Learn how my non-profit efforts, work and experiences in over 2 decades has prepared me for my start-up innovation journey
I'm all set for the Emerging Technology Center Pioneer Baltimore awards night 2017! I'm absolutely buzzing with excitement for the upcoming ETC Baltimore awards night! Currently, I'm luxuriating in a moment of anticipation at the wine bar at Paulette's home in Catonsville, MD - the air filled with anticipation for my final pitch with the promise of the evening's festivities, networking and getting a spot from an investment. However, amidst the thrill of the occasion, I'm compelled to pause and extend a heartfelt appreciation to Peace Activist Paulette Hammond.
Paulette's boundless kindness and generosity were my guiding light when I was a stranger in Baltimore, navigating the unfamiliar streets. With open arms and a welcoming smile, she graciously offered me sanctuary within the walls of her home, transforming it into a haven of warmth and acceptance. In her embrace, I found not only shelter but also a sense of belonging—a pedestal for my on-going peace activism and a true home away from home.
Here's to the serendipitous encounters with extraordinary souls like Paulette, whose simple acts of compassion illuminate our path and remind us of the beauty of human connection - A connection made by a mutual friend Joyce Lang whom I met at the Peace Alliance in DC earlier in 2015. As I prepare to embark on this evening's adventure, I raise a toast to the enduring power of kindness and the invaluable gift of new friendships forged as we navigate this journey of life. Cheers to Paulette and to the magic of shared moments that enrich our journey!
Andrew Benson Greene Jr., comes from Sierra Leone in West Africa, where he earned his BA in International Relations, English and Civil Law from Fourah Bay College of the University of Sierra Leone in 1998.
He has been active for many years in giving voices to children and youth affected by war via creativity and innovative power of the internet. For many years, he worked tirelessly to locate resources so that children and youth can engage in a global education programs starting in 1999. His programs touched the hearts of so many people around the world and the United Nations adopted his project as a model to be used and replicated in 3 other countries affected by war. Andrew's efforts culminated in an array of prestigious international awards, citations and bursaries for his peace building efforts, and internet based innovations.
In April 2003, his projects and initiatives which gives voices to Children and Youth Affected by war, through the power of the innovative use of technology and the internet won 2nd place at the Cable and Wireless Childnet Awards at the Science Museum in London and was featured on the BBC 'Go Digital Technology' program.
Andrew has travelled extensively from Beijing to Moscow to Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, to share his vision of using information technology amongst children and war-scarred youth. He represented Sierra Leone as a Young Leader in Information Communication Technology (ICT), at the 1st World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) in Geneva in December 2003. He was Guest speaker at the 36th Annual Session of The Hague International Model United Nations (THIMUN) in Netherlands 2004, Guest Speaker at, International Coorperation Days, Hosted by CIDA in Ottawa 2004, Education Without Borders in Abu Dhabi 2007. His work was also featured in the book, 'Raise Your Voice, Lend a Hand, Change The World', written by Susan Hughs, and produced by Scholastic Canada. Andrew's pioneering work with the internet was also featured in the Book, "The Internet: A Historical Encyclopedia, Volume 2", a book (Illuminating the reality of worldwide access to information, this expanded three-volume set is a one-stop resource for Internet history, biographies of key figures, and analysis of how the Internet operates).
He was on the shortlist of Stanford University Reuters Digital Visions Fellows in 2004 California. Andrew was a Jeanne Sauve Scholar at McGill University in Montreal Canada (2004).
He was a World Bank World Ethics Forum Young Leader at Keble College, Oxford University UK (2006).
Andrew was consulted twice by the World Bank and was also Instrumental in the creation of the World Bank, World Development Report (WDR) 2007 Focusing on Youth Employment and the 'Next Generation', in (DC).
His initiatives were shortlisted for the Global Junior Challenge in Rome 2007 for its power in unleashing an inclusive knowledge society, by combining, innovation, education, inclusion and values for responsible citizenship. Andrew was a UN ITU Telecom World Digital Young Innovation Fellow in Geneva 2011, he was an MIT Media Lab Build Peace Via Technology Fellow in 2014 (Boston).Andrew Greene was a Hive Global Leader in San Francisco 2015, and a Pioneer Baltimore Co-starter at the Emerging Technology Center ETC in Baltimore 2017. Andrew received the joint scholarship from Linux Foundation and Kaufman Foundation Scholarship to attend, learn and contribute to the ESHIP Summit in Kansas City Missouri in 2017. He was a Nexus fellow in DC 2018. He is a recipient of the Heather Heyer Foundation Scholarship in 2021 and in the year 2000, Andrew was a recipient of the James B. Boskey Memorial Fresh Faces Awards for his role in dispute resolution. Andrew is a Master of Science in Law student at the Maryland University Francis King Carey School of Law in Baltimore focusing on Cyber Security and Patent Law.
Whilst in Baltimore, Andrew joined other peace promoters and activist at the Maryland United for Peace and Justice, (MUPJ) and the Maryland Conservation Council (MCC).
His start-up will create a new idea and fresh thinking to help in tackling poverty global economic problems, by enabling individuals, organizations, philanthropist to use the platform to accelerate giving and generosity, Andrew says "My new idea has the potentials to disrupt the way philanthropist invest using both the wisdom of the crowd and cloud, and ushers in a new wave of charity and philanthropy opportunity via discretionary giving. The start-up will accelerate giving and generosity in that it is also useful in times of emergency and propel others to give. The initiative will also connect experienced entrepreneurs and inexperienced entrepreneurs and improve investments in uplifting the lives of individuals and support projects that serve the common good".
Related Links and work - philanthropic services, charity efforts via ICT and Creativity in a bid to uplifting lives, and making a difference in the world.
To the young folks in my program, I often say.
'Make a difference' ...'Never loose your awesomeness.'
'Don't be afraid to be awesome'
✌️🙏👍
Journey of hope 1.
(creating digital and creative opportunities for peace and human rights for strengthening youth empowerment, peace building, through creative use of technology in Sierra Leone.
Pioneering/Intervening years (1999-2007)
The Child Soldiers Project,
(Initiated and Created) -
Recognition.
· (Cable and Wireless Childnet Awards, Science Museum, London, UK 2003).
· Bremen Peace Awards, (Threshold Foundation Germany) 2003 - Courageously Crossing Boundaries)
· Recognized by UN as a 'Model to be emulated in other countries affected by war'.
✓The Peace and Reconciliation Project, (Initiated and Created).
Recognition and awards:
· Cable and Wireless Childnet Awards, Science Museum, London
· Bremen Peace Awards and Commendation (Threshold Foundation Germany) 2003 - Courageously Crossing Boundaries)
· Recognized by UN as a 'Model to be emulated in other countries affected by war'.
· James B. Boskey Memorial Fresh Faces Awards. 2000 for my role in dispute resolution
· Virtual Activism USA
✓ Computers for Schools Project. (Supported and Collaborated)
· Connecting 25 Schools in Sierra Leone with ICT and technology
· Creating possibilities for school twinning and global collaborative education projects, and online publishing assignments.
· Reached and engaged over 5,000 students.
✓ Creating ICT for peace clubs in 25 Schools
Recognition and support:
Computer Aid International UK
·
World Computer Exchange
·
War Child Canada
·
Peer1
·
Greene Family
·
Ministry of Youth and Sports Sierra Leone
·
Ministry of Education Sierra Leone
✓ Positive Music Project - Music To Make a Positive Change (Initiated and Created) .
Recognition: Woodcraft Folk UK.
·
Children's music Network
·
iEarn USA,
·
iEarn Canada
·
Oak foundation Switzerland
· Woodcraft Folk UK
The accompany music video documentaries established core content for both cross-border interactive curricula and as a feature programming for radio and streaming media, produced from diverse settings and delivered via satellite across Africa, and the world.
Production of music Cd's cassettes and DVD's via local music studios in collaboration with Sierra Leone music studio engineers.
·
Inspiring youth of Sierra Leone to build music and creative skills and use hip hop to tell their stories and create awareness about the challenges they are facing
·
inspired the production of music Cd's, cassettes all done by youth for national broadcast and global awareness.
·
Entrepreneurship: proceeds from the sale of CD's, cassettes and DVD's helped creative youth to generate income and help in their education and personal growth.
·
Global promotion. Music artist led concerts across the world composing and singing songs on thematic global issues.
Inspired.
·
Music propagation and interviews were done on all local national radio and TV and were the subject of long period of debate and discussions.
·
Launching of music by the youth music clubs at sessions that attract local and international professionals.
✓The Bearing Witness Project, (Supported and Collaborated)
· Cold spring Harbor high school New York
✓The Children Connecting children for Peace Project, (Initiated and Created).
· Children's Music Network USA
· WH Day Elementary, Bradford. Ontario Canada
✓ Rap for Rights Project, (Supported and Collaborated).
· Plan Netherlands
· Plan Sierra Leone
·Ministry of Youth and Sports Sierra Leone
·Children's music Network
· Dutch Rap Artist Raymond Christiaan Rensen a.k.a. Raymzter in collaboration with youth of Sierra Leone. Inspiring youth of Sierra Leone to build music and creative skills and use hip hop to tell their stories and create awareness about the challenges they are facing. Inspired the production of music Cd's, cassettes all done by youth for national broadcast and global awareness.
✓Entrepreneurship: proceeds from the sale of CD's, cassettes and DVD's helped creative youth to generate income and help in their education and personal growth.
· Global promotion. Music artist led concerts across the world composing and singing songs on thematic global issues.
· Music propagation and interviews were done on all local national radio and TV and were the subject of long period if debate and discussions.
· Launching of music by the youth music clubs at sessions that attract local and international professionals.
✓The No War Zone Project, (Supported and Collaborated) .
· (Funded by Foreign Affairs Canada),
·War Child Canada,
· Ministry of Youth and Sports Sierra Leone - (Minister of Youth and Sports - Dr. Denis Bright)
· National Stadium Hostels - Director of Youth And Sports. Anthony Alimamy Koroma
✓ Beyond Borders New Media film project.
(Supported and Collaborated).
Recognition.
· Beyond Borders Listen Up awards Personal Story from a small planet awards.
· Peabody Awards. NY. USA
✓ The Moving to the Beats Mobilizing Youth Music Project, (Supported and Collaborated)
· MAMA'S Mother's against Military Aggression .
· Ministry of Youth and Sports Sierra Leone
- MBMY is a series of educational music and videos committed to a tireless global campaign of making the issues of children’s rights known.
✓ The Generation CaN Connect Project,
(Supported and Collaborated)
· iEarn Canada,
· iEarn USA,
· iEarn Sierra Leone
✓ Global Youth Action Network (Chat the Planet Project)
(Supported and Collaborated)
✓ TakingITGlobal Project (Supported and Collaborated) online telecollaboration with youth around the world.
✓The My Hero Project. 'Celebrating the best of humanity' (Supported and Collaborated)
· Video production - students and youth identify their local and global heroes.
· Building of self-esteem, motivation and inspiration in the younger generation
✓The anti-bullying Project. where you are not alone. (Supported and Collaborated)
·iEarn Canada,
·Schoolnet Canada
✓ Global Campaign for Education
Supported and Collaborated.
· The highest UN global simulation of education campaign 2005.
· Made a PowerPoint presentation with the then President of Sierra Leone Dr. Ahmed Tejan Kabbah to support the global efforts at the national stadium in Freetown.
· Supported by the Ministry of Youth and Sports
The Minister of Youth and Sports Dr. Dennis Bright.
· The Director of Youth Anthony Alimamy Koroma.
· The Ministry of Education
✓ Children:s music network project (Supported and Collaborated)
· Children's Music Network USA
· iEARN USA,
· iEARN Canada
Journey of hope 2 (B-Gifted Foundation - Pioneering/Intervening years (2008- to date)
✓ The Digital Hope Project
http://digitalhopesierraleone.blogspot.com/
✌️🙏👍
· Creating digital opportunities, humanitarian and psycho-social support for survivors of amputation Sierra Leone 2010- till date (on-going)
· UN ITU Telecom World Digital Innovation Awards Geneva
· Pan African Awards for entrepreneurship in Education - Teach a Man to Fish UK
✓ Support to Survivors of Amputation Project
· Kor NGO Lisbon
· B-Gifted Foundation
✓ Show Some Love Teddy Bear Project (B-Gifted Foundation) 2010 till date.
Recognition:
· Dreams for Kids, Chicago)
· Humaniq
· Individuals: friends and families
· The B-Gifted Foundation designed the Teddy Bear Project in the fall of 2010 as a way to reach children in post-war and crisis-struck Sierra Leone with a symbol of unconditional love. The goal for that year was to raise 40 Teddy Bears for kids living at Amputee camps and have them delivered with community support. Though initially a modest effort, the program vastly increased in scale when the Ebola outbreak occurred, destroying families and leaving many children orphaned.
The list above is not exhaustive and I may have remiss in acknowledging every institution that helped me shed light. But this will be updated from time to time.
us on FB https://www.facebook.com/bgiftedfdn/photos/?ref=page_internal
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