SAWA Global is an online portal for sharing short videos on local heroes in the 50 poorest countries that showcase solutions to the urgent global challenges and to connect YOU directly to these heroes to grow their impact locally and globally.

To learn more visit www.sawaglobal.com

Wakili means “advocate” in Swahili. A SAWA Wakili uses her/his own personal connections, ideas, resources and skills to support, promote, and magnify the success of a SAWA Hero’s project, in partnership with the SAWA Hero. Here are some updates on how the program is already making significant positive impacts on the lives of SAWA Heroes and all who they are connected with.

* Daphne Nederhorst, SAWA’s founder, recently became a Mentor for Dr. Robert from Uganda. She is in connecting him with a medical group at UBC that works in Uganda on HIV/ AIDS treatment and prevention so they may share knowledge on best practices in dealing with the HIV/AIDS.

* Jim Hubert – a professional biologist from Vancouver with 20 years of experience in land ecology is helping Morgan from ICANSE further protect the fragile ecosystem of the Solomon Islands by sharing his expertise in ecosystem impact assessment and connecting Morgan to a global network of experts in ecosystem protection.

* Gertrude, our SAWA Hero from the Kibera Project in Kenya has been connected with two student groups UBC - the medical school and the Sauder School of Business. These new Wakili groups will meet with her this summer in Kenya to explore how they can best help her grow the impact of her project. She is very excited and has already made a list of things they can do to grow her very successful micro credit project.

*Mullgrave, a private school in West Vancouver, is interested in becoming a Wakili school group for Seleman, our SAWA Hero from Rwanda. They are offering to help him with his transport costs to Vancouver, where he has been invited to attend two special events full of networking possibilities - the Conference for Change at the Dalai Lama Centre for Peace, and a 5 day workshop at Hollyhock on Cortez Islands. The students of Mullgrave are also excited to hear him speak to their class in September.

* In September 2008, Between 4 Eyes (USA) sponsored Selemen from ASOLATE (Rwanda) to attend a two day leadership workshop in Kigali, which allowed him to gain new skills and grow his network. He writes – it changed his life.