Spotlight: Beauty and Brains -The @AfroTechGirls

Across the globe, women remain underrepresented in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). This is especially true in many African countries including Nigeria. In June 2014, three young women came together with a vision; a vision of a world where the number of women in the Science and Technology industry would rise and women would feel welcomed, accomplished and appreciated for their efforts and achievements. They realised that the best way to do this was by encouraging more young girls to take up STEM at secondary school and university levels and stick with it even after learning. As a result, Afro-Tech Girls was born.

Afro-Tech Girls is an NGO set up by three female engineers to promote STEM enthusiasm in young African girls through creativity, art and innovation.

At Afro-Tech Girls, they are really passionate about encouraging more girls to embrace the STEM industries and are making it a point to do this in fun and innovative ways. Watch the founders speak in the video below:

Mission – to encourage, educate and empower African girls of secondary and university levels in the STEM fields to follow through and acheive whatever goals they set for themselves through mentorship, teamwork, creativity and innovation.

Who runs the world? Girls!! 😀

For more info, connect with Afro-Tech Girls at  www.afrotechgirls.org and on instagram at @afrotechgirls

Afro-Tech Girls Promoting STEM enthusiasm in young African girls

Beautifully Dreaming, Positively Doing….

Tosinger

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AFRODREAMFEST – Celebrating AfroMusic Globally

My idea behind AfroDreamFest was inspired by the passion  to promote and give a platform to the new wave of indie African/AfroConscious/Afropolitan artists in the diaspora who do a variation of genres of Soul – Jazz – Roots – Folk – World – Afrobeat – Acoustic music laced with African elements, merging genres of music creatively and beautifully with Afro~cultural influences,musically and lyrically on a contemporary platform.

Afrodreamfest is an event that celebrates and promotes Neo Afro-fusion genres of music from the African continent and in the diaspora.

These are true Artists of African origin around the world who are this generation’s throwback to past eras of real meaningful music, keeping alive and making soulful music that is so uniquely creative and relevant across borders, infusing language and cultural aspects that reach for the soul and spirit.

Art by Nequa Gay specifically for Afrodreamfest

The vision is to tour the concert across different cities annually around May 25, the commemoration of African Liberation Day. It is currently independently produced and is open to partnerships and sponsorships to further expand the concept and its reach. The response to the movement has been positive and encouraging so far. Indie Afro artists need the on-ground presence to share their talents, and promote culture. I am one of them so I feel the need to step out as a visionary and make it happen.

​ The first edition of Afrodreamfest took place at the Southwest Arts Center in Atlanta, Georgia.

Recap:

The second edition which will be a benefit concert for two non profit organizations giving back to the African continent (Clean Water for Uganda and Adopt A Guitar Inc ( partnering with ‘Playing For Change’ ) will be taking place in Houston on May 25, 2014 at the Freneticore Theater featuring Yours truly :), Micheline Ewang, Ade Oniye and Babatunde. Tickets are still available at http://www.afrodreamfesthouston2014.eventbrite.com/ 

To stay updated on Afrodreamfest, like on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/AfroDreamFest , follow on Twitter @afrodreamfest and check out videos at www.youtube.com/afrodreamfest. Website: www.afrodreamfest.com

Beautifully Dreaming… Positively Doing..

xoxo

Tosinger

Spotlight : Miss Uganda USA 2014 (@missugandausa)

During my stint as an Editor-at-large  for Applause Africa magazine, I wrote a feature on a darling pearl of Uganda, Hasifa Meriam Kivumbi, who is a dancer and a social entrepreneur with a touching story to tell, this would be the beginning of a budding sisterhood and an eventual program partnership in the coming weekend. I am so excited about the second edition of my Afrodreamfest project- Afrodreamfest Houston 2014 which will be a benefit concert/silent auction to support Hasifa’s platform/project Clean Water for Uganda and my new NGO – Adopt – A – Guitar. See flyer. Hasifa is the current, running Miss Uganda USA 2014 aiming for the Miss Africa USA 2014 crown. She undoubtedly has the beauty .. and the brains, the passion… and the drive to give back to the community and especially her continent.

Get to know Hasifa Meriam

Hasifa Meriam Kivumbi is the creator of 180 degrees, a non-profit organization with a mission to “create doors in places where there were once walls” through motivation, inspiration and celebration of personal achievements. As a representative of Uganda, she has taken on the challenge to partner with the Global Water Partnership in their efforts to create a water secure world by 2020 as her platform. In 2012, Miss Kivumbi was crowned Miss. UNAA (Uganda North American Association) and has since been working on bridging the gap in personal achievement between continental Africans and Africans in the Diaspora through 180 Degrees.
Miss Kivumbi has been serving her community for years and has received many accolades for her passion for life and compassion towards others. In 2012, she was named the year’s Local Hometown Hero by the Modern Woodmen of America Fraternal Organization. She has been highlighted for her talents in dance, writing and modeling in the New York magazine Applause Africa and has been featured in many beauty publications including BHF Fashion and Photography magazine.

Do not be fooled however, Miss Kivumbi is more than just a pretty face; she has a passion for learning and education. In 2010, she was initiated into the National Society of ‘Who is Who’ among American Students. In her professional life, she owns an independent beauty consulting business that she uses to motivate and inspire women to feel their most beautiful both inside and out. For three years now she has served as a website weaver for Helpothers.org, an online community of over 1 million participants. The website encourages people to change the world through small and random acts of kindness. She has served as the spokesperson for the Breast Cancer Initiative of East Africa and wishes to share her journey and experiences in humanitarianism in her upcoming book. Currently her energy is directed towards improving the lives of the people of her native Uganda with the Clean Water for Uganda Project

Hear her speak:

To follow Hasifa’s journey to become the next Miss Africa USA 2014, like her Facebook page here, and to support her CWUP platform click here.

Beautifully Dreaming… Positively Doing..

xoxo

Tosinger