Web 2.0 media encourages open interaction, individual participation and knowledge sharing; qualities that are capable of harnessing the power of the crowd to collate unique ideas for problem solving. With online sharing, the power of people working in concert increasingly can be amassed and harnessed – a technique that will inevitably lead to greater global ingenuity. For instance, Google’s Project 10 to the 100 last year succeeded in generating 150,000 ideas from people all around the world on ideas to change the world.

The top 16 entries included ideas such as increasing young Africans’ access to quality education and building accessible tools capable of disseminating genocide-related mapping information. As such, now more than ever, the mandate for a global collaboration is real and doable, not just as a onetime project, but on a sustainable and long-term basis.

Celebrating Progress Africa was founded to harness that power. Through crowd sourcing, global online participation in solution providing for Africa can yield ideas that only the power of people thinking and working in concert can unleash.

Imagine an Australian suggesting a practical and sustainable solution to rural electricity generation in an African country such as Nigeria or an Engineer in Mali suggesting a disease tracking system for preventing African epidemics and outbreaks.

These suggestions can be nourished by providing an online space for collaborative thinking and knowledge sharing. Already such collaborative measures are being implemented through such initiatives as Ushahidi, an information portal which allows send in crisis information about relief efforts such as the recent earthquake in Haiti by mobile phone. In addition, Nokia and Vodafone launched shareideas.org as a medium for users to share their experiences in using mobile communications for social benefit with others. At Celebrating Progress Africa, we are launching the concept of sharing ideas, insights and expertise by focusing it on African problems.

If people can come together to one central location online to contribute their thoughts on solving many of the challenging problems that face the continent, the resultant contributions can produce ideas that are innovative and rich enough to initiate real impact. Implementation would be a key step to reaping the benefits but we are certain that cp-africa.com can first and foremost fill the gap in information sharing and idea sourcing.

A lot of people talk and write about reshaping the media’s portrayal of Africa and in re-directing the focus on Africa from the negative to the positive. The fastest way to do so would involve churning out (and implementing) solution after solution that fixes Africa’s problems. Celebrating Progress Africa aims to encourage this type of solutions based approach by encouraging participants to focus on solutions and positive ideas for Africa.

We believe changing the conversation from problem deliberation to solution finding would help direct our collective focus and image of Africa to a higher place. The ideal conversation is one where Africa is not discussed as a problem spot but as a solutions incubator. Where suddenly news of famine or war should not elicit analysis on the “problems with Africa” but on ways to make those problems history through critical thinking, open discussion and a focused emphasis on results.

The current Celebrating Progress Africa online web interface is a first step in our dream for open collaboration and knowledge sharing. Our vision is to create an African online idea/solutions bank that provides a space for cross-country participation across disciplines, ethnicities, race and geographical boundaries. By providing a space for African creativity, we hope to reshape the African story from one of hardship and strife to one of creativity, innovation and ingenuity. We encourage you to join us in our mission to start collating and implementing solutions for the Motherland today.
- Celebrating Progress Africa
www.cp-africa.com

Top 5 ways to get involved:

1. Submit creative, inspiring and innovative articles that can inspire policy makers to think differently and more progressively about solving the continent’s problems. Submit articles that can add value to the lives of others or help change the way the Africans think about the continent for the better.

2. Encourage your friends who are passionate about the continent’s upliftment to share their ideas online.

3. Share links on creative and progressive African initiatives, personalities and events of note with us. We will happily promote them. Is your company launching a new product that can advance opportunities on the continent? Reach out to us. In addition, if you are an organization and will like to partner with us or support our vision, please reach out to us as well.

4. Become an African thinker. The continent’s problems are difficult but surmountable. Think of creative ways of making the dream for a prosperous continent a reality. When you come up with solutions, create a business and push it. We will do our best to support you.

5. Help us get the word out! Join us on Facebook and alert your network.  Most importantly, share links that inspire you with your friends and network.

Thanks for reading. The continent will get there!

Contact Information:

Phone: (917)608-7621

On Facebook: facebook.com/cpafrica

On Twitter: twitter.com/cpafrica

For first time  submissions, please follow this link

To submit comments and inquiries, please e-mail…publisher @cp-africa.com

About CP-Africa

Celebrating Progress Africa [CP-Africa] was born out of the notion that in concert, we can re-build the continent through optimism, creativity, and perseverance. For too long, the world has focused on the things that are wrong about Africa – the poverty, the disease, the hunger, the strife…

At CP-Africa, we choose to celebrate what is right about Africa. Through partnerships with organizations online and on the ground, we hope to create a paradigm shift amongst Africans everywhere and offer a space for inspiration and creativity.

CP-Africa is owned and managed by Nigerian based firm, Ubuntu Concepts, a firm committed to establishing  respected, successful and inspiring African businesses for the global community.

THE CP-AFRICA VISION