Super Rich: Our DEF Scholars Respond
Russell Simmons, DEF Advisory Board Chairman, is often referred to as the Godfather of Hip-Hop, but to our DEF Scholars at African Leadership Academy, Mr. Simmons is so much more than the label.
The media-mogul, philanthropist, and founder of the Diamond Empowerment Fund, recently released his new book, Super Rich: A Guide To Having It All. In his second New York Times Best Seller, Russell Simmons reveals the true key to finding wealth, which is nothing more than to “Wake up in the morning and find out what you want to give as opposed to what you want to get.”
Our DEF Scholars at ALA received autographed copies from Mr. Simmons, and were asked what they would do if they were Super Rich. The Scholars responses astounded Russell. Don’t believe us? See for yourself!
RESPONSES:
Kamara (Sierra Leone) – I would build a medical factory in Africa that would provide cheap medication to the underprivileged and reduce deaths caused by curable diseases like malaria.
Tshibwabwa (Congo) – I would take agriculture in my country, the DRC, to greater heights. I would therefore use my wealth to build industries to manufacture the diverse agricultural resources we have, thereby curbing famine
Koikou (Cote D’Ivoire) – I would implement my mother’s dream: to create a centre for women with a lack of means who are considering abortion. I would provide them with training and the means to support their children
Kuhanga (Namibia) – I would curb the cycle of poverty due to unemployment by establishing entrepreneurial funding & empowerment institutes which will drive job creation
Keto (Tanzania)- I would financially support all research centres in Africa across all fields so as to spur knowledge and innovation, thereby propelling development
Shilakoe (South Africa) – I would build schools and libraries, which are technologically advanced in rural African communities
Nandi (Tanzania) – I would help many people in all aspects of life: food, water, education, health, employment, environment etc. My main goal is to love and to serve.
Zoro (Cote D’Ivoire) – I would create a school for disabled young people because I strongly believe that everyone should have access to education
Mzolo (South Africa) – I would set up an African media house which would sponsor young and aspiring journalists, like myself, and be home of the best journalists on the continent.
Mupela(South Africa) – I would buy up as much arable land as possible in Africa, build intitutions all over the continent that will train farmers for free.
Tahini (Sierra Leone) – I would change the lives of underprivileged children around the world that are suffering from abuse, lifelong diseases and abject poverty, especially in Africa, Asia and the Middle East
Dong (South Africa) – I would invest in the entertainment and production industry so that Africa can make her own movies and songs which will allow Africans to promote the proper image of Africa, of her strength and achievements
Rikhotso (South Africa) – I would build an African bank that specializes in providing capital for micro/macro social and economic development initiatives.
Mwamelo (Tanzania) – I would establish an organization known as the Coalition of Active Women aimed at providing education to disadvantaged young girls while providing economic empowerment to women and widows.
Kouassi (Cote D’Ivoire) – I would provide scholarships to African students and build schools, initially in the poor regions of Ivory coast and then expand the initiative across the African continent
Mkonto (South Africa) – I would fund youth-led initiatives tailored towards developing African youth while establishing an entrepreneurial mind-set in disenfranchised youth
Matlaela (South Africa) – I would establish and invest in organizations that educate teenagers about the pressing issues in Africa such as HIV/Aids, Poverty, corruption, illiteracy and underdevelopment
Modise (Botswana) – I would build an arts institution in each African region as African people are endowed with talents that lack igniters
Masemola (South Africa) – I would finance young entrepreneurs in Africa and invest in African research facilities
Warsanga (Tanzania) – I would financially support the ideas of young entrepreneurs in Africa in order to help them realize their dreams
Skosana (South Africa)- Coming from a community defined by schools that lack resources to tackle teen pregnancy, drug abuse and depression, I would invest in keeping the youth motivated and educated on these issues.
Kone (Cote D’Ivoire) – I lost my father when I was nine. Therefore If I was super rich, I would invest in orphanages so that orphans can always have the sense that they are supported and cared for
Jah (Sierra Leone) – I would establish an organization to improve subsistence farmers’ standard of living in rural areas worldwide, and discover, develop and expose youth talents there
Palmer (Tanzania) – I would travel the world and try to understand the different peoples who I will work with in the future to accomplish the African dream
Maboya (South Africa) – I would supply all farmers in Africa with water, nutrients and seeds
Lunika (South Africa) – I would give out a dollar every day to every woman and child in Africa who live under the poverty line of a dollar a day
Maziya (South Africa) – I would strategically invest in various promising African micro lending firms that empower small businesses. Subsequently, I would be indirectly empowering entrepreneurship in many African communities in need of capital to start business; while simultaneously acquiring a return on my investment.
Ellogne (Cote D’Ivoire) – I would build a pan-African orphanage. Bringing together different talents from all over the continent, to provide them an education, basic needs and a family.
Ndandala (Tanzania) – I would focus my resources in formalizing informal initiatives in Africa that carry potential for creating jobs
Rogers (Sierra Leone) – I would give other people the chance to live their dreams. I would do so by providing the capital for them to launch those dreams
Gnopo (Cote D’Ivoire) – I would build a conglomerate of bio tech companies and research centers in Africa for diseases affecting all poor minorities
Rumbidzai (Botswana) – As an H.I.V+ teen, I would set up a foundation (Heroes In Valiance) for H.I.V+ African youth who desire to be agents of positive change
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