As a recipient of the Commonwealth Scholarship, I was very privileged to have been invited to speak in the CSC Commonwealth alumni round table discussion which focused on Doing Business In A Global Pandemic And Beyond: Lessons On Resilience. This was my very fist time meeting the incredible alumni teams from the commonwealth scholarships. A truly rich and sharp group of people right from the judges, justice, entrepreneurs, youth leaders at national level and medical entrepreneurs like myself. It’s safe to say that indeed this scholarship gathers the brightest of minds. Anyways, more than that I was so inspired by the insights that were shared by the panel and the discussions that followed thereafter on doing business in a global pandemic and here are 5 things that I learnt from this session that you could immediately apply to your business to make it better especially during these tough times.

• All businesses must integrate elements of technology to streamline operation and to deliver their services efficiently. As a business part of future proofing is leveraging technology to enhance efficiency of service delivery. Whilst not all elements of a business can rely on technology ensure to identify those that can and atomate them or streamline them through technology.
• Marketing and especially online marketing is a big part of building and running a business during a pandemic. Owing to the fact that more and more people now access their information online, as a business you have to find ways to get online as well and conduct your business online where you can reach your market. Marketing can make or break your business. If you don’t market your business online, you lose.

• Cyber security and making you online operations secure is something that should be considered in your strategy to integrate tech in your business. With the rise of online business and integration of technology to business, there has been a significant rise in cyber-crimes. Therefore, as a business owner, do not neglect components to ensure that your business is secure even as you integrate technology into it.
• While you sleep, others are innovating. Take advantage of this time to think of new innovations that you could apply to make your business better. This is not necessarily to mean that you will invent the next Alibaba … and you might, rather it means finding better ways to make your business operate and coming up with new products for the market.

• Partnerships. No business runs on its own, all businesses need partnerships. Therefore, its important that we get more people to partner with us in our businesses this way we are able to leverage each other’s strengths and support each other to reach new markets and new customers. Do not fear partnerships, embrace them.

#ogwenoimpact

The AstraZeneca Young Health Programme works to help young people aged 10-24 to take control of their health, especially to combat long-term conditions such as cancers, diabetes, respiratory and heart diseases, and mental ill health. These are often called non-communicable diseases (NCDs).

My experience with Young Health Programme starts from 2016 when I initially started to engage with this programme from its inception as a peer educator and an NCDs advocate. 5 years later I run my own organization, Stowelink Inc that continues to focus on educating and creating NCDs champions out of young people. The Young Health Programme gave me a lot of understanding on what non communicable diseases are and set me up on a trajectory to creating more NCDs champions. Its because of this that I was very excited to train the next generation of peer educators for the young health programme shortly after being engaged as a co host in the launching of this initiative.

Training the next generation of Young Health Programme peer educators in the middle of a pandemic was a particularly exciting experience. This is because now more than ever young people are needed to champion and educate their peers and the community about non communicable diseases in an effort to give the community an ability to make informed health decisions. But also, because as covid 19 has showed us, people living with non-communicable diseases are at a greater risk of contacting covid 19 and developing complications as well. I was therefore honored to train the next generation of very passionate young people who want to create a real change to their communities through the young health programme by educating and empowering the communities with relevant knowledge on non-communicable diseases.

#ogwenoimpact

The 26^th of May was an incredible day as I cohosted the launch of the #YoungHealthProgramme together with Dr Sylvia Vito of AstraZeneca.

The phase two of the Young Health Programme shows incredible commitment from AstraZeneca and Plan International in empowering young people to take control of their life especially with chronic or long term conditions like Cancer, diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular diseases amongst others.

As a peer educator in the phase one of the programme thanks to Danor Ajwang’ we were able to reach over 80,000 young people in Kibera Slums and I for one couldn’t be happier to see the continuation of this programme to other areas.

Such investments in NCDs that focus on Young People are still rare and the Young Health Programme really sets the pace for more investment in the NCD field especially on the prevention and control aspects of NCDs.

A deep gratitude to the entire team Plan International and AstraZeneca who gave me the opportunity to cohost this alongside the amazing Dr Sylvia Vito. It was an absolute honor and pleasure.5 more years of NCD work in our communities and all I can say is, its time! LETS DO THIS BIGGER AND BETTER with the programme now led by Charles Muriu .

work on NCDs is a priority NOW!

rewatch the launch here https://lnkd.in/dDjeNe3

#ogwenoimpact

Kore Magazine is a product of Kore Potential, an organization whose ethos is improving potential of leaders through corporate training and leadership development. Kore Magazine aims at celebrating those leaders and trailblazers in various fields with the aim of inspiring other leaders out there to embrace their potential.

I was privileged to be the cover model and the main story for the inaugural issue of the magazine which featured amazing authors and leaders in various walks of life. in my main feature I reflected on my story as an author and the challenges that I have undergone in publishing new books. Did you now that I once wrote a fictional novel story called In the Name of Loqi that was stollen by fraudulent publishers. I did not know a lot then, but I now know better. This is one book that I plan on rewriting and publishing it in the near future. I also shared about my other publications and where you can find them.

Overall, the magazine has incredible stories of authors’ experiences, challenges and triumphs. I bet you should read this issue if you want to be an author in the near future and if you are interested in African novels and works of literature. A big thank you to the team at Kore Support for making this happen and we are definitely looking forward to working together to improve the potential of leaders , youths and members of the communities that we serve.

Read the full magazine here

#OGWENO

The Hult Prize is an annual, year-long competition that crowd-sources ideas from university level students after challenging them to solve a pressing social issue around topics such as food security, water access, energy, and education.

For more than a decade, the Hult Prize Foundation has been transforming how young people envision their own possibilities as impact leaders of change in the world around them. Originally founded as a one-million dollar prize startup program, the organization today is the  worldwide leader in impact education and has trained and graduated more than two-million alumni across 121 countries.

This years Hult Prize Challenge is titled Food for Good. The Hult Prize is asking youth around the world to build viable food enterprises that will create jobs, stimulate economies, reimagine supply chains, and improve outcomes for 10,000,000 people by 2030.

I was privileged to be invited to participate as a judge in the Nairobi regional competition which saw entrepreneurs from Africa and Asia submit their innovations and enterprises that solved this challenge. As you would imagine, this was a full day of listening to amazing pitches, deciding on which ones were the best whilst looking at many moving dynamics in the pitches and the people behind the pitches.

Here is a summary of some of the most important lessons that I learnt about pitching and presentation during this experience:

1. Your pitch deck and your presentation is key. First impressions matter an impressive presentation gives you attention and recognition.
2. Be adequately prepared, anticipate the questions that you may be asked and be ready with answers and feedback beforehand. This reduces the stage shock that you may get when asked these questions.
3. Breakdown your finances and justify them. The financial bit of the pitch is one of the most important parts in the pitch, know your numbers.
4. Technology aspect is now becoming a vital part of any product or service. Carefully consider the technological component in any innovation and highlight it.
5. More than just the idea, and the enterprise, a good knowledge of the market acquired through a market survey and analysis is a very important information needed for your pitch. More than that, leveraging and creating strategic partnerships is very important in ensuring that you are able to cover your weaker areas.
6. Ideas in themselves do not win. Always have at least a prototype or a product that you are able to showcase during your presentation.
7. Finally, copyrights and patents are always important factors to consider when appropriate.

To learn more about the Hult prize and its competitions visit their website at https://www.hultprize.org/

#OGWENO

The Social Innovation Warehouse is a free capacity building program designed by and for social entrepreneurs to develop your project into a sustainable organization, connect with peers and other major stakeholders and reach the visibility that can lead to great partnerships.

Having been a part of this programme I must say this is an intense and extremely productive programme. The programme is structured into a 13-week training and an annual mentorship programme. In the training phase of the programme the entrepreneur is introduced to new and vital components of building and strengthening projects and businesses. The programme does not spare anything, they review right from your missions and visions, your audience and your product or project, its business model, strategies, and sustainability. During the training programme you will be introduced to information you may not be able to find anywhere online. The information is detailed, simplified, and structured in a very systematic well thought format to ensure you fully understand the course content.

What makes this programme really impactful is also the team that runs the programme. The programme is led by a team from Eidos (https://www.eidosglobal.org/ ) who are experienced educators and trainers, and I must definitely add fun to the mix because they truly are fun. The facilitators will guide you and answer the questions that you have extensively.

Through this training I have been able to learn new skills, strengthen my organization (ww.stowelink.com ) and gain deeper insights into organizational and business development. For every young entrepreneur out there, I would definitely encourage you to apply to join this programme. This programme will save you a lot of years and stress and will really streamline your organization to ensure that you are able to run sustainably and be ready for funding and investment. A big thank you to One Young World for sharing with me this opportunity and for Lara Pizarro   who was my facilitator and guide during my time in the programme.

Stay updated with future cohorts by checking out the Eidos website and social media here https://www.eidosglobal.org/

Twitter https://twitter.com/socinwarehouse

#ogweno

2021 came with renewed hope and optimism. The world was ready to move in from covid 19 pandemic of 2020 but even so 2021 still continues to face the pandemic and its effects. Despite the current situation I have been able to have a relatively good start to the year and here are a few highlights from my first quarter of 2021.

JANUARY

LISTED AS TOP 100 MOST INFLUENTIAL YOUNG PEOPLE.

In January on 2021 I was listed as one of the 100 most influential young people in Africa for the work that we did throughout 2020 amidst covid 19. This came as a good surprise that really encouraged me and all the young people that I work with in various platforms that we can do it too and that our efforts can create such a global impact and be recognized continentally.

Read the feature on the link below. LINK

APPOINTED TO JOIN THE WHO NCDS LABS.

I was also appointed by the World Health Organization Global Coordinating Mechanism to be part of the NCDs labs where I will be serving for two years. This recent appointment was a huge one for me as it really got me even closer to my dreams of working with the world health organization on matters of non-communicable diseases. I was appointed under the NCDs labs committee of NCDs and the next generation where we will be advising the world health organization on NCDs and the next generation.

About NCDs labs

Read more from the link below. LINK

FEBRUARY

LAUNCHED THE MENTAL HEALTH MATTERS ANTHOLOGY

In February I launched my third book, The Mental Health Matters Anthology in an online event that was filled with pomp color and love. I was so privileged to be working alongside a team of exceptional women who were my main guests during the launch of the event. This book is a creative masterpiece that uses poetry to talk about young people’s experiences with mental health.

By buying a book you support our work on mental health and young people. To purchase a copy

• Order a soft copy at 499 Kenyan shillings or 5 USD
• Order hard copy at 899 Kenyan shillings or 9 USD

Locally you can order from Lipa Na Mpesa till number 7611402

Internationally order via the website http://www.OgwenoStephen.com/publication-2/ and pay via PayPal at stevenstowel@gmail.com

MARCH

FINALIST IN THE QUALITY HEALTH CARE AWARDS

In March I received the news that I was selected as one of the top 3 finalists under the national health care awards dubbed the quality healthcare awards under the student innovation project of the year. My organization Stowelink Inc was also listed under the best use of social media for health where we are also among the top 3 finalists. The main awards will be happening in April 2021.

Read more about QHCA on the link below. LINK

APPOINTED TO THE GLOBAL YOUTH MEET AS A COMMITTEE MEMBER.

I have also been recently appointed to join the global youth meet (GYM) as a committee member where together with other members of the committee we will be in charge of ensuring successful coordination and implementation of The Global Youth Meet, a global health event for young people that is headquartered from India.

Read more about GYM on the link below LINK

#ogwenoimpact

Here is an excerpt of my recent feature in the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI).

WHAT IS YALI?

The Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) was launched by former President of the United States Barack Obama as a signature effort to invest in the next generation of African leaders. The need to invest in grooming strong, results-oriented leaders comes out of the statistics: nearly 1 in 3 Africans are between the ages of 10 and 24, and approximately 60% of Africa’s total population is below the age of 35.

Here is an excerpt

“To date we have been able to reach more than 3 million people with relevant information and we have diagnosed over 30,000 people in free medical camps that we have organised and participated in. We have had 7 major projects, launched 2 mobile applications and gamified health education. Currently, we are conducting a multinational project called the NCDs 365 that operates in 8 African countries.”  Ogweno says.

 He adds, “Through the NCDs 365 project we have been able to work with the Vihiga county Government to open 4 NCDs clinics where we have volunteered our services and provided equipment for the NCDs clinics to continue functioning amidst COVID-19 pandemic. We have also been able to distribute masks and sanitizers to our NCDs communities.”

 To date Stowelink Inc has been able to achieve tremendous impact. Below is their cumulative impact in numbers since 2015: 

• 3.1+ million people have been targeted with messages on NCDs
• 24 institutions of higher learning (universities colleges and TVETS) have worked with them
• 43 high schools and primary schools that they have worked with
• 8 countries where they have active partners (Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Nigeria, Cameroon, Ethiopia, South Africa)
• 1,200 is the number of books that they have distributed in the schools that they have worked with (The Drug Free Youth Book and Mental Health Matters Anthology written by Stephen Ogweno)
• 24 is the number of medical camps where they have either volunteered or independently organized.
• 9 is the number of youth they have employed with a network of 1,126 volunteers

 

Before Ogweno joined YALI RLC EA, Stowelink was just starting of in its second year. He says, “I found out about the Program when I was a student at Kenyatta University. After 3 applications, I was finally accepted.”

Read full story on this link LINK

#ogwenoimpacts

The Mental Health Anthology continues to do rounds and book tours reaching out to young people to encourage conversations on mental health. Mental health has increasingly become a topic of concern especially with the COVID 19 pandemic which locked in our young people indoors. More people are moving into depression and anxiety and our main goal at the moment is to get young people to talk and to express themselves and to let it out.

Through the mental health matters tours we are doing just that, and we are encouraging young people to come out and speak out.

THARAKANITHI UNIVERSITY COLLEGE – FEBRUARY

To date we have visited the Tharakanithi University College where we got young people to engage in interesting conversations on the topic and really come out stronger and better.

NJATHAINI INFO4FOOD CBO- MARCH

We have also visited the Njathaini Info4food CBO where the group had purchased copies for each family represented so that their children are able to read and benefit from the book and its valuable lessons.

By buying a book you support our work on mental health and young people. To purchase a copy

• Order a soft copy at 499 Kenyan shillings or 5 USD
• Order hard copy at 899 Kenyan shillings or 9 USD

Locally you can order from Lipa Na Mpesa till number 7611402

Internationally order via the website http://www.OgwenoStephen.com/publication-2/ and pay via PayPal at stevenstowel@gmail.com

#impactlives

So, I just recieved news that i was listed as one of the 100 most influencial young people in Africa in 2020 alongside the likes of Bobi Wine and Aya Chebi

As you would imagine this came as a shock and a very humbling recognition, it means that someone is watching, it means that we are doing something right, it means that we are making real noticeable impact and it means that you and me both are working in the right direction, because the truth of the matter is, nothing about recognition was achieved by myself alone rather it was as a result of our collaboration, your support ,team work and cross functional leadership.

Therefore i wanted to thank you for everytime you share our post,every time you buy our books,products and services, everytime you refer us and everytime you click on the links we often share and take action on our requests.

This is our recognition and whilst I may be the face leading the movement,you form the gear that keeps this movement moving. So thank you, lets keep working,lets keep believing and may this year be the year we BREAKTHROUGH.

List
https://opportunitieshub.org/2020-opportunities-hub-100-most-influential-list-announced/

Ogweno Stephen
_Africa Top 100 influential Youth 2020_
www.ogwenostephen.com