My 2020 Year in Review: A year like no other

2020 was a year of many things. It was a difficult year for many of us. A year of fears, tears, and tragedies. Heroes walked away, millions lost their jobs, industries ceased, schools and markets were shut down, travels and movements restricted, and cities became still. There was no such thing like 2020 in my life. I witnessed things we never imagined, the pandemic. it was a year of staying and working from home, physically distancing; away from families and friends, the usual normal things turned upside down and get used to new realities – the new normal, and that includes without the ever-constant “I think you’re on mute; please unmute the mic” online meetings.

I guess it is impossible to talk about 2020 without the losses of Heroes and hopes. We mourned the loss of the giants like Chadwick Boseman, Kobe Bryant, George Floyd, John Lewis and Ruth Bader Ginsburg. We also mourned the devastating destructions the Beirut ammonium nitrate explosions and California and Australia burning down. And many others! According to Google’s #YearInSearch report, the world asked the question of WHY more than ever before. Hundreds of millions of people are asking questions and searching for answers. Why More than 1.6 million died for Covid19? Why so many people lost jobs? Why the economy is in a recession? Why democracy and multilateralism are under threat? Why human rights are often denied? Why do we still have dreams and stay hopeful?

When the year was beginning I had so many things to look for, a list of new year resolutions. But sadly, the strange thing known as the COVID19 crushed everything into crisis and tested our souls at crossroads. In the first 100 days of the year, I had to amend my list resolutions as may you did too into and activate the emergency contingency plan for survival. I witnessed several events for the first time. It the longest period I spent staying indoors as a lifesaving intervention. I spent most of the time on my computer screen than anything else. It was amazing I spent long hours in connecting and reconnecting families, friends, mentees, and colleagues online. I was away from my office for five complete months. I could not imagine turning my home into an office and being able to deliver every bit of work online without compromising the quality. It was a learning experience and adopting the new normal of work. My digital skills dramatically upgraded by exploring new essential productivity tools for making work more creative and deliverable. Through online I interviewed hundreds of people, mentored tens, moderated and spoke more than ten panels sessions, both local and international including the Annual leaders Gathering, Global Somalia Diaspora Forum, CEB 2020, and constantly joined Zoom meetings which I thought I could not be possible with physical gathering.

Even though I have gone through a series of waves challenges as you may do, but there are several things to be grateful. On February 2020, I graduated from YELP fellowship class of 2019 of the LéO Africa Institute which was one of the incredible life-changing programs I have ever participated. Also, I was selected as the Valedictorian, the best outstanding fellow, of a class of 2019 and delivered the valedictorian speech which was the first of its kind. Additionally, I was successfully selected to join for the first-ever virtual Climate Reality Leadership Corps global training in July 2020. This has been an incredible learning experience and joining a global community of over 21,000 formerly trained Climate Reality Leaders already working together to fight the climate crisis. Moreover, I joined the IITE Institute as its head of Innovations where I focus on designing social innovation boot camps, hackathons and fellowships, mentoring young people to get jobs, build successful and sustainable social enterprises, and help budding MSMEs to maximize their full potential.

with my mentor Awel at YELP gradution at Mestil, Kampala

Additionally, I have worked on several different projects and activates. One of the interesting parts is working for and with young people who are either transitioning from schools to the labour market or building social enterprises to tackle a social issue. It’s a rewarding and valuable contribution to the society for making a difference in people lives and that is what kept me getting up every morning. Also, it resonates the cause I stand for building better Somali through Education, Entrepreneurship and Employment.

As a tradition, every year I list of carefully selected books to improve my understanding about the world view and expand my skills and industry expertise. I am glad that I have managed to read 8 books from diverse fields, authors and times. Here are the most interesting books I found thought-provoking;

1. The Field Guide to human-centred Design by IDEO
2. Option B; facing adversity, building resilience and finding joy by Sheryl Sandberg and Adam Grants 
3. An American Marriage by Tayeri Jones 
4. Design Thinking for Strategic Innovation by Idris Moote
5. Design When Everybody Designs by Ezio Manzini
6. Interventions: A Life in War and Peace by Kofi Annan and Nader Mousavizadeh
7. When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi
8. Veronika Decides to Die by Paulo Coelho

As a person who subscribed as life long learner and enjoys challenging my knowledge and skills, I enrolled numerous of online classes which I have completed; here are few of them.

1. Learning how to learn: powerful mental tools to help you master tough subjects Introduction to Data Science by US San Diego
2. Design Thinking for Innovation by University Virginia
3. Steps to Startup, a package of 8 courses, by Social Enterprise Institute
4. How to Write Scientific Research Paper by École Polytechnique

Furthermore, Netflix was among the top sites I browsed in 2020 to escape lockdown’s boredom. I watched Documentaries, reality TV shows, and romance from different stories and countries and cultures. To mention a few, Emily in Paris, Money Heist, and Queen of Gambit which all of the most popular released of the year. The Social Dilemma and David Attenborough a life on our planet was among the best documentaries I have screened in 2020.

One of the things I am proud of my 2020 is the completion personal challenge of writing 30 short stories for 30 days in December alone which I have done completely. These stories were covered from many different takes, moments and events. They were original and factual stories about my moments. This short stories challenge was tough, challenging, and learning experience. One of the biggest lessons of the challenge was getting things done accordingly.

2020 has been a year of many things. There have been challenges, opportunities and experiences. Since my options A was got suspended by pandemic, but I am glad option B worked well. Living in option B used to coin as a very normal thing in the past but in 2020 the option B became a precious goal for everyone. Now as we are beginning in 2021, I am looking backwards to connect the dots and move forward, upward and onwards. Hopefully, the past of pandemic year will be the base of building blocks of the next decade, and many generations to come.

Welcoming the 2021 batch of TNE at IITE Institute

COVID-19: Leadership is the Bridge between Chaos and Hope

The world is experiencing huge uncertainties in light of the coronavirus pandemic that has caused huge devastation to societies and economies alike. The coronavirus tops the current major global threat against humanity. It is the greatest threat that faced the human race equally, and at the same time, in human history. The crisis has tested the soul of this Generation (GenZ). In weeks, the pandemic shut down the global economy, disrupted global trade and movement, widened existing inequalities, resulted in a global leadership crisis, and weakened the social contract and its structures. Although Covid-19 came with unexpected and unprecedented challenges, the world had failed to observe deteriorating alarms by a few public figures including the billionaire philanthropist, Bill Gates, who is keen on Global Health and development.

Previous global health crises, such as the SARS, Ebola, or Zika did not leave much of an imprint on the world as the case has been for coronavirus. This includes the unprecedented collaboration of the global scientific community, innovations in affordable testing and treatments, all aimed at producing a vaccine to fight COVID-19 and control further spread of the disease.

The pandemic has also accelerated the adoption of Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies, which could lead to a healthier and prosperous world. For instance, The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) adopted a mobile app, AI-enabled chatbots, and phone calls to identify, report, and share all information of nearby testing locations. This contributed to the success of South Korea’s fight against COVID-19. Also, in Rwanda, Robots were deployed to carry out temperature checks, check for vitals, and keep medical records of COVID-19 patients. Leveraging the Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies in the fight against the Covid-19 will allow us to achieve greater preparedness for future pandemics and hopefully push us towards a safer and healthier world.

Although the coronavirus has come at a critical moment, it has offered the world four significant leadership lessons to resolve such crises or even worse threats in the future.

Image: Photo by @Cyprints 

First, we need more collaborative and inclusive leadership both at the national and the global level. The pandemic taught us how we can either resist or reset the world through inclusivity and collaboration rather than isolation. Public sectors will only be able to bounce back from the pandemic stronger and faster if they harness partnerships with the private sector, civil society, scientists, faith-based organizations and more importantly, young people. For instance, In Somalia, a national task force was constituted and led by Prime Minister HE Hassan Ali Kheyre which brought together all the leaders from different sectors. This was a tremendous step towards synergizing the resources and strategies available to fight the coronavirus. With this task force, Somalia successfully managed and beat the misinformation and misconceptions about the coronavirus pandemic.

Second, the world needs to build a new social contract. In this post-crisis moment, countries and people should come together and draw a new blueprint for global order and systems. The coronavirus shook our global system and proved that change is inevitable if we are to avoid social unrest caused by the widening inequalities and future health and biological crises. To avoid a great reversal for the global development trajectory, the world should adopt the agenda of “reset” as the starting point to our recovery.

Third, we need smart investment in Science, Technology and Innovation. Governments and people need to work on resetting and recovering their economies by filling the investment gap in digital infrastructure to adapt to the new realities of limited physical contact. During the pandemic, debate on the future of work has come sooner than expected, with both unprecedented challenges and opportunities. For the past weeks, we have experienced a growing number of online classes, virtual meetings among leaders, and courts holding digital hearings. This might create a digital gap between people and countries; therefore, shirking the digital divide is inevitable to keep the economic recovery and growth facing upwards.

Fourth, the world should work towards the restoration of our shared global biodiversity. The majority of deadly diseases have originated from animals. These include the SARS, bird flu, Swine Flu, MERS, Zika, Ebola and more recently COVID-19. This is telling enough of the devastating relationship between humans and our environment. The pandemic has reminded the world that human health and biodiversity are interlinked and interdependent therefore, humans should protect and preserve the environment for a better and healthier world.

Finally, the people of the world and governments should make a rational choice towards the path of global solidarity, recovery, and green growth. In this crisis, everyone has a role to play.

This article was first published by LeoAfrica Review

The Class of 2020: things you should know after your graduation

Congratulations the class of 2020!

You have achieved a great milestone. The world is proud of you!

Graduation is one best feeling ever for everyone who has gone through the school system. Graduation comes with all the fanfare of completion, the commencement ceremonies, and collecting certification! It’s a remarkable end of campus life and grand entry into career life. This year 2020, the world is experiencing wreaking havoc due to the COVID-19 pandemic which has turned everything upside-down. The long-awaited graduations couldn’t be held— including yours. But hopefully, you will not get confused about the crisis because this is a tragedy that befell us all. But as, Homo sapiens, we are smart enough to make the best out of it. That is the hope for the whole world. Your generation is the largest and most empowered in the history of the human race. There is a lot of technology, knowledge and opportunities for you to tap into and turn things around. In the past decade, I registered three major graduations in my life; from high school to my bachelors and my masters. Like everyone else, I was very excited. I was all out looking for opportunities and seeking advice.

Last week, my two younger brothers graduated from high school in Sweden. I am happy for them because I have witnessed their progress. I still remember helping them with their handwriting and arithmetical operations. Looking at them, I was reminded of myself at that time. I was reminded of the aspirations and expectations that my classmates and I carried that day. Today, I feel obliged to share with you a few things I wish I knew when I was leaving college.

 

Life is a series of waves of struggle. The solution of one is merely the unlocking of another then another. This continues throughout life. Remember, you had struggled to write research papers, defend your thesis, paying school fees, and deliver a presentation and many more, and all you wished is to get done with a college life cycle. This is true to almost everyone in school because we think life after school will be much easier. The truth is nothing is easy. And by the way, whoever said, life is easy? I guess no one! Recently I was conversing with a friend from Sudan with whom we attended our Postgraduate Studies. When I inquired on how she’s holding up, she said, “It’s from struggle to hustle,” she continued, “Now days, I introduce myself as a certified hustler to sacrifice the status quo and get what I want.” This reminded me of the famous Portuguese phrase by a great African hero, Samora Machel, “A luta continua” which means the struggle will continue. Honestly speaking, the struggle will continue!

 

Everyone should have a cause to stand for. As a student or graduate, there must be a cause you care about and pursue during your lifetime. Some of us stand for education, human rights, health, peace, equality, or the environment. For example, Malala Yousafazi is an award-winning Pakistani Education advocate, especially female education. She stood up for this cause at a younger age and her impact of bettering the future is being felt. Malala has a powerful and inspiring story, but she was lucky to identify her passion early. This may not be the same story with everyone. Some people find it hard to understand what they truly care about. You find them trying to fit in every industry. That is okay! As long as you are in the process of figuring things out. There is nothing wrong with that. Having a cause will put a litmus test on your focus and guide you to carefully choose your industry of work.

 

Investing in yourself is the best form of investment. It generates a greater return. We live in the early stages of the Fourth Industrial Revolution where everything is evolving; the way we do business, the way we work and communicate, and the way we live. This is mainly due to technology which requires us to always be updated. The skill demand on labour markets is constantly changing with higher rates, some of which are not taught at school. Therefore, investing in yourself should be a top priority. This can be in a form of reading and writing more. I commit to reading at least one book in every month to challenge my intelligence. I was inspired by Bill Gates who is a vivid reader and his reading list or book recommendations are not limited to a specific area; that is something we should pay attention to as well. Avoiding unlived life and building a successful career in the 21st century requires one to become a deep generalist and a polymath. If you limit yourself to the few books which you read from your school library and course you studied, I am not sure that will be enough to place you in a competitive labour market that you’re joining. Additionally, the personal investment includes the financial aspect as well. Trade-offs will remain but rational utilization the financial resources are inevitable. Therefore, save and invest the little you earn in the early years of your career because it will pay off. Remember salary is never enough for anyone who ever worked as an employee. Creating multiple streams of income is necessary but this can be done by managing your personal finance wisely. This may include investing a business or building startups. Moreover, as a young graduate with more life ambitions, you should also prioritize your health. This extends from physical health to mental health as well. Many young professionals develop stress and depression which may lead to irrational decisions including drug addiction. Stress and depression can be developed from unemployment, personal disappointments, or maybe the loss of loved ones or property. To protect our mental health, we have to develop better health habits. Services like therapy should be included in this bracket should be needed. We all got a finite number of years to breathe, so invest early and wisely.

Image: Photo by Baim Hanif on Unsplash

Your network is your net worth. Creating a professional network is crucial for building a successful career. This doesn’t mean to make more friends either online or offline; you will never need to make more friends in your life. All you need is to know at least 20% of the people in your industry or city because they have access to the 80% resource you might need to. Think about attending social events related to your cause taking place in your city or region. If this requires travelling; go for it. Most people misuse such opportunities. We focus on taking selfies and embracing our social media fans. Selfies should not be the result but should part of your networking process. Meet people, tell them what you stand for and why you may want them to connect with you. In case you need to develop a brief elevator pitch to catch the attention of the people, go for it. This resonates well with one of my new friends I met last February at Bole Airport as I transited to Entebbe. I hadn’t recognized her until she re-introduced herself with an amazing elevator pitch. She said, “Hey you must be Okash, I met you at African Blockchain Conference 2019 in Kampala.” That statement forced me to pay attention to her. She attended a panel discussion which I spoke at that conference and she told me how much she enjoyed a book,  The Fourth Industrial Revolution by Professor Klaus Schwab,which I recommended during my talk of that time. That was a nice trick to network. However, to catch someone’s attention at a networking event try to be specific and smart enough. Attending Events regionally is also a great deal. Changing the world requires partnerships; you need a diverse network to join for your cause. Travelling overseas and discovering new things might be a forward step for growth especially attending a conference or event. In 2018, I was at the Afrika Youth Connekt Summit in Kigali where I met valuable friends. Also, I was inspired by the countless youths from different parts of Africa seeking investors, and building synergies among the participants. Furthermore, seek the membership of creative or innovations hubs in your city, this is a great way to get to know and connect with like-minded people. Finally, join and apply for the change-makers’ networks and youth development opportunities. Always have it in mind that you are not alone in the cause you stand for, so find the youth-led organization in the area you are championing. Offer yourself and your time as a volunteer. This way, you contribute to building a better world.

Finally, I wish those few thoughts might help you regardless of which career you are pursuing. I wish I could give you more gifts than this blog for your graduation. That could be a copy of Be Fearless by Jean Case. I am sure we are now facing tough challenges that require being fearless and optimistic about the present and the future. And I hope that book would help you do so. By changing ourselves, we change the world.

Welcome to life after graduation and I hope you will make the best out of it.

 

What makes life worth living in the face of death?

Death has been one of my biggest fears in my entire life. It’s not because I don’t want to die but it’s because I am not sure when I will be ready to face death. But the fact is, it’s a destination we all share, and it comes after everyone. 

One breezy evening, I was sitting with a close friend at school Polizio beach in Hamar Jabab, Mogadishu. We were enjoying the idyllic view of the beach and the beauty of falling and golden sunset, breezing the fresh air to clear our minds and sometimes the snapping waves crashing into rocks and taking stunning selfies. As usual, we were having an intriguing conversation on a variety of issue, but this time we found a crowd behind us, somewhere close to us. It was a body and a huge number of people surrounding a grave. We could feel the pain in our hearts. It’s painful when someone loses their loved ones. Immediately, our topic changed into mortality, life and death. We talked about death and shared stories. And you can imagine how death stories can never be entertaining; because there is nothing fun about it and it’s all about seriousness. My friend couldn’t tell me the entire powerful and poignant story of a dying neurosurgeon, Dr Paul Kalanithi, but she pulled out the When Breath Becomes Air from her bag asked me to read and reread. It’s a masterpiece. A book that shed my tears; a book seeks to answer to fundamental questions about life; from science to philosophy, from family to career and from life to death. 

At age of 36, Dr Paul Kalanithi was diagnosed with stage IV lung cancer at a time he was about to graduate from his residency in neurosurgery at Stanford University, at a time he was treating dying patients, at a time he was imagining beautiful life with his wife, Lucy. He was a gifted writer, doctor and scientist. He studied medicine. Although he is from medical family, but he never wished to become a doctor as his first choice. But instead, he earned two degrees from English literature and human biology at Stanford, and a master’s in history and philosophy of science at Cambridge.

It is incredible how he was able to write this book and posthumously published while he knows he was dying. I am immensely grateful that he did because words have longevity than our lives.  The book is remarkable; I was reading, crying and walking with Dr Kalanithi with his journey from beginning to end. He writes in marvelously way of storytelling. Its moving and heartbreaking story; It reminded me of the story of Randy Pausch of the last lecture which I read some years back.

One of the ramarkble things I admire from the book is when Lucy and Dr Kalanithi decided to have a child knowing he is soon to die. “I knew a child would bring joy to the whole family, and I couldn’t bear to picture Lucy husbandless and childless after I died, but I was adamant that the decision ultimately be hers.” Although Dr Kalanithi was there for the delivery his daughter, but he was not able to spend time with her and give some memories of him. But he left her with a message

“When you come to one of the many moments in life where you must give an account of yourself, provide a ledger of what you have been, and done, and meant to the world, do not, I pray, discount that you filled a dying man’s day with a seated joy, a joy unknown to me in all my prior years, a joy that doesn’t hunger for more and more but rested, satisfied. In this time, right now, that is enormous thing.”

 

Unfortunately a few months later, March 2015, Dr Paul Kalanithi died to cancer at the age of 37 before he lived his life. What a loss of such genuine human! I read this book in a time of Covid-19 pandemic which is full of uncertainty, anxiety, and fear of death.  In fact every life has value but every death has not similar pain!

When Breath Becomes Air is not a luxurious read, but it’s a well-written book that could be an emotional investment for everyone who reads it. If you’re interested in reading a powerful and moving memoir during this Covid-19 lockdown, you should pick this for your next read with a box of tissue.

Interview With Mohamed Okash – Class Of 2019 Valedictorian

In this interview, I  spoke to Charlotte Natukunda about the award and my leadership journey after the fellowship.

Charlotte: What does it feel like to be recognized as the YELP Class of 2019 valedictorian?

Okash: I am immensely grateful to my class of 2019 for believing in me and choosing me the best fellow among the class. It was a humbling experience and honour to be the third recipient of the Magnus Mchunguzi Certificate for Outstanding Leadership.

I accept the recognition and award on behalf of all the fellows of the class of 2019 and the entire YELPFamily. I feel honoured and responsible for accelerating efforts to deliver impact and changing people’s lives in my community.

Portrait at Kasenge Forest in March 2019 by Zarah Abdul

Talk to us about your experience in the YELP Fellowship

First of all, I want to thank you, Charlotte, Amri, Kwezi, Awel and the faculty members for the tireless effort they invested in empowering us to transform our lives and contribute building the Africa we want: a peaceful, prosperous, and integrated continent.

I always feel honoured to be part of this great YELP family. Previously, I had participated in some kind of leadership training, summit or seminar, but the fact is that YELP is a different; it is inspiring and life-changing. In a few words, it is about aiming high, breaking the barriers and winning for all.

This fellowship has been a one-year-long transformational journey which has not been limited to just our professional but also personal growths. The friendships I made, the ideas we explored, the leadership conversations we had and Pan-African readings we reflected were incredible.

Co-hosting camp fire African storytelling session with Angella  in Kasenge Forest resort, March 2019

What has been your biggest take-home?

YELP has helped me to become an agile, empathetic and forward-thinking thought leader. One who represents a vision, a hope, and a change for better.

I will champion this new mindset, knowledge, and skills that I gained during the fellowship towards both my personal and professional success and contribute to the Africa we all want.

Group Photo during second seminar at Kalangala Island, August 2019

Now that you have graduated from the YELP Fellowship, what next?

Aluta Continua! The struggle will continue to free Africa from hunger, poverty, inequalities, and conflict. Now going back home, to Somalia, I will commit to empowering lives, sustaining the fragile peace we have, and changing narratives about my country and Africa.

Family photo @ Latitude 0 Hotel Kampala, Feb 2020

My Valedictorian Speech: YELP Class of 2019

Thank You, Kwezi for the kind Introduction. Thank You! Thank You, Everyone. It is always great to be back here in Uganda, the Pearl of Africa, a very beautiful country with very beautiful people.

Good Afternoon.

Our founder Awel, Director Kwezi, the Board of trustees, the faculty members, the Alumni, the leadership team, the partners, the guest of speaker today Mr Patrick Mweheire and more importantly the class of 2019.

Delivering the speech

Congratulations on your incredible achievement, and thank you for the honour, thank you for believing in me and choosing me as the Valedictorian of the class of 2019. But, today I will be speaking on behalf of every one of you since there should be only one Valedictorian speech.

I am told that the last two Valedictorians were Cleofash Alinaitwe from Uganda and Wanjūhī Njoroge from Kenya, meaning I will be either winning a 10,000 USD grant or will be speaking at the UN General Assembly or Davos.

My fellow Young Leaders,

On 14th December 2018, I received an email from the LeO Africa Institute congratulating me upon being shortlisted for the Young and Emerging Leaders Project class of 2019; it was not only a moment of joy and happiness but a moment of reclaiming my purpose.

YELP has been an incredible and transformational journey not only limited to leadership but also at a personal level with 22 young African Leaders From Somalia, Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya, Rwanda, D.R. Congo and Burundi.

On March 22-24 2019, our journey together began from Mukono at Kasenge Forest Resort, where we had our first seminar on “Shaping Personal Leadership”.

From there, I united with my class of 2019, a class that doesn’t only take pride in and share values as Africans, but also comrades leading a cause and initiative to contribute to building the Africa we want – an Africa that is peaceful, prosperous, and integrated.

What will always remain in our deep memories are the pan-African readings, the leadership conversations, the African storytelling during campfire, the forest walk, the morning runs, the camping, and the lifelong connection we made.

Although we came from different countries and speak different languages, we hold single a vision for bettering Africa, Ubuntu.

Awel (R) Me, Mr Patrick Mweheire (M) & Mathias Kamp (l)

On August 8-11, 2019, we met again in Kalangala for the second seminar on “Achieving and Managing Success”. It was an amazing experience to explore our own abilities and discuss rarely debated topics like failure, pain and troughs, and also to relate values that underpin success to the well-being of people around us. We also enjoyed a range of content-focused sessions on “how to define success” and “how to deal with challenges,” as well as on “identity in a Pan-African context”.

After the second seminar we had the confidence to claim that we no longer fear failure and can accommodate failure and pain since they are part of the process of becoming who we truly want to be and what exactly we want to achieve in the world. And now we are here for our third seminar on “ living your legacy”.

My Fellow Comrades

As I speak today, it is almost 6 decades to the day we lost Comrade Patrice Lumumba; it is 5 decades since the day we lost Dr Martin Luther King; 4 decades since the day we lost Steve Biko; and over 3 decades since the day we lost Comrade Samora Michel and Thomas Sankra.

So the question is: are we living the life they wanted us to live or making alive their aspirations? They all sacrificed their lives for the cause of common good.

Some of us often re-read Comrade Patrice Lumumba’s letter from Thysville prison to Mrs Lumumba and Dr King’s letter from the Birmingham Jail to reflect on their journey and struggle for freedom, but that might not be sufficient.

Group photo with the YELP Class of class of 2019

Ladies and Gentlemen

Today, more than 1 billion people live in extreme poverty (less than $1.25 a day), the majority of them living in Africa.

Today, 8 men have as much wealth as the bottom 3.5 billion poorest people (half the world population). Today, about 263 million children and youth are out of school, including 61 million children of primary school age.

Today, more than a billion people don’t have access to electricity.

The number of people living in slums and shantytowns is now estimated at 863 million. While youth were almost three times more likely than adults to be unemployed.

Despite all those challenges in the world and more particularly in Africa, there are huge opportunities for growth on the continent.

It was just last month when the UK-Africa Summit took place in London. Before that there had been the China-Africa Summit, Japan-Africa Summit, India-Africa Summit, Russia-Africa Summit, US-Africa Summit, and many others.

So, why are all these countries interested in Africa?

They see opportunities. They see Africa as the hub for trade and investment; a continent with a population of 1.2 billion people and expected to rise to 2.5 billion by 2050; a rising middle class, rapid urbanization and structural transformation – and a growing labour workforce.

The Agenda 2063, The Africa Continental Free Trade Area, silencing the Guns by 2020 and African Peace fund and ongoing AU reforms are also among the key drivers of this transformation.

As we now enter a decade of Action and delivery on the Global Goals, we the young leaders should make sure that no one is left behind by 2030.

My fellow young leaders,

To achieve transformative action requires transformative thinking. As the agents of change. We must scale up our efforts to end poverty and inequality, tackle climate change, sustain peace and empower the young people with latest opportunities, driven by the 4th industrial revolution – from artificial intelligence to robotics, Nano technology to machine learning and quantum computing.

My dear brothers and sisters

If Africa has to transform; if Africa has survive in this century; we, the young people, should take responsibility and lead towards socio-economic and political transformation in our countries and the continent at large.

Finally, Since we are shaping our present, I am fully confident that we can shape our future for the sake of the future generation.

As we celebrate Black History month, I want to end my speech with a quote by the great African-American president, Barack Obama, who said:

“Now that triumph must be won once more, and it must be won by you. And I am particularly speaking to the young people all across Africa and right here in [East Africa]. You have the power to hold your leaders accountable, and to build institutions that serve the people. You can serve in your communities, and harness your energy and education to create new wealth and build new connections to the world. You can conquer disease, end conflicts, and make change from the bottom up. You can do that. Yes, you can. Because at this moment, history is on the move.”

So Africa has to move and move forward and upwards.

Thank you.

God bless you and God Bless Africa.

I delivered this speech as the Young and Emerging Leader’s Project (YELP) Class of 2019 Valedictorian  on 8 February, 2020.

2019: My Year in Review

Have you ever wondered how fast the time flies? Imagine we have come to the end of not only 2019 but also the end of the second decade of the 21st century. It’s great idea to review the past and prepare for the future. I am writing my Year in review to learn from the past and reflect the journey. Drawing a journey of humans lives on a graph is more likely look like a business cycle graph of the 1930s in the United States. We make decisions generated from our thinking or feeling minds which leads to us either attending a class of lousy teacher, what Bill Gates named the success or learning lessons, what Thomas Edison  framed as a mistake or a failure.

My 2019 was an incredible adventure. It was full of lessons or lousy teachers! I met beautiful Humans from different corners of the world across different forums and platforms. The network and the friendships I made is the most valuable assets. If I met you this year by any means or before; I am counting on you! Know that, you worth! I have finished my school and being awarded a Master of Arts in Development Studies. Also, I read 12  non-fiction Books, ranging from Development Economics to Technology, Political to personal development and history. I spoke at several forums. To mention one, the African Block chain Conference 2019 on a panel “Youth and Fourth Industrial Revolution” in Kampala. Moreover, I published only 6 articles on variety of issue on my blog!

Here are the articles;

1. Everything you should know about the Youth 2030 https://mohokash.wordpress.com/2019/01/02/everything-you-should-know-about-the-youth-2030/

2. Drug addiction is deadly ( https://mohokash.wordpress.com/2019/01/19/drug-addiction-is-deadly/ )

3. My graduation 2019: connecting the Dots ( https://mohokash.wordpress.com/2019/06/17/my-graduation-2019-connecting-the-dots/ )

4. Be Fearless: the book that turned my fears into my freinds (https://mohokash.wordpress.com/2019/07/31/be-fearless-by-jean-case-the-book-that-turned-my-fears-to-friends/ )

5. Why to transform Education ( https://mohokash.wordpress.com/2019/08/12/iyd2019-why-do-we-need-to-transform-the-education-system/ )

6. Book Review: Identity by Francis Fukuyama ( https://mohokash.wordpress.com/2019/12/28/book-rview-identity-by-francis-fukuyama/ )

I have been working or volunteering  in a number of organizations under different capacities including the Global Shapers Community Kampala Hub, the African Youth Union Commission (AYUC) Somali Chapter, the Chamber of Somali Writers in Uganda, The SDGs 252 in Somalia, Kasmaal Forum of Ideas in Uganda, Global Dignity in Somalia, and Earth Charter International. 

Nurturing my skills has been one of my top priorities of all times. I developed and upgraded my skillset including writing, Digital storytelling, Emotional Intelligence, communications, leadership, problem analysis and others. I was selected as YELP and African Changer Makers fellow 2019,  Earth Charter Young Leader 2019, and participated Digital storytelling Bootcamp by the UNDP somalia which has been incredible opportunities for me to grow and sharpen my skills.

Almos after 5 years, I have moved to home. Fortunately, I will be fully residing here and contributing building a better Somalia!

Browsing Netflix was big part of my 2019! I spent more time then ever before! It became a normal question from family and friends to ask “which  TV series are you  watching?” Anyway here is my list;

1. House of Cards
2. Black list
3. Suits
4. Designated Survivor
5. Madam Secretary
6. The Genius
7. Limitless and many more!

Now, sitting on a chair at my balcony and sipping a cup of Americana while reflecting the past and setting resolution for 2020 and beyond reminded me the poem of Dawna Markova of Wide Open and I started wishepring to my self;

Happy New Year and stay blessed!

Book Review : Identity by Francis Fukuyama

What comes after the End of History, the famous essay by Francis Fukuyama in which he predicted success for liberal democracy. In this Book, the identity: the demand for dignity and politics of resentment, Fukuyama explored threats towards liberal democracy, Morden institutions, and international World order by identity politics.

Sometime in the middle of the second decade of the 21st century, global politics had changed. From the early 1970s, the world has witnessed the peak of democratic governance both as practice and aspiration by many nations. Over 100 countries became electoral democracies as a form of government from any region of the world. But currently, the world is experiencing the recession of democracy; series waves of attacks under democracy and decay of democratic institutions by politics identity and resentment along the left-right spectrum.

The prominent political scientist Francis Fukuyama sees the politics of identity as a threat to democracy undermining the social cohesion and liberal democratic institutions. People should be seen as equal and should be identified as humans with equal rights and obligations. But the politics of identity seeks a narrow label of identity including nationality, ethnicity, religion, gender, sect, and race. Identity politics is group-based, yet liberal democracy is individually based. Therefore, these groups seek recognition and respect in the political systems. These groups are not satisfied in universal suffrage as identity as citizens, so they seek to be respected and recognised referring to nation or religion. Fukuyama believes sees the victory of Donald Trump in the U.S and Brexit vote in the UK as manifestations of Identity Politics. He also believes the Politics of resentment is being practised by Donald Trump in the U.S, Vladimir Putin in Russia, Xi Jinping in China, Viktor Orban in Hungry, and Rodrigo Duterte in the Philippines.

Fukuyama believes that Populist leaders are the product and contributors of the decaying liberal democratic institutions; therefore, these leaders claim unique ownership of charisma and seek a personal connection with the people rather the institution. So these populist leaders are a great threat to liberal democracy and international world order.  Fukuyama strongly argues that populist leaders undermine institutions by weakening the checks and balance that limit leader’s personal power in a liberal democracy; these include the courts, the parliament, the independent media, and nonpartisan bureaucracy.

This universal concept of identity is not new and traces back into writings of Plato, Aristotle, Luther, Hegel and others to understand humans deeply “better theory of human souls”. But Professor Fukuyama mentioned most of his explanations is on the western spectrum and missed from the east, Africa and developing world.

Identity is worth and necessary book read for those interest in Global Politics. It’s more on philosophy and academic which demands reflection with global politics of today.

Why to transform the Education System?

The Youth are the largest portion of the population in the world ever in human history. Over 1.8 billion Young people live in the world which most of them live in conflict and fragile countries, and they care about the future of this planet. Nearly 300 million of them live in Africa.

The World Bank estimated that 600 million young people are in NEETs, not in training, education and employment which makes young people account for 40% of the world’s unemployed. The critical question is why these young people are left behind in labour markets. According to Manpower talent shortage report 2017, suggests that 40% of global employers are having difficulty filling some positions. This is true not only the developing world but also advanced economies. Global Talent crisis has a huge impact on economies to grow and societies to prosper. However, this problem caught the global attention to spark conversions on future education and future of work. There is a huge misalignment between employer and applicant expectations. Companies are struggling to find the right people to fill certain vacancies. Therefore, the “skills gap” is the bottleneck for the young to be employed. Job markets are shaped by technological disruption, demographic dividend, shifting business models and the evolving nature of work.

International Youth Day is celebrated every year on 12th august to reflect, observe and encourage the role of youth in building a better world. The theme of this year is “Transforming education” which rooted in goal 4  of 2030 agenda for sustainable development. Ensuring Quality education is a development multiplier which is critical for achieving sustainable development in the world. The UN call for the transformation of the education system is to make it more inclusive, equitable and relevant for the 21st-century realities which will narrow the gap global talents crisis.

Addressing education systems needs to embrace the multi-stakeholder approach which brings together the private sector, the governments, the civil societies, the academia and others to create relevant education system fits in the fourth industrial revolution and creates effective learning outcomes.

We cannot end poverty, hunger, inequalities, tackle climate change and sustain peace without a modern education system. The need for transforming education is urgent, and we should act on it now! Let us lobby and advocate for effective education system driven by innovation, critical thinking, problem-solving, to build more livable, equal and humanistic World for everyone.

The book turned my fears into friends

Every one have life goals either in private or public life, but few people accomplish incredible success and mark long-lasting legacy in the world. To mention a few, Dr. Martin Luther King and Nelson Mandela are among the greatest prominent activists in civic movements in the United States and South Africa. They fought for justice, equality, and freedom and brought desirable change. But the question is “Were they the only ones fought for this cause? The answer is “No” Many more other activists stood up for the same cause. So then, what was special about them? Before we answer, let us bear in mind, they were not privileged, genius or wealth. But I believe that they left to live the normal behind to fearless. Fear of failure, self-daunting, over-thinking and over-analysis are common, and most likely everyone has felt that at some point in life. Therefore, fear is a challenge to our lives to get to know who we are and who we want to be. If you have to change your life or the world, it takes to be fearless.

What would you do if you were not afraid? Do you think you have mostly chosen to pursue things you know you will be good at in life? Is there anything you have wanted to do but kept yourself from trying because you wouldn’t be good at it? Think about for a second! Some answer to these questions is found in many stories from several people of all walks of life in “Be Fearless” Book by Jean case, successful investor and philanthropist. The book outlined five key principles for a life of breakthroughs and purpose which are crucial for change and success. These principles are Make Bigger Bets, be bold, take risks, make failure matter, reach your bubble, and let urgency conquer the fear.
Reading “Be fearless” was an adventurous vacation for me to study all my fears, and it cleared a path to become the best of me and change the world. This book is an essential read for everyone wants to leave normal behind and create a better future. I was lucky to read “Be Fearless” which recommended to me by mentor Awel UWihanganye , and so far it was one of the best books I read this year.

I read this book after my graduation for Masters- a time of transition from a class to career. Honestly, I had feared to make certain decisions towards both my professional and personal life. I was fearing to fail and to feel pain but after I read and digested numerous success stories in the book from different people, celebrates and others which you might never hear of them. The stories of humble beginnings, aiming high, breaking the barriers, and building empires were inspiring and life-changing.

The stories of Jean case, the author of the book, Steve Jobs, Madam C.J Walker, Elon Musk, Salva, Jane Goodall, and many others were based on all the five key principles of the book. By turning the pages of “Be Fearless” I was challenged, intimidated and inspired by the principles, the characters, the stories which are rich in this book. I no longer fear of failure because I consider failures as research and development; I no longer doubt myself because I conquered the fear; I learned that pain is part of the process and challenges are meant to prepare us for the victory.

I am now brave than ever before and I am taking charge of my decisions and faults as purely my responsibilities; I no longer sit the backseat of my life but the driving seat. I can accommodate failure, pain because they are part of the process of becoming who truly I want to be and what exactly I want to achieve in the world. If you want to change your life and the world around you should make bigger bets, be bold and take risks, make failure matter, reach beyond the bubble, and let urgency conquer the fear. In simple words, be fearless and go and change the world.

My Graduation 2019: Connecting the Dots

“God wants us to know that life is a series of beginnings, not endings. Just as graduations are not terminations, but commencements. Creation is an ongoing process, and when we create a perfect world where love and compassion are shared by all, suffering will cease.” Bernie Siegel stated.

15th June 2019 was a remarkable and great day for me! It’s a day that a one my life chapters has been closed and started another. I am delighted to graduate and being awarded MA in Development Studies from Kampala International University (KIU).  At this moment that one of the dots has been drawn and connected to another because of getting my masters has been one of my academic goals. I remember in my Geometry classes at School that points shown in dots make lines and lines draw a plane. Therefore, my life goals which I call dots to make connections when they achieved and each connection keep growing to connect another dot. Meaning that there are continuing life chapters or journeys. One ends and leads another to begin! I am grateful for past journeys and hopeful for the next.

I am extremely thankful for My Parents, Friends, Colleagues, and everyone who supported me on this journey. I am well aware of how you were always ready to support me and fulfil all my needs to perform well and become the best version of myself. I will always be grateful for everything you have done for me which is indescribable in words and made me at least an educated and informed citizen of the world. During my studies at KIU, the classes I attended, the friendships I made, the leadership I served, and the ideas we shared were all fascinating and memorable.

with Fellow Graduates

As a young person, I was always terrified by the development predicament in my home country Somalia and Africa at large and think about what I can do about it. In other words, I was motivated by Dr Martin Luther King who said: “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?” Therefore, I devoted some of my time to volunteer in several platforms to contribute peace and development in societies and world at large by co-founding the SDGs Network Uganda and SDGs 252 to spread, localize and innovate about the Global Goals in both Somalia and Uganda. I had also the privilege to join the Global Shapers Community to shape the world and become Country Chair at Global dignity to spread the Message of peace and Dignity and many other several institutions.

Finally, As you are reading these lines I hope you had the opportunity to attend school or college. Imagine the millions of young people who do not have the chance to go to school or college not only in Somalia but also in the global south. We live in the fourth industrial revolution era where Human Capital development is highly crucial to succeed in the 21st century. My graduation and certification can only be significant if we strive for change and impact people’s lives to create opportunities for all. This reminds me Tom Brokaw, American Journalist, who once said “You are educated. Your certification is in your degree. You may think of it as the ticket to the good life. Let me ask you to think of an alternative. Think of it as your ticket to change the world.” think about what I and you can do as individuals and what we can achieve as a team. In this 21st century, togetherness is inevitable to bring change; therefore, It only takes a decision to make a change not a single magic. So please let us join together and build a peaceful, prosperous and sustainable planet for ourselves and generations to come.

May God Help Me in my next journey!

Drug Addiction is Deadly

Humans love drugs. A statement so trues it’s almost an understatement. Humans love drugs because of its addiction; they sell their health, their souls, and their physical organs even their own children just to get to their beloved narcotics. The appeal of drugs is very difficult to ignore; they provide an escape from the troubles of the real world, from all the disappointments, failures and insecurities to a surreal almost abstract representation of the real world where punches on you don’t land, insecurities vanish, your worries disappear and you simply are the king of the world. Mind-altering narcotics work in an extremely different variety of ways. Some are called depressants, they slow down the function of the brain by slowing down the messages going to and from the brain, and they give a mellow relaxed feeling. They include alcohol, heroin and weed. Others, called stimulants are the exact opposite, they speed up the messages to and from the brain making you feel alert, confident and active. They include cocaine, ecstasy and nicotine. Globally, 3.3 million die each year for the use harmful alcohol and some 31 had drug use addictions (WHO, 208). Hallucinogens distort reality and make you see and hear things that don’t exist. These include weed, PCP, acid (LSD) and mushrooms.

The use of drugs may start off as recreational as a relationship with a new and exciting lover, but it soon turns dark and abusive. Drugs cause addiction, they take hold of you and never let go. The mechanism of addiction comes from the fact that our brains are wired so that we constantly repeat doing the things that make us feel good like eating food. Drugs target this “reward system” of the brain. They flood it with a chemical called dopamine. This gives you an intense feeling of pleasure, so you keep taking the drugs to keep getting that feeling.

Variety of addictive substances, including alcohol, cigarettes and drugs

In the mean, while the drugs run rampant in your body and give you a myriad of undesired effects on your health. They raise your heart rate, lower your appetite, weaken your immunity, and put you at risk to the endless list of diseases. At this point, your brain adapts by lessening the effects of dopamine on it so you don’t get the same pleasure from using the drugs, so you raise the dose and use more drugs. Leading to lessened pleasure from the things you used to enjoy the most like having sex or eating food. So your body keeps adapting in a process known as “building drug tolerance” and you keep raising the dosage of drugs you take in and your health keeps worsening. You try to get out of this ride and stop using the drugs but you get violently sick when you try to quit. You’re hooked for life. That’s when your body can no longer cope with the ever raising dosage, you overdose. Your violent abusive lover has finally broken you. Your journey is over. You are dead.

The young people should be aware of burgeoning portend of these drugs and protect themselves from destructions. Drugs destroy people’s lives, hopes, and health; it never contribute to people or nations’ wellbeing and progress. The young should always take the lead of innovation, creativity and leadership for the rebirth of peaceful and prosperous world not the opposite since they are the potential of every communities.

Ensuring Healthy lives and promote welbeing for all at all ages needs a collective social responsibly from Family level to National or even global scale to these drug addictions and its predicaments . Effective and result oriented measurements needed to end these drug related challenges. Alcoholic Anonymous and Narcotic Anonymous are seen treatment and recovery process but the prevention of the Addiction is essential for healthier and prosperous world. Putting place a restrict rules is inviable to reduce and prevent the growing number of the young people effecting the drugs. Accessible Drug tests should be widely used in Work Places, schools and college and many others places in order to limit the drug usage and its addiction. Drugs are dangerous and deadly.

I originaly published this article on International Youth Journal

https://youth-journal.org/drug-addiction-is-deadly