Our
contribution to grassroots efforts is internationally recognized. Mr. James
Jesse and Mr. Rasel Madaha are 2012 awardees of the internationally recognized
TIAW World of Difference 100 Award as the Champions of Women's Economic
Empowerment Category. TIAW Annual Global Partnership Forum recognizes up to 100
extraordinary women and men from around the world each year whose efforts have
advanced the economic empowerment of women locally, regionally or worldwide,
including well-known women and men as well as “unsung heroes.” They have been
awarded the prize because their efforts have been showcased through their
participation in AGEN and AGEN-USA Inc. At the TIAW Annual Global Partnership
Forum in 2007, TIAW announced it was creating a new awards program to honor
women who have made an impact on the economic empowerment of women through a
wide range of endeavors. These are often the “unsung heroines” of our
societies, ordinary women who accomplish extraordinary things. This year TIAW
Annual Global Partnership Forum has added 3 new categories, Men, Young women
under 25 and corporations. The motto of TIAW is “Connecting to Make All the
Difference in the World”. Congratulations to James and Rasel and we thank them
for putting AGEN and AGEN-USA Inc. on the world map. Details can be found at
http://www.tiaw.org/global_forum_2012/Home_Page.asp
On
one hand, Fulbrighter James Jesse who serves as Director for Administration and
Finance for AGEN and board member for AGEN-USA Inc. is referred to as the
hardware of the two organizations, AGEN and AGEN-USA Inc. (Please visit
www.agentz.org).The two not-for-profit organizations are recently established
International NGO dedicated to the welfare of women, men and children in
Sub-Saharan Africa and the United States. The organization with the support of
$25,000 from the United States of America Federal government, has managed to
organize resource worthy $300, 000 to transform the lives of over 400 rural
women entrepreneurs. While Rasel's contribution has been largely electronic,
James, among other things, has been going to the field and meet grassroots women
entrepreneurs as well as organizing volunteers going to the field. He has
managed to implement a micro-credit innovative project (never done before in
Tanzania) to impact lives. The experienced lawyer with expertise on local and
international law, has equally facilitated the registration, according to
United Nations regulations, of AGEN, as a local NGO, in Tanzania; he has
equally reviewed organizing documents of AGEN-USA Inc. which has been
incorporated in New York state as a not-for-profit and attained 501 (c ) 3
Federal Tax exempt. He has provided office space for the headquarters of AGEN
in Tanzania; he has facilitated meetings and workshops; he has written reports
and produced very educative and informative emails. He has been at the
front-line to ensure successful production of AGEN and AGEN-USA Inc.
Newsletters.
On
the other hand, Rasel has volunteered his time, energy, money, expertise and
probably all what he has to make a reality his life time dream of helping women
and other disadvantaged groups in Sub-Saharan Africa to stand on the feet and emancipate themselves from abject
poverty. This person has steered the creation of AGEN with its headquarters in
Tanzania as an international NGO in collaboration with other Fulbright Alumni,
as well as establishing an affiliate and yet autonomous US- based organisation
called AGEN-USA Inc. With regard to AGEN
and AGEN-USA Inc. Mr. Madaha has done many things which this small page cannot
be enough to exhaust. But suffice it to mention just a few. He coordinated
Tanzanians Fulbright scholars in February 2011 to compete in the AEIF
competition under a novel crafted project in the title of “Women Empowerment in
Rural Sub-Saharan Africa through Capacity Building and Training.” Through his expertise, commitment and
dedication, Tanzania Fulbright Scholars and their colleagues from other
countries won this project and received a grant of US $ 25,000 to implement the
project. While still in the USA, he directs and receives all information and
reports from Tanzania regarding the progress of the project implementation.
Sometimes, some members do ask whether Rasel is glued to his computer. He seems
to work for 24 hours without getting tired. Every time you try to find whether
he is online, he is there.
