Comments on: Relentless undefeatist

By: …the random musings of an unconventional MBA. » Blog Archive » Fail early, fail often, and learn from your mistakes

Sat, 10 Oct 2009 15:01:20 +0000

[…] This is Africa. Sometimes problems can seem overwhelming. I have talked about this before, but it bears repeating. My take on it: Break the problems down, solve what you can. Innovate […]

By: glen

glen — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 05:27:53 +0000

Yes, KJ, I think you’re right. I’ll go back and make an edit– I think the specific reference wasn’t right, but the general point is the same.

By: Katherine Johnston

Katherine Johnston — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 20:46:55 +0000

Hey there – I’m not sure I understand your KIPP reference. Are you inferring that the KIPP students who pursue a teaching credential in order to return to their communities to teach or work in the public school system are not doing this? Because you really cannot make this assumption. The first KIPP school opened Sept. of 1994 with 5th grade. That first class would have graduated from high school in 2001, and a four year college in 2005. Of that small first group, those interested in returning as a teacher would have gone for a teaching credential for a year. That makes it 2007. That is only a handful of students, of whom would have been interested in teaching may have been 2 or 3 people. My point is, it is too soon to know whether or not the students who say they want to return will. The greatest majority of KIPP students are still getting their education. I have talked to a friend at the Foundation who knows of a handful of students gradutating this year and who do plan to return to their communities as teachers with TFA (Teach for America). Sorry if I misunderstood you – but I don’t think your KIPP reference is accurate here.

By: Mugisha Moses

Mugisha Moses — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 08:09:57 +0000

somehow you are right. Its all in peoples minds and society keeps re affirming it . i have no problem with the bribing because thats rooted in
culture …sicut erat in principia et nunc et in secula seculorum .i think what people need is hope ,and that mindset that they can make a difference. that “the man” is not the one controlling things.
there is a saying that “extra-ordinary acheivements begin with extra-ordinary mindsets”. People tend to comfirm to societys general thinking maybe through media and radio and also the perception from ” the developed nations” …………receiving aid year after year you must be super confident not to start feeling inferior to the giver and maybe start feeding your frustrations.

bribing is not that bad ….being rooted in culture and all. anyway a man needs to wet his beak sometimes.maybe its not defeatism. its individualism. where i is greater than we. its just that there are few things that tend to bring people together as a nation.

maybe capitalism can never work in africa. its simply unsuited for it.
so many maybes ……………never try to fix broken glass …
you end up with a mess.