TedGlobal Fellowship Awarded to Malian Geekcorps Volunteer
5 February 2007 in Success stories, News, Mali by Geekcorps
Moussa Keita, a Malian and 2004 Geekcorps volunteer, has been awarded a highly coveted fellowship to attend the TEDGlobal Conference in Arusha, Tanzania in June. The annual conference is an invite-only event with attendees who are luminaries from the worlds of technology, entertainment and design.
Moussa is Geekcorps Mali’s most resounding skills-transfer success. When he had proved himself competent at installing all kinds of technology in all corners of Mali, Geekcorps Mali urged him to launch his own enterprise. That company, Zirasun, now provides a variety of technology services, including large wireless networks.
Moussa was selected as a TEDGlobal fellowship awardee because TED believes that he has an important role to play in Africa’s future, and we couldn’t agree more!
This year’s TEDGlobal Conference, entitled “Africa: The Next Chapter,” will focus on ingenious solutions that are being applied to tackle some of the toughest health and infrastructure problems in Africa. Africans across the continent who are beginning to take matters into their own hands, and as a result businesses are being launched that are capable of transforming the lives of millions and new communication technologies are allowing ideas and information to spread, enabling markets — and governments — to be more efficient.
Papou Coulibaly is young boutique owner in Ouélessébougou. Previously, Geekcorps partnered with Papou to create a Cybertigi - an Internet access point for the local community via a wireless link to a Community Information & Learning Center (CLIC).