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"MADE IN AFRICA - FOR AFRICA" FDA NEWSLETTER
MASS MAIL
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The AFRICA TRADE CENTRE AND THE FOUNDATION FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF AFRICA proudly presents you with the following information that may add value to Africa's development.
EDUCATION
Education is one tradition that is central, not only to individuals but to whole communities and nations geared towards the attainment of a better life. Imparting and receiving knowledge has always been cherished as it improves the conditions in life.
We are living in very interesting times where learning is not only confined to classrooms and lecturer theatres but is heavily linked to the changing environment that characterizes the global world we inhabit.
I have been invited, for the second time, to chair THE 2nd ANNUAL EDUCATION CONFERENCE in SOUTHERN AFRICA 2008. The theme for this year's event:
'Learning and Training Institutions in the 21st Century'
This conference seeks to tie together various themes that offer direction towards attaining quality Education for both young and old. Learning that is cognizant of the environment of technological changes, curriculum development, poverty that afflicts our society, the skills needs of the economy and the dangers posed by HIV/AIDS, is ideal to developing nations especially in Southern Africa
In essence, this conference will be addressing everything on Education, as detailed in the President's State of the Nation Address!
The event will cover and address:
* An appraisal of CASE STUDIES in the effective use of technology in learning environments
Speakers/Presenter include:
This THE 2nd ANNUAL EDUCATION CONFERENCE in SOUTHERN AFRICA 2008 will take place on 03 - 05 March 2008 at the Indaba Hotel, Fourways, Sandton, South Africa.
For more detail on this event - Contact:
It may be in your interest to browse the comprehensive list of CURRENT AND UPCOMING EVENTS SERVING AFRICA - see:
My company has developed a strategy that encompasses most if not all the key
points you mention in your article as the key o unlocking the future to the
company success. However I believe that there may be a point or two missing
from what your conference hopes to achieve. Allow me to explain the rational
of our company strategy. (It would be interesting to discuss this in person)
We are a small company - Me the owner and two others - a general all-rounder
person plus a general labourer
We import, export, manufacture and locally distribute Enzymes aimed at a
variety of industry
Our main product is one that is South African developed and is successfully
applied in the treatment of waste, waste water ad treatment of effluent.
Most of our sales are geared to the treatment of pit-latrines.
The estimated market size for pit-latrines in South Africa is 4.5 million
pit toilets in rural areas. Research has shown that approximately 7 people
use a toilet per day (this is a target population of 30 million people) -
this excludes the type of out-house toilet systems employed by many
municipalities with particular reference to squatter camps and informal
settlements that can also benefit from this locally developed product. Now
municipalities present a larger challenge to this rational as they are
poorly funded, poorly educated and resistant to change due to financial
constraints. This largely contributes to the rising water pollution problem
South Africa is facing.
The part that fits with the Presidents speech and with your conference
objectives is - we have embarked on a national education process in
educating people (consumers) in hygiene matters directly related to the type
of toilet system they use. (This is a very long drawn out process). The aim
of this is in many ways to instil better hygiene, reduce contracting a
variety of diseases, removing the bad odour from the toilet facility they
have to use but seldom do because of bad odour - all in all we are improving
the dignity of the individual in relieving himself, reducing health bills,
and just making life better for all.
Now this concept of our business plan can do a number of things - Instil
dignity, provide better hygiene, alleviate certain disease, and most of all
alleviate poverty because the part of our selling process is to educate and
allow first hand product performance experience with the leader of any given
community and once this has been achieved they then become a business hub to
our company. They then purchase the product from us and continue with the
pit latrine gospel. (there is no better advertising medium than word of mouth
in the African society)
I do not believe your point of departure for your conference is starting in
the right place in terms of education - should one not start with the basics
of the Maslow Needs hierarchy principles before embarking on developing
mathematicians and scientists while their families have to suffer the
indignities of crapping in a hole in squalor and infesting circumstances .
How quick the mighty of government and the so called upcoming back middle
class have forgotten.
If you think that this cause of ours is worthy of a discussion and possibly
something that can be part of your "I Support Africa" movement I would be
delighted to meet with you.
Best regards. ***********************************
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