TEDx Talks - AKENDEWA: Tisser l'avenir avec l'éducation (new Change-Maker) | Jean Patrick EHOUMAN | TEDxWassakara
Jean-Patrice Eou, co-founder of the NGO Akendwa and director of Ken SAS, shares his life story, starting from his roots in a small village in Côte d'Ivoire. He highlights his experiences growing up in Yopougon, a vibrant community known for its football tournaments and nightlife. Eou moved to France for his education, where he learned the importance of discipline after failing his baccalaureate. He later returned to Côte d'Ivoire, inspired to use his skills in technology to address local issues. Eou founded Akendwa, an NGO focused on leveraging technology to improve lives, and launched initiatives like CIV Social during the Ivorian civil war to organize aid efforts. He emphasizes the power of collaboration and community in creating impactful solutions. Eou also discusses his involvement in training programs for women in technology and his recognition by UNESCO for his contributions to entrepreneurship and peace in Africa. His story underscores the potential of technology to drive social change and the importance of resilience and leadership in overcoming challenges.
Key Points:
- Jean-Patrice Eou emphasizes the importance of using technology to solve social issues, demonstrated by his creation of CIV Social during the Ivorian civil war.
- He highlights the significance of community and collaboration, as seen in the participatory creation of the NGO Akendwa.
- Eou's journey underscores the value of resilience and learning from failures, such as his initial struggles in entrepreneurship.
- He advocates for empowering women in technology through training programs, which have successfully transformed participants into tech-savvy professionals.
- Eou's recognition by UNESCO and participation in global leadership programs illustrate the impact of his work on a broader scale.
Details:
1. 🎤 Introduction: Jean-Patric Eou's Background
- Jean-Patric Eou was born in Soua, a small village in the southeast of Côte d'Ivoire.
- The village is currently well-known for its pilgrimage site, which did not exist during Jean-Patric's early life.
- Jean-Patric's upbringing in Soua, before it became a renowned pilgrimage site, shaped his formative years.
- The transformation of Soua from a small village to a notable pilgrimage destination highlights significant cultural and social shifts in the region.
2. 🏠 Yopougon: A Place of Joy and Opportunities
- The speaker is the president of the NGO Akendwa, which likely focuses on community development and empowerment, given the context of Yopougon as a place of opportunities.
- Additionally, the speaker serves as the director of Ken SAS, a company possibly involved in local business initiatives, reflecting a commitment to economic growth in Yopougon.
- The speaker expressed strong emotional sentiments, emphasizing the significance of delivering their first public speech in Yopougon, indicating a deep personal connection to the community.
- Yopougon is portrayed as a place of joy and opportunities, suggesting that initiatives like those led by the speaker contribute to its development and vibrancy.
3. 🎓 Education and Lessons Learned
- Yopougon is known for its vibrant lifestyle, including the Maracana football tournament, local bars, and eateries open at all hours, embodying the spirit of Côte d'Ivoire.
- Yopougon offers numerous opportunities due to its high population density and associated challenges, encouraging initiative-taking to address issues like poverty.
- The speaker spent a significant part of their life in Europe, mainly France, where they pursued education after moving at 18 from Benjerville.
- Despite showing academic excellence at times, the speaker failed their baccalaureate, learning the importance of consistent discipline regardless of innate ability.
- The transition from Yopougon's culture to European education highlights the speaker's adaptability and the value of diverse experiences in shaping one's approach to challenges.
- Specific examples of how Yopougon's challenges fostered a proactive mindset include initiating community projects or entrepreneurial ventures, although not explicitly detailed.
- In Europe, the speaker's academic struggles taught resilience and the need for sustained effort, applicable in various life contexts.
4. 🏀 Returning to Yopougon: A Personal Journey
- The speaker returns to Yopougon after a 7-year absence, motivated by personal connections and the desire to reconnect with friends from the past.
- The decision to return was influenced by the opportunity to rediscover the area and stay connected to cultural roots, rather than residing in other familiar places like Deux Plateaux.
- Yopougon is associated with joy and opportunities, indicating a positive personal and cultural significance for the speaker.
5. 🌍 From Engineer to Entrepreneur: The Challenges
- The speaker transitioned from an engineering role with significant technical expertise, having managed over 100 million users on a server while working for a top internet company.
- Technical skills can be leveraged in entrepreneurship, with the potential to earn 1000€ per well-structured website in Europe, especially in France.
- Young engineers are encouraged to use their skills creatively for substantial income, avoiding unethical pursuits.
- With dedication, the transition from engineering to entrepreneurship can lead to quick success and significant financial gain within 2-3 years.
6. 🌐 Creating Platforms for Change
- The speaker initially failed as an entrepreneur despite having engineering skills, highlighting the difference between technical and business management skills.
- He realized the importance of addressing problems faced as an engineer, leading to the idea of creating a platform for young people to use technology to improve lives.
- Launched 'BarCamp Abidjan' in 2009, a participatory public event, emphasizing the role of community in creating change.
- Stressed the importance of having supportive figures, like his mother, who helped with critical event details.
- Founded 'Akendewa' with 11 young Ivorians, promoting collaborative creation rather than individual ownership.
- During the Ivorian war, developed 'CIV Social' to organize aid efforts using technology, creating a call center and fundraising online.
- Faced challenges like blocked PayPal accounts due to fundraising regulations, but managed to resolve through advocacy.
- CIV Social gained international adoption, being translated into nine languages, and supported by institutions like Columbia University.
- Despite success, declined to commercialize the initiative further due to emotional connections and the context of its creation.
7. 🚀 Innovations and Programs for Growth
- The recognition by UNESCO in 2013 for entrepreneurship in youth and peace culture in Africa led to a decision to invest in an incubator with the prize money of 13 million francs.
- An incubator was created, inviting young people with ideas to use the space for free, fostering innovation and collaboration without initial monetary constraints.
- A strategic decision was made to channel all resources into the organization rather than personal gain, emphasizing long-term vision and organizational strength.
- The incubator evolved into an accelerator in partnership with an American brand, resulting in significant funding, with companies raising 2 billion CFA francs.
- A program named Shizuko was launched, aiming at large-scale success akin to major companies, focusing on attracting partners and creating a robust network.
- Shizuko has reached its 18th cohort and is claimed to be the best skills development program for women in technology, leadership, and entrepreneurship in Africa.
- Women from diverse backgrounds, including non-technical fields, are trained to overcome barriers and gain tech skills, enhancing their professional capabilities in the digital age.
8. 👩💻 Empowering Women Through Technology
- The integration of AI in daily life necessitates educational initiatives to bridge the gap between AI experts and the general populace, ensuring widespread understanding and engagement.
- The CCPID IA program was launched to train individuals in AI, successfully educating over 4,000 people in two years to leverage AI for innovation and problem-solving.
- Participants have utilized their AI skills to develop new products, demonstrating the program's effectiveness in translating education into tangible outputs, thereby empowering women through technology.
9. 🏆 Achievements and Personal Stories
- A young individual joined the COD program at age 22 and has since become a business leader, employing 30 to 40 people across five sites in the city.
- In 2014, the speaker applied for the first time for a leadership training program initiated by President Obama and was selected.
- While attending the University of Texas for training, the speaker set a personal goal to be the top African participant and succeeded in becoming one of the top performers.
- The following year, the speaker was chosen by President Obama to represent young African leaders during a historic speech, highlighting the speaker's exemplary leadership.
- Despite financial challenges, the speaker managed to attend a significant event in the Congo for African leaders, which eventually led to a meeting with President Obama in Nairobi.
- The speaker initiated a memorable moment during a gathering by leading all African and international leaders present in a greeting, which became widely recognized on social media.
- The speaker's personal story includes overcoming adversity, such as a challenging upbringing and a mother's belief, which propelled the speaker towards leadership and success.