Keep in mind that this list is what works for me. These are tips and life-lessons that I’ve found valuable in my quest to make a difference in Africa. You might only adopt certain items from this list, but the point is to offer it up to others in the hope that they might find something of use in my list. Your comments are welcome and highly encouraged. Please feel free to use the comments to point out any tips you have to add to the list so I can keep this updated. If I get enough interest, who knows, maybe I’ll turn this list into a website and start a directory of online resources? I think it would have tremendous value and would have helped me many years ago when I got started.

1. Know your goals–The #1 question you need to ask yourself: What do you want to accomplish in Africa? Want to drill a water well for a local community? Want to meet the water needs for an entire country? Know what you want to do, or at least have a good idea, before you dive in. Why do I say this? Because your goals will define the best course of action for pursuing your passion. If you have high and lofty goals of changing the continent, I’m going to be the last person to tell you it can’t be done. However, I’ll be the first person to tell you to be realistic about your approach. Start small and build up from there. Starting big will leave you discouraged and eventually burned out. You don’t want this and Africa doesn’t need another foreign burnout with a bunch of ideas. One thing that helps is to localize your cause to one person. Start by helping one person in need and build out to a community. Keep building out accordingly. If you can, find a nonprofit or civil society organization (CSO) that needs help and volunteer. Remember, not all people desire to revolutionize the continent of Africa. There’s nothing wrong with change on a small scale. After all, this is where the real change happens. Not with governments, but with the people. Whether you are doing something small or something huge, you should always be able to connect your passion to one person. If you lived your life and only changed one person’s life, would it be worth it? It should be if you value the effect you have.
2. Networking. Networking. Networking.–Everything that I have accomplished for Africa can likely be attributed to two things: networking and perseverance (see below). You are starting out and don’t know who to talk to. You need networking. Nobody started out by knowing everyone they needed to know and nobody can act alone as an island. We need each other to make a difference in this world. Without knowing the right people I would not be where I am today. I have many people to thank. Whether for inspiration or for connections, people will be an asset to you. For every contact you make, make it a point to talk to them on a regular basis. Form relationships and invest time into them. Your relationships will be the single most important thing for you. Use the tools & ideas below to begin networking:
   • LinkedIn–While LinkedIn is not widely adopted in Africa, it is widely used in the U.S. and Europe. And nope, LinkedIn is not just for people searching for a job. It’s a valuable social network that is growing by leaps and bounds and is great for networking. Sign up for LinkedIn and start by making connections with the people you know well. Once you’ve done that, start searching for groups with topics that interest you. There is a plethora of LinkedIn groups that focus on Africa, whether venture capital or East African business. If a group with your interests doesn’t exist, start one. Chances are there’s someone else out there with your same interests. Then start introducing yourself to people and learn how to talk about what you want to accomplish.
   • Facebook–Practically everyone is getting a Facebook account these days, from parents to kids to grandparents. Open a Facebook account and start friending people you know and searching for groups involving Africa. I belong to about 54 groups at last count, and nearly all of them have something to do with Africa. Some of them are regularly active and some are not. Join groups and start looking for ways to get value out of them and the relationships you will make. What you take away from Facebook will vary from what others have taken.
   • Events–If you live near a metropolitan area like myself, you will likely not have any trouble finding Africa-related events. My networking opportunities skyrocketed when I moved to the Washington D.C. area (for obvious reasons). If you don’t live near a metropolitan area, you might have to either start an event of your own or travel to get to events. You never know who might be interested if you publicize your idea to start a meeting. Also, don’t forget conferences and academic events at your local college or university. There are tons of Africa-related conferences across the United States and often they will be held in conjunction with a local academic institution. The hard part often is finding the events. Get friendly with Google. I mean real friendly. Search until you find something of value you want to attend. @mjamme has more excellent tips on her blog.
3. Communication–While everyone has their preferred method of communication, mine is Skype. I love Skype. It allows me to make phone calls internationally for cheap with friends and partners in Africa. I can chat, trade files easily, hold video calls, and even get a phone number that is local to somewhere in Africa. There are many tools that can do what Skype does, but this has worked for me pretty well over the years. Whenever you make contacts, ask them if they’re on Skype. If so, ask if they’ll add you as a contact. If not Skype, consider other alternatives. There are plenty out there.
4. Criticism–I once introduced an idea of mine to a person I met and I was confronted with the highest display of criticism and seemingly arrogant attitude I’ve ever experienced in my life. I was expecting some sort of encouragement or direction on my idea, but what I got instead was criticism. Yeah, it hurt as if someone had stomped all over my dreams. But guess what? I pouted a little, went home, and improved upon my idea and started to refine it. The person I shared my idea with wasn’t necessarily “out to get me” but was asking legitimate questions, albeit in a very forward manner that I wasn’t used to. I didn’t agree with nearly everything that person said, even to this day. But what I did find out that moment was that you can learn from every single experience you have. The choice is yours how you will respond. Don’t get defensive, instead, choose to learn from the experience and roll with the punches. Keep moving forward. (Be sure to see the point below about perseverance & failure.)
5. Perseverance & failure–Guess what? You’re going to get frustrated along the way. If you’ve ever experienced frustration at home, just wait until you get started in the developing world. You will learn patience quickly. Now that’s not a knock on Africa, things are just done differently there. But coming from a society you’re used to dealing with, you will come across different customs and ways of life that are completely foreign to you. Get used to it and learn how to accept it for what it is. Learn how to love the people for who they are. Whenever you see other successful people with ideas, remember that there are many others who have gone before them and failed for lack of perseverance. If you stick it out and keep at it, you just might have a breakthrough that will help many people (if that’s your goal). Stick with your original goal and never give up. Don’t be afraid of failure. There is immense value in failure. Yup, that’s right. Failure is a way of discovering something you might be doing is the wrong approach. Think about all of these scientific and technological breakthroughs we have today. Every one of them is likely a result of someone’s failure. Be scientific about failure and try something else. Keep trying until something works. If you can do this without giving up, you’re learning perseverance. Perseverance will make you stronger and wiser over time.
6. Information–Having access to the right information is crucial to getting involved in Africa. There is tons of false information out there concerning Africa and the last thing you want to do is build a foundation on false assumptions. Practically every time I hear about Africa on the TV or read about it in the newspaper I cringe. Always bad news. Always. Even after years of studying Africa and reading books, I had a rude awakening when I visited Africa. Africa cannot be confined or defined in a book or article. Africa is an amazing place full of mystery, diversity, and history. East Africa is much different from West Africa and South Africa is much different from North Africa. You will not go to two places in Africa that are the same. And no, Africa is not a country. It is a continent made up of dozens of countries, each of them different and tremendously beautiful. There are country clubs in Africa and there is poverty in Africa and everything in-between. You will see lots of economic diversity. Be prepared to throw out everything you thought you knew about Africa. Get to know Africa in a variety of ways. Don’t limit yourself to one way of experiencing Africa. Some ways of gathering information are below:
   • Blogs & RSS–Blogs are invaluable to learning about Africa. You can find blogs from Africans, expats, business owners, international development professionals, college professors, economists, and beyond. Whatever you have in mind, there is likely a blog about it. But before you start to bookmark your blogs the old-fashioned way and have a list of hundreds of blogs, learn to use an RSS reader similar to Google Reader. Google Reader has revolutionized the way I devour content. I currently subscribe to somewhere in the range of 300 RSS feeds and I read them every day. Using an RSS reader allows me to quickly scan through titles and blog posts while picking out which one’s might be of value to me. No need to visit 100 different websites. Instead, their content comes to you through the RSS reader and you are able to take in much more information and find what pertains to you much quicker. There are both web-based and desktop-based RSS readers out there. Find one that works for you. An RSS reader will make you more efficient and you will probably end up happier at the end of the day. My morning coffee is had with Google Reader and I never have to visit a single website unless I want to. I also probably cover 100 times more content every day than the average person and it makes me much more informed. Here is a great video guide to RSS in case you need to learn more
   • Magazines–Nope, print isn’t dead. There are many good magazines out there that cover Africa in valuable ways and I still subscribe to many of them. Head to your local book store and look for titles that pertain to your interests. I currently read a variety of magazines every month from Make to Wired to The Economist to African Business. Each has its own value to me.
   • Social Media–Think Twitter is a silly fad without any value? Think again. I can’t count how much informational value I’ve gotten out of Twitter alone out of all the social media available. I’ve made connections, found useful tips & articles, and have had insightful conversations with people just like me with a deep interest in Africa. Even better, there are many Africans using Twitter and they are a must to follow if you decide to start using Twitter. But the point I want to make is that Twitter is more than just networking and pointless minute-by-minute updates. It is information constantly flowing. I often look at Twitter as scanning newspaper headlines or hearing tidbits of conversation from a variety of people all over the world. A good place to start is by looking at some Twitter directories to help find the right people to follow. Other forms of social media can be great sources of information. They are what you make of them.
   • Events–See above. But on top of that, go to events that teach you about Africa. Event are not just about networking, but about learning information about Africa.
   • Videos–Watch a documentary or two. There are tons of documentaries out there on Africa. If you live in a more rural area, consider subscribing to Netflix to have them delivered to your home. Other great alternatives are videos on YouTube and TED. If anything, dedicate yourself to finding some good TED videos on Africa. I have been inspired immensely by TED. Just one note, be careful about Hollywood movies. Regardless of the intent to highlight a hot-topic issue ore re-tell history, as most Hollywood videos try to do, Africa is not and has never been rightfully represented by Hollywood. Also, for those of you who want some entertainment from the booming Nigerian scene, try watching some Nollywood movies for a change.
7. Respect–This goes right along with perseverance and failure above. Learning perseverance goes hand-in-hand with learning respect. Know your place within Africa and understand that you are not Africa’s savior nor are you superior to Africa. Don’t romanticize your quest to help Africa, as so many have done and continue to perpetuate. Not only do I feel a desire to help other people, I enjoy what I do immensely and it provides me happiness beyond material things in my life. My best advice is to look at Africa the way you would look at anyone else in the world: we are all global citizens. The work I do for Africa I would do for any other continent or country if I felt so compelled. We are neighbors in a global sense. Respect the customs and ways of life in Africa, no matter how different they are from your own beliefs or customs. Never forget that you are a guest. Make it a point and goal to pass on your knowledge to the people you are serving in whatever you do. In my mind, it is never cliche to say you are empowering people. Knowledge is power. Pass it on and you will earn the respect of Africans. Approach everything you do with humility and willingness to learn from others. Also, part of respect is knowing history. Don’t just waltz into Africa without knowing the history. Pick up a few books on the history of the African continent and the region or country you are interested in. I recommend a combination of all three geographic areas. Africans will have more respect for you if you invest yourself into their home by studying the history. I can’t stress history enough.
8. Get organized–Go buy yourself two things right now: a calendar and a pack of moleskins. Carry both with you everywhere you go. The calendar will become useful when you start having to plan things out in advance. Have a family event? Add it to the calendar. Have a phone call coming up? Add it to the calendar. My calendar is not only to alert me of future events, but reminds me of past events for reference. Know what you will be doing exactly one month from today. Buy a calendar that fits your style. My calendar is monthly. Yours might be weekly or daily. Moleskins can be bought just about anywhere that sells office supplies and they are easily affordable. Buy a pack of them and start writing everything down in them. And I mean everything. When you meet people, write down their name, contact info, etc, so that you can return to that moleskin and recall how you know them. Don’t rely 100% on email for keeping information. You will likely meet lots and lots of people. Learn to keep their information organized and it will have huge payoffs in the end. I did this during my first trip to Africa and I still use it today. Whether or not you rely on technology is up to you. Personally, I’m old school. I like knowing that my information is on paper in addition to being digital. That choice is yours, just don’t blame me if you lose it because of a hard drive crash or deleted email.
9. Business cards–Some people think that business cards are going out of style. But I’m going to advocate to continue using them. Do you have personal business cards? If not, get some. They can be bought very cheaply online or your local stationary store. Give them to people you meet and get a business card organizer similar to the one I have.
10. Foreign language–Learning a foreign language that is commonly used in Africa can be a great long-term asset to you. It also shows your dedication and desire to learn more about Africa’s culture. Language is a crucial part of Africa’s culture. Several years ago I decided to pick one of the harder languages to learn, Arabic, and have been hooked on it every since. Now I’m considering learning Swahili. If you are seeking to do any work regarding West Africa, French is invaluable. Do your research and find out what languages are being spoken where you are interested in and consider taking classes at your local college, picking up Rosetta Stone, or doing what I did and find a personal tutor.

In this week’s Kiva Pledge Update I am supporting Tettey, who deals in mobile phones and accessories in Kade, Ghana.

According to his Kiva business page:

Tettey is forty-three. He is married and has four children, all in school. He lives with his wife and children in a rented apartment in a town called Kade in the Eastern Region of Ghana. He works hard to be able to provide for the family. Tettey is a trader. He deals in mobile phones and accessories. He sells in a shop by the roadside in his community. He tells us that he buys the phones from the big cities at affordable prices. Tettey has been in business for three years and wants a loan to procure all kinds of phones in larger quantities in order to expand his business.

Stay tuned for the next Kiva Pledge Update on December 6th.

In this week’s Kiva Pledge Update I am supporting John Lubowa, who currently rides a boda-boda in Lugazi, Uganda.

According to his Kiva business page:

Lubowa John is the leader of his lending group in Lugazi. He is 36 years old, married, and has five children aged 5, 7, 9, 11 and 13. They are all in primary school. John also takes care of seven dependants, including orphans.

John is a hardworking man and has been a boda-boda rider for Lugazi Town Council for the past five years. He shows good customer care towards his clients. His business is seasonal, which affects his cash flow. He is able to make 20,000 UGX a week profit. He has a dream of buying his own bike so that he could earn a larger income and continue to educate his children to the last level. John is requesting a loan to purchase a cow (with a top-up from his savings) so that he could sell milk to diversify his family income.

Stay tuned for the next Kiva Pledge Update on November 22nd.

Indego Africa is an organization that is truly making a difference in the lives of Rwandan women by helping them to sell their local crafts. Why go to this event? Here’s three great reasons to spend part of your Friday night at the fundraiser:

• Rwandan dancing. If you’ve never seen a great intore show, you don’t know what you’re missing. Come see Amariza N’Amasonga, the best Rwandan dance group in the area!
• Good people, good food and good drinks. Indego Africa events attract interesting people from all age groups, united by the common bond of an interest in the world outside our borders. The $45 ticket price will include traditional Rwandan food and an open bar.
• Raffle Drawing. We’ll be drawing for our raffle grand prize: a trip to Rwanda (or $3000). Already have a raffle ticket? Come see if you’re the lucky winner. If not, you can get one at reduced price when you buy your ticket.

Tickets and more info are can be found at http://www.indegoafrica.org/fundraisers

Come join me in supporting Indego Africa this Friday night at the Josephine Butler Parks Center in Washington, DC.

In this week’s Kiva Pledge Update I am supporting Ayub Mupere’s Group, who is currently operating a clothing boutique in Lugazi, Uganda.

According to their Kiva business page:

Mupere Ayub has had a boutique in Bukamunye for one and a half years. He is a married man with nine children between the ages of 1 and 18, as he takes care of his siblings. He is a determined man and he is lucky that he is able to make 80,000/= profit a week. Before having a boutique, Ayub was a fisherman. He does not regret the change, although his business is affected by high competition. He ensures that he treats his customers well and has quality clothes for resale; hence, more sales. In the future, Ayub wants to be a wholesaler so that he can build a house for his family.

Ayub needs a loan to be able to restock his boutique with more clothes for a steady supply of products. He is the leader of his lending group in Lugazi.

Stay tuned for the next Kiva Pledge Update on November 8th.

In this week’s Kiva Pledge Update I am supporting Margaret Nankabirwa’s Group, who is currently operating a secondhand clothing store in Kampala, Uganda.

According to their Kiva business page:

Nankabirwa Margaret is the leader of her lending group in Namasuba. She is a young woman who is obsessed with the desire to succeed through hard work. She is not yet married and has no child.

Margaret has a business selling secondhand clothes and has a shop in central Kampala. She joined her lending group to be able to access more capital for her business since she could not find any other alternative and, sincerely, she has found it worthwhile. She wants to be an independent lady and, even if she gets married, not leave everything to her husband.

Margaret needs a loan to be able to buy more clothes for increased variety, leading to increased sales and hence more income and profits.

Stay tuned for the next Kiva Pledge Update on October 25th.

• International Development and Design Summit (IDDS)-Ghana
• Mediatech Africa ‘09, South Africa
• Barcamp Abidjan-Abidjan, Ivory Coast
• Maker Faire Africa (MFA)-Ghana
• AFRICON-Nairobi, Kenya

Here are some good finds I have in my Google Reader you might be interested in:

• Post Conflicted–My newest find, a blog by Nathan Fiala, a consultant for the World Bank in DC. He discusses “Issues in Conflict, Development and the Environment” to a degree that interests me.
• Social Enterprising–The blog of social enterprise Indego Africa, a new venture definitely worth following. Also on Twitter.
• http://williamkamkwamba.typepad.com–William Kamkwamba is a young Malawian inventor, author, and secondary school student at the African Leadership Academy. I highly recommend reading his blog and sending him an encouraging note (and donation) for the wonderful work he is doing. Also on Twitter.

In this week’s Kiva Pledge Update I am supporting Mora Jenty in Sudan, a businesswoman from Gudele, Sudan who sells bread and charcoal and is requesting a loan to open up a bakery.

According to her Kiva business page:

Mora Jenty is currently in the business of selling bread and charcoal and is requesting a loan to open up a bakery. Mora is 27 years old and is married. Her husband is a driver. She has 1 child and her child goes to school. With the extra profits from her loan, she hopes to be able to build a hotel.

Stay tuned for the next Kiva Pledge Update on June 21st.

It has long been my desire to build online web tools exclusively to benefit the Sudanese. VOS is only one of those ideas and I literally have a stack of manila folders on my desk at any given time, each labeled with a project name and full of concepts that I have conceived over the past 7-8 years. I plan on launching VOS very soon and getting a start on at least one or two more of my projects and releasing them into the wild over the summer. With the help and collaboration of other like-minded people, some of these projects will have the potential to grow into something useful and life-changing for other individuals.

To get the ball rolling I have posted a ‘Projects’ page, where all of my projects, live or conceptual, will be listed as well as a brief synopsis on each project. Expect this list to grow soon.