Computers Saving Africa - Microsoft's 4Afrika Initiative

     The continent of Africa accounts for 20% of Earth's total land area and has a little over one billion people living there. 

     As you know, it is also the poorest and least economically developed continent. The following picture is pretty telling: 

From: Wiki Commons

     Crazy amounts of money - in addition to basic necessities - have been dumped into Africa; about $50 billion annually, and over $1 trillion total over the last 60 years (yes, trillion). And, not surprisingly, this state of dependency on foreign aid, coupled with poor domestic government policies and rampant corruption has not had a positive impact. Read this WSJ article by Dambia Moyo, author of a book about this exact topic for more on that subject.

     In fact, poverty in sub-Saharan Africa has increased over the last 40 years.

     But now, the focus in Africa is beginning to shift from foreign aid to internal development. William Reno, political scientist at Northwestern has stated that the most economically successful countries in Africa are the ones that "do it their own way." Chinese companies have increasingly partnered with African countries and invested $1 billion in 2007.

From Microsoft's Facebook Page

     Microsoft is now displaying very forward thinking with their just-announced developmental initiative 4Afrika - because Microsoft knows as well as I do that poverty, illiteracy, and starvation can all be eliminated by butt-kicking computers.

     Microsoft is investing $75 billion for economic development in Africa, bringing business training to more than 200,000 African workers and taking 1 million African businesses online, among other things. They will be providing millions of smartphones and a specially designed, cheaper Windows Phone 8, Hauwei Ascend W, to boost internet accessibility.

A Windows-powered mini-computer? Isn't that a PC?   Yes, it is.

     Check out all the goals of this initiative at www.microsoft.com/africa/4afrika

     The significance of this event is best stated by Forbes writer Elise Knutsen, "Ultimately, meaningful development in Africa will come primarily through private sector investments and long-term projects like Microsoft’s, not corporate (or private) philanthropy."

     More computers and more internet access allow educated Africans to take their business further and help bring Africa out of poverty by the people's own strength. 

     Computers being used by Africans to eliminate poverty in Africa. 

     Computers - 2. Evil - 0.