The year 2011 was challenging, yet very successful, in the initial stages of operation, WASEN experienced a number of problems, which adversely affected our performance and operation.

Deficiencies in timing have been the principal issue, but lower than expected co-operation and commitment have also contributed to the shortfall.

The net results was that, the first quarter saw WASEN significantly short of budget expectations and it was not surprising that this led to considerable concern of WASEN Management Board level.

This development led us to implement measures such as inclusive business models – sustainable, market based solutions that are commercially viable.

However, it is now apparent that the management of WASEN is coming to grips with the difficulties and managing the organization towards delivering measurable, impactful and scalable development to achieving expected outcome.

It is even more pleasing to note that the successive organization’s record of expectation is set to exceed for the first time ever.

The nearly indications are encouraging and we appear to have the potential to achieve a very high results and expectations come 2012.

In launching our new program for 2012, “Beyond Borders” we would like to welcome our newest Board of Governor, Dr. Kathleen Dapaah.

We recognize the important role she continues to play in advancing sustainable business models and markets to build long-term solutions to social, economic, and environmental problems societies face.

On behalf of the Management of WASEN and WBC, It is our pleasure to wish you the best of the festive season and actively engage you in policy dialogue and advocate around issues of national and global importance in 2012.

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Accra, Ghana; 28 August 2011: Four executives from West Africa Social Entrepreneurs Network (WASEN) Ghana have been accredited to attend the 2011 Annual Meetings of the Boards of Governors of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank Group to participate in the Civil Society Policy Forum.

They are expected in Washington DC for the start of the Civil Society Policy Dialogues scheduled for September 21-24, 2011 during which they will participate and present on series of sessions with senior Bank and Fund officials.

WASEN is developing strategies, expanding networks, and devising cohesive agendas and collective action to bolster their access and impact in securing social, cultural, economic, and political rights on a global scale for Social Entrepreneurs.

The objectives are closely in-line with the Millennium Development Goal– Develop a Global Partnership for Development. West Africa Social Entrepreneurs Network, are in the process of partnering with businesses, CSO and government in order for us to come together to renew and give greater meaning to social entrepreneurship.

More emphasis would be placed on the barriers and challenges that constrain social entrepreneurs from maximizing their full potential and further explore the status of the vital contributions to their respective communities, and in shaping the features of participatory democracy.

For more information on West Africa Social Entrepreneurs Network in Ghana, please contact Eugenia Ross on info@wasenglobal.org.

“It’s hard to imagine a brighter future without Social Entrepreneurship”. Despite the challenges faced by Social Entrepreneurs, there is a growing recognition of their important role in developing robust economies in the world.

The West Africa Social Entrepreneurs Network (WASEN) is established to address the critical challenges faced by Social Entrepreneurs in the Sub-Saharan Africa.

The network aims to pair prospective Social Entrepreneurs with experts and investors to create viable Social Enterprises.

As part of the program, new reforms would be developed to further develop the self confidence, motivation and creative skills that are essential part of Social Entrepreneurship.

Another key priority area for WASEN is to launch various developmental programs for Social Entrepreneurs to promote private economic and social development in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Addressing a cross section of tertiary students in Accra Ghana, the founder and President of WASEN, Isaac Aggrey (Social Entrepreneur) emphasized the need “to provide Social Entrepreneurs with the right kind of advice, information and mentorship to help build successful Social Enterprises”.

He said the initiative would further create awareness, understanding and appreciation of Social Entrepreneurship in the West Africa region.

In his closing remarks, he encouraged every student and aspiring Social Entrepreneurs to register to become a member and tap into all the opportunities offered by WASEN.

There goes another blissful year. It’s been quite interesting year full of positive adventure. Many of us in the beginning of the year were trying to figure out whether we would be successfully; little did I know the year was going to move with a terrific speed.

I could still think back when I got to Europe and not sure whether I would be able to adapt – but being in paradise and one of the beautiful places on earth made it all possible.

Life in Europe enriched me with so much information, networking with different professionals, face-to-face communications with renowned professors lead me to reflect on my own personal accomplishments.

My time at IEDC-Bled School of Management was outstanding and been in an environment full of reflection, hard work and a positive way of life was a pure bliss.

The program was rich in content with an enviable world wide renowned faculty of professors.

The amazing journey afforded me the ability to network and reflects coherently on a wide range of complex challenges.

I am fully empowered and strongly feel I could support more and more young students in Africa who want to succeed in their quest.

My team always had the edge to succeed in all we do, in actual fact we all succeeded. We worked hard, we were creative, innovative and very persistent.

Though there were some notable adversities, we overcame them with our significant contribution. We took challenges head on and made them as opportunities; in all we had intrepid spirit!

I have developed a real hunger for success and can not wait to unleash it. Certainly, every step of the way has been a blessing. It was a huge and momentous milestone in the history of my life and feels proud of this adventurous journey.

Kudos to everyone who helped in making this year a success!!!

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We all felt the impact of the global economic downturn in 2009 yet we worked so hard to weather the storm by creating more opportunities for Women and Children.

Our plan for 2010 to 2015 is to bring Women around the globe together, encouraging the establishment of different pilot projects with developmental magnitudes.

We will create more interactive programmes with emphasis on integrated network support with high standards.

Our Trade Mission Project will be launched to promote the effort of Women already in business to explore international businesses.

Our headquarters location will be named and simultaneously support a lifelong effort to educate and provide programmes that builds our communities.

In conclusion, we look forward to the opportunity to connect with the world and share the joy of doing business together.

The year 2009 will go down in the annals as a memorable year. There were array of notable progress.

Yes, there were many progress, remarkable progress; and there were victories, sweet victories.

There were therefore little dark clouds here and there, but by and large, it was a rosy and glorious year.

The year began very well with the World Bank Institute as I joined other renowned world leaders on CSR course.

This provided me with the necessary tools and resources to engage with various stakeholders at different level.

It uniquely coincided with International Women’s day where emphasis was placed on Equality, Justice, Peace and Development.

Solidarity was expressed with women around the globe and they were strongly encouraged to vote, hold public office, fight discrimination and celebrate acts of courage and determination.

Another remarkable event was the global campaign for education. The YF Team in collaboration with University of the Western Cape, Department of Life Long Learning came strongly against illiteracy that has plagued our society. The campaign drew large crowd from the community and the surrounding schools.

It was all joy to see the YF reaching their goals honourably. Their noble gesture was therefore acknowledged with support from UWC and the World Pulse.

It was however, the UN award which brought greater glory and joy. The award ceremony which was organized by the Global Business School Network took place in Cape Town, South Africa during the World Economic Forum. It was regarded as the greatest award ceremony at all times.

It was a memorable occasion and much to our delight, I emerged victorious out of 150 applicants from Africa. Yes, it was certainly a sweet victory.

This big success brought benevolent financial grant to the tune of 45,000 Euros full scholarship to study in one of the best Management Schools in Europe.

The Louis Group and Stellenbosch University Business School Executive Development Programme came at the right time. The programme was simply fantastic and totally profiting. I enjoyed my vibrant group (G5) with their diversity of unique cultures and natural enthusiasm. The programme served as an entry level to my International Executive MBA studies in Europe.

Amidst every dark cloud is a light. If you keep your focus and look deeply enough, it would become crystal clear.

In conclusion, I feel highly delighted and proud of all these achievements. I grew from strength to strength, from victory to victory.

I thank all my Staff, the YF, Partners, Mentors, Sponsors for all the kind co-operation given me which went a long way in making 2009 a successful year.

The competition aims to bring exposure to the outstanding efforts of the winners and to connect them with stakeholders in a position to help them expand their businesses. To that end, Sukuma Afrika targets prime events to hold its yearly awards ceremony.

The 2009 Awards Ceremony was held at an Annual Conference of the Global Business School Network which brought the business community to focus on partnerships and specifically business schools as development partners. The roundtable was a side event to the World Economic Forum on Africa in Cape Town on 9th June 2009.

It brought together leaders, managers, professors, scholars, investors, top business management schools, private and public sector worldwide to network and find novel approaches to capacitate in building up low income countries

Emphases were made on total educational experience in ensuring business schools and their products offered develop more accountable leaders.

The conversation also centred on the recent global crisis and the economic models needed to combat it.

Social entrepreneurship was the talk of the day as many of the leaders concluded is the best practice and the only antidote to solve the crisis. It taps into a deep vein of interest to ensure that more and more social entrepreneurs need to emerge.

Sukuma Afrika is established in recognition of the critical role young entrepreneurs and the Diaspora play in the fight against poverty as the generation that will be responsible for reaching the Millennium Development Goals in 2015. The competition encourages young people across Africa to engage in ventures with a social angle and is opened to African youth up to 35 y/o presenting a for-profit business model which contributes to one of the MDGs.

For more of the pictures about the competition, visit 1 globe

Well, I don’t just know where to start this. Shall I start congratulating myself or express my profound joy and excitement for a job well done.

This has been exciting, rewarding, and successful journey and I sincerely feel on top of the world and highly delighted about the immense success of my journey.

This was as a result of a monumental effort and it only takes a stamina seldom demanded heart to accomplish this.

There were lots of pitfalls and at times I feel grossly incapable. Reasons have been financial difficulties.

However, if all reasons for trials were lumped together, one significant factor stood out like a sore thumb – lack of necessary support.

A person will never succeed if he/she does not possess the artful skill of passion and the techniques of his/her profession, as well as fortitude, perseverance, and a positive mental attitude

A great deal of sacrifice gone into this and I have discovered the key to success – which is honesty, integrity, trust coupled with proper and valid credentials.

Any success that a person accomplishes is in direct proportion to the contribution he/she makes.

If your contribution is meager, so will be the reward. If your effort is average, average results will follow.

If your contribution is exceptional, things will seem to happen like miracles – but they will not be miracles.

Success will simply be a result of a proper and worthwhile effort and contribution.

To all those struggling to get things done, this is to help you in your quest to succeed, to advise you of the proper approaches that will make your campaign more productive, to help you fulfill your dreams and finally to prepare you for the processes that follow in your next level.

However, to remain in the limelight of success and popularity is not an easy thing. One must not rest on one’s oars. Yes, to be frank, I even slept in my office many times.

Let me take this opportunity to properly acknowledge the many hundreds of persons whose motivation made this possible. The result of your effort has opened a channel of wealth and prosperity to those in need. The greatest gift is your daily motivation and the sharing of experiences and knowledge. I dedicate this to my late mother who raised me and every single mother who goes to bed with a single meal.

Thanks to you ALL!!!!!!!!

Astonishing! Women Business Center have been selected out of a total of 150 applicants from Africa and handpicked out of the shortlist of 17 by top executive from MTV, The United Nations, Deloitte, Ogilvy, Junior achievement, African Youth Foundation, and Sekunjalo Investments.

The competition aims to bring exposure to the outstanding efforts of the winners and to connect them with stakeholders in a position to help them expand their businesses.

To that end, Sukuma Afrika targets prime events to hold its yearly awards ceremony.

The 2009 Awards Ceremony will be held at a Annual Conference of the Global Business School Network which invites the business community to focus on partnerships and specifically business schools as development partners.

This roundtable will be a side event to the World Economic Forum on Africa in Cape Town on 9th June 2009.

Thanks to All who made it possible for Women Business Center.

Go to the Conference Page

THE BIG READ

Education remains an exceptional challenge, no country today can succeed and progress without it. It is a key factor in fighting against extreme Poverty and Hunger.

Goal 3 of the Young Feminist in Action Programme states “to identify key actions required to align, intensify and broaden efforts country wide so as to maximize synergies and more effectively use of “movement” to educate more women about their rights, talents, skills and passion.

It is out of this that Women Business Center, the Young Feminist in Action together with the University of the Western Cape, Cape Town South Africa took part in the Global Campaign for Education. They join others around the globe in the Big Read to make sure everyone gets the chance to learn to read and write.

The good news is that the campaign will go on from mouth to mouth with greater intensity and urgency than ever before.

This will go down in the annals of Women Business Center as the event drew large numbers of children, students and adults from all walks of life.

The day began with the chairperson of Women Business Center and a young social entrepreneur Isaac Aggrey who welcomed everyone and delivered a speech on the impact of education.

In a brief statement, he narrated how Women Business Center has maximise support for the Big Read by setting up social networks to respond to the growing numbers of school drop outs.

He assured everyone that the Young Feminist in Action will continue to speak openly against illiteracy which has plagued the society.

He urged government to make education free and compulsory and establish more adult’s literary centres with scholarships throughout the country or, at least scrap off tuition fees so that parents could afford to send their children to school.

He said parents rob their children the chance to become productive members of society, effective community members, good family members and valuable citizens of society when they deny them education.

He therefore asked parents, world leaders and the society to close ranks and devise concrete ways of solving illiteracy.

To the community members who took part, the day was just sensational and phenomenon. They came in their numbers in spite of the bad weather.

In conclusion, he emphasised the launch of the Big Read is the first of many steps toward invigorated educational campaign in South Africa and mentioned Women Business Center is proud to be affiliated with the effort of University of the Western Cape and looks forward to a continued successful implementation of education for all.

He expressed his immeasurably gratitude to all those who made it possible for Women Business Center and the Young Feminist in Action.

Please log on to 1globe for more speeches, stories, poems, pictures from the Young Feminist Leaders and the University of the Western Cape.