Meet Joseph Mwansa of Global Empowers

Joseph Mwansa is a Zambian National who currently resides in Perth Western Australia. He was born in Kawambwa District in Luapula Province, and he left Zambia to study Construction and Economics at Curtin University in Perth, Western Australia in 2009. He has created an advanced water purification tablet which can aid in the prevention and cure of third world water and food problems. His goal is to reduce deaths caused by dirty water, and to help millions of people during emergencies and disasters. Learn more by visiting http://www.globalempowers.com.

1. What gave you the idea to create a water purification tablet?

I was raised in a village where unsanitary water and malnutrition is quite common; it has always been there. I was probably malnourished at some stage when I was younger; I remember quite fondly those mornings where we would rise from bed to collect fresh water which we would later boil in order to make it safe for consumption. Years later I would find myself in Australia, and visiting my family in Africa after six years, I was saddened at the realization that not much had changed; my childhood friends, the people I had grown up with, somehow seemed frail and hopeless; the problems we experienced together back then are still the same ones chasing them today.

Coming to Australia was a success on its own, something that I believe happened through divine intervention and likewise great determination on my parents' side: they and many others took great joy in seeing me take on this new chapter in my life, and after stepping away from education I knew I had to find another way to repay them. Launching Vigor Aqua and having it positively change the lives of many will be my greatest measure of success and true joy.

2. What are some of the specific benefits of your product, Vigor Aqua?

In developing this tablet, my main focus groups were pregnant women and children. The prevalence rate for malnourishment in pregnant women and children is at some of the highest it has ever been. A lot of women in developing countries lack their daily nutritional needs, including pregnant and lactating mothers. This usually results in stunted growth in kids and babies and an array of other childhood illnesses. Vigor Aqua can therefore accommodate the nutritional needs of both mother and baby by releasing vitamins and nutrients while also providing them with clean drinking water. We also have aging grandparents who are, sadly, left with caring for their grandchildren in the event of their parents passing due to illness and other ailments; these grandparents are left without a way to feed and provide for the young as the cycle of poverty continues. In many instances there might be a breastfeeding infant who now has no way of receiving a proper diet as their only source of a healthy nutrition has passed and clinics and hospitals are often too far to seek help. It is also my wish to work with hospitals, NGOs, and small charities alike to provide Vigor Aqua for emergency and disaster relief.

3. How did your own experience growing up in Zambia influence your decision to start Global Empowers?

Global Empowers started some time ago; I'm just the next person in line, trying my best to take it to the next phase. My parents managed to move us from the village to the capital, Lusaka. They worked hard and tirelessly to ensure their children have bright futures and better their own lives while managing to stay pure and true to their roots, carrying with them the same humility they had known in the village. They were able to provide for many with the little they had, and never once have they sought any reward for their efforts; they did so to give thanks to those who had helped them. Therefore Global Empowers has always been there, it has always been an idea needing to be put into motion.

4. How will sales of your product help you give back to the community through your foundation?

The Mwansa Foundation will receive a percentage of the profits of the sales from Vigor Aqua. These will be utilized to provide kids and adolescents with education, mentorship, and motivation. I believe that representation is key, and through this program, we wish to develop their minds and teach them the importance of education; the mind is a powerful tool, and we want to help them unlock theirs. We focus strongly on personal growth and empowerment.

5. What else would you like readers to know about your project?

Having done much of the background work, we are now in the process of seeking and securing funds. We also welcome likeminded people who are able to share in the passion and vision behind Global Empowers and who can facilitate Global Empowers in carrying out our mission.

Thanks, Joseph!

Meet Nestor Eguez, Author and Teacher

Nestor Eguez is a technology teacher who immigrated with his family from Uruguay, South America to California twenty years ago in search of a better life. Since then, he has been teaching at adult and vocational schools. He had always had an interest in writing, and one day while helping his children with a school project, he experienced the moment that this story was born.

Nestor is the author of a novel called Kalima: The Secret of the Jungle. He is at work on the second book in this series and hopes to release it in the fall of this year.

1. How did you come up with the idea for Kalima?

Ten years ago, my kids wanted to do a puppet play as a school project. After they tried a couple of options, with no good results, I decided to help them with an original story. Two days after that, one morning on my way to work, the story came to me. That simple.

2. Why did you choose a zebra as your main character?

A lot of people asked me the same question, also if Kalima could be a different jungle animal. Well, a zebra was the first that came to my mind. After a little research, I found out that they are smart and strong animals, perfect for the kind of mission Kalima will have to accomplish.

3. As someone who is busy raising a family and also working as a teacher, when do you find time to write?

Honestly, it is very hard, especially because when you have a free time to do it, usually your inspiration Muse is busy.

4. When you were growing up in Uruguay, who were some writers whose work influenced you?

Definitely there were a lot of books that impacted me, especially in high school, but if I have to mention one, definitely was The Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes.

5. What is your advice to other writers who are working on writing and publishing their first novel?

Well, I'm going to pass along a couple of good suggestions that a wise author told me a long time ago.

a) A story always has room for improvements, but at some point you have to finish it, and move on.

b) You have to be prepared to deal with rejection. Writing a good story is the easiest part of publishing a book.

Thanks, Nestor!

Introducing Murphy Ben International

Murphy Ben International is an entertainment company located in Lagos, Nigeria. Murphy Ben international creates, showcases, and aggregates African culture. Their goal is to promote African culture with the many websites, and they are the most popular Youtube channel in Africa, and you can learn more about them on Facebook.

1. How did Murphy Ben International first get started back in 2009?

The company was founded by CEO Murphy Anawana. He recognized a passion for music and entertainment himself; therefore, as a long-term dream, he wanted to follow through and have his own entertainment company.

2. Would you describe the company's work related to YouTube in Africa?

They create music videos and songs in order to promote African content. YouTube is so popular that it is easy to promote any new music. Murphy Ben International realized that YouTube is what helped the company be successful today.

3. How have you seen satellite television grow in Africa over the last few years?

It has grown immensely. Everything related to technology in Africa is continuously growing which is great for the company.

4. How are you addressing racism through your "I Am Wonderfully Made" campaign?

Everyone, every race needs to realize that we are all humans and we are all beautiful. Being a company that promotes African entertainment and talent, it is a different style than the popular music in America, therefore promoting that we are all equal as individuals, no matter what the differences.

5. What do you see as the future of Murphy Ben International?

Right now, with Africa continuously developing especially with technology, I see the future of Murphy Ben International as successful. It is looking good with what has been produced, and the production team is great and hard working.

Thanks!

Meet Christine Mapondera-Talley, Author of Makanaka's World

Christine Mapondera-Talley is the author of Makanaka's World, a children's book series designed to teach your child about the globe, cultures, and languages in a fun and engaging way. Learn more by visiting www.MakanakasWorld.com, and follow Makanaka's World on Facebook.

1. What gave you the idea for Makanaka's World?

Makanaka's World was inspired by my daughter Jillian Makanaka. The idea was to create stories in my native language and include animation that would be appealing and fun for her to read. I'm originally from Zimbabwe and come from a Shona speaking family; therefore, not having them close by limits the amount of language my daughter gets to hear as I'm the only source.

2. In setting out to write a series of books rather than just one stand-alone title, how did you plan out your project?

I initially was focused on just handful of stories, so an actual series was not really part of the plan. However, as the character developed, I realized there was an opportunity to do more with it, and more ideas just started coming without even searching really hard.

3. What are some examples of things that kids will learn in reading your books?

Kids are going to learn about the globe, different languages, and also cultures. Time and again I hear from educators that geography is an area that a lot of students don't do well in, from first grade all the way to high school. I want my daughter to embrace what it means to be a global citizen, and I'm sure there are many parents out there that feel the same way. The key is finding material that will really keep a child engaged, and I believe Makanaka's World is just a start.

4. In writing the books, what has been most enjoyable to you about the process?

As I'm writing, I'm also researching, which is just as fun. I'm either using the internet, borrowing books from the library, or connecting with parents who are natives of a particular country. Connecting with a native person is the biggest treat as I get a very authentic and current perspective of the lifestyle, customs, and traditions.

5. What feedback have you received from parents and kids who have seen the books so far?

I've only recently started sharing the series, and the reactions and feedback I receive get me excited all over again. At least three parents have told me they felt chills of excitement after learning about Makanaka, and another said it reminded her of all the global travels she has experienced with her daughter over the years. Some are just simply amazed at how this all came together. It's all so humbling to see people react the way they do--you can't pay anyone enough money to give you that kind of response.

Thanks, Christine!

Meet Christian Okoye, Founder of Adhang.com

Christian Okoye is a professional webmaster and internet marketing consultant from Nigeria. He has helped many individuals and companies across Nigeria secure an active and functional online presence. He operates a lot of websites across Nigeria and the continent of Africa. He is the founder of Adhang.com, Nigeria's leading online advertising agency. Adhang.com uses major online platforms around the world--such as Google, Yahoo, LinkedIn, Cokoye, Microsoft Adcenter, and Facebook--to run and manage internet advertising campaigns.

If you want to learn more about Adhang.com, click here for an overview of the company and their services.

1. How and why did Adhang.com first get started?

Adhang.com started in Nigeria by assembling a group of talented online professionals both local and international to render online promotion services to Nigerian companies, individuals, and people who work with the government. This was an idea I had been nursing for years but felt that Nigerian market wasn't ripe for Adhang.com and might want free ads instead, because most Nigerian companies and individuals started participating in internet activities by getting and expecting virtually everything online for free. This very belief was fueled by Yahoo free email accounts and search, Google search and free email accounts, and many internet marketers who advertise free downloads of all kind of things. But these days, Nigerian consumers/users are wiser and understand now the limitation of wanting to get everything free--they see the need for working with a professional online marketing agency like Adhang.com to handle their internet promotion.

Why Adhang.com started is to help and manage internet advertising for manufacturers and business owners who want to attract buyers for their products and services, Nigerian politicians or political parties who want to attract electorates via online promotion, Nigeria's government to reach masses on any issue important to the government of the day, event organizers to attract participants, etc. Adhang.com does this by undertaking virtually all promotional elements online such as personal selling, direct marketing, publicity, advertising, and more.

2. What are some specific areas of knowledge that your company can offer regarding reaching consumers in Nigeria?

Adhang.com has talented professionals that specialize in virtual marketing communication tools needed for reaching consumers in Nigeria. For example, in the area of "personal selling," our script writers write scripts, and we employ spokespeople to talk to the target audience. In the area of "direct marketing," our copy writers write persuasive articles and content directed to the right consumers. In the area of "publicity," our writers write press releases and publish them on online media sites. And in the area of "advertising," our ad gurus and banner arts designers design online banners that will appear to consumers. Adhang.com has extensive knowledge in using major online media platforms such as Google, Yahoo, Cokoye, Facebook, LinkedIn, Microsoft Adcenter, YouTube, article directories, online slide presentations, and so on.

3. Do you think that international businesses need to pay more attention to the Nigerian market?

Yes, I think international businesses need to pay more attention to Nigeria's market because Nigeria has the biggest economy in the continent of Africa, and Nigeria has the highest population in the continent. These facts alone are huge enough for businesses to pay attention to the Nigerian market.

4. Why is internet advertising so important to businesses today, and how can a business owner choose which form(s) of advertising would be best for them?

Internet advertising is extremely important in the business world today because virtually everything we know and do today is moving to the internet such as reading, entertainment, research, social networking, communication, conference meetings, etc. Also, the internet has all levels of users that can be identified by age, sex, educational level, financial resources, time spent online and on which platform, location, etc. This means that no matter the kind of consumer or audience a business needs to target, the audience members are already on internet.

What Nigerian business owners need to do is tell Adhang.com what their advertising objectives are, and then Adhang.com employs its expertise in online advertising to achieve the objectives by incorporating online media platforms around the world: this is our job and what we do on a daily basis on the internet.

5. When it comes to effectively reaching the Nigerian audience, do you have some tips for potential advertisers?

When it comes to effectively reaching the Nigerian audience, the method that is certain is paid online marketing. I will try comparing some methods a bit below:

• Yahoo, Bing, and Google organic searches are free, but unless the whole world is talking about you currently, it might take months or years for your message to be in these search engines' first pages, and depending on the nature of the message, it might never show at all. When you pay for display advertising, you start seeing your ads immediately by the sides, on top, and on the bottom of all these search engines guaranteed.

• With Cokoye.com you can add advertising messages in your signature for free, but you need to be very active in Cokoye.com by participating in the discussions in the forum for your signature to be seen and promoted. When you pay for Cokoye banner ads, your banner starts displaying all over the Cokoye.com website immediately to hundreds of thousands of users and visitors without any other work on your part. Not only is the paid banner effective, but this simply allows you to use your time for something else.

• You can have social networking accounts and fan pages on places such as Facebook, Cokoyes, LinkedIn, etc, but nobody will know they exist unless you tell them, promote your pages, and remain active on your pages--and at the same time, with all these efforts, you might still achieve little or nothing. But when you pay for sponsored ads, your ads/messages will be displaying to millions of these social network users' walls. This again is not only effective, but it gives you time to focus on something else more important to you.

Is important to note here that unless you know what you're doing, paying money to internet advertising platforms directly and not employing a professional internet advertising agency does not guarantee it will be effective. This is where Adhang.com comes in. The good news is that on our website, we have plans which enable Nigerian advertisers (companies, individuals, and government) to advertise on the platforms mentioned above and major online advertising media around the world at once and under one contract. Advertisers need not to go to all these platforms one by one. Adhang.com takes care of them under one contract.

Thanks, Christian!

Introducing The ZAP Center Project

The ZAP Center Project is a technology based protocol developed to address the outbreak of significant diseases. The project has just launched an Indiegogo campaign to fund ZAP Centers in Africa (starting in Uganda) where people could receive a series of treatments through what is currently considered to be an "alternative health method." The hope is that through successful treatments documented in medical records in Africa, the use of the method will spread.

The founder and director of the project is Bryan Williams. He has worked in a laboratory setting for over 20 years, and he also has experience working with some of the poorest communities in Africa. He has witnessed first-hand the devastating effects of illnesses like Ebola, Malaria, and West Nile Virus. He hopes to help individuals afflicted by these illnesses by bringing this alternative method of addressing their health care treatment.

The methods of the ZAP Center Project are explained in more detail--and with links to several studies--on the Indiegogo page. In short, the project involves the process of blood electrification/purification as well as the use of colloidal silver, high-intensity pulsed magnetic fields, and ozonated water.

Bryan has spent a lot of time researching this project and is very passionate about it. Check out the Indiegogo site to read more about his ideas about the new ways of responding to devastating diseases.

After checking out the site--if you feel it's a worthwhile cause--please be sure to click on the Facebook and Twitter links, and leave some positive feedback concerning this Project. Here's the link: http://golaunchmachine.com/zap/ .

Introducing Ludovic Biyong, CEO of Camernews.com

Just under the age of 30, Ludovic Biyong is the CEO of Camernews. The name of the site combines the words "Cameroon" and "news," and Camernews.com includes a variety of content, from news articles to classified ads, for people who live in Cameroon or want to keep up with events there. It really is a nice-looking site with lots of content, and it's expanding every day as Ludovic continues to pour his heart into working on it.

Ludovic is a software engineer by trade. He was born in Paris but experienced living in Cameroon in 1997. In addition to Camernews, he also operates an IT consulting firm in Cameroon called PA2M.

He has built Camernews on a very low budget, leveraging his knowledge of SEO, social media, and other low-cost but high-return marketing techniques. For example, he maintains an active presence for Camernews on Facebook--check out his page here, and I think you will enjoy looking at the photos he's posted to give readers a good idea of some of the many things he loves about the country of Cameroon.

You can also learn more about Camernews on Twitter and YouTube. Much of the content that Ludovic posts is in French, but I noticed on the YouTube page in particular, you can find content in English.

I think Ludovic's work is a great example of an entrepreneur finding a project he loves.

Meet Clabbe, Founder of the 200 Days in Africa Project

Born and raised in Stockholm, Sweden, Clabbe moved to Prague, Czech Republic, in July 2006. After relocating, he started traveling on a more serious basis as he came to realize that travel is what he loves the most in life; he also started a travel blog to share his experiences. In reflecting on the ways he has managed to change his own life by working through the bad and creating something good, he came to see and understood that life is not about the things you own but about the things you do and experience. This realization led Clabbe, in late 2012, to begin a project called 200 Days in Africa. In his own words, "Travel is the only thing you can pay for that makes you richer."

1. What gave you the idea for 200 Days in Africa, and when will your trip begin?

I will leave my manager job to start this life-changing journey in November, and this will be my fourth visit to the African continent but the longest to date. The 200 Days in Africa project is actually a product combining several thoughts I have had over the years. The biggest part of the project will be the volunteer work I will be doing in Sierra Leone for almost three months where I will be working with street children and their situation.

Growing up in Sweden, you cannot see the difference between rich and poor due to the social security system we have. This became more noticeable to me when I moved to Czech Republic in 2006 and more and more during my travels to different parts of the world. I have learned to appreciate that I grew up with everything I wanted around me in terms of comfort. Coming from a divorced family I did however miss some of the family life in terms of security and love which made me rebel in school with frequent trips to the school counselor. I felt disadvantaged only growing up with one parent when I was a kid, but when I look back today, I have managed quite well in my life. However, there are those in the world who grow up without any parents and this is hard for me having had the feeling of being "let down" by my parents when they divorced.

My uncle was a missionary and also worked for the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency which took him to Africa on several occasions, not to mention being evacuated from Rwanda when the civil war started in 1994. His sons, my cousins, followed in his footsteps and also volunteered in today's Congo. So in a way you can say that it lies in my bloodline to do this.

One part is the pure adventure of traveling in Africa as I love the African continent and how life passes you by in a slow phase. Patience is a skill you will develop when traveling in Africa. The third part of the project will be the creative and inspirational part where I will be interviewing people I meet on my journey about their dreams. Do we all share the same dreams? The events, impressions and interviews will later end up in a book that I have decided to call 200 Days of Dreams.

By saying life-changing I mean it will change my life, and if I manage to have some impact on those I work with, I will be happy.

2. How did you first connect with the organization Street Child, and what kind of work will you be doing with them?

I had decided that I wanted to start in the western part of the continent, so I searched the internet for information about any organizations operating in the west. There are a few, but not so many as in the "safer" African countries like Ghana, South Africa, or Tanzania where it seems like most organizations deploy themselves.

Unfortunately the volunteer business has grown and there are agencies that have no more interest than for you to pay them a lot of money. They take your money and ship you off for a few weeks or even just ten days to a remote village to do something not specified. I don't fully agree with the payment-to-work policy, but I can understand it in some cases as nothing in life is for free. With this in mind I started to weed out the organizations that I had found operating in the western part by checking their requested fees and what it would get you. Some investigating by using Google would also pull up information if there were any warning flags posted about the organization in question.

In the end Street Child was the last standing organization, and I started to investigate even more deeply to find if this was a legit organization or not. Fortunately I have a lot of friends in United Kingdom where they are based, and it turned out that even a friend of a friend had previously worked for them and gave the thumbs up.

I will be joining their street work team and will be working alongside their social workers assisting them with their daily activities with the children, follow up home visits and writing reports. I will also help the business team with setting up businesses for the families to keep them self-sufficient. And I have also personally requested to help out with school building as I have a pair of hands that I want to put to best use.

3. How can people around the world participate in your project?

A project like this of course involve some economical investment from my side, and I am currently saving money and also have raised some through advertizing and articles on my other travel blogs. I am also organizing different events and am currently looking into organizing an African movie night later this year.

The biggest cost will be my stay in Sierra Leone and the volunteer work. On this project I ask everyone who can to help me out. If you see it like this, a lot of people donate money to some organization to get that "I help out" feeling, but do they really know how much of their donated money actually reach its destination rather than disappears in "administrative" costs? By helping me out you will actually get visual proof that the money goes to what the money is intended for. I will be posting pictures and also blog about the volunteer work I am doing on the project page and my blog.

People can help me help others and see that in person through the material I will provide. I understand that people can be reluctant to just donate money to me as they have no idea who I am. As a response, I have created a few small tokens such as silicone wristbands and T-shirts that you can buy cheaply to support the project. So instead of just giving me money, you are actually buying a product that will support this project. The persons who help me out in some form will also be recognized as supporters on the site.

My oldest supporter is the grandmother of the woman who helped me with the translation of the site into Polish. She is turning 85 this year and lives in Wolsztyn. She heard about my project and wanted to help out as "No one can do everything, but everyone can do something" and bought one of the wristbands.

4. When did you first discover your love of traveling?

It wasn't until I moved to Czech Republic in 2006 that I realized that it is easy to travel. I joined a hospitality network which helped in reducing the costs as well as started hunting different websites for cheap flights here and there.

Before I moved to Prague, I had done some travels in the Nordic countries, some visits to UK, a week trip to Cyprus and a road trip through Western Europe with some friends. And that was collected over a total of 28 years. Since I really started traveling in 2007, I have managed to visit some 30 countries including three trips to Africa and one trip to Asia, and I also lived in Bulgaria for almost two months.

I am very keen on history and to discover the world and its history makes me understand more why the world and its people looks and behave as they do today.

5. What advice might you give to other people who are looking to translate their personal interests/strengths/etc into a means to help others?

Do it.

Don't think too long about it.

Don't doubt yourself.

Now is better then never.

And make sure that you enlist in something that is really helping out in some way if you are going for a longer trip. In my opinion, a ten day trip to an animal sanctuary in Africa is not the best way to help out unless you are a veterinarian. If you still want to do that, then you can volunteer at your local zoo instead. And don't believe that you will be saving the world. Most likely it is the world that will change you to a better person while you might have some impact on the people you want to help. Accept that other people live in different ways and adapt your own standards.

Most of all, don't feel pity and sadness for people just because they don't have tile floors or a TV or anything similar to the western world's desires. They might even feel pity for you having all these worthless possessions.

Thanks, Clabbe!

Song of Kwagala: A Movie to Support Clean Water

Did you know that the number one killer of children worldwide is unclean water? An award-winning team of songwriters, filmmakers, and marketing professionals are creating a movie, Song of Kwagala, to entertain and inspire, driving awareness and financial support for this global epidemic. In addition to the movie, Song of Kwagala will also eventually be produced as a musical stage play.

Song of Kwagala tells the story of a rock star named Simon Crowe who goes to Africa to participate in a benefit concert and finds himself taken outside of his usual world-weary perspective to become involved in the work of a surgeon at a camp for orphaned children. After a life-changing experience, Simon returns to his home in Los Angeles, only to continue thinking of the people he met in Africa. He ultimately returns to Africa to find that music connects him to the children and to the doctor at the camp. Described as "a combination of Pink Floyd the Wall meets Sound of Music, meets Blood Diamond," the film uses original songs and a strong score to convey the message that humanity is a combination of humor, angst, and tragedy.

Visit the website for Song of Kwalgala to learn more about the film; you can even read the film's script. Below is a video about Song of Kwagala.