waathirika zingechukuliwa kwa ajili ya utafiti wa kina -- ambao ungechukua muda mrefu. Na huu ndio ushauri uliotolewa na Åsgeir R. Almås et al.

Lakini, kilichotokea ni hiki: Waathirika walirudishwa kwasababu wanatoka kwenye ukoo mmoja! Kwa maneno mengine, yale yote ni matokeo ya "genetic disorder". Sasa, kipindi chote hiki nilikuwa najiuliza: Hivi, mbona haya matokeo ya genetic disorder yanaonekana baada TU ya uchafuzi wa mto Tighithe?

Chonde chonde wahusika. Sio kila mtu ni mpumbavu... Na Barrick wanajulikana kwa vitendo vyao dunia nzima.

Mlijaribu kuimba kwa ajili ya WOZA 2010?

Na Japhet Joseph

Mashindano makubwa kabisa duniani ya mpira wa miguu - au kama wengine wanavyouita macharange au kabumbu - ndio yananukia; kwa mara ya kwanza kwenye ardhi ya Afrika! Wasanii mbalimabli wamejitokeza kuwashawishi watu wa FIFA kuwateua ili wapate nafasi ya kutumbuiza wakati huo.

K'naan (ft. Bisbal) - Waving Flag:

Shakira - Waka Waka (mlidhani nitausahau huu?):

Lakini baada ya kufaidi mambo kama haya na ukatulia, huna budi kujiuliza: Hivi, mbona sisikii hata wimbo mmoja wa Kiswahili? Wasanii wetu walijaribu kuimba nyimbo kwa ajili ya Kombe la Dunia? Walijaribu kutafuta nafasi ya kutumbuiza? Au DJs wa FIFA/Bondeni wanatubania tu (wanataka mshiko kwanza)?

Kama hamkujaribu, aisee, mmepoteza bonge la nafasi la kuitangaza nchi, lugha na kazi zenu.

Ni mtazamo tu.

Siasa na Vikaragosi…

Leo hii nimekumbana na habari hii inayohusu kipindi hiki kinachoitwa Za Newz cha Afrika ya Kusini. Kipindi hiki kinafanana na ze comedy cha Tanzania, sema wao wanatumia vikaragosi na wamezamia zaidi kwenye ulingo wa siasa.

Kipindi kama hiki cha ze newz kina nafasi kubwa sana kwenye jamii zetu, hasa katika kuelimisha wanajamii maswala ya kisiasa. Tanzania tukiwa bado na mwamko mdogo katika siasa, vipindi kama hivi vinaweza kuongeza changamoto na mwamko wa kisiasa, hasa miongoni mwa sisi vijana. CCM wamenza kufanya hivyo kwa kutumia wasanii wa bongoflava, mfano ni katika kampeni yao ya mimi nimechangia, naomba na wewe uchangie pia.

Vyombo vya habari bado vinakazi kubwa kuhakikisha wananchi wanajihusisha na maswala ya kisiasa. Kupiga kura ni namna moja tu ya kujihusisha na siasa, lakini je tunazifahamu itikadi za wagombea vizuri. Lazima tujue katiba ya vyama tunavyotaka kuvipigia kura. Sasa kipindi kama Za Newz kinajitahidi kusogeza jamii karibu na maswala ya kisiasa kwa kutumia njia ya kukejeli na kuchekesha. Mimi ninadhani hiyo ni njia nzuri ya kuvuta jamii hasa vijana, na kuwapa habari juu ya maswala mbalimbali ya kisiasa.

Uchaguzi mkuu wa raisi na wabunge ndio huo unakuja, lakini je, sisi kama wapiga kura tumejiandaa vyakutosha, au tunaenda tu kupigia kura wale wagombea wenye sura zenye mvuto na matabasamu mazuri?

Tanzania ni Nchi ya Wapole

Mzazi: We Sikuzani, embu acha hiyo!

Mtoto: Kwanini!?

Mzazi: Kwasababu nimesema!

Haya ndio yaweza kuwa majibizano mafupi katika familia nyingi tulizokulia. Mtoto hapewi nafasi ya kujibiwa swali lake, na mara nyingi majibu yatolewayo ni ya ukali au ya kuonyesha utawala. Mara nyingine ukiuliza 'kwanini', unaweza kubalazwa kofi, kwasababu tu umemjibu mzazi!

Nimeamua kugusia mada hii muhimu ya malezi baada ya kusoma kitabu cha Annette Lareau kiitwacho Unequal Childhoods: Class, Race, and Family Life. Kitabu hiki kinatoa mwanga kuhusu tofauti za malezi zilizopo kati ya familia zenye kipato kikubwa/kawaida (mtaani tutaziita za 'geti kali') na zile za kipato cha chini ('uswazi'), yaani middle-class vs. working-class parenting. Muandishi amejaribu pia kueleza ni sifa gani zinawasaidia au kuwaathiri ukubwani watoto kutokana na tofauti ya malezi kati ya matabaka haya mawili. Ingawa tafiti ya kitabu hiki inahusu familia za marekani, kwa kiasi fulani mengi tunaweza kujifunza kuhusu mazingira ya malezi tuliyonayo Tanzania na jinsi gani tunajenga taifa potofu la wapole.

Lareau anaanza kwa kueleza tofauti mbili za malezi: malezi aina ya concerted cultivation (yanayofuatwa na wale wa 'geti kali') na ya accomplishment of natural growth (yanayofuatwa na wa kipato cha chini). Tofauti kati ya aina hizi ya malezi nitaziainisha hivi punde.

Ili kufahamu tofauti zilizopo katika aina hizi ya malezi, Lareau alifanya mahojiano na wanafunzi zaidi ya 80 wa darasa la tatu na nne kutoka familia za wamarekani weusi pamoja na wazungu. Katika kipindi cha utafiti wake, aliweza kubainisha kuwa aina ya malezi ya watoto inategemea na kipato (tabaka) cha (la) familia, wakati kabila (race) ya familia haina uhusiano wowote.

Kwenye malezi ya concerted cultivation aligundua kuwa, wazazi hawa wengi ni wa kisomo cha juu. Wazazi hawa wanahusika mno katika malezi ya watoto wao nyumbani na kwa kiasi kikubwa pia katika shughuli zao nje ya nyumba (kama ufuatiliaji wa maendeleo yao ndani na nje ya darasa). Wazazi wanashughulikia kuwatafutia na kuwaandikisha wanao katika shughuli za nje ya darasa zinazohitaji usimamizi wa wakubwa, mfano: uskauti, mafunzo ya kuogelea, mafunzo ya kupiga kinanda, n.k. Nia yao ikiwa kuwasaidia watoto wao wawe all-rounded ili kupata ujuzi zitakazowasaidia katika maisha ya ukubwani – hasa hasa katika kazi za utaalamu (white collar jobs). Pia, wazazi hawa mara nyingi walikuwa tayari kuingilia kati pindi kukitokea tatizo shuleni kuhusu watoto wao, pamoja na kukutana na walimu wa shule kuulizia maendeleo yao.

Pamoja na hayo, mazingira ya wanayokulia watoto hawa nyumbani ni tofauti (sio kifedha, bali kijamii). Laureau, anaeleza kuwa wazazi katika familia hizi wanajihusisha zaidi kuongea na wanao, na hivyo kuwasaidia watoto kukuza vocabulary au hata ari yao kujiamini. Ari hii ya kujiamini, inakuzwa kwani wazazi pia wanawahimiza wanao kuuliza maswali au ku’negotiate na wakubwa ipasavyo. Pia, amri zinazotoka kwa wazazi huwa zinaambatanishwa na maelezo ya kwanini wanatoa amri hizo. Hivyo, watoto hawa wanakuwa na mazoea mapema ya kuongea na wakubwa na kujua namna ya kujieleza (mf. matumizi ya eye contact), na hata kuwa na uwezo wa kujieleza mbele ya umati. Kumbuka watoto waliofuatiliwa ni wa umri wa miaka kati ya 7 na 9. Laureau anaeleza kuwa, 'ubaya' wa malezi haya ulionekana kwa ukithiri wa watoto kulalamika-lalamika ovyo, kutaka kuwa centre of attention, kuwa wabishi/watundu, kimbelembele, kutojua umuhimu wa pesa, pamoja na kutokuwa karibu na ndugu/koo.

Wazazi wa familia zenye kipato cha chini walifuata aina ya malezi ya accomplishment of natural growth. Katika malezi haya, mzazi hajihusishi mno katika dunia ya mtoto zaidi ya kutoa chakula, malazi, elimu, na mavazi. Tumaini la wengi wa wazazi hawa ni kwamba mtoto atakuwa (atapevuka) tu, sponteaneously – yaani, 'muache mtoto awe mtoto'. Lareau anaandika kuwa, watoto wa malezi haya muda wao mwingi baada ya shule hutumia kucheza na wenzao na hawana ratiba iliyobana ya extracurricular activities kama waliokuwa nayo wa 'geti kali'. Katika malezi haya mazingira au ‘dunia’ ya nyumbani ya mtoto na mzazi ina mipaka thabiti. Mzazi hajihusishi kwa kiasi kikubwa na kazi za mtoto za nyumbani, na mara nyingi wazazi wanatoa amri/adhabu kwa wanao bila hata kumueleza mtoto ‘kwanini’ (mf. Sikuzani na mzazi). Hivyo, watoto wanakuwa na woga kujieleza kwa mamlaka (watu wazima), na mara nyingi wanakuwa na heshima binafsi ndogo (self-esteem). Uzuri wa malezi haya yanafahamika na wengi, kwani katika jamii ya nchi yetu ni aina hii ya malezi inafatwa. Sifa chanya ni kama watoto wanakuja kuwa wakarimu/diplomatic, waangalifu katika masuala ya pesa, n.k.

Lareau anaonya kuwa, hakuna mzazi mbaya au mzuri. Ila, malezi ya concerted cultivation yanawapa advantage fulani watoto ukubwani, hasa katika utafutaji wa kazi (job market). Baada ya miaka 15, Lareau alifuatilia maendeleo ya watoto hawa ili kufahamu wanajihusisha na nini. Watoto waliokulia malezi ya concerted cultivation (geti kali) wengi wao wanafanya kazi katika kazi za utaalam (white collar jobs), wakati wengi wa waliolelewa kulingana na modeli ya accomplishment of natural growth walikuwa bado wanabangaiza.

Mara ngapi umemuuliza mtoto swali dogo tu mtaani, na akaficha uso/mdomo na kukujibu kwa kunong'oneza, hii kama hajakupa jibu: "sijui"? Kwanini watoto wengi (hasa wasichana) Tanzania wanakula chakula chumba tofauti na baba mwenye nyumba?

Nchini Tanzania ni aina ya malezi ya accomplishment of natural growth yanayofuatwa na wengi. Hii inachangiwa sana na hali ya umaskini (mfano: mzazi hajui kusoma/kuandika), ila kwa namna kubwa inachangiwa na mila/desturi zetu tulizorithi kutoka mababu. Ni muhimu kutafakari kuwa mila na desturi hizi nyingi hazitatupa advantage yeyote katika dunia ya sasa na kesho ambayo vijana wachakarikaji wanahitajika. Hali ya umasikini wetu kwa namna moja au nyingine inatokana na aina ya malezi tunayokuza watoto wetu.

Jinsi dunia inavyozidi kuwa competitive, ndivyo tunavyotakiwa nasi kubadilika na kujenga taifa la vijana wanaojiamini walio na umahiri wa kuchukua nafasi katika kila anga. Tunahitaji wananchi wasioogopa kuuliza maswali kwa viongozi wao, hivyo wasio rahisi kudanganywa uchaguzi baada ya uchaguzi. Wananchi wa aina hii ndio wasioogopa kuleta mapinduzi katika jamii ili kufuta status quo. Wananchi wa aina hii tutawapata kama tukiwalea watoto wetu kupitia malezi ya concerted cultivation. Ni hivi tu, tutapata wafanyabiashara mahiri, professionals chungu nzima, na muhimu zaidi raia wawajibikaji. We need less submissive citizens and more of whom are ready to take charge.

Nimechoka kusikia kutoka kwa wageni kuwa: “watanzania ni wapole”.

Ningependa kumaliza kwa kumnukuu David Brooks: “todays rich don’t exploit the poor, they outcompete them.”

picha:

http://www.worldvision.org.uk/server.php?show=nav.201

http://imaginationlane.blogspot.com/2010/04/masai-children.html

Grant opportunity for African journalists

Announcment courtesy of NGOpulse.org:

FAIR Small Grant Guidelines for African Investigative Journalists

Opportunity type: Grants

Opportunity closing date: Saturday, July 31, 2010

The Forum for African Investigative Reporters (FAIR) is offering investigative journalists the opportunity to apply for a grant that intends to help further their research on a particular investigative story of their choice. Two grants of up to €3 000 each and eight smaller grants with a value of €500 each, are funded by Freevoice, and are intended to be used by a journalist for an investigative story that would not otherwise be published.

Application Information

Applications are open to all investigative journalists based, working, and operating in Africa. Applications must be accompanied by a 1 page summary in English, French, or Portuguese. The summary is of extreme importance since the initial shortlist of 20 applications will be compiled on their basis and only the applications that make the shortlist will be considered in full.

The application must contain the following:

• Subject;
• Envisaged methodology (source-building, data to access, testing of obtained info in order to reach conclusion);
• Reason why this subject was chosen;
• Media house that has undertaken to publish (the acceptance letter from the editor is to be attached);
• A paragraph about earlier publications by the journalist; and
• Budget (expenses only).

If an investigation topic is of such a sensitive nature that the applicant does not want the topic to be known to others, he/she should state this in the application. In this event, the applicant and the advisory council will come to an agreement on a suitably neutral/general description of the nature of the investigation, which description will be used when the award is announced.

The applications must be sent by email or fax - preferably along with a hard copy, to the contact details below.

Submission deadline: 31 July 2010

For more information or to submit entries, click here.

Brazil wanakuja kukiputa na Taifa Stars!

Brazil are to play friendly matches against Tanzania and Zimbabwe before heading into the World Cup in South Africa

The games are to be formally announced when all the required documents have been sent by the respective football federations. Read more...

Kwa wale ambao bado walikuwa wanadhani habari zilikuwa danganya toto, bofya hapa!

* * *

Sasa, hawa Brazil ndio watatutambua sisi ni nani!! Tukicheza kwa nguvu zetu zote, tutafungwa 5 - 0 tu. Bring it ooooooooonnnnn!

Bring on the learning revolution!

Creativity expert, Sir Ken Robinson makes the case for a radical shift from standardized schools to personalized learning -- creating conditions where kids' natural talents can flourish.

I certainly did enjoy the talk! Which part resonated with your spirit?

Motherland

Motherland, a new documentary film directed by Owen 'Alik Shahadah. A sequel to '500 years later', it premieres tonight in Maputo, Mozambique.

MOTHERLAND

Watanzania Tunaogopa Sayansi? Sehemu ya Pili

Particles. Mlipuko. Mlundiko wa data. Haya ndio yatokanayo kwenye matembezi niliyofanya na wenzangu kwenye saiti ya tafiti ghali kuliko zote duniani: saiti ya Large Hadron Collider pale CERN. Ndani ya bomba la duara lenye uzingo wa kilomita 30 hivi, protoni zinakimbizwa kwa spidi ya kilomita 299000 kwa sekunde ili kusababisha mlipuko mdogo pindi zinapogongana. Mlipuko huu unatumiwa kufahamu sifa za vihimili viundavyo maada (matter), pamoja na siri mbalimbali kuhusu ulimwengu wetu.


Katika safari hii sikujisikia mpweke. Nasema hivi kwani sikuwa pekee ambaye hakuwa na kisomo cha juu cha fizikia. Kulikuwa na watu kama hamsini niliowaona, wa kila rika, wakipishana katika korido za saiti. Nyuzi iliyowaunganisha ni nia ya kufahamu kiujumla kuhusu sayansi ifanywayo nchini mwao. Ni fikra kama hizi ambazo ningependa kuhimizwa nyumbani kwetu. Je, saiti ya Apopo inapokea wageni wazawa wangapi? Makumbusho ya taifa je? Tume ya sayansi (COSTECH) je?

Bajeti ya utafiti wa CERN ni T.Shs Trilioni 1 kila mwaka. Wengi wetu tunaweza kushikwa na hisia na kuwakasirikia na kuuliza kwanini wanatumia pesa nyingi hivi kwa tafiti kama hizi zisizokuwa na uhakika? Wakati huohuo mamilioni ya watu wanakufa kwa ukimwi, malaria na njaa kila mwaka. Binafsi ninadhani mpaka tutakapofahamu umuhimu wa sayansi kwa manufaa yetu wenyewe (waTanzania), hatuna haki ya kuwa na hisia hizi. Sayansi yetu ya kupambana na haya majanga inahimizwaje? Au jamii yetu tutabaki kushabikia akina dokta manyau tu.

Spidi ya hatua zilizopigwa na wenzetu kwenye sayansi inastaajabisha. Na kutambaa kwetu katika lengo hili hili halitazaa matunda kama hatutaamka. Tunahitaji kufinywa na kuhimiza sayansi nyumbani.

Ujumbe kwa TCU & CAS

Tumepata waraka huu kutoka kwa mmoja wa wasomaji wa Vijana FM (Japhet Joseph):

Tanzania Commission for Universities (TUC) ilibadilisha utaratibu wa wanafunzi kujiunga na elimu ya juu kupitia Central Admission System (CAS), ambapo mtu analazimika kutumia simu ya mkononi na mtandao (internet) kuomba nafasi.

Mfumo huu umesaidia kwa kiasi fulani lakini tatizo linakuja kwa wale ambao hawajajiunga mpaka tarehe hizi za mwisho, ambapo mwanafunzi analazimika kukaa kwenye internet café hadi saa tano usiku na kuendelea ili kupata huduma hii -- wakati huu system inakuwa haijaelemewa.

Suala lingine ni kwa wale waliopo vijijini. Hivi wanajua taratibu hizi mpya au wanaendelea kusubiri matangazo ya redio ili wakachukue fomu za vyuo vikuu? Tunaomba wanaohusika na huduma hii waboreshe taratibu hizi nyeti ili wanafunzi wote wapate fursa ya kuomba nafasi kwenye vyuo.

Tunashukuru kwa msaada wenu.

More from SriBuo

Artist: Okyeame Kwame
Album: M'anwensem (album review here)

Download free album samples:
Okyeame Kwame: "Yahooze"
Okyeame Kwame ft. Samini Kuntakinte: "Woani So Anaa"
Okyeame Kwame ft. Dilute & Obrafour: "Tie"

Buy album:
- on iTunes
- on Amazon

Album art:
- SriBuo Media

Utoaji mimba

Kuna mambo nyeti ambayo hupaswa kuangaliwa na kujadiliwa kwa utulivu wa hali ya juu. Hatuna budi kujaribu kuweka hisia na "uzoefu" wetu pembeni ili tuweze kupata suluhisho ambalo litasaidia mabinti na dada zetu; bila kusahau vizazi vyetu vijavyo kwa ujumla.

Kutokana na utoto wangu, nimekuja kulielewa na kuanza kulifuatilia suala la utoaji mimba nilipokuwa kidato cha pili. Wakati ule nilikuwa nashangaa: Vipi, Vijana wanaonekana wanashiriki sana kwenye vitendo vya ngono, lakini "matokeo" (ukiacha Ukimwi na magonjwa mengine ya zinaa) mbona siyaoni? Na akili yangu ilikuwa inaniambia hivi vitu vitatu vina tabia ya kwenda sambamba kwenye jamii zenye desturi kama zetu.

Bahati mbaya watu walionipa mwangaza kwenye mambo yanayoendelea mitaani walikuwa ni Vijana wenzangu vijiweni.

Utoaji mimba... Unashtukia binti fulani anatoweka darasani kwa siku kadhaa halafu akirudi unaona kuna mabadiliko fulani. Ingawa bado nilikuwa kinda, lakini kuna ile sauti kichwani kwangu iliyokuwa inaniambia kuwa vitu haviko sawa kama inavyotakiwa.

Wiki mbili zilizopita Serikali imeamua kuvalia njuga hili suala na kuanza kufunga zahanati na vituo vyote ambavyo hushiriki (kwenye) utoaji mimba. Inaonekana Serikali kama inatumia ile tactic ya kijeshi ya kumshtukiza adui wakati hategemei kabisa kushambuliwa. Lakini tukumbuke hapa tunapigana vita na kuuana wenyewe tu.

Mimi sio mtaalamu wa afya na nisingependa kuhusisha imani za dini kwenye huu mjadala. Kwa kifupi -- kwa maoni yangu binafsi -- nadhani wazee wetu wangejaribu kulivalia njuga hili suala kwa upole kiasi. Kwanza, kuangalia nini hasa ni chanzo cha hizi mimba zisizo na mpangilio. Pili, kujaribu kupunguza haya matukio kwa kutumia elimu na sauti ya utulivu. Tatu, kuwaonya na kuwaambia watu wanaohusika na utoaji mimba kuwa 'tunawaona, tunawajua na tunaamuru muanze kusafisha nyumba zenu!'

Bila kusahau kuwaasa wazazi kuongea na watoto wao kwa uwazi - mabinti na wavulana, pia. Kwasababu inaonekana jamii yetu bado ina ile soni ya kuongelea mambo ya ngono na madhara yake.

Nisingependa kuwapotezea muda wenu kwasababu nina uhakika hamtajifunza jipya kutoka kwangu. Kwahiyo, nawaasa wale ambao wanasomea haya mambo, kuyafuatilia au kufuatilia nchi ambazo takwimu zao kwenye mambo kama haya ni nzuri, kutupa ujuzi na maoni.

Natumaini sauti zetu zitawafikia wahusika, kwasababu hili jambo ni nyeti mno na linahitaji kuguswa kwa utulivu kama tunavyotoa uchafu kwenye mboni za macho yetu.

From the Horn of Africa

I have to admit that I first heard of K'naan - and listened to his lyrics carefully - in the Nas and Damian Marley's Distant Relatives LP (I have been very busy lately, you know). The kid is talented (listen to 'Tribal War)!

In the following clip, K'naan talks about survival guilt, the World Cup and learning English through hip-hop.

I just have a number of questions: Do you learn anything at all from hip-hop? Do you have any hip-hop or Bongo Flava song that keeps you going or changed the way you think about/look at certain things? Or it's all about entertainment and all that c**p?

Binafsi, kuna baadhi ya nyimbo za hip-hop ambazo zimenifumbua macho. Kuna sehemu ambazo sijawahi kufika, lakini nyimbo za hip-hop zimenipeleka mbali! Kuna nyimbo ambazo zinafanya siku zangu ziwe fupi! Pia, kuna nyimbo ambazo zinanifanya nijiangalie kwenye kioo na kujiuliza maswali.

Sasa hivi huu ndio wimbo wangu:

Sabali.

Wamechangia, wewe je?

Nimefurahi kuwa leo nimejifunza kitu kipya.

Inaonekana kuwa Vijana wenzetu wako karibu na viongozi wetu. Na cha muhimu zaidi ni kwamba wanajihusisha kwenye shughuli muhimu za siasa -- kampeni na (labda) kupiga kura muda utakapowadia.

Ni jambo jema nadhani; lakini nashindwa kujizuia kufikiria na kujiuliza: Hizi juhudi zingekuwa zinapelekwa kwenye nyanja nyingine muhimu kwenye jamii zetu, mambo si yangekuwa angalau afadhali kulinganisha na hali ilivyo sasa hivi? Mara ngapi umesikia kampeni kama hizi kwa ajili ya kununua madawati au kujenga shule? Au kununua vifaa muhimu kwa ajili ya kuokoa maisha ya watu hospitalini?

Nawaomba chonde chonde jamani Vijana wenzangu mliopata nafasi kama hizi za kuwa "karibu" na viongozi na chama tawala, endeleeni kupiga kelele tunazosikia kwenye nyimbo zenu!

Ukiacha hayo, ingekuwa jambo la busara kama hawa Vijana wenzetu wangetupa sababu za kujihusisha na siasa au chama husika. Kwa mfano: 'Mimi Mwakipesile Albas'tini, nimeamua kujihusisha na kampeni za chama fulani kwasababu zifuatavyo... (a), (b), (c) na (d).' Kuonekana kwenye mabango tu bila kusema chochote inachefua. Je, hizo hela zitatumiwa vipi?

Na mwisho ningependa kutupia jicho suala la Mh. PINDA kutawazwa kuwa kamanda wa VIJANA (CCM) mkoani Rukwa na kaimu kamanda wa VIJANA Taifa, KINGUNGE NGOMBALE MWIRU. Macho yangu yamekuwa kengeza nadhani...

Picha kwa hisani ya Michuzi Jr.

Welcome to *Badilisha Poetry X-Change.

Badilisha is a project of the Africa Centre, which promotes Pan-African poets through: Badilisha Poetry Radio, the only poetry podcasting platform dedicated exclusively to the voices of Africa and its Diaspora; and Badilisha Live which hosts two annual poetry events that include performance, workshops and lectures in Cape Town, South Africa.



Badilisha ni mpango wa kituo cha Afrika, kinachosaidia washairi wa Pan-African kupitia: Radio ya Washairi, jukwaa pekee linalojikita kwenye kupaza sauti za washairi kutoka Afrika na wale WaAfrika waishio nje ya bara la Afrika. Badilisha Live huandaa tamasha la ushairi mara mbili kwa mwaka, kukiwa na utambaji, warsha na mihadhara huko Cape Town, Afrika ya Kusini.

Mpango huu unazidi onyesha ni jinsi gani tunavyoweza kutumia majukwaa mbalimbali kuwasilisha matatizo yetu na kujadili masuala yanayojiri katika jamii zetu. Hii ni changamoto kwa sisi vijana, kwani kama sisi ni asilimia sitini ya watu wote Afrika, lakini kundi letu pamoja na kundi la wanawake, ni makundi makuu mawili yaliyosahaulika, hivyo kuna haja ya lazima kutafuta mbinu mbadala za kutetea haki zetu na kuhakikisha sauti zetu zinasikika.

Propaganda za Fid Q zipo kwenye mtandao!!!

Haya jamani, wale ambao tulikuwa tunalalamika kuwa kupata CDs kutoka Bongo ni mbinde...


Album ya mzee mzima Fid Q, Propaganda inapatikana hapa (bofya)! Unaweza ukapata wimbo wake mpya Ngosha the Swagga Don hapa. Wimbo ni bombaaaaaa!

"Mc'z wanaenda down, ka Zim dollerz
mie sio mtu wa Bling mie ni Culture ka Zemkala
da brightest thang shinin nxt to a Diamond
niite Ghost writter ninapoBLAZE ka Amo
mara nyingi mie nina bahati kama Lotto Machines
sio mtu wa Adventures kama FRODO kwenye Lord of the Rings
niite ROSCOE, ninapoSPEAK in tonguez ka Jenk...inz
Don kama Bosco Mad kama Ice Helsink
unataka Bed fight? mie nina King size na French fries kwa Breakfast
T bone steakz na Prison break ki GANGSTA
Tatoo Plan kama Michael Scholfield
Bruce Lee wa RAP ya AFRIKA, ROCKCITY naigeza RAP SEAT...

"Alipenda kwenda na TAREHE, amesahau SIKU Hazilingani
PESA huja na STAREHE, na MATATIZO humo humo Ndani
Hakuna kinachokauka Mapema zaidi ya MACHOZI
japo MACHO hupaki Mekundu na USONI ishara ya Majonzi
Kizuri ni KIZURI lakini chenye UBORA Ni BORA
Kwa bahati MBAYA au NZURI akaja mchimba MADINI wa Kakora
Akashoboka n...a huyu BINTI Aliyemsafisha macho
Akamhonga, Gari, Nyumba na kile alichokuwa Nacho
Almesahau alitoa, MACHOZI, DAMU na JASHO,
kipindi ana HUSTLE, siku zi nyingi anaamini atarudi apoapo
Siku zote ADAM hakosi EVE wa Kumshawishi
Haijalishi maji ni ya MOTO lazima yataurudia UBARIDI..."

Mistari kama hii haina budi kununuliwa!

Leadership = knowing what, how, and why

More from SriBuo

Artist: Mimi Divalish
Album: Music In Me (album review here)

Download free album samples:
Mimi Divalish feat. Tinny: "Fa ma mi"
Mimi Divalish feat. Jane, Caroline, Dela, Sita, Pappi 5five: "Leave me alone (remix)"

Buy album:
- on iTunes
- on Amazon

Album art:
- SriBuo Media





Artist: Mzbel
Album: Saucy Girl (album review here)

Download free album samples:
Mzbel feat. Quata: "Sexy thing"
Mzbel feat. Shilo: "Odo kiss me"

Buy album:
- on iTunes
- on Amazon

Album art:
- SriBuo Media





Artist: Obrafour
Album: Asem Sebe (album review here)

Download free album samples:
Obrafour: "Odo"
Obrafour: "Enye nyame a"
Obrafour: "Bra be whe"

Buy album:
- on iTunes
- on Amazon

Album art:
- SriBuo Media

May 20: Open Space Workshop in Dar

We recently came across this invitation on LinkedIn about an Open Space Workshop on youth and entrepreneurship, which is happening in Dar on May 20.

Details:

• Title: Open Space Workshop on the future of Youth Entrepreneurship Development in Tanzania
• Time: Thurs May 20, 2010, 8:00pm - Fri May 21, 2010, 3.30pm
• Venue: Benjamin Mkapa Pension Towers, Serengeti Room, 2nd floor, Maktaba Street, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania (see map below)

Brief Description:
According to the open invitation, the focus question of the workshop is: “How do we unleash the energy and ideas of Tanzanian youth and start an entrepreneurship wave in Africa that will change the way we see self-employment and create employment opportunities for generations to come?”.

The even is organized by "the Youth Entrepreneurship Facility (YEF), a partnership between the Africa Commission, the Youth Employment Network and the International Labour Organization to Unleash African Entrepreneurship".

They mention on their invitation that they "hope to challenge the East African youth to create employment opportunities for themselves and for their peers and together with national partners we will support them in their efforts."

The conference is "based on the innovative and widely praised 'Open Space' methodology in which participants set the agenda and lead discussions around issues that they feel are crucial for the topic at hand."

Further details:
What is LinkedIn, and how do I get on it?
LinkedIn Open Invitation
About the Africa Commission
About the Youth Employment Network (and the youth-to-youth fund)
About the International Labor Organization

Did You Know? 3.0

Some interesting data on education, technology, and society.

Outliers: the Story of Success

Hivi punde tu nimemaliza kukisoma kitabu cha Malcolm Gladwell kiitwacho Outliers: the story of success. Nimeona ni vyema kuwasilisha hapa machache kuhusu kitabu hiki ili nawe ukinunue na kukisoma. Kabla sijaendelea, ningependa kuweka bayana kuwa kitabu hiki sio 'self help book' - yaani vile tabu vinavyotoa listi ya ni yepi ya kufanya ili ufanikiwe kimaisha.

Katika makala iliyopita, SN alitupatia maswali na hoja muhimu kuhusu suala la motisha na mafanikio kiujumla kimaisha. Ndani ya Outliers, Gladwell anatupatia mwanga kuhusu sifa zinazowaunganisha watu kadhaa wenye 'mafanikio' katika nyanja mbali mbali. Anaeleza kuwa 'mafanikio' hayatokani na kipaji pekee yaani talent au genius, bali ni mjumuiko wa sifa ambazo mara nyingi hatuzifikirii kama bahati, malezi, mila, historia ya familia/uzawa n.k. Ni muhimu pia kuweka bayana kuwa hapa haongelei ile bahati kama ya kushinda bahati nasibu, bali aina ya bahati ya kuwa 'at the right place at the right time' na kuwa na uwezo wa kuitumia nafasi hiyo kwa manufaa yako kiufanisi.

Malcolm Gladwell ana kipaji cha kuchambua tafiti mbalimbali za sociology na kuzielezea kwa ufanisi kwa mtu wa kawaida (layman). Kwenye Outliers, anaelezea thesis yake kwa kutumia mifano ya maisha ya akina Bill Gates, Mozart, kundi maarufu la muziki the Beatles n.k. Anatuelezea kuwa Gates, ukiachilia mbali uwezo wake kielimu, mafanikio yake katika software industry yalitokana na kuwa na 'bahati' ya kusoma katika shule ya sekondari iliyokuwa na computer maalum isiyotumia punch-cards (pekee nchini US kwa wakati huo) iliyomwezesha kufanya mazoezi kwenye fani hiyo kuzidi wenzake. Nafasi hii na nyinginezo zilimwezesha ku'accumulate zaidi ya masaa 10,000 ya programming kabla hata hajaanza chuo, na hivyo kumfanya awe mtaalam kwenye fani. Anatueleza pia kwamba wale Beatles, chimbuko la umahiri wao katika muziki ulianza tu baada ya kupata 'bahati' ya kualikwa mara kwa mara jijini Hamburg kwenye shoo ndogo-ndogo zisizofahamika, na hivyo kuweza ku'accumulate masaa yao 10,000 ya mazoezi kabla hata ya kuanza kutumbuiza katika shoo kubwa.

Ndani ya Outliers, Gladwell anaeleza mifano ya umuhimu wa uzawa katika mafanikio, anatoa maelezo kwanini wayahudi wengi wanaendesha uchumi wa miji kama New York. Ohh, na pia hujawahi kujiuliza kwanini Wachina/Wakorea/Wajapani wengi ni wakali katika hisabati? Hasa hasa Wachina tunaokumbana nao vyuoni huku ulaya na marekani? Gladwell anaelezea kuwa chimbuko ni kutokana na lugha zao kuwapa advantage fulani katika kuhesabu, yaani zipo very concise kuzidi lugha kama kiingereza au nyingine nyingi. Sijui kiswahili kikoje katika fikra hii, ila hii ni mada nyingine ukizingatia kuwa nchini TZ hisabati bado ni gonjwa sugu.

mwandishi Malcolm Gladwell

Kitabu hiki kinachochea fikra, na ni aina ya vitabu ambavyo kijana wapaswa kusoma. Binafsi nimevutiwa na insights hizo mbalimbali, ingawa katika baadhi ya 'stori' kunakuwa na oversimplification fulani katika kutafuta chanzo - masuala ya causality na correlation. Ila utaweza kupata mwanga kuhusu ni yepi yanawafanya baadhi ya watu kuwa wa pekee. Are YOU an outlier? Je, tayari umeshakusanya masaa 10,000 katika fani uliyopo sasa?

Waweza kukinunua Outliers hapa: http://www.amazon.com/dp/0316017922
Soma kazi zake nyingine hapa: http://www.gladwell.com/

Kufundisha Viongozi

Msomaji, nadhani wewe ni mmoja wa watu ambao wamebahatika kupata elimu. Je, unadhani unaitumia elimu yako na ujuzi wako ipasavyo? Matatizo unayoyaona kwenye jamii inayokuzunguka yanakugusa kwa namna moja au nyingine?

Mwezi uliopita niliandika makala kuhusu viongozi ambayo ilikuwa imeegemea kwenye siasa zaidi. Lakini leo ninakuomba uangalie video ifuatayo ya Patrick Awuah, kutoka Ghana, kuhusu viongozi kwenye nyanja nyingine muhimu kwenye jamii. Patrick anazungumzia fikra na mawazo yetu; umuhimu wa kuwa na fikra za majukumu ya kijana kwenye jamii. Kama wahenga wetu walivyosema 'samaki mkunje angali mbichi', Patrick anaongelea jinsi ya kuandaa watu kuwa Viongozi -- kuwafundisha na kuwafinyanya ili fikra zao ziweze kuwa na mawazo ya kutatua matatizo mbalimbali kwenye jamii.

Tafadhali, ukipata muda msikilize Bw. Awuah kwa makini: