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Saint Lucia – [October 29, 2024]

The Pan-African Council extends its heartfelt congratulations to the organizers of the inaugural AI Global South Summit. This groundbreaking event, held in the stunning backdrop of Saint Lucia, successfully explored the transformative potential of AI and emerging technologies in fostering innovation and collaboration at the intersection of culture, technology, work futures, and education.

We are honored to have been an institutional partner of such a visionary initiative. The Summit’s focus on leveraging technology to empower the Global South (i.e. the youthful and energetic Global Majority) aligns perfectly with our organization’s mission to foster innovation and sustainable development across the African continent and beyond.

We look forward to the next edition of the AI Global South Summit, where we can continue to collaborate and scale up our efforts to harness the power of AI for the benefit of our communities. Let’s work together to build a future where technology serves as a catalyst for cultural preservation, socioeconomic prosperity, and social justice.

Congratulations once again on a remarkable achievement!

About the AI Global South Summit

The AI Global South Summit Foundation is committed to fostering innovation and collaboration at the intersection of culture, technology, work futures, and education. Our mission is to bring together diverse voices—experts, practitioners, industry leaders, educators, and cultural custodians—to explore how AI and emerging technologies can be leveraged to preserve and promote cultural heritage across the Global South, while addressing the transformative impacts of these technologies on work and education.

By facilitating knowledge exchange and collaboration, the summit aims to create opportunities for sustainable growth in the creative sectors, ensuring the protection of both tangible and intangible cultural assets—from languages and traditions to music and art. Additionally, we seek to explore how AI can shape future workforces and educational models, empowering communities to harness these technologies to build vibrant, resilient, and culturally rich futures. Through these efforts, we strive to equip individuals with the tools and insights necessary to thrive in our changing digital landscape.

About the Pan-African Council

The Pan-African Council (PAC) is the premier global leadership and strategic development organization committed to advancing and uniting Africa and her Diaspora through international cooperation in the political, economic, and social spheres.

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SOUTH AFRICA  —

Context

The Boipatong massacre, a brutal attack in 1992 that claimed 45 lives and left lasting scars on the South African township, serves as a stark reminder of the country’s turbulent past. This tragic event continues to resonate with the Boipatong community, where survivors grapple with profound loss and economic hardship.

Recognizing the resilience of the Boipatong community, particularly a group of skilled seamstresses, the Colombian Embassy, in collaboration with the Pan-African Council, embarked on a commendable initiative. Ambassadors Maria del Rosario Mina Rojas and Monde Mshudulu identified these women and generously donated sewing machines to empower their craft. This act of support aimed to provide economic opportunities and foster self-sufficiency within the community.

A Collaborative Effort for Upliftment

To further strengthen this initiative, a pivotal meeting took place at Vaal University of Technology (VUT). Ambassador Rojas and Mr. Mshudulu explored potential partnerships with VUT’s Fashion Design department. Professor Kehla Ndlovu, Vice-Chancellor of VUT, welcomed the collaboration and envisioned an expanded program. This program would not only equip the Boipatong seamstresses with essential skills but also create exchange programs with Colombian universities, fostering international collaboration and cultural exchange.

The Colombian designer, Laura Laurens, who was captivated by a Boipatong fashion show held in October 2023, further bolstered the initiative. With the combined efforts of the Colombian Embassy, the Pan-African Council, and VUT, the sewing machine donation took place on February 21st, 2024. Professor Ndlovu’s optimism regarding the project’s potential for positive impact on the Boipatong community, VUT, and beyond, resonates throughout this collaborative effort. The potential exchange programs with Colombian universities hold the promise of fostering long-lasting connections and shared learning opportunities.

More details on the VUT website.

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There has been growing concern and wide-spread debate about the health and economic consequences in Africa and regions of the Diaspora as the virus spreads throughout the world.

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As the world grapples with the COVID-19 pandemic, the deep-seated inequities that disproportionately affect Black communities and other underserved groups globally— such as income disparities, structural uncertainties, digital divide, lack of access to reliable information, absence of health insurance and poor access to medical care and facilities— can reinforce the impact of a crisis like the coronavirus outbreak, both in the short and long-term.

The Pan-African Council proudly supports the Global Black Youth (GBY) Webinar Series on Technology, Innovation and Entrepreneurship in its effort to create meaningful dialogue on the current crisis as well as promote innovative, approaches and initiatives, encourage collaboration between participants across regions and continents, strengthen resilience and sustainable development and in the process find common ground, solidify ties, and promote cultural, educational and leadership development. For registration details kindly read and follow the links below.

Youth Webinar Series Part 1: Tackling Misinformation and Digital Rights in the Time of COVID-19

May 7th, 2020
The fight against the coronavirus disease has been greatly hindered by rampant and widespread COVID-19-related misinformation, disinformation, and hate speech. To overcome this infodemic, many governments have taken measures that increase state surveillance and disproportionately limit freedom of expression and effective communication about the onset of the disease. This panel brings together experts to discuss various methods to combat the spread of COVID-19 disinformation, misinformation and state-sponsored propaganda while preserving digital rights. Presenting examples from the Global South, they will discuss how to counter ‘problems such as Fake News’ and the ‘5G theory’ and present inclusive options for contact-tracing apps and data mining.

Youth Webinar Series Part 2: Healthcare and Science: Innovative Solutions to COVID-19

May 21st, 2020
From generating low-cost COVID-19 testing kits and 3D-printed ventilators to creating models that can use data to predict the global spread of the coronavirus disease, young African and African-descendant have used their expertise in healthcare and sciences to solve our global problems around a complex crisis such as COVID-19. Even as the ‘technology clusters’ such as Silicon Valley cast long shadows on emerging players, these young people have made numerous contributions and continue to push the global innovation landscape to be increasingly diverse and reflective of their realities. This panel will highlight these innovations as well as think deeply about their applicability in the fight against COVID-19.

Youth Webinar Series Part 3: Mitigating the Economic Impact of COVID-19

May 14th, 2020
It is evident that COVID-19 will have long lasting economic consequences, especially in Black communities hit hardest by the pandemic. Yet, even in these uncertain times, there are already a myriad of responses and varying measures of preparedness coming from Black leaders, disruptors and entrepreneurs to mitigate this inevitable fall out. Our third panel features the insights of young Black entrepreneurs and ecosystem players who are rising above the present challenges, building new avenues for their businesses and revolutionizing economic markets to fortify Black communities against the economic devastation of the disease and efforts to mitigate it.

For additional information and registration, please visit this link.

The Black Communities Respond to Covid-19 Webinar Series hosted by Global Black Youth is in partnership with The Portulans Institute as well as Internet Without Borders, Open Think Tank Network, The Youth Café, Pan-African Council, Global Business School Network, Webroots Democracy, Civic Tech Innovation Network, African Diaspora Youth Forum in Europe, University of Pretoria, and the ACP Young Professionals Network will bring together bright minds in Technology, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship.

The Next Einstein Forum (NEF), Africa’s global forum for science, is pleased to announce the Call for Applications to the 3rd Class of NEF Fellows.

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With this two-year Fellowship, NEF Fellows are afforded the opportunity of presenting their work at the NEF Spotlight Sessions of the Global Gathering, the next being in March 2020 in Nairobi, Kenya. Full details can be found at nef.org/fellows and inquiries could be submitted to fellows@nef.org.

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The Pan-African Council is honored to co-sponsor #EcoHack2018 in Kigali, Rwanda organized by AfricaGen the premiere green economy hackathon on the African continent focused on youth and sustainability. Follow our initiative on social media (@africagen) for additional information.

The Pan-African Council participates in the Next Einstein Forum (#NEF2018), Africa’s Global Forum for Science, in Kigali, Rwanda. STEM for the future of Africa.

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Launched in 2013, the Next Einstein Forum (NEF) is an initiative of the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS) in partnership with Robert Bosch Stiftung. The NEF is a platform that connects science, society and policy in Africa and the rest of the world – with the goal to leverage science for human development globally. The NEF believes that Africa’s contributions to the global scientific community are critical for global progress. At the centre of NEF efforts are Africa’s young people, the driving force for Africa’s scientific renaissance.