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Monday 12 September 2011

Remembering 9/11

I was a young child ten years ago and the story of a terrorist attack on American soil though distant shocked me to the core. Because I was still young I may not have been able to comprehend how such an attack could have happened or why it happened, but one thing is for sure tough I was 14 at the time I still remember the Moment I received the news on Radio, I was preparing to go on a school tour to Lake Bogoria and I remember Cursing Osama for the whole of this.
This year's anniversary of the 9/11 attacks in America is special anniversary to me. I followed the proceeding via BBC world service and was touched by the messages Read by the US leaders and the for the first time in the ten Years I observed a moment of silence to mark the anniversary of commemorating a bottomless  evil of what happened on 9/11, 
Ground Zero Photo Courtesy of twitpic


The reason 9/11 is special for me in 2011 is because of what the American youth have done for me this year.
in my earlier post Being an alumna of egerton University , I mentioned about the connection to friends in the US. This are the people who are doing so much to change the world and improve the image of America outside of their homeland.I may not have learned much from 9/11 itself but I have learned more from the events that have happened after 9/11,
       "I am a beneficiary of online mentorship from American youth and I am who I am today thanks to them"

These are youth who take up their time to teach mentor the their counter parts in other parts of the world online, many of whom we have not met face to face.They have taught me so many lessons in life regarding my professional career and development, as we Commemorate the 10th Anniversary of 9/11, one Question is on everybody's mind, what has America learned in the last ten years? Many will agree with me that some of the decisions that the Ameerican  goverment made in reaction to the attack may not have been the best, e.g the war in Iraq and the detention centers.

The greatest lesson I have learnt is that it really is possible to unite and heal the world, the interaction with the Americans has helped me learn more about them and I am lucky to be among the ones who have seen the good side of America that sadly the media do not tell the world about. I have encoutered dozens of wonderful American youth who are now my mentors and life long friends and who are doing wonderful projects both in Africa and their home land to make the world a better place. People like Katharine Bierce of  Opera solutions , Jacob Geller of MCN Partners, Ted Gonder and Sashin of Moneythink, Jessie wild of Wikimedia, and  Vijaya Thakur of Resolve Network 

As we commemorate 9/11, I want to salute these wonderful Americans who have sown a seed that will definitely produce the best fruits. their collective effort will surely unite the world, heal the divide, good ways to relieve suspicion and enhance our trust in each other.
It is so unfortunate the the American Embassy in Nairobi denied me a US Visa to attend Millenium campus Conference at Harvard University where I had been invited as a speaker. 
This post is part of the what I planned to share at Harvard and I want to Say "God bless America"


Tuesday 6 September 2011

Being a Alumni of Egerton University is the best thing that Happpend to me


Being a student at Egerton University will always be the best thing that ever happened to me. In my four years at Egerton as an Agribusiness student I  learned  a lot of things both in class and outside class that have really changed my life. 
I finished my exams on 8th May 2011, and Reported to Job on Friday 10th May 2011 having been employed as Agribusiness Officer at PAnAAC. The three months that have past have been one of the most exciting to me; I have attended conferences and major meetings in Places I could not have imagined I would set foot, not even in my wildest dreams.
The interaction with various industry leaders has made me a better person in life
Mr. Yariv Kader Head of Agronomy at Amiran Kenya, with Isaac in Meru Show.

 

Isaac with Yatta MP. Hon. Charles Kilonzo, inspecting development Projects in Yatta constituency.



The experience I have had after University has been so awesome, I remember during one of our Conferences that we attended with Prof. Kahi and Dr. Gamba at intercontinental Hotel, Nairobi.  I could not believe that two months out of college I would be sitting in the same table with my lecturers not as a student but as a professional colleague doing his part in Building the Nation. I have matured a lot by constantly interacting with my Lecturers and always getting back to them even in the middle of the night.


Isaac with Mr. Vimal Shah, CEO of Bidco at serena hotel.


My Achievements after University
Being the Agribusiness Officer at PAnAAC, I was in charge of student internship programme and in May 2011, we offered internships to 20 Egerton University Students. Their Programme was innovative in that we sent them to the field to assist the small scale farmers, and they  were being mentored by Professionals in the private sector , the students came out as real experts in the field with some writing business plans of their own and others helping farmers start up projects e.g. Fish pond in Eastern Kenya.

In June 2011, I was selected to Participate in a Conference call with the white house  house to Discuss about the first ladies trip to Africa. It was a big experience for me and I gained a lot of international Contacts after the call which has served to further my exposure in life.
In August I was among the four people selected to represent Africa at the annual Wikimania Conference in Haifa, Israel and I met with over 700 people from 56 countries in the world. . I Got the chance to meet with the Founder of Wikimedia Mr.Jimmy wales.
Isaac with Jimmy Wales Founder of Wikipedia- in Haifa, Israel


I have also been invited to Harvard University as a Panelist during the Millennium CampusConference , which will take place from 16th – 18th September, 2011. I will be discussing the Topic, Climate Change and Hunger and will get to meet over 1000 Student leaders and industry
The exposure I got by attending Agribusiness Trade fair at Hilton Hotel in November 2010 was the turning point in my life. I listened to a speech from Dr. Manu Chandaria and Mrs. Lucy Muchoki CEO of PanAAC which ignited a fire in me, I got so inspired and I felt I should emulate them. With the support of My Lecturers I started networking with professionals from all parts of the world and that’s when I started doing networking and connecting with organization like  Wikimedia Foundation ( Distributing offline version of Wikipedia in High schools), Google (Mapping agribusiness institutions in Kenya using goggle Maps) and Mozilla
Isaac with Mrs. Lucy Muchoki-Ceo PanAAC attending a Talk at Egerton Uni.


I also met connections  with friends in the US and who trained me on aspects that have proved to be my strengths so far- Professional  use of social networks, how to reply  professional emails.
I was also sponsored  for a three month mentorship programme at iHub Kenya and it has been a big plus to me.

The Secret behind my achievements so far is “My Lecturers and professional Mentors”. After coming back from the Hilton Conference, I used to visit their offices all the times when I was free just to receive advice and Professional guidance. I went even to offices of Lecturers who never taught me in class and they became my best friends always showing the Path to success.
Whenever I am faced with a difficult decision in my work place, I always refer to my Lecturers and my Professional Mentors for direction and Guidance.
To the students, , I want to say that beyond class work you need your  Lecturers and Professional  mentors- People like Mrs. Lucy muchoki, Vimal Shah and Dr. Manu Chandaria, more than anything else to succeed, forget finding one lecturer or professional for a role model. Instead look for different people for specific qualities and skills you want to emulate, never start with a person; start with the talent or trait.
All the best to all those Who are still pursuing their studies.

Best of (Wikimania 2011)-Israel Photos

Jimbo and I
Entry to Jerusalem
Party Time- Day two
Indian Team,Jessie and I
Alex, Ting Chen and Isaac
Isaac and Hillary-Mexico
Alex, Jessie, Meagan and Isaac
Isaac and Qamarniso Ismoilova- Uzbekistan
Isaac and Josh- Philipines
Isaac and Kat Walsh-US
Beach Party
Isaac Roger Bamkin -Wikimedia UK Chair
Alex, Kul wadwa and Isaac
Alex, Jessie and Isaac
Isaac and Mateus -Brazil

Isaac and Bishaka Datta -India