Having developed 16 technology-led Social Transformation Programs in healthcare, orphan care and green technologies, I was acutely aware of the 'thought-gap' between wealthy countries and developing countries.
Statistically, the rich were getting richer and the poor poorer. Bridging the digital divide between their differing worldviews and expectations was becoming an even greater challenge; yet embracing affordable and sustainable technologies is indeed the key to empowering the poor and releasing their energy and talent in productive ways. Along with the implosion of Industrial Age institutions is the death of the 'begging bowl'. Many poor countries have relied on begging for funds as their main economic policy. Grants, donations and handouts have been the 'official' inward cash flow which has left the poor even poorer, wasted priceless resources and stripped the recipient citizens of dignity and self esteem.
Now, at the dawn of the "YES, WE CAN" era, a new Knowledge Age model is being birthed by the visionaries and the brave. Its success lies in the realization of world leaders from both the public and private sectors embracing a leadership style that is inspirational and mobilizing. As all international stakeholders embrace the business plan then pool their resources to co-create it, then all stakeholders play a different role with both financial and non-financial rewards respected and valued.
"To the people of the poor nations, we pledge to work alongside you
to make your farms flourish, let clean waters flow;
to nourish starved bodies and feed hungry minds."
President Obama 20th January 2009
Hope on AFRICA is an audacious and critical Program for Africa that will uplift 13 million orphans across the continent of Africa and create 2,166 Economic Development Centers with safe accommodation, education and healthcare for 6,000 orphans, caregivers, teachers and nurses each. As 'Hope on AFRICA' was trailblazing a new public sector path in America through Congress, Senate and the White House from 2002 to 2008, simultaneously, orphans, teachers and volunteers across Africa were taking the pioneering spirit seriously and preparing at grassroots level. Large scale International public/private partnerships have been used in the US Defense sector since 1945 however; I am the first private sector leader to apply this proven model to the social sector. It has taken thousands of hours, hundreds of briefings, and much courage to keep overcoming the obstacles created by ignorance, indifference and lack of innovation in the social sector.
I have been inspired by other pioneers and protected by the experiences of others as they created new pathways to prosperity. In Jinja, Uganda in 2004, an orphan called Mathias Kagebo saw me on Voice of America and asked his teacher to email me. That simple step in faith led to him receiving the first Virtual Parent, a widow in Los Angeles who had lost her son with HIV/AIDS. She connected with him via the internet and co-created a future for Mathias that included education, technology and empowerment for himself and his sisters.
Now, 4 years later, President Museveni is the first African leader to connect his 'Prosperity for All' policy up to the international community and embrace the 'YES, WE CAN' positive thinking to lift 1.7 million of Uganda's poorest, abandoned orphans up to brighter future, preparing them to be economic soldiers in the global knowledge economy. Ambassador Hope has mobilized international stakeholders and humanitarian financiers to invest $8.65 billion over 4 years to co-create 283 Economic Development Centers that will prepare 6,000 orphans each to be the next generation of economic revenue generators for the country.
"And to those nations like ours that enjoy relative plenty,
we say we can no longer afford indifference to suffering outside our borders;
nor can we consume the world's resources without regard to effect."
President Obama 20th January 2009
"I have toured the country since November 2008 and appreciated both the critical need and the latent talent and ambition in these abandoned children. It is time for us to value the life of a child in Africa and understand that these orphans are priceless human assets of Uganda" she stated. "We already have 87 land donations and community groups have self-organized to clear the land and build the foundations for their new EDC and Children's Village. I have met all levels of the communities including Ministers and the Deputy Prime Minister.
Now President Museveni will brief, Prof Emmanuel, Governor of the Bank of Uganda to complete the final 3 letters to release the first funds from London. President Museveni is expected to give a press conference and confirm " I will lead Uganda and inspire other African nations to transform the lives of the orphans and create 'Prosperity for all' by creating micro-enterprises and cooperatives across Uganda…we will ensure that our talent is educated, skilled and empowered to create wealth."
Ambassador Hope will meet with Prime Minister Odinga of Kenya next Tuesday after he returns from the Economic Forum in Davos. Kenya has over 730,000 orphans and will co-create 122 Children’s Villages.
For 48 months funds will be released to ensure that the construction program is fast and efficient. Suppliers will be paid directly once they have completed their work and real-time auditing will prevent corruption and speed up the implementation. We must learn the lessons from past programs and prevent failure or holdups.
Hope on AFRICA is the only continent-wide program to be included in both the US Economic Stimulus Program and the Poverty Alleviation Program which forms the foundation of the new 'Foreign Empowerment Policy'. Ambassador Hope advised her US Senator, Joe Biden, the new Vice President on how technology-led Innovation could transform the image of America throughout the world and stimulate social transformation in the developing countries.
The first Children's Villages are expected to be ready by August 2009. Ambassador Hope will travel to Washington DC in February 2009 to meet President Obama for the signing of the Executive Order that issues US Treasury Bonds to support the release of all the funds for Hope on AFRICA to be implemented across 53 African countries.
"The success of our economy has always depended on
not just the size of our GDP,
but on the reach of our prosperity;
on the ability to extend opportunity to every willing heart –
not out of charity,
but because it is the surest route to our common good."
President Obama 20th January 2009
hope@hope.gs
Cell: +256 776 217777
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