Ms. Migot

So, how do you translate Diesel Fuel and No Smoking in Arabic?

It would seem that someone took the instructions for this tanker a little too literally (via The Guardian)

And they can’t even get “in Arabic” right!

Elite boarding school aims to create Africa’s future leaders

A teenager who set up a school to educate children in a refugee camp, a youth who built a windmill to generate power for the houses in his community with no access to electricity and a 17-year-old with HIV who founded a charity to help others infected with the virus.

These are just a few of the students hand-picked to attend The African Leadership Academy (ALA) — a prestigious school in Johannesburg, South Africa that aims to create the continent’s leaders of tomorrow.

The initiative is the brainchild of Fred Swaniker, a Ghanaian-born entrepreneur who hopes to instil a new generation with the skills to navigate Africa towards prosperity in future years.

“We get young people from all across the continent, bring them here initially for two years [and] give them this hands-on leadership practice,” says Swaniker.

“I believe that you don’t learn leadership through theory, you learn leadership by leading and so that’s what we’re trying to replicate here at the academy,” he adds.

Swaniker explains that the ALA tasks students with starting their own businesses and working closely with the local communities situated around the school. They are also taught about the roles of CEOs and CFOs as well as other senior positions within business, politics and industry.

This, he says, helps prepare them for a future at the very top of society, whilst equipping them with the skills “to do something much bigger for the continent” in the future. (via CNN.com)

Solar-powered internet school set to benefit children in rural Africa

Children in the farthest corners of rural Africa are the target of a mobile, solar-powered classroom that was launched in Johannesburg this week.

The classroom, built inside a 12-metre-long shipping container by electronics firm Samsung, has an array of gadgets including laptops, a video camera and a 50-inch e-board in place of a blackboard.

According to the manufacturers, the “solar powered internet school” can easily be carried by truck to remote areas, survive harsh weather conditions and, crucially, operate where there is no electricity supply.

Foldaway solar panels provide enough energy to power the classroom’s equipment for up to nine hours a day, and for one and a half days without any sunlight at all. The panels are made from rubber instead of glass to ensure they are hardy enough to survive long journeys across the continent. (via guardian.co.uk)

Picture Gallery: Malawi anti-government protests

Anti-government protesters demonstrate against President Bingu wa Mutharika in cities throughout Malawi (via Guardian.co.uk)

Soweto’s ultra-fast dance music: Can you take the pace?

In a township rich in musical heritage there is a dance music emerging that is pushing dancers, and beats per minute, to the limit.

Every other weekend crowds have started to gather in the township to watch dance crews move to the ultra-fast beats of “Shangaan electro.” (via CNN.com)

Explainer: The east Africa food crisis

East Africa’s most severe drought in 60 years has left 10 million people desperately short of food. But what can be done, and should the call for help have been made sooner? (via Guardian.co.uk)