Feb 2024: Straws, Captains and Promises #757
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Generosity, Gambling and Good Luck
written by Aurélie
Rather Random
Have you ever considered whether a straw has one or two holes? If you want a brain-tickling answer to this question before you start the rest of the newsletter, check out this video. And yes, I promise that the rest of the update will be less random.
Geneva update
I have been learning a lot about the peacekeeping missions of the UN of late. It's a mixed bag of achievements and challenges. One fact, however, got my attention: the peacekeeping mission in Sierra Leone in 1999 was the first one to include the protection of civilians in its mandate. Given the rising number of civil conflicts worldwide, this isn't just a piece of trivia—it's a blueprint for future missions.
Almost there
We're in the final stages of preparing for our inaugural influencer campaign with Ismatu Gwendolyn. Behind the scenes, we're diligently ensuring that all funds are properly allocated to the campaign and that donating is easier than ever. This extensive development effort is being spearheaded by @andrashee. On the topic of coding, this month has seen valuable contributions from new open-source developers @micharied and @llr3v0ll.
Captains
When politicians talk about closing their borders, I often find that the individual gets completely lost in the conversation. I would suggest that everyone screen the movie “Io Capitano”. I have no words to describe how good this movie is and how many emotions it conjured. Please have a watch.
Innovative fit
Have you ever heard of a Chief Innovation Officer for an entire country? Meet David Sengeh, a Sierra Leonean who, during his PhD studies at MIT, developed more comfortable prosthetics and a novel fitting process. This innovation helped over 27,000 amputees from the Sierra Leone civil war. Upon his return home he became the CIO of the country and, subsequently, Chief Minister.
Universal and successful
Small-scale experiments have demonstrated encouraging results when it comes to alleviating poverty according to Jason Hickel, an author we recommended already on our book page. His newest ideas: guaranteed employment and public services. Worth reading.
My World in Data
Stat of the month
Here's an eye-opener: In Sub-Saharan Africa, a staggering 70% of the population is under 30! But there's more to this figure. Did you know that over 70% of Sierra Leoneans lack access to electricity? You might wonder, how do they charge their phones? I'll tell you more next month.
Political promises
Sierra Leone’s @PresidentBio recently promised to create 500,000 new jobs for the country's youth, with a special emphasis on ensuring equal opportunities for women. This initiative is sorely needed, as youth unemployment remains high and progress towards gender equality has slowed in recent years.
My World in News
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