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Nusrah Wali's Friends
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@#!: Managing Information Overload
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You must have heard of Susan Boyle and her competition, 12-year-old Shaheen Jafargholi. I bet you also followed the twattle (did you ask if that meant ‘twitter battle’?) between CNN and Ashton Kutcher. You knew when Barack got a book gift from Hugo Chavez and you’re probably sure you know South Africa’s next president. I won’t be surprised if you also know the exact number of friends you have! We clearly live in interesting times, and no one can deny the fact that we are exposed to much more information that at any other time in history. That’s right, it’s why we refer to it as the Information Age. And if you found out that you had actually set up an account while trying to sign up for a new web service, you are not alone. Welcome to the club! In fact, when you log out on your desktop at work, you work the blackberry on your way to the car park and the laptop is waiting for your rushing hands (and roaming fingers) at home.
The question on most minds today is how anyone can get any work done with all the information that is directed at you. Even if you move away from the internet, news channels on TV welcome you with open arms. And to make it worse, your mentor asked if you had read the new book! While information can be very empowering, it can also grind your walk to a halt if you don’t manage the overload properly. Imagine what would happen if you spent time with your eMail, did some little FaceBooking, responded to the LinkedIn messages, caught up on your favourite blogs, scrolled through online newspapers, gave a few minutes to Twitter, did some twittering from your brain (seriously, see http://is.gd/u7rx)… and you wonder why the day rolls by so fast these days? No thanks to the mobile phone that won’t even stay silent — and you can’t leave it behind because it has all your appointments listed.
On-the-job productivity does not have to go down while your information intake goes up. How to manage the overload is what I hope to share in as few paragraphs as possible (so I don’t add too much more to the information you have to process today). So, let’s get to the 6 tips that keep me — and many others — ahead of the looming overload.
- Push and Pull Deliberately
If you don’t deliberately push and pull the information that you want, you’re waiting to be flooded. Push information by adding content to the web too, and pull information from carefully selected sources. What takes most time is when you follow hyperlinks in an unorganized way. For example, I choose my news updates from specific alerts, eMails, blogs and websites — and I make sure I limit the number of secondary links I follow. What I’ve also learnt from pushing information out is that people direct you to more specific sources when they notice what your focus is. More on focus later.
- Create a Funnel
Note that noise is different from information, so create a funnel to help you seperate the chaff from the wheat. You may choose to indulge yourself when you’re ahead on your schedule, but ensure that you take advantage of subscription services provided by your carefully selected websites and blogs. You can also create alerts using such services as Google Alerts or set up TweetDeck which allows you have a quick scroll-through of Twitter/FaceBook updates on a single page (and you can now post to both services from TweetDeck on your desktop.) Personally, I use NaijaPulse as my primary update channel — and it’s linked to my Twitter page, which then broadcasts updates to FaceBook, this blog (see the right sidebar) and my website (see left frame).
- What’s Your Online Agenda?
If there’s a central secret to managing information overload, this must be it! Your online agenda cannot be divorced from your life’s agenda, so it helps to know what exactly you’re doing on earth so you can define better what you’ll be doing on the web. Does that mean you’ll be tied to that space? No, but it help you know when you get lost. Imagine a football match on a field without goal posts… that’s right, you’ll probably see Okocha run off to the tracks and showing off his skills in the middle of an important game. Remember the time you had a deadline and wanted to squeeze 5 minutes of FaceBook time in but you ended up with a not-so-nice presentation. “Why can’t anyone just understand how busy I am, jeez!” Really?
- Control Search Results
Because information travels so fast these days, you also need to be sure that what the world reads about you is what’s best for you. If you’ve never Googled your name, you should probably take a break to do that now. Have you? Welcome back. And for those who do it everyday, isn’t that a bit too much? Many people have found out that the information that search results throw up about them are scary. While you obviously can’t dictate what is thrown up each time your name is Googled, you can at least have a say. How about a personal website or blog with your own name? That is always a winner with search engines, and it’ll at least show the world your preferred information before they see the unguarded statement you made while in elementary school. By the way, the rule of the web is: “If you don’t want it showing up everywhere, don’t put it anywhere online - eMail, blog, website, comment on another blog, anywhere”. It also helps if you set up profiles on Google, MySpace, Wikipedia, YouTube, Linked In, FaceBook, Tweeter, NaijaPulse, Xing, etc, even if you’ll never use them. They are very dear to the heart f search engines, trust me. Proof? Search for ‘Gbenga Sesan in any search engine.
- Give Time to New Knowledge
While I agree that there’s no time, I also think it’s important that you create time to catch up with new knowledge. It may cost you a lot of money because what we pay for is clearly proportional to our level of ignorance in that subject area. You may laugh all you want, but I can’t forget how much some friends paid to open hotmail or yahoo accounts in 1999! You can use popular technology (or innovation) sections of popular global magazines or newspapers — or set up an alert for technology or innovation.
- The Pipe will be Flooded
I’m already taking so much of your time, so let me bring this to a close. Warning: more projects are underway, so get ready. We all got caught up in the FaceBook frenzy and almost all your friends are now on twitter (which means you’ll soon get an account). Trust me, many labs across the world are coming up with services that will soon call for your attention. Don’t say I didn’t tell you when you get close to spending all morning on various websites and then wonder why everyone’s going on lunch break when you’re yet to tick off the first to do item of the day.
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Lost in London
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I am very drawn to large cities. Having lived majority of my growing up years in very quiet Nigerian cities like Akure, Idoani and Ile-Ife (a university town that only got noisy when students raised the tempo a bit), loving the first taste of the chaos that Lagos threw at me during my first visit was quite a surprise. But that connection has manifested itself each time I find myself in a busy city: at home in Lagos or away in London, Cairo, New Delhi or New York. Maybe it’s the unplanned rythm of voices or the beauty of seeing how each person in a crowd can be so focused on their own agenda. Could it be the expectation of running into someone I know, somehow, or the fact that large cities present a central metaphor of life best captured by William Shakespeare in his 17th century comedy, As You Like It:
- All the world’s a stage,
- And all the men and women merely players;
- They have their exits and their entrances…
That metaphor came to life again last week as Temi and I made our way through London’s Mind the Gap zones, after my amazing meeting with the staff at Ashoka’s London office. The breath of the crowd was heavy, as thick as the variety that jumped at you from each face that either walked or literally ran past. Dressed in various garbs, I couldn’t help wonder what role each person played on the stage. No doubt, some were only ticking another day off the calendar while some others were in search of anything to give each day a unique meaning. Unfortunately, some are so busy trying to live that they fail to realise that they’ve now become mere statistics - just another one of earth’s 6.77 billion occupants whose presence on the stage is not different from that of those who have already exited.
We need to stop and reconnect with the dreams, activities and values that confirm that we add value to the stage before the inevitable exit. I couldn’t help thinking to myself: “how many of us in this crowd have lost our bearing in life and are actually Lost in London, only taking each moment as it presented itself.” Not just in London, or even in the major cities that clearly allow you see the daily mad rush, but everywhere. It will be a shame if we just wade through life only to find out close to our exit (and that does not necessarily mean death) that all we did was attempt to make all else but ourselves happy. Truth is that those who find the hapiness of playing unique roles on the stage of life are best equipped to make others happy. You can’t give what you don’t have, and I love the way an Igbo proverb puts it: “a naked man can not put his hand in his pocket.”
My Reply to X’s eMail may be useful follow-up reading even though he wasn’t Lost in London, I met X in Lagos.
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Call for Papers Seminar on Youth and Cyber crime
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Young Activists Initiative Nigeria (YAIN) in collaboration with Microsoft Internet Safety, Security and Privacy Initiative Nigeria (MISSPIN) is organizing a seminar on Youth and Cyber crime to be held on May 23, 2009 in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria.
The Seminar would cover the following presentation topics:
- Cyber crime and Youth
- Alternatives to Cyber crime
- Youth as Development Actors
- How youths can contribute to Re-branding Nigeria.
Each paper should be able to state specific and practical components as it relates to youth.
Criteria for selection will include:
- Originality
- Practicable
- Level of application by youth
Interested youth leaders should send papers in any of the topics listed above.
Paper format: MS Word or Power Point
Deadline for submission of papers is May 01, 2009.
Papers would be reviewed till 9th May, 2009 and selected persons would be contacted from May 11, 2009.
Please note, presenters are to bear cost of travel.
Please provide the following information when you submit your paper:
- Name:
- Date of Birth:
- Phone Number:
- Contact:
- E-mail:
- Short biography about yourself.
For more information, contact: youngactivists [at] gmail.com or call +234 802 249 37 98.
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My Africa, My Heritage… Payoff Competition
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Connect Africa is looking for a short slogan that promotes the beauty of Africa for its maiden T-Shirts. Readers are therefore invited to suggest cool slogans of not more than 3 phrases. The author of the best slogan will get 3 shirts for free and profile will be featured in the Connect Africa Magazine. Four other finalists will receive one complimentary T-shirt each. All users will be invited to vote for the best.
Rules:
Slogan should state something unique about Africa and slogan must reflect an African theme
- All Africans and lovers of Africa are invited to participate
- Users can suggest as many slogans as possible but only the five top rated slogans will be selected for the final voting
- Slogan should not be more than 3 phrases
- Slogan can also be in a local African language but with interpretation
- Make it clean and simple… no use of foul language
Submit your suggestions to Connect Africa using this link.
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Call for submissions: GAID Committee of eLeaders for Youth and ICT - Best Practices Forum
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Working so hard and not telling the world about your project is like winking in the dark. The GAID Committee of eLeaders for Youth & ICT, in partnership with TakingITGlobal, present an opportunity for young people to showcase their work in using ICTs for development. We believe that there are many young people doing amazing things in various corners of the world and we wish to bring them to light through a publication of best practice efforts. Sharing the stories of the work you do will also help others know that the power of one is bigger than we often assume, and we hope that your stories will inspire many people who will have access to the publication at this year’s UN General Assembly in New York – and those who will read the stories online.
What’s next? Click here to submit your best practice effort.
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[Enter Title Here]
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Eita bagaça abandonada esse blog viu. Só botei um post em janeiro e fevereiro sobrou na reta. Já é final de março e eu tava sem idéia de post. Naverdade ainda estou, mas vo inventando enquanto enrolo vocês com esses texto XD
Em parte isso se deve ao vício em WoW que me fez ocupar meu tempo de internet jogando. E não tem acontecido muitas merdas ou coisas interessantes por agora. Até o trote na faculdade foi proibido. As únicas coisas que aconteceram foi Jorge dando uma vomitada punk no corredor do buzú e eu espirrando e saindo um pedaço de pão com mortadela pelo nariz (pena que não tirei uma foto). Espero que a partir dessa semana aconteçam mais coisas prq isso ja ta um saco. Eu só vim aqui hoje pra explicar um meme que acabou se espalhando entre a galera daqui XD Primeiro, o que é um meme? Meme é um fenômeno comum na internet, onde algum vídeo ou gif ou imagem faz muito sucesso por alguma citação específica e você acaba repetindo. Outras pessoas ouvem, também acham legal e repetem também e isso vai se espalhando. Memes geralmente são usados em qualquer situação, apenas adaptando algumas palavras ao contexto. Um dos memes mais famosos da internet é o aclamado AYBABTU, sigla da frase "All your base are belong to us", que aparece no início do jogo Zero Wing, que foi horrivelmente traduzido pro inglês. Eu já citei esse meme num post anterior. Outro exemplo famoso de meme é o originado do anime Dragonball Z, em uma fala de Vegeta. Acho que a maioria das pessoas que cheragarem a ler este post já ouviram um "IT'S OVER 9000!!!" em algum lugar. Bem, onde eu quero chegar com isso? Isso foi só pra explicar qual a origem da pergunta "você prefere batata ou estudar??". Estava eu jogando WoW feliz e talz, então o japa e batata me passam o vídeo do jovem Charles Menezes, de 8 anos de idade, um garoto que só queria estudar. A frase é tão ridícula que acabou por virar um meme local.
Pra quem não entendeu a bagaça, vou postar o vídeo aqui. E coloco outros vídeos toscos também pra não perder o costume XD
OBS: 8 meses de namoro hoje XD


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| March 27, 2009 | 10:03 AM |
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Notes from the Skoll World Forum
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I’m tempted to just micro-blog (through NaijaPulse, Twitter and FaceBook) from the ongoing (March 24-27) Skoll World Forum on Social Entrepreneurship but I hope to also leave some notes (that are more than 140 characters) here. The break-out session on Careers with Social Impact has some interesting people doing amazing things — including folks who’ve seen the need to move away from the “cage of 9 to 5” so they can apply their knowledge and skills towards making a difference based on their passion. Working in various countries (New Zealand, India, US, UK, Brazil, Lebanon, etc), the group members seem to agree that the ongoing global meltdown presents the opportunity for corporations to learn a few lessons from the social entrepreneurship model by placing the second (social impact) bottomline alongside returns on investment.
Muhammad Yunus’ recent statement, “[t]he real issue is not whether the poor are credit-worthy but whether banks are people worthy” says a lot about what *may* happen to the world’s economy during this crisis-opportunity. The social entrepreneurs here have mentioned the various models (non-profit, for-profit and hybrids) they’re adopting but a clear common ground is the fact that these institutions’ (and even individual’s) decisions are driven by values and a strong sense of social impact. After a short break, I shed some light on PIN’s planned project (that explores the opportunities that mobile phones can provide) at the Collaboration Marketplace session, and guess who spoke after me? A Desmond Tutu Fellow (2007)! I hadn’t seen Lisa Kropman since 2007, so it was great to hear her talk about how she’s improved on her work in South Africa.
This session has further proved the power of networking — through events like this and other channels — as I’ve had extremely interesting discussions (with huge potential for PIN’s work) even though I’ve only spent 4 hours at this forum. No matter how hard you work, you must be able to package your idea properly and get out there to connect with resources. Keeping quiet or staying away from places where similar minds can appreciate and possibly support your work is like winking in the dark. At least, PIN now has a 15-minute TV interview (planned for 6pm) to show for the act of speaking up (saying the right thing to the right audience).
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| March 24, 2009 | 11:03 AM |
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Innovation And Youth - Let’s Shine the Light*
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Sitting in the last row at the Network Standard Stakeholders Seminar held in Lagos a few days ago, Nkem Uwaje, a young IT expert couldn’t help thinking that everything was summed up in three words: “Do something relevant.” And those words keep ringing in her ears! At the seminar, a speaker said, “When you are about to go to university, your parents give you 5 choices, but none of those options include the pursuit of a degree in IT.”
‘Gbenga Sesan has spent the past few months reminding himself of the need to ensure that not many youth go through the disheartening experience he had when he was denied access to a computer about 17 years ago. Having braced to odd to learn himself, he now appreciates the opportunity to connect other youth with local and global IT opportunities: for capacity building, learning/networking events, or competitions.
Nkem Uwaje and ‘Gbenga Sesan share this passion and are now raising awareness for the World Summit Youth Awards (WSYA) among young Nigerians - and Africans. The task, of course, would mean targeting those individuals that went against all odds and chose to embrace IT. But even for them - including those who had to risk shunning parental advice - it has been rough.
You choose IT, go to a university where innovation is a word long lost, learn ancient programming languages, graduate with a first class, but still feel that HiiT, NIIT or Aptech courses are needed before you can emerge on the surface of the corporate playground. Who wouldn’t get disillusioned by that? Add the fact that most employers believe that you are half-baked!
But the good news is that if you are one of the few that are still reading this: that believe in innovation, want to make a difference, are concerned that Nigerian IT companies outsource their development work to India, Russia and Ghana, want to see change, want to help bridge the digital divide; then you should register for the WSYA!
There is, at present, a lack of visibility of Nigerian youth-led projects on the global innovation stage and you can be the one to change that. In other countries, final year students use their projects to bridge the gap between the classroom and the workplace, and present them on an international platform.
Why can’t we do the same? Must we cut-and-paste all through our thesis? Why shouldn’t we do something relevant? Why shouldn’t we try to help in our own way to bridge the digital divide - and achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)?
It seems there are hundreds of questions, yet no answers. This calls for action, it calls for change! They say time brings change, but how much longer do we want to wait?
How much longer do we want to live in poverty and hunger? How much longer do we want health and education to be a dead weight pulling our country and our continent down? How long will we wait to witness gender equality or environmental sustainability? Time will change a lot, but not without the appropriate action!
Innovation, inspiration and technology are key factors in ensuring that Nigerian youth become skilled enough to compete favourably with their peers globally. These same factors can help us reach the MDGs!
Young people are the proof of sustainability of any venture; they are the future of our country, our continent and our world. Youth are full of innovation and inspiration and are technology-driven.
They need to make their voices heard, bring their ideas to life and realize that they CAN make a CHANGE! That they CAN bring Nigeria (and indeed Africa) a step closer to realizing the MDGs by leading innovative projects and registering then for the WSYA for the opportunity to present them to the world.
Nkem and ‘Gbenga, both Nigerians, know how far technology can take a young person who dares to embrace opportunities. Do the same today, register your project for the World Summit Youth Awards and shine the light of innovation on Nigeria. It’s already January 2009, just 59 days before entries close for the WSYA, so let this be one of your to-be-fulfilled New Year resolutions. For more information about the World Summit Youth Award.
* This article appeared in the February 11 edition of Vanguard Newspapers
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| February 28, 2009 | 4:02 AM |
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Invent Your World Challenge
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Come up with an invention a new or adapted technology and enter the Invent Your World Challenge.
Ashoka GenV and the Lemelson Foundation will support 50 young inventors in using their inventions to create positive change by providing mentorship, seed funding, networking opportunities, and even a $20,000 scholarship.
Invent Your World! Submit your one paragraph idea before March 15, 2009!
Ideas are reviewed on an on-going basis and projects can be launched anytime.
Here’s the step-by-step guide for how to take part in the Invent Your World Challenge:
1) Dream It:
Come up with a new technology or adapt an existing technology to make life easier, the planet greener, or the world better. Need inspiration? Check out “Invention Ventures” for some examples.
2) Submit It:
Send us your idea in just 200 words. Tell us: what’s your invention and how can it create positive change. If you can, send us a photo of your prototype. Submit now!
3) Plan It:
Once we receive your idea and we choose to support it, we will send you an action plan so you can apply for funding.
4) Do It:
Submit your action plan and present your project to a panel of mentors to receive feedback and advice. Once approved, you will receive your grant, and you are then ready to launch your invention venture. Do it!
Submit your invention idea now.
Through the Invent Your World Challenge, Ashoka GenV and the Lemelson Foundation will help fifty young inventors use their creations to address a local or global challenge and create positive change.
Young people are invited to submit their ideas for a new technology or the adaptation of an existing technology that will help make life easier, the planet greener, or the world better. Youth whose ideas are selected for support will receive an action plan so that they can apply for funding. They will then submit their action plans and present their projects to a panel of mentors to receive feedback and advice. Once their idea is approved, they will receive a grant.
The challenge is open to all individuals between the ages of 12 and 20 in North America and Europe, and 12 and 24 everywhere else. Each participant will be required to submit an action plan showing what activities will be carried out and how the grant will be spent, and will need to form a team with at least two other youth to qualify for funding.
A panel of distinguished judges will choose five of the best invention ventures to participate in a global roundtable on climate change at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Judges will also award one team a $20,000 scholarship for college.
The last day to submit a project idea is March 15, 2009. Visit the GenV Web site for complete program information.
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| February 27, 2009 | 6:02 AM |
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Change is in the air
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One thing that is sure about change is that it often happens when you least expect — when many could have either given up or slowed down.
Having had the most beautiful 32 days of my life ever (see www.temiandgbenga.com for details), I spent quite some time thinking through loads of stuff yesterday. Armed with a clearer vision of change in Nigeria and sharper mind to put to task, I watched as the Nigerian minister of Information read what must have been a speech to shed more light on the ongoing rebranding initiative. Dora (as she’s popularly called) is not new to the task of rebranding and my earlier misgivings about how she might focus more on one aspect of her work than the other has taken a back seat.
She sounded quite sure of what she was saying, and her examples were drawn from experiences that each Nigerian could relate with. I hope her boss is as excited as she is so we can at least get somewhere with a noble effort this time around. Few days ago, I had written to the minister and a few others in the ministry on the need to build on ongoing work so that the task of weaving a New Nigeria will be citizen-focused because no amount of money spent on a CNN advert (or road show) can equate the unguarded statement of a citizen while with others.
It’s no secret that I admire the works of friends, colleagues and mentors who drive change in Nigeria and while today is not a day to write the complete list (which could entirely be my personal perception), I sent word to the ministry about people they probably already knew: Adeolu Akinyemi (New Nigeria Club), Fela Durotoye (Gemstone 2025), Funmi Iyanda (Change-A-Life Foundation) and Niyi Adesanya (Alliance of Change Empowerment Speakers). I also think the rebranding process should benefit from the tireless efforts of the brain behind the 419 Positive project, Rosemary Ajayi.
Change is in the air! This is one of such moments when you can side with transition for good, or watch as others drive the process. Well, maybe you can console yourself with the fact that everyone would benefit from the eventual celebration of change. Lessons from Obama’s America reveal that even those who think attempts at change compare to fairy tales end up benefiting from the visible outcomes. I’m glad that on March 14, young Nigerians will gather to discuss the possibility of recreating the “Obama success” in Nigeria. But long before then, Funmi Iyanda’s “Change-A-Life” event this weekend says a huge lot about change.
As I write this, good news from Nigeria is about to ring out once again; this time at the Engineers Without Borders (UK) Research Conference at the Royal Academy of Engineering in London, where PIN’s work around the use of ICTs for development will be discussed. My wife would also be discussing her work on Renewable Energy Policy for developing economies! While many think all hope may be lost, others keep at the task to teaching the world how we do the magic of change in Nigeria. I’ve said this many times: when some people begin to publish their best-selling accounts of how they influence change in Nigeria, some others will do the buying — and remind fellow readers about how the author was their buddy on campus.
Change is in the air. Breathe it, grab it, influence it!
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| February 20, 2009 | 9:02 AM |
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Volunteer Overseas as an Atlas Corps Fellow!
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Atlas Service Corps seeks nonprofit leaders from around the world to apply for their 2009-2010 fellowship positions in Washington, DC and Bogota, Colombia. All expenses are paid in this prestigious, fellowship program, including a living stipend, health insurance, visa, travel, training, and a $2,500 end of service award. Applicants must have 3 or more years of experience in the nonprofit sector, a college degree, fluency in English (and Spanish if applying to volunteer in Colombia), and a commitment to returning to their home country after one year. Candidates from outside the U.S. are placed at outstanding host organizations in Washington, DC including Ashoka, Asian American LEAD, CentroNía, Grameen Foundation, and Population Action International. Candidates from the U.S. are placed at organizations in Bogota like Give to Colombia and Oxfam GB.
In addition to volunteering full time at their host organizations, Fellows are enrolled in a management development training program and join a growing network of nonprofit leaders from around the world. For more details about eligibility requirements and the application process, please visit: www.atlascorps.org/apply.html and watch a short video about the application process here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mx63RKbqoKY . The deadline to apply is April 1, 2009.
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| February 16, 2009 | 10:02 AM |
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