EBENEZER MATHEW

 A real man doesn't make excuses. A real man owns his own mistakes, takes responsibility and doesn't shift the blame. He stands tall, takes ownership of his actions, and takes initiative in making things right. The moment a man realizes the power of the words “I own this”, his life and future begin to take a completely new path. This is because when we take ownership of our actions, we become aware of the things that we have or haven’t done and who or what we are. We become conscious of the need for change in order to ensure a better future. A real man, through his mindful choice of ownership and responsibility, has the power to make a dramatic improvement in his life and the lives of those around him. He has the ability to make an impact on the world and shape people’s lives in a positive way.  Real men are those that embody the qualities of volunteerism, impact-orientation, optimism and discipline. They are dedicated to giving back and making the world a better place. They t...

 It's easy to feel overwhelm when we are facing a challenge in life, especially if it's something we haven't done before or something unfamiliar to us. We can get so caught up in the idea that we need to do something right away that we forget to take it one step at a time and allow ourselves to figure it out as we go.  No matter how big or small the challenge might be, it's important to remember that it takes time for us to figure out what works for us; we all learn differently and have different preferences. That's why it’s so important to start with one step, process the information and move onto the next. It's a much better approach than trying to do too much all at once, because then it can become overwhelming and we can easily make mistakes. Rather than stressing out about all the possibilities, take things one step at a time. Think about what your goals are, figure out what needs to be done, and then take it one step further. It's ok to not always have...

We’ve all heard the adage “When the going gets tough, the tough get going” and it’s fair to say that life often presents us with challenges that seem insurmountable. It can be daunting to start a project that feels like a mountain to climb, or to persist in the face of seemingly impossible odds. No matter how hard the obstacles seem, it’s important to remember that you can’t give up. You can’t succumb to doubt, self-pity, or despair. When you’re ready to give up, your first thought should be, “just don’t.” Don’t let the mountain that lies in front of you daunt you. Don’t let your own self-doubt keep you from achieving your goals. Don’t let failure be an option. Now, it would be silly to suggest that giving up in never an option. There are certainly times when a situation is simply too difficult or beyond our control. In those cases, it may be better to walk away and try something else. But when you’ve got something within your grasp, there’s no reason to stop just because it’s hard. If...

 Letter to My Fellow Youth: All the Support You Need By Ebenezer Mathew Dar es salaam, Tanzania 🇹🇿 •suleimanebenezer@gmail.com

  The African continent is experiencing a development crisis. Despite a positive outlook for some countries, the majority of African nations continue to struggle with high levels of poverty, war, and disease. These significant challenges have led experts to label this period the “African century” or “Africa comeback”—expressions of hope that the current state of affairs is only a temporary setback. There are many reasons why Africa is in its current state, but most experts agree that infrastructure is one of the main problems preventing growth and prosperity. This article explores the problems plaguing Africa and what can be done to improve the situation. Poverty and Lack of Economic Opportunity The first and most significant problem plaguing Africa is poverty. According to the World Bank, around 300 million people in Africa live in poverty. Furthermore, the poverty rate is highest in the sub-Saharan region, where nearly two thirds of the population are living in poverty. Unfortuna...

 In the future, Africa will be a place of paradoxes and contradictions. On the one hand, it will continue to be a source of inspiration for the rest of the world. The resilience and fortitude of its people will continue to amaze us. And we’ll continue to see evidence that Africa is home to some of the kindest, most big-hearted people on Earth. And at the same time, we’ll see some pretty unsettling things as well. There will be moments when we cringe in fear at what might come next—and not because of anything that is actually happening now but because we can imagine so many different possibilities for how things could go terribly wrong in the future if nothing changes soon. The Good News About Africa in the Next 25 Years As the youngest continent on the planet, Africa will still feel the energy of youth in the next 25 years. It will continue to be a place where innovation thrives, where new ideas are born and where the next big thing might already be in the works. At the same time, ...

 There is no universal recipe for development. Not every country needs to follow the exact same path as others, given that their starting points are different. However, there are some common principles that most successful development strategies share. Advocacy and policy evaluation are increasingly recognized as crucial instruments in the hands of local communities and civil society organizations when it comes to improving the lives of people living in poverty – especially given how much governments tend to overlook those who need it most when drafting legislation. However, while both advocacy and evaluation are important tools, they’re not the same thing. This article explores what exactly policy assessment is, why it’s important for development work, and what it entails. What is policy assessment? Policy assessment is a process in which the impact and effectiveness of current or planned policies are evaluated. It is also sometimes known as policy evaluation, and is closely linke...