November 2013

Mohammad Anas Wahaj | 20 nov 2013

Most responsible companies around the world are taking diversity initiatives to build an inclusive business ecosystem - management, employees, suppliers, partners, etc - with representation from minority communities, women, people with disabilities etc. Similar initiative is underway in India where 6 big multinational corporations - Accenture, Intel, Marriott, HP, Wal-Mart and IBM - have come together to interact with 100 women owned and operated businesses. This was organized by a non-profit WEConnect International and supported by Times Foundation. The program is directed towards encouraging these corporations to procure a share of their products and services from women-run businesses. According to CEO of WEConnect International, Elizabeth Vazquez, "Women make 70% of the purchasing decisions at home. Yet, women entrepreneurs get only 1% of the global procurement business. They are missing in the supply chain." Read on...

The Times of India: Big companies look to buy from women entrepreneurs
Authors: Anshul Dhamija, Shilpa Phadnis

---

Mohammad Anas Wahaj | 16 nov 2013

Raspberry Pi, the cheapest computer in the market but without screen or keyboard, is finding success and diverse usage that wasn't anticipated by its creators. It was designed basically as an educational tool for children to learn computer programming. But with its versatility and customization ability, it has found multiple uses - Powering a small humanoid robot that can tell weather, manage diary and make coffee; The Instant Wild system with Pi cameras for recording animal behavior; Powering warehouse doors etc. Moreover Eben Upton, executive director of Raspberry Pi Foundation, and his team is focusing on developing software that will make the computer more accessible to children and for enhanced computer programming learning experience. Read on...

GlobalPost: World's cheapest computer gets millions tinkering
Author: NA

---

Mohammad Anas Wahaj | 09 nov 2013

Technology is used in education to facilitate and enhance learning and to equip students with 21st century skills. It is also used to expand education to reach remote, disadvantaged and underprivileged areas of the world. The experiment and efforts are underway in Kenyan schools where e-readers and tablets are being used to provide children with engaging digital content. The project named 'eLimu' was initiated by two Kenyan women, Nivi Mukherjee and Marie Githinji, and utilizes local content and curriculum with a focus on Kenyan youth. The education system in Africa is mired with multiple problems and UNESCO estimates 38% illiteracy ratings among adults and only an average 8-9 years spent in school. To overcome these issues a bigger strategy is required to educate and empower the African population and improve regional economies. Other technological efforts and projects in African education are - Worldreader; Read and Prosper; eKitabu. Read on...

Al Jazeera: A technology revolution in Kenya's schools
Author: Philippa H. Stewart

---

the3h | glomc00 | ilmeps | mawdesigns | anasmark | ilmeds | read | contact