Category: Uncategorized

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“Effects of COVID-19 on Human Trafficking and Education”

I am happy to be sharing as a panelist of the virtual event below. Please join us!

” … Webster Leiden Student Government Association (SGA) … cordially invite you all to [its] … upcoming webinar on 19 February 2021 from 11 am to 2 pm [CET].

The theme of the webinar is the “Effects of COVID-19 on Human Trafficking and Education.”

The SGA will be hosting a panel of guest speakers Kean Smith, Dr. Sheetal Shah, Amanda Mauro, MA, Dr. Sumaiya. They are from two non-governmental organizations based in the Netherlands.

The event’s objective is to educate the students and public about the forms of modern-day slavery and the numerous ways the current pandemic has restrained resources available to victims.

Also, how the Coronavirus pandemic has further limited the victims’ access to quality education, especially those seeking asylum, and how counseling is used to rehabilitate and reintegrate victims into society.

To register for this educative and informative webinar, kindly use the QR code on the flyers. However, should you experience difficulty with the QR code, please use the link below for registration:

Event flyer

Do not forget to register, share and repost.

Thank you.

Looking forward to seeing you at the event.
#websterleidencampus#society#websterSGA“

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Why not invest in tech start-ups?

Last year, on March 11, 2020 The World Health Organisation declared the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak a global pandemic. From then to now, all of our lives have changed. Working from home is more common place and businesses in some cases have taken major steps to offer and/or deliver services online.

Shopping online by Photo by rupixen.com on Unsplash

As a means of adjusting and trying to make my time count, I decided to build my personal capacity. For example, I completed a Bid Writing Course that was delivered online. While the course was very interesting, it is a story for another day. Instead, I would like to share some information with you that might lead to very profitable investments. About one month before the WHO declared COVID-19 a Pandemic, I read a life changing book.

The book I am referring to is “Angel” by Jason Calacanis.

This is a book about angel investing from the perspective of a successful angel investor. I found it be be a hybrid of the history of technology start-ups and a straight forward easy to understand strategy “play book” on how to invest as an angel investor in technology start-ups. Yes start-ups. Technology start-ups like Uber and Linkedin. While it may be challenging to locate these start-ups because you might be new to angel investing, you can always join a syndicate of angel investors. Interesting right? I found the content of the book fascinating.

I highly recommend this book if you are looking to broaden your general knowledge about angel investing and the history of technology start-ups.

Happy reading.

Please feel free to direct any questions or comments to Kean Smith at kean@smithkas.com

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International Day of Education 2021

As we observe this year’s International Day of Education, we should not only remind ourselves that education is a human right and about the challenges to achieving universal education, we should also look forward and start preparing our communities and countries for a post COVID-19 pandemic world. Education will need our focus, commitment and support.

Children in classroom during pre-COVID-19 period (Photo by CDC on Unsplash)

“Education is a human right

The right to education is enshrined in article 26 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The declaration calls for free and compulsory elementary education. The Convention on the Rights of the Child, adopted in 1989, goes further to stipulate that countries shall make higher education accessible to all. (https://www.un.org/en/observances/education-day)

“Challenges to achieving universal education

Education offers children a ladder out of poverty and a path to a promising future. But about 265 million children and adolescents around the world do not have the opportunity to enter or complete school; 617 million children and adolescents cannot read and do basic math; less than 40% of girls in sub-Saharan Africa complete lower secondary school and some four million children and youth refugees are out of school. Their right to education is being violated and it is unacceptable.” (https://www.un.org/en/observances/education-day)

Please feel free to direct any questions or comments to Kean Smith at kean@smithkas.com

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Inspired by resilience

After an appointment early this morning, I decided to return home on foot to get my “daily” exercise. The temperature was a mild 8C / 43F degrees which I concluded was a bargain during this third week of January!

Starting my walk (Photo by Kean Smith)

I walked through a forested park with walking trails and a playground. While walking through the park and trying to stay in the moment as recommended by best selling author Eckhark Tolle, I could not help but notice what I will call the natural resolve of trees.

Forested Park with playground (Photo by Kean Smith)

These trees were waiting. Yes waiting. Waiting with resolve. Without an alarm, without a wake up call, without a Text, or Whatsapp message from a friend will end their hibernation and start growing leaves again. COVID-19 or not, without being prompted … here comes the leaves.

The peace and quiet related to COVID-19 restrictions. (Photo by Kean Smith)
Approaching the end of my walk (Photo by Kean Smith)

I was inspired by these trees. So resilient and consistent. While I am obviously not a tree, I believe that I can benefit from increasing my resilience and being more consistent.

What about you?

Please feel free to direct any questions or comments to Kean Smith at kean@smithkas.com

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How can we reverse the COVID-19 slide in education?

There is evidence emerging to show that school closures have resulted in actual learning loss – a ‘COVID slide’.

This point was made in a recent blog entitled “Is the COVID-19 slide in education real?” and published on the World Bank website on 8 December, 2020, authored by Robin Donnelly & Harry A. Patrinos.

Three recommendations were made to mitigate this COVID-19 slide: ” … implementing learning recovery programs, protecting education budgets, and preparing for future shocks.”

Some basic tools to facilitate education instruction – Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash

I recommend this short read for education stakeholders and anyone or any organisation who supports UN SDG4, United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 4 – Quality Education.

Enjoy.

Please feel free to direct any questions or comments to Kean Smith at kean@smithkas.com

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“I am happy to be here”

If you were looking for me then you have succeeded!

If you were not looking then you are welcome to stay here for as long as you wish.

Please make yourself comfortable as you browse this site. I recommend that you go into the “About Me”, “Blog”, and “Articles” tabs above. Once you are finished you are welcome to leave a comment.

Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash

If you believe I can assist you in any way then please complete a contact form found under the “Contact” tab

As you leave this page, it is my wish that you find prosperity at every turn.

You have my best!