The United States Agency for International Development in Ethiopia (USAID/Ethiopia), through its Health Workforce Improvement Program (HWIP), donated more than US$84,000 (4.5 million Birr) worth of medical equipment to help restore basic health services in health facilities in Afar Region that were affected by the northern Ethiopia conflict. During an event at the Regional Health Bureau compound in Samara, USAID/Ethiopia Acting Deputy Mission Director Thomas Staal handed over the equipment to Yassin Habib, Head of the Afar Regional Health Bureau.
Acting Deputy Director Staal also visited Dubti Hospital, which was impacted by the conflict, to see USAID’s post-conflict support to revive its essential health services. The USAID Health Workforce Improvement Program worked with Dubti Hospital and other health centers in the region to build their capacity to plan, recruit, and manage their respective health workforce.
USAID donates medical equipment worth $84,000 to restore basic health services in Afar
“Trumpists” And Globalisation
In 2017, Donald Trump rode his “anti-globalist, America First” campaign message all the way to the United States presidency. In essence, Trump declared anything and anybody who was not blatantly an American nationalist a “globalist.” A number of political analysts adamantly stressed that the key reason why Donald Trump and his message mavens deployed the term in that manner was to shield the candidate against predictable charges that it was preposterous for a billionaire, and one truly given to the gilded lifestyle, to get to the White House by pretending to save the common folk.
Manfred Steger in his book titled “Rethinking Globalism” stated that at its most basic level, globalism is very simply a philosophy dedicated to bringing people closer together all over the world. It is fundamentally about learning from each other’s successes or failures and promoting cooperation as well as prosperity. Self-styled “anti-globalists” have tended to flatten the definition conveniently into something more specific – in the sense of defining it as whatever it is that they oppose in the world.
On the left, anti-globalism has focused on trade deals and the abuses of hypercapitalism by a wealthy few individuals and multinational corporations. On the right, especially in the United States, anti-globalists run the gamut from Americanists, who would prefer a world led and dominated by the United States, to libertarians or small-government conservatives. They all like to misconstrue globalism as a movement for a “world government.”
Manfred Steger noted that there are also far-right critics who view globalism through the lens of conspiracy theories that purport to identify shadowy cabals pulling the strings of world events. These conspiracy theories, over the centuries, have at various points been anti-Catholic, anti-Masonic, anti-Semitic or all of the above. It is difficult to tell where exactly on the conservative-to-far-right spectrum President Trump himself places his anti-globalism. To be sure, his anti-globalism bears little resemblance to the left’s anti-globalism, not least because his administration is filled with the plutocrats they abhor. He also very much seeks to project the U.S. hegemony they abhor as well. But again, none of these anti-globalist definitions of “globalism” truly capture the spirit of the philosophy at its root.
It is true that international cooperation doesn’t equal world government. The pursuit of international cooperation and the attempt to shape an equitable form of global governance do not equal world government. There are problems to solve that are bigger than any one sovereign state. And as regards global governance, one can have a de facto version of it, traditionally called imperialism, or a more enlightened, better balanced one. That is the one the democratic world is struggling to establish today.
Quinn Slobodian in his book titled “Globalists: The End of Empire and the Birth of Neoliberalism” stated that any constructive vision of globalism, which we have always embraced, simply means finding ways to bridge the cultural and political, even civilizational, divides between governments on areas of common need or concern. To bridge those gaps, this inclusive kind of globalism dispenses with the belief that any one area of the world is by nature superior to the others and that it has all the right answers. It also militates against the Trumpian notion that nothing positive can be gleaned from other cultures or governing styles.
Quinn Slobodian noted that in the 20th century, this kind of globalism saw a shift toward flexible supra-national forms of cooperation and alliances. Extending that arc of cooperation goes well beyond the oft maligned EU. The 21st century is seeing a plentiful rise of city and other sub-national governments as global actors.
John Ralston Saul in his book titled “The Collapse of Globalism: And the Reinvention of the World” stated that in contrasts to the zero-sum worldview of the “Trumpists”, there is no upward or downward transfer of power in globalism. There are simply ever more actors at the table to work with and learn from each other. And there are many more stages to act on. According to him, our globalism is also, contrary to the narrowly defined leftist version of the critique, far from the multinational hyper-capitalism of today and the heinous colonialism of the preceding era.
POPULISM VS ELITISM
The current ascending populism is a reaction to the heavy handedness of global dominant interests. These interests impose and enforce their desires (on all and sundry), amongst many ways, through the overt/covert operations of their powerful states. The ‘deep state’ plays noticeable role in this regard. To recall; by the deep state we mean, the military-intelligence-industrial-banking-media-complex of the (mostly) powerful states of the world system. To be sure, the current global status quo is the reign of the elites, or ‘elitism’ for short. Its nemesis is the rising ‘populism.’ The confrontation between these two camps might well end up shaping the disintegrating phase of our modern world system, which has been around for over half a millennium!
The current divisive ‘elitism’ is the manifestation of late modernity, which is grounded on the ambitions of monopoly capital/crony capitalism and its attendant lopsided governance. Reductionist neoliberalism anchors its economic ideology. By and large, elitism is a socio-political diktat privileging those who believe they are in the know. All institutions of our world system effectively operate under this well-established regime. From institutions of learning to that of global governance (economic, political, cultural, etc.), all conduct their affairs by abiding to the logic of the elites. NATO, WB, IMF, EU, WTO, etc., are some of the institutional tools of global elitism. Inequality, instead of equality, undemocratic, instead of democratic, disempowerment instead of empowerment, etc. are some of the visible features of the reigning elitist global order, however camouflaged these obvious dispensations are (by TPTB=the power that be)! Current elitism is based on the greed system. If truth be told, it has little appeal to the global sheeple. If humanity is honestly allowed to express its wishes, hopes, fears, etc., it will definitely opt for a more holistic life than what is currently delivered by the reigning hyper elitism. By contrast, the misguided elitism of our day doesn’t really have a clear picture of what life is and should be, outside of the universe of accumulation. Existing elitism is possessed by the now and now! For instance, what the cumulative effects of our incessant manipulation of nature will bring to life and the planet itself is not a burning issue to existing elitism!
The destructive nature of the current elitism has yet to be (fully) exposed by the ascending ‘populism.’ As we said earlier, elitism’s irrational behavior, particularly in regards to natural resources, ecosystems, life and the general well being of our blue planet is abysmal! It is like a kind of mission to nowhere. At the end of the day, this dead end objective cannot appeal to any human, let alone the global levelheaded sheeple. Critical thinking is systemically shunned (by the global elitism) so that sugar coated anti-life discourse can go on unabated. Nonetheless, the old trick of numbing/indoctrinating the sheeple seems to run out of steam. Even the power that be (TPTB) of the industrially advanced states of the OECD (rich countries) are facing this backlash from their increasingly agitated sheeple. Many pretexts are being used to challenge the heavy handedness of institutions like EU, NATO, etc. Brexit itself is a populist reaction to EU’s preponderance. Greece, Spain, Germany and many of the east/central European countries are having vibrantly ascending populism eager to challenge the elitist status quo. Only last week another of the OECD country went populist, so to speak. Mexico elected, by a wide margin, an avowed socialist to its highest office. Over ten politicians are killed on a monthly basis, in Mexico! One wonders why?
To go forward, populism has to rethink many of the things the world has been taking for granted, under the current reign of destructive elitism. Populism should be everything that the current elitism is not! For example, stupid economic doctrines, like infinite growth on a finite planet, must be discarded. We believe, the ideology of the new populism must be derived from the following two foundational principles. Respect for all life and life support systems! Peace and equity for all! To some extent, justice and other democratic notions are espoused (mostly) to secure the above lofty objectives. We also believe, the dynamic dichotomy of left and right populism can be managed as long as we adhere to the above basic principles. For example, we now have a coalition of left and right populists running one of the G7 countries–Italy! Be that as it may, some serious debates need to be conducted (on a continuous basis) before conclusive assessment can be made about the rising populism of our time.
This was first published in July 2018
Coding for children
The 20th edition of Think Young Coding School will be held in Addis Ababa, from 14 to 17 July 2023. Andrea Gerosa is the founder of ThinkYoung, a think tank focused on young people with the aim of involving them in decision-making processes and to provide decision-makers with high-quality research on youth’s conditions. With offices in Brussels, Geneva, Hong Kong and Nairobi, ThinkYoung has 12 years of experience working to empower students all over the world with needs-tailored programmes such as the ThinkYoung Coding School and the ThinkYoung Entrepreneurship School. Capital’s Groum Abate reached out to Andrea Gerosa for in-depth insights of what ThinkYoung is doing to promote coding. The following are excerpts from the candid interview;
Capital: What programming languages and technologies do you teach at ThinkYoung Coding School?
Andrea Gerosa: During the Coding school, students will gain proficiency in computer programming, including languages such as basic HTML5, Python, and even videogame creation. We go beyond coding and foster a comprehensive 21st-century science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education, which is why participants will also delve into robotics and uncrewed air vehicles (drones). The ThinkYoung Coding School is characterised by its innovative approach in a non-formal educational setting, addressing the needs of the younger generation on the one hand and the demand for skilled talent from the African industry on the other hand.
Capital: What age groups or grade levels do you cater to in your coding programs?
Andrea Gerosa: The school welcomes participants aged between 9 and 18 years old, without splitting them into specific age groups. The primary objective we and our partners at Boeing pursue is to provide participants with a foundation in computer programming and other essential STEM skills. The program is designed for beginners, including those with minimal or no prior experience in coding.
Capital: How do you structure your coding courses? Are they project-based, lecture-based, or a combination of both?
Andrea Gerosa: Our coding courses follow a project-based approach, ensuring that every participant receives training in basic coding skills while also allowing them to embark on their own real-world-based projects. At the end of the programme, participants will present their websites and video games. This event serves as a platform for participants to articulate what they have learned and demonstrate the skills they have acquired throughout the bootcamp. Our project-based approach aims to boost youth’s logical and problem-solving thinking while equipping them with STEM skills needed for a successful knowledge-based career in the future. These real-world interactions aim to make learning more accessible and long-lasting.
Capital: Can you provide examples of real-world projects or applications that students have built during their time at ThinkYoung Coding School?
Andrea Gerosa: Students in Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda had the opportunity to build websites, blogs and videogames. Thanks to our partnership with Boeing we also involved them in developing aviation related video games, or understanding how software is important in aviation and how a drone can be guided with coding.
Capital: Are there any prerequisites or prior coding experience required to enroll in your programs?
Andrea Gerosa: We welcome teenagers of all backgrounds. One of the unique aspects of the Coding School organized by ThinkYoung and Boeing is that no previous experience is required to be considered as a candidate. We firmly believe in providing equal opportunities for all participants to embark on this transformative journey. Every edition of our program receives an overwhelming response, with up to 300 applications.
One of the key factors we consider during the selection process is the level of enthusiasm and motivation of the candidates in their applications. We seek out the most driven and passionate teenagers who are eager to make the most of this opportunity.
Capital: Do you offer any specialized coding programs or tracks for students who want to focus on a particular area, such as game development, web development, or mobile app development?
Andrea Gerosa: The ThinkYoung Coding School is not only focused on teaching the basics of computer programming, or website creation, it also aims at demonstrating coding is a fundamental part of many other exciting subjects, such as videogame creation, robotics, or even aviation. That is why we always introduce workshops where students can apply the coding schools to different fields.
Capital: Can you share any success stories or testimonials from previous students who have benefited from your coding programs?
Andrea Gerosa: The aftermovie of our 2022 edition in Ethiopia is available on different platforms.
Capital: What sets ThinkYoung Coding School apart from other coding schools or programs?
Andrea Gerosa: The Coding School by ThinkYoung and Boeing is designed to train the young generation with the digital skills needed to pursue careers in STEM. The program is free of charge for all participants, due to Boeing’s support. Notably, 60% of participants are girls, we do everything we can to demonstrate that coding has no gender.
Capital: How do you measure the success of your students in your coding programs?
Andrea Gerosa: We run a survey at the end of the programme where we evaluate how the opinion of the students changes towards STEM subjects. The findings confirm that 72% of participants are likely to pursue STEM subjects in higher education.
Capital: What are your plans for the future of ThinkYoung Coding School?
Andrea Gerosa: This initiative aligns with the Ethiopian Ministry of Innovation and Technology’s ambitious goal of achieving 70% digital literacy among its citizens by 2025. By empowering and upskilling young people, ThinkYoung and Boeing are actively contributing to Ethiopia’s future and paving the way for technological advancement in the country. That is why, we are committed to scaling up our projects in Sub-Saharan Africa and bringing more opportunities to maximise the potential of the next generation in Ethiopia, Kenya and Rwanda.
Capital: You have mentioned several times that your program partner is Boeing. What is the role of Boeing in this project?
Andrea Gerosa: Boeing is our major partner in the Coding School programme providing funding, expertise in aviation and technologies, and participating in major events throughout the program.
Almost 60% of Africa’s population is under 25 years old but the penetration of STEM education is below other parts of the world. That’s why Boeing has partnered with over 40 organizations in Africa and has invested over $22 million since 2006, to support systemic improvements in education, economic empowerment and the alleviation of poverty. Boeing invests in skills development in Africa to promote careers in aviation, advance STEM careers on the continent and deepen the pool of talent available to the sector. Speaking about Ethiopia, it’s the main “center of gravity” for commercial aviation in Sub-Saharan Africa, connecting the continent to the world. To create a steady talent pipeline in commercial aviation in the country, Boeing works with Ethiopian Airlines Group and ThinkYoung Africa on various STEM education projects.
