About me
My name is Shalala Oliver Sepiso and I was born on February 27th, in Lusaka, Zambia. Currently, I am the Country Manager of the US $98 000 Zambian NGOs eRiding Project which is a new initiative in Zambia and In January, I was also appointed the National Coordinator for the US $ 200 000 YouthIT, Entrepreneurship and HIV/AIDS Project run by Rotary International, The World Bank and The State Department of the US Government. Outside University where I did five years of Agricultural Engineering study, I have done CISCO (CCNA), have done accountancy (CIMA) and French language studies (DELF) sandwiched between project management and cleaner production studies. Before doing an MBA, I may add MCSE and Open Source Software training to be an all round (Jack-of-all-trades and Master-of-all-trades). I come from a poor family but through challenges in life and believing in my hard work, I have managed to reach a level I would otherwise have just been dreaming of. Many of my friends have not; not because they do not want to leave their doldrums but all due to circumstances. And I realise that I 'made it' because of the information and resources I was exposed to. I believe I need to expose others to these too.
In the last 5 years, I volunteered or was hired for/by a number of organisations and companies in Zambia and abroad to work on social change initiatives. I have travelled to over 35 countries and attended over 30 international conferences, camps and projects working on issues of Environment, ICTs, Human Rights and HIV/AIDS. En route, I have met many honourable people and learn a lot. But there are more countries to conquer, more people to meet, more challenges to face, more rivers to cross; the journey has just began.
I am the founder and Executive Directorr of Rescue Mission Zambia, a youth-led, youth-initiated organization that works to empower youth participation in decision-making and sustainable development programs. It has a powerful board, a hardworking management team and a strong advisory panel with tiers at youth, expert and International level; with local celebrities supporting it. I am also the Country Coordinator for the International Education and Resource Network (I*EARN). As an environmental activist, I was the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) Youth Advisor for Africa from 2001 to 2003. I have has also been involved in HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention projects throughout my career. Being interested in public/private partnerships, I worked with the Global Knowledge Partnership (GKP) and I have served on the Executive Committee for the GKP. My duties included being the youth focal point. GKP is a partnership committed to the sharing of knowledge, resources, and information between societal actors to promote sustainable development and growth. Lastly, I sat on the board of the International Network of Engineers and Scientists (INES) from 2000 2002.
Some of the Global ICT projects I have been involved in include the Poll Posters in the Planet Project and consultations on the D.O.T Force. I am also involved in many collaboratory education projects under IEARN, IICD and World Links for Development (WorLD).
Currently, under Rescue Mission Zambia, we are undertaking a large number of projects and we are the lead agency on ICTs for Youth Development in Zambia especially in the National ICT Policy process. I have worked for SchoolNet Zambia as the National Secretary through which we set up a National Computer Refurbishment Centre and trained Teachers around the country on ICTs.
We have also developed our flagship project called Youth SPEARHEAD project which shall empower youth of Zambia by giving them info and resources. Many donors have lined up to support the project. It is in this project that we are setting up an eRiding initiative for youth NGOs and schools in both rural and urban Zambia which will be part of the 2006 Global Village Project.
My name is Shalala Oliver Sepiso and I was born on February 27th, in Lusaka, Zambia. Currently, I am the Country Manager of the US $98 000 Zambian NGOs eRiding Project which is a new initiative in Zambia and In January, I was also appointed the...
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