Lessons from Bob Collymore legacy

As the world eulogized the late Bob Robert Collymore, the intense meticulous preparation over a long period of time by the great business titan is never lost to keen observers. The man never went to college but through share dedication and focus he rose to be the shining star in the business world. His accomplishment is a depiction of how sheer preparation rewards in the end.

As Kenya celebrates the success of Collymore, Kenyan leaders are embroiled in turbulent struggles that seem to be breaking the social fabric of the nation. This calls into question Kenya’s leadership and her ability to prepare. That we are not able to produce enough food to protect citizens from pangs of hunger is unacceptable; that corruption and embezzlement of public resources reign free is evil. As we reflect on the lessons from Collymore I suggest we take a keen interest in developing leaders who can steer the economic development of our country.

To develop valuable leadership skills, the following factors must be considered.

Mentorship.

We need to encourage learning from successful people. In the boy’s club, Collymore surrounded himself with great minds. Individuals who were focused, and determined to achieve better results and impact lives. Thomas Friedman talks of human being learning from Mother nature to adopt new ways of doing things.

If we are to ensure that we are food secure, we must understand that climate change is real, and device sustainable innovative ways of production.  This way we can avert climate change crises that threaten the destruction of the world.

Collaboration and partnership

The globalized world has no place for nationalist even though in the short-term it seems a panacea to national economic development. The United States through president Donald Trump has become a shining lamp at the top of the mountain advocating for nationalism with their Make America Great Again MAGA. However, in the long run, this policy is detrimental given the interdependent nature of world affairs.

With business outsourcing processes, populism and nationalism may lead to immense disorder, economically, politically and socially. Given the way Collymore embraced collaborations and partnership in Kenya, there is a need to encourage working together of government institutions and departments in order to spur agriculture growth and development.

Developing social capital.

Bob Collymore instituted several changes in Safaricom including dare care services for breastfeeding mothers. This is an incredible move to ensure the development of trust and harmony within the organization. With a free spirit, morale is tremendously boosted hence leading to better performance.

Further, continuous engagement with employees created an environment of mutual respectability, this too served to crop productivity.

Kenya must now embrace the need to create social capital devoid of suspicions and ethnic balkanization. Negative ethnicity drives a wedge among members of communities and this eventually leads to low productivity due to decreased collaboration and partnership.

Further, Kenyans must resist the snare set by political leaders bent to create disharmony in order to gain support; this must be necessitated by the fact that hunger and other social evils befall all the poor despite your tribe. Therefore, like iron sharpens iron let individual persons sharpen another in order to build prerequisite social capital to increase innovations and productivity.

Finally, methinks, we should never shy away from engaging in politics. Bob sort to influence policy from behind the curtains. The revelation by President Uhuru Kenyatta that he worked closely with the fallen CEO is a reminder that politics is critical in the development of a community. Given that the allocation of resources depends upon the decisions of politicians, citizens must take an active role in electing leaders who are keen to share resources appropriately.

 

 

 

Social accountability without the art of conversation is a fallacy: Africa we must re-think our strategy

It doesn’t matter where you were born; within you is a repository of great elements of success. I strongly believe we can learn. We can learn to be better at what we do if we are committed. I am saying this because I was once hopeless and now I can dare dream of changing Africa. Can you imagine of a form four student who is not able to start a proper conversation with anybody now thinking of crazy, like transforming Africa public discourse on social justice, governance and social innovation? Yesterday my colleagues from high school while chatting on our 2007 class Whats App group reminded me of how poor I was even in reading a passage in English that I read the word ANYONE in my mother tongue, I guess you may not want to hear how I pronounced the word.
That is how bad I was, that is how ridiculous it seemed but I had the will and tenacity to follow my dream that one time I would meet ANYONE and start a conversation. Today I can confirm I fear no one, I can meet anyone, and I can address anyone under the sky. I know no boundaries when it comes to whatever I want to achieve. I will pursue it with my whole heart and mind.
Having temerity to stand and interact with the rulers and kings in the earth with humility and respect is of great importance if we have to succeed in the fight against exploitation and social injustices. I have no doubt that having the will to learn the art of sparking a conversation of what ails our community is the starting point towards a just world.
Having learnt how to start a conversation I can attest of numerous opportunities I have had. I have been sponsored to attend many conferences without paying a coin; I have helped many people because I have been able to sweet talk those concern into a conversation that ended up with positive results. I have survived punishment because provoked my art of conversation hence having a chance to explain my story. With this art of conversation, I have enlarged my networks by practicing humility and respect.
Coming from a humble background, having to learn how to defend myself was a first priority. Learning to speak out and how to be humble but not weak was the greatest asset I needed. With humility and respect you can get your way to wherever you want to go so long us you have a reason to go there. Throughout my high school life I learnt these techniques. I remember with my fees problems I still managed to negotiate to be allowed to remain in school as I spoke to my sponsors while others were going home. It was funny because even those who never had fees balances exploited the opportunity to go home when that time came.
It is clear that we are not going to achieve much in terms of eradicating poverty and social injustice if we don’t consider other creative means of promoting social accountability. With the wide spread propaganda and pseudo talks of social accountability from politicians and few elites, you can only expect things to be worse than they are. I believe the best way we can enlighten the masses is to start helping them learn how to say what affects them. Social accountability has to do with the masses asking the right questions to those who have been given leadership responsibilities. Until the masses are able to articulate what they are entitled to and with humility and respect asking the leaders to account of what they have done, we aren’t going anywhere in terms of seeking justice.
I count it my responsibility to start setting up platforms for young people to start developing the art of conversation. I count it a worthy course to start building momentum towards openness in public discourse on what we are suffering from. I count it useful to be in the history books as being one of those who contributed toward creating a revolution in governance in Africa by helping people to learn how to articulate their issues to their governments, and elected leaders. I feel this is a worthy course that I will rather die than keeping quiet. It is a crazy dream, it is not with challenges but I am ready to take it on. For restoring Africa dignity is dear to my heart. Ending social injustice makes my heart alive, it is the reason I want to live long enough to see the monumental changes in Africa

Transforming Public Discourse Around Social Justice, Governance And Leadership: My Responsibility

“When I despair I remember that all through history the way of truth and love has always won. Yes there have been tyrants and murderers and for a time they can seem invincible, but in the end they always fall. Think of it always.” This statement by Mahatma Gandhi should encourage those of us who are overwhelmed by the atrocities committed on the poor and innocent citizens. It should give us hope that the power of truth and love will at the end win. As we dream of this, we should work toward inculcating the love for social justice and good governance in the youths. Unless we do that we are doomed to remain under the crawls of the few selfish individuals with no regard for humanity.
I write this in the wake of heightened corrupt deals within government departments in Kenya. I write with utter surprise that now leaders have the audacity to confirm to us that they have embezzled public resources and we praise them because they come from our own tribe. It pains me that we are not able to hold our heads high and ask them to surrender what belongs to the public. It hurts to know that children who are watching these people make these statements will consider the acts heroic.
While we are celebrating those who are able to steal from our public coffers and reward them by electing them into office as our representatives, the future of our children hangs perilously. Until we start becoming serious on the future of our children, country and continent, we are guilty as those who are stealing.
I want not to be part of those who will be condemned by the coming generations. But I will want my name to be among those who stood against the vice. I want to be among those who wanted to create a better environment for public participation. I want to leave a mark as one whose contribution was valuable to the future.
I want to do this by creating a platform for developing of informed citizens. I want to be part of the youth who are causing creative transformation in the education system. I want with others to create platforms where we can build trust that will enhance strategic collaboration and partnership among the youth. I want to be counted among those who aroused positive hunger for new knowledge.
Even as we keep on thinking individual and collectively the best way to bring down the walls that have prevented us from accessing the power of transformation, we should not forget and engage in activities that will our character into question. Just like the father of non –violent movement, Martin Luther King Jr, and Mahatma Gandhi observed, we can only win by engaging in productive activities. I mean we should mind our language and actions. We should not start engaging in trading obscenities, but engage in meaningful conversations that will spur the hunger for relevant conversation among masses.
We can do this by starting with ourselves as individuals, we can achieve more in small groups than in political rallies. Because I believe in small groups we can foster trust, I believe in small group there is chance to nurture the art of conversation, in the small groups we can replenish our ability to speak our minds. I trust if carefully handled groups can change the conversation on accountability in the public.
We can try these strategies for the former has not yielded any significant results.

Peer Learning Forums: Promoting Sharing of Tacit Knowledge

As a social innovator, in a journey of making my contribution towards restoring Africa dignity.In my constant quest to find solution to what ails us Africans in terms of proper governance, social justice and accountability,I sought to get the opinion of students from various universities today in Nairobi. While sharing, it was evident that we have been affected by the continuous erosion of our value system.

It is saddening, that even student feel excluded and hopeless, that most of them are willing to use whichever mean available to get what they want. I am not blaming them, but i am worried that if the future of Africa is the hands of frustrated individual in the near future ,then Africa is at risk. We risk plunging into more chaos  in the next few years than ever before  if we can’t sort this mess. We are not going to dream of any developmental progress in Africa if we can’t find a way of restoring the dignity of young people and improve their self esteem.We are at crossroad as Africans  if we are not able show youths their identity.

While in a certain forum, one speaker mentioned that with the scars of rejection and hopelessness the chances of human right violation is prevalent. I mean if the youths are so distraught we can imagine how their negative energy can negatively affect the economy.

Can you imagine of terrorism as a result of our irresponsibility in  handling our youths, can we say mismanagement of youth bulge is both a blessing and a curse in the same measure? Yes me think so. It is true that if we can put the talents of young people into work, we an increase their productivity, as well as reduce their engagement in negative vices.

It was shocking today, while  at the conference of Kenya National Academy of science, when one professor confessed to have a research which was done , developed a product that is economically viable, patented the innovation, but they are still keeping that innovation waiting for a potential investor.  I got so curious to know why they can’t market their economically potential project to help create jobs for African youths. In my opinion, at this point i felt this scientist was not doing justice to Kenyan people as well us the world.

Following professor Jacob Kaimanyi’s remarks , I guess we need to do more in terms of creating awareness of what has been invented to help spur economic growth.

After saying all these i should state my interest in the creation of alternative education system, where we can learn what we never receive from university lectures- (tacit knowledge), the platform is  Peer learning forums. This area is of great importance to Africa because it will help young people to learn:

• How to build trust

• How to build self confidence

• To stimulate their minds to imagine of new possibilities

• To help them identify themselves

In reading the book Wisdom of the crowd, Surowiecki says that the decision made by a group of people who are informed is far much better that the decision of the most intelligent individual i the group. this is the ideology behind contagious passion Africa peer learning forums, creating a platform for young people to learn how they can use their capacity to change the course of African governance.

The concept of peer learning forums underscore the essence of underground movements that can transform our continent. However we should be clear of what we want to achieve. As we struggle towards making Africa devoid of Poverty, Ignorance and Diseases, it should not be construed as a violent movement. But as a form of informal education system seeking to bridge the gap in terms of knowledge,generation  sharing and management .

Everyone has a responsibility of building Africa. it does not matter how, but we need to change the trends for the sign written on the wall, is warning us of eminent catastrophe. let us be conscious. let us embrace peer learning forums to promote respect for people and the laws.

Brutallity Against Innocent People : Reason Why I Am Still Crying for my Continent Africa

Few days after unidentified gunmen attacked the upmarket Westgate shopping mall in Nairobi on the 21st September 2013 i composed the poem below.

DATE WITH THE DEAD

My memory lapsed that evening

My eyes won’t believe the scary images

My stomach would not hold lunch taken

My mouth will not manage to speak

When I saw blood streaming

Down bloody Westgate river

Tributaries of streams of blood

From the poor innocent shoppers

Innocent children both black and white

Children playing mother and father

Trying out their cookery skills

Not knowing they had a date with the dead

 

It is sickening to imagine

Those helpless women carrying precious life

Unborn but ready to push out any time

Maybe, in three weeks’ time

Happy jovial while shopping the best for the unborn

Not knowing they had a date with the dead

I can‘t stop, but wonder

Trying to force the imagination of what motivates them

Motivate them in their dreams to make others meet with

The date with the dead

Call them al-shabaab, al-kaida terrorists

It is uncouth barbaric and backwardness highly condemned

 

As the wild world wound

The events of the century

History will have been written in the motherland of peace

Indelible mark will have been left in soils of her inheritance

In the hearts of her sons and daughters

Will live grief and pain for ever

 

However those who have visited the date with the dead

Sooner than expected

May enjoy the full ness of joy and peace over yonder

May they have the heart of forgiveness for the pain ,

Inflicted on them during their date with the dead

All the saints gone may you pray for your mother land.

Agaki Mweberi

Then i was wondering how bloodthirsty terrorist attacked innocent people who were busy living their life. Today a lot of water has gone under the bridge.but then,  i continue wondering what ails Africa when riots erupt almost everywhere in the continent,count  from xenophobia in South Africa to protest against Nkuruziza contesting for presidency for the third time against the spirit of the constitution in Burundi. Who will save Africa from  this quagmire.

My desire is to see a peaceful continent, and that is why a continue crying for Africa, that is why i spend my time writing to encourage those who are doing the right thing. That is why i salute those who are fighting against imperialism in Burundi,those fighting against xenophobia in SA and those determined to eradicate malady of corruption . Africa, We can only prosper if we learn on how to relate and live with one another despite our differences, weaknesses and strengths.

Every one of us is endowed with inalienable rights, a right to life and opportunity. we should always strive each day to make live better for our generation and the one that will come. We can’t change the world  by always being embroiled in fights, but we can only achieve the change we desire by respecting others and accepting them as they are.

Every bit of me value people. That is why i cry for Africa, it is the reason i dream of the time when my son will not be judged through the lens of his grandfathers social status but his ability to interact with others, his ability to discern problems that affect the people and his ability to try finding a solution. This is the way i want to prepare, just like John the baptist  prepared the way for Jesus , i want to prepare the ground for social innovation for my son and his generation.

Let us resist the urge of using violence to solve our social problems. May we seek to dialogue. I know not of any problem that will not be solved through a conversation. We can try this Africa, start a conversation on social injustice, economic exploitation and many other social evils which continue to cramp down our development

Africa Is Moving From Darkness to Light: Thanks to Social Innovation

Despite the despicable acts happening throughout the African continent, I have a dream like Martin Luther King JR had a Dream of a better America. I have a dream that Africa is going to be the light of the world. I have a dream that Africa will be the basket feeding the world. That is why, like George Orwell in the Animal farm was inspired to inform people of the atrocities committed by the totalitarian regimes in Europe, in my blog I have written more on social innovation for I know that is one of the way we can solve the social problems in Africa.
Like the Africa Icon Nelson Mandela said “Education is the only weapon we can use to fight poverty.” and as Andrew Worrall says in the introduction to Animal Farm”the crucial purpose of education is to make us more able to discriminate truth from falsehood”. I believe education is a process of getting information to the people. If the majority gets to understand the importance of social innovation then we will be on the highway to combating the social problems we face. I strongly believe the concept of the wisdom of the crowd.
However we should guard ourselves from what has become the norm, disregard of the precious knowledge that we have acquired. What make most people so gullible is their ignorance, apathy and self delusion. Even those that are literate fail to use the power at their disposal because they lack their own vision and the resolve to pursue it. I have always wondered why you get professors supporting people from their tribes even when they are out rightly wrong. Why can somebody take a lot of his time penning an article that will praise a regime that is repressive, the logical answer can only be they lack vision?
My hope is rekindled when I see young people standing out to speak out against the social injustice and economic exploitation. My heart goes to the family and friends of those Africans that were killed while protesting the imperialism portrayed in Burundi, where the incumbent president want to run for president for the third time against the constitution requirement. I want to appreciate the voice of the young people rising to resist the xenophobia in South Africa. All these give me the strength to continue writing and encouraging social innovators. We will finally be successful.
As I write I want to acknowledge the effort and tenacity of the European Union, Stanford Social Innovation Review (SSIR) and many others for taking precedent, teaching and training people on social Innovation. Were it not for the continuous documentation of great social innovation, then I will not manage doing my daily analysis of the concept and trying to pass it to my readers.
It will be a great disservice to the world if you acquired knowledge and kept into to ourselves. I am relieved by the fact that we are having social media which is facilitating the sharing of information. I am proud of Africa youth for they have taken it their responsibility to help others access opportunity that otherwise will never have been recognized. Check online and you will be mesmerized by the hyperactivity of people sharing on Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp, +Google Instagram and many more which adds to the efficiency and faster rate of communication.
This is why I believe social innovation will be the next big thing in Africa. I believe Africa will not be the Dark Continent as it has been referred to before, but Africa will be the oasis of hope for the world. If you are African and you believe Africa will provide the solution to most of the problems in the world, then spread the concept of social innovation.

Strategic Collaboration and Partinership a way to save Africa from Poverty, Corruption, and Global warming

My article today starts with the observation made by Jacqueline Novogratz’s article inspiring a life of immersion delivered at TED program. she states ” We face huge issues as a world; the financial crisis global warming, social and economic isolation, terrorism and corruption, and everyday we have a choice, we can the easier road, the more cynical road which is also sometimes based on the dreams of the past that never really never was, fear of each other or we can take much more difficult path of transformation, transcendence compassion and love but also accountability and justice” i think thee latter makes a lot of sense for social innovators like me.

Going through her paper, i felt the compelling force for me to write this article to add on to her voice. we in deed stand a chance to save Africa and the world from the problems we are facing- terrorism, corruption, poverty global warming- by transforming the way we think and act. Previously we have depended on dreams, dreams that have not saved. I am particularly always disturbed by the way we have handled our leadership. Impunity and human rights violation has been the order of the day in Africa.

We are at a verge of a social transformation, a transformation of how we look at things, a transformation on how we look at the youths. If we have to think of great transformation then mentorship is a compulsory component. like it has been said before, we should not think of the poor as receivers of whatever the philanthropist have to over but they should be the people with the solution to their problem who need to be facilitated, trained and educated. they should be imparted with knowledge on how they can implement their ideas.

We need to open our hearts and minds, develop generosity for the only way to build a shared value is by encouraging and appreciating other people as agents of change. we are all created with innate ability and capability of creating a world of our own through our imagination. we need to be thought leaders. thought lead3rs in various fields. Especially in Agriculture, we need to get people to talk about it. like James Lee says in his book strong in broken places- we can market a crisis, the same way we need to market sustainable agriculture as profitable and prestigious profession in order to attract young people to be involved.

If we are not willing teach and market agriculture, responsible leadership, respect on human rights, and upholding human dignity then we are prone to terribly fail. for i am a stronger believer in the creativity and uniqueness of people’s ability. my joy and happiness will be when i will see everybody respected, their opinions considered. like James surowiecki in his book the Wisdom of the crowd said, a decision made by a group of informed people is better that the decision that will be made by the brightest individual in the group. This is the reason why i believe in the potential and opportunity at the bottom of the pyramid.

Any government that is well meaning for the world should then give a deep consideration to those people who have been neglected for several decades. The youth, and women. I have always seen organization asking for 7 years of experience before they employ, we need to rethink our consideration. It is true that we can not solve the problems we are facing by the same consciousness that created them. And  believe the youth offers that alternative thinking.

Let us try it out.

When Your Integrity Is in Question: Your God, History, Networks, And Character Are Judged.

In this still and serene  moment of the night, two days after I reported back to the office as a Personal Assistant to Hon. Dr.Gesami, I take stock of what I have done and what has happened for the last one month. To start with I want to appreciate my boss, besides being my employer he has been a father. He has taken my weaknesses and sacrificed his time to mentor and educate me on what it means to be in the corporate world. Not many will do that.
His family, they have been a supportive pillar in my growth in the last two years. I have learnt on how to relate with others through them. I have Interacted with various people through their networks. And that is what anyone will desire to have in this world- a family that values others.
However after saying that, I should say the last one week has been difficult and challenging because I learned the unfortunate incident that led to me being sent on leave. Someone succeeded defrauding Mheshimiwa’s (honorable) account by drawing a cheque to his accomplices. It was such a barbaric act. As you will be right, just like my boss was, the Personal Assistant will be the first suspect. Hence I was sent home.
I am grateful to my boss for not letting me know why I was being sent for a compulsory leave. If I would have known, it will have traumatized me for the whole month. But because he is full of wisdom he kept quiet until investigation was completed. I am sure he must have been shocked by the incident. For two years I have worked with him nothing of that nature had happened. Therefore, that was a mystery that was supposed to be revealed. My God, my history, my networks and my character were under siege. The truth finally was found. Believe me I had no hint of what was happening. But now I am a free, free like the bird of the air because the investigation vindicated me. I am super clean and my conscience crystal clear.

That is not of interest though; tonight I focus on how your history, networks and character are called into fore when such incidents happen. I was shocked to learn that some people, when they heard of the unfortunate occurrence they were ready to bet their money because they believed I would not do such a despicable act. Some engaged me helping them run some few errands, thereby being fully occupied while I was on leave. What a generosity. That is why I always dream of a better Africa. If people were ready to help me grow, they will be ready to help more other youths to develop their talents, gifts and abilities.
My history in relating with people is not in question. I have inculcated concern for others as an important element of my life. The last one month has thought me the essence of relationship. It has reaffirmed the importance of respect for others. The last one month has thought me why we should build trust. It is only trust that can make somebody bet that you can’t do a horrible act like that of stealing your boss’s cheques; it is trust that you build that will enable others to recommend you to clients. If you don’t learn on how to build trust then you are as well as written off the books of history.

If we are to fight against the heinous acts –corruption, impunity social and economic deprivation in Africa, then we have to develop trust and credible networks. I have stated before that networks are our social currency that we can use to trade

in the market of knowledge and service economy. I have constantly reiterated that we need to move into a social innovation era where people are valuable than monetary gain. We need to build a society where the societal value is considered first before we consider financial gain.
This will require us to develop a strong character as individual and as a society. The strong character will then compel us to respect other people as individuals who are capable of building of a shared history for Africa. Just like it has been said let us watch of what we think for they make words, let us watch our words for they inform our actions, let us watch our actions for they build habits let has watch on our habits for they form our character. For sure from this statement character development is a process that can be effected through mentorship and education.
Let us take our time to build others for us Jan Philips the author of –The art of original thinking– says “we help develop others”. And this we can do by only creating a community. In the communities we learn to share our stories just like what I have done. All these, to encourage those who are discouraged. To give hope to the Hopeless. This is my mission for Africa. Developing nurturing and marketing Africa talents.

http://www.contagiouspassionafrica.org

The danger of assuming distant threats: The reality of the present social problems in Africa.

It has been a great and exciting journey reading through Daniel Goleman’s book- FOCUS – the hidden  driver of excellence. I will start this article with the words of Steven Wolf “we have a strong  cognitive biases towards the present and we are weak thinkers about the long way future”. as quoted  by Goleman. This words led me into thinking about the problems we are facing here in our continent -Africa. It led me probing why exactly poverty is always synonymous with us, it forced me to think why we are the laughing stock of the world when it comes to corruption and impunity.

To me, the only reason remains,the founders of our nations who fought against imperialism  and liberated us from  colonialism were blinded from the reality of the future and its progeny or may  they were just concerned about themselves.  This can be proved by the current social status of most of those families that had contact with the colonial rulers -they are considerably rich. I have noted from different  literature i have read and stories i have heard that  after the Mzungu (white man) left, they went scrambling for what was surrendered. They grabbed enough of what they could and  the rest was either given to their relatives, friends or cronies.

This is the reason why,especially in Kenya we have constant complains about land grabbing, community conflicts and rampant unemployment and i guess terrorism activities.

In sharp contrast with Singapore, the founding father Lee Kuan Yew resisted corruption, favoritism from the word go. He set higher standards for his government officials. He had a dream for his country. That is the reason he emphasized on educating young people. He made it compulsory for some subjects like Social Emotional Learning ( SEL) – one of the key driver of social intelligence- to be taught in schools . In deed he had a vision for his nation and his legacy. Now Singapore is a first world country competing with the US and other developed nations of the world.

As young Africans are our hopes buried? NO! we still have a future, that future is to work toward making our fingerprints cover our footprints ( Developing more solution than the mess that has been caused) as Goleman observes. Paul Polman CEO Unilever says “We have to focus on the social needs which can foster innovation combining it with an expanded field of attention to what people need – conscious capitalism” . It is doable

After working with my fellow young people in Africa, I am impressed by their indomitable spirit towards making lives better. Many are not dreaming of amassing enormous wealth at the expense of the well being of the society. They are more considerate. They are mindful of their brothers and sisters . This we have to guard so that we are not contaminated by the questionable character that has been exhibited the generation before us. However i should say that we need to be open to their advice. But we don’t need to take what they tell us blindly rather we should thoroughly examine their intentions direct or insinuated . We should be conscious of their previous dangerous deeds that have denied  us peace, economic and social freedom by  them clinging  to power for several decades .Then we stand together as social innovators.  stand and say no to their insatiable hunger for power.

We should read the signs of a great revolution. Just like Martin Luther King JR brought out a new perspective of non violent demonstration in  fight against discrimination and  injustice during the civil rights movement in America, social innovation is a new way we can  use to fight against  economic marginalization,  social injustices, corruption and terrorism. Let us immerse ourselves in learning the system and acquire information, develop a strategy and stand to be counted in the third liberation from the messes and super- wicked problems in our continent Africa..

A Social Innovator Smiles, Helps and Pockets dollars: A case of Exclusive VIP Facilitations in kenya .

Dale Carnegie in his book How to make friends and influence people observes that every person longs to be recognized and appreciated. And that anyone who discovers and practice this will win the hearts of many. Jim McCann in his book Talk is (NOT) Cheap-The Art of Conversation Leadership-states that a connection is important if you ever expect to start a conversation with anybody.How to create that connection is what I explore in this article  to help social innovators in Africa to create Social Enterprise.

While having a conversation over coffee with a director at Exclusive VIP facilitation LTD Kenya, I ask him what he does in life and he answers “I meet and  greet visitors as I help them through Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) “ I wonder aloud? and people pay you or you are doing charity?  He smiles at me, then say Yes! people pay me handsomely. In fact in dollars. I am not dreaming, this is a reality in Africa.

The reality of  knowledge and service economy is here with us. Those who will survive are individuals that will consider having genuine concern for others.Success will follow those who will learn to empathize. Daniel Goleman, a respected expert in Emotional Intelligence confirms that those who are able to empathize with others easily  create a connection.If you will learn to initiate constructive and relevant conversation then you will join the group of those than can benefit it this era.The society now is yearning for people and organizations not only driven by  hunger for accrual of personal wealth but those who are thinking of the welfare of others as well.

You can bear me witness that you will not ignore somebody who genuinely and happily smiles at you right? I was forced to learn this lesson while pursuing my Undergraduate degree at the university of Nairobi because i had to earn something extra apart from the loan from Higher Eduction Loans Board (HELB) which i used to pay my fees, for my mother could not afford and in any case i wanted to be indepedent. I could smile and greet employees of the University with joy while trying to get connection which could link me  to somewhere i could do some manual work to earn  some extra coins. That is how i landed at Kenyatta National Hospital University cafeteria as a waiter. Because of smiling and greeting customers with joy i got many customers who always wanted to be served by me. And guess what? I always had tips that could take me trough the week at the university hostels. I made friends: Doctors, Nurses, Lectures and  Students  who are within my networks until now. That is the influence you can have if you learn to Smile and Appreciate others.

As my friend at JKIA will tell you, most people especially those from western countries appreciate his services. This he believes is contiguously spreading to Africa. People appreciate when they are helped with joyful individual, especially after a long flight, those in offices will appreciate somebody to help them run their errands. But you have to build credibility and  trust first. You build trust by working in a well structured manner. Importantly,you need to adhere to the rules and regulation of the countries that you are working in. Nobody will want to deal with illegal and shadow entities. So, Social Innovators have to legitimize their services or work with registered and recognized organization. You also need to be conversant with the modern modes of payment accepted both Internationally and locally if you have to survive. For this will help you cut a niche for yourself as well as remove the barriers that can hinder you from offering your services to the world.

As we seek to tackle the problem of  Poverty, Unemployment and  Radicalization in Africa you will be amazed how  some young people are earning a living. Instead of crying and whining  of recruitment and radicalization of youths into terrorism. We need to radicalize them to be social innovators by helping them see how they can make money by smiling and helping. Just by being involved in Agricultural production chain, one can earn an Income. Just by running errands for those who are working 8.00am- 5.00pm one can earn a living. if we influence young people to think creatively we will solve our social problems.We can do this Africa.