Millennium Campus Conference 2011: Day 01

· by · in Forum, Global, Innovation, MCC2011. ·

I had the pleasure this evening of attending the first day of the 2011 MCC (Millennium Campus Conference) taking place at Harvard University this weekend. Despite the hotel (Kendall Square Marriott Hotel in Cambridge, MA) deciding to block the conference users from using the ‘free’ WiFi available, I would say that the presentations given by the speakers tonight were excellent. I have to say that I am really excited to attend Day 02 of the conference starting tomorrow morning.

During this evening’s session, we were introduced to several leaders and shakers in social entrepreneurship and non-profit spheres.  The panel consisted of leaders from Australia, Uganda, Kenya, South Africa, India, and Guatemala. Here is a look at some of the speakers at the panel discussion session this evening which kicked off the MCC 2011 Event.

Friday Keynote Leader:

Divya Dhar

Divya Dhar: CEO, P3 Foundation (Twitter: @P3Foundation)

Panel: Audio (MCC 2011 Day 01 Speaker Panel*)

(Excuse the Audio Quality-Rough Draft. Loud clacking is apparently my typing.)

sOccket, a Rechargeable Soccer Ball to provide Energy

Jessica Matthews (Co-Founders, Uncharted Play; Creators of the s0ccket)

Isaac Kosgei, PANAAC

Isaac Kosgei (Pan African Agribusiness and Agro-Industry Consortium)

Hugh Evans, Co-Founder & CEO, The Global Poverty Project

Hugh Evans (Co-founder & CEO, Global Poverty Project)

Dick Muyambi, CEO, Bicycles Against Poverty

Dick Muyambi (CEO, Bicycles Against Poverty)

MCC 2011 Day #01 Panel Highlights: 

The Global Poverty Project  

  • The Global Poverty Project: Plan 2011-2012

  • The End of Polio: Eradicate Polio in 3-4 yrs.
  • Live Below the Line for 5 days in May
  • Live Below the Line of $1.50/day on Food
  • Web: www.livebelowtheline.com
  • (Supporters will raise money for you to participate)
  • Money goes towards Maternal Health

Bicycles Against Poverty:

  • 385 Bicycles have been distributed over 3 years. 
  • Participants are interviewed and selected for bike distribution program. 
  • Bikes are shared in the community increasing the program’s impact. 
  • Bike owners are required to payback the cost of the bike over many payments (~$1/month) in order to learn the responsibility of ownership. 
  • Repair Workshops and Money Management training is available in order to help bike owners become responsible owners. 

Dream Again Foundation, Isaac Kosgei

  • Program helps children of Nairobi, Kenya’s most notorious slum escape the life that lies before them by harnessing the skills in a variety of sports in order to obtain an education and access to life outside of the slum.
  • Children are fed and trained in various sports in the hopes of being able to be recruited by local schools for participation in sports programs which provide participants academic scholarships. 
  • Mr. Kosgei is a role model for children who seem to be faced with very limited options. 

sOccket, Julia Silverman

  • Harvard Undergraduates Jessica Matthews & Julia Silverman created the social enterprise, Uncharted Play, in order to debut their prototype (sOccket). The sOccket is a rechargeable soccer ball which after some period of active movement or play can power a small light or radio. 
  • The project originated from the pair’s undergraduate Engineering Course Final Project Idea. 
  • Currently, the organization is setting to un-roll their BOGO program (similar to Negroponte’s OLPC program) for the sOccket. Hopefully we will see the ‘limited edition’ soccer balls appear on the online marketplace very soon. 
Well, I really need to get my rest for tomorrow. If you want to follow @Mbadika at the conference, check here around 10:00 PM ET for new posts about the current day’s session. If you would like to get information from the conference a little faster than that, please feel free to follow us on Twitter (@Mbadika).
Netia 🙂