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Hi everyone,
My name is Greg Kawere, I am a 39-year-old Zimbabwean and a technology researcher interested in AI Ethics, Data Journalism, and Entrepreneurship Ecosystems.
I hope to create a vibrant EA community in Zimbabwe, particularly in the Chimbidzikai Village where I am based. Philosophically I come from the epistemology community so EA has always intrigued me.
My professional life started as a Web Developer, then a journalist and I later transitioned to product management roles.
I am building the Bikita Institute of Technology a free community college that trains out-of-school rural youth in STEM courses.
Professionally I am trying to pivot to academia specifically AI ethics and governance through either a fellowship or studying for a Masters in AI Ethics.
My work at BIT enables me to transform lives by empowering my community with in-demand STEM skills that they can use to secure remote jobs.
A bit of a background of Bikita, it's a rural district where people rely on small-scale agriculture and remittance for survival.
Unfortunately, livelihoods have been compromised by extreme weather caused by climate change. This started with the Cyclone Idai floods of 2019 followed by the current El Nino induced droughts.
I reason that if I can train the out-of-school youth in STEM courses that are internationally accredited and then help them secure remote jobs I could transform my community.
This BIT project started when two local youths approached me about teaching them how to code in March 2024. We began operations from a solar-powered computer lab housed in a tent using Starlink for our internet.
I now have 20+ students and the community is helping me build a classroom block. I am trying to get BIT accredited by OTHM so that we can offer their Diplomas in IT, AI, Data Science, and Software Engineering.
It's been a rollercoaster journey but I believe that if BIT can train 60 students per year who go on to graduate, in the next 5 years the impact on 300 lives and their families will be transformational to my community.
That's enough sharing for the day
Enjoy
Your work at BIT sounds really fantastic. Well done!
Hey Greg!
Welcome to the EA Forum :)
I'm Toby, the Content Manager for the Forum (I run events, write newsletters, and talk with authors about their work).
Let me know if you have any questions about EA, or using the Forum.
Hi everyone!
I'm Andre, I'm 25 and am currently living in Ireland. I found the EA community after reading the book The Life You Can Save, which resonated strongly with me! So much so that I'm currently reconsidering my plans and will possibly change careers to something with a positive impact (I currently work in the assisted/autonomous driving industry). I've been learning about the EA movement every since I found out about it, and I'm looking forward to the next session of the EA Introductory Program and to meeting people in the community.
A fun fact about me is that I actually come from a small Portuguese island in the Atlantic. From my childhood home it would take me 15 minutes to either get to the sea or to get lost in a mountain - I think that because of this, I now love the natural world.
Anyway, looking forward to learning more about the community and meeting some of you :D
Hey Andre!
Welcome to the EA Forum :) I'm Toby, the Content Manager for the Forum (I run events, write newsletters, and talk with authors about their work). Let me know if you have any questions about EA, or using the Forum.