Africa Social Enterprise Forum 2009
 
A focal point of ASEF is balancing conversation about African development by highlighting innovative African solutions which challenge what's implied in popular culture and media-that social innovation is an Anglo-Saxon invention.  Informing, expanding and creating the African brand and imagery is critical to endorsing and perpetuating a progressive African future. This piece, performed by Djimon Hounsou and written by Binyavanga Wainaina, humorously captures how Africa's brand is eroded by both inflated and subtle stereotypes.
 
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Gimme That! is a social entrepreneurial venture in Cape Town, South Africa, providing a mobile vending solution on the streets of Cape Town.  Founded by Yolanda Methvin, Gimme That! gives micro-entrepreneurs employment and ownership opportunities in an innovative model.

 
The African Social Enterprise Forum-September 26, 2009 at the Desmond Tutu Center-will be the first event of its kind in NYC.  This is exciting!  But we are in NYC dialoging about Africa and insisting on change from so far away.  Why?  And how do we engage Africans in Africa in an inclusive conversation?  The short answer...we are here and our concerns for Africa are immediate.  Africa's needs are tremendous-no one and nothing can afford to wait-the time is now.  We live in a Web 2.0 world and although there remains a significant digital divide, electronic media give us an unprecedented opportunity to make the African Social Enterprise Forum accessible to anyone interested in sustainable African solutions, anywhere. To this end, ASEF will be covered live through live blogging+tweets, video posts of panels and interesting interviews as well as exclusive extras.  Top-down/North-South approaches are part of an old defunct model, it's time to shake things up.