African Institute of Mathematical Sciences

Another African gem...

The African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS) was founded in Cape Town, South Africa in 2003 as a pan-African center for post-graduate training and research providing advanced, broadly applicable mathematical skills to talented students recruited from all over Africa. Operating as a partnership between African and international universities, AIMS provides an innovative and relevant curriculum within an exceptional 24-hour learning environment. Outstanding international and African lecturers teach three week courses, leveraging the expertise and goodwill of the top academics from around the world.

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala on reconciling aid and trade

Her speech says it all.

My Africa

After listening to most of the speakers at Ted, something stuck out like a sore thumb.
I realized most of the people who talked about Africa were in 2 camps. The outsiders going to Africa and looking at Africa as a sick ailing child in need of help. And the Africans who mostly left and studied abroad and are now trying to paint a different picture of Africa. Most of them are talking about developments e.t.c.

But the one thing that struck me the most is the young man who flipped the script.
Finally a refreshing, inspiring story about William Kamkwamba, author, "The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind," and built a windmill. I am sure there are so many more of stories like these that we don't get to hear. This is what we need to hear more of.

Inspiring stories

There are days when life just seems to so blah...
I feel like I need to do something different, I don't know what yet.
I went looking for inspiration and came across some inspiring stories...
some of them moved me to tears. One speaker said "when all your basic needs are met and you feel like..."contribute to a course that's larger than yourself".

Some movers and shaker at Ted

Jacqueline Novogratz on escaping poverty
http://www.ted.com/talks/jacqueline_novogratz_on_an_escape_from_poverty.html

Sheryl WuDunn: Our century's greatest injustice
http://www.ted.com/talks/sheryl_wudunn_our_century_s_greatest_injustice.html

Eleni Gabre-Madhin on Ethiopian economics
http://www.ted.com/talks/elene_gabre_madhin_on_ethiopian_economics.html

Majora Carter: Greening the ghetto
http://www.ted.com/talks/majora_carter_s_tale_of_urban_renewal.html

Chimamanda Adichie: The danger of a single story
http://www.ted.com/talks/chimamanda_adichie_the_danger_of_a_single_story.html

Tony Porter: A call to men
http://www.ted.com/talks/tony_porter_a_call_to_men.html

The art of draping

I am fascinated by draping... luckily I found this article.

draping is, for the West, part of a historical heritage, draped clothes are still worn daily by millions of people all around the world. For Peul, Indian, Yemeni, Malaysian, Sri Lankan, Polynesian, Somali people, among others, they express identity, social recognition…and sometimes, personal mood. Their colour, shape, fabric ornamentation, and details codify them, giving clues about ethnic origin, marital status or religion. These garments are usually long strips of un stitched cloth wrapped around the body (Indian sari, African Kanga or Kitenge) or worn as a kilt by men and skirt by women (Indian Dhoti or Indonesian Sarong).
Behind each draped garment, there are numerous cultural and economic activities: fibres are cultivated, sheep and silk worms are bred, and the raw material is processed according to various traditional weaving, dyeing, beading, knitting and pleating techniques, knowing that the simpler the shape, the richer the embellishment.
Antique, Art Deco and Ethnic: these three versions persist and are convincingly interpreted this season (Spring/Summer 2010) by designers like Alber Elbaz for Lanvin, Haider Ackermann or Dries Van Noten, proving that an age-old art can be re-explored infinitely.

Louise Kissa

BHF magazine

I was surfing the web as usual and stumbled on this great site that I am soooo excited about. Good work! keep it up
http://bhfmagazine.com/bhfadvert_articles/bhf_mainmenu.html

beautiful fabric art