Evans Wadongo: Difference between revisions

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'''Evans Wadongo''' (born 11 March 1986) is a [[Kenya]]nKenyan engineer, a partner at Wadson Ventures, the Coco-Founderfounder of GreenWize Energy Ltd, the Executive Director and Founderfounder of [[SDFA-Kenya]], and one of [[CNN]]'s top ten heroes of 2010. He is a graduate in Electronicelectronic and Computercomputer Engineeringengineering from the [[Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology]] in Kenya.

==Early life and education==
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Wadongo was born in the Western part of Kenya. Both his father and mother arewere teachers. He attended Manyonje and Bisunu Primary Schools, rural primary schools, where he walked over {{convert|10|km}} daily to reach the school. His home and school had no electricity, but he braved the odds to join Kakamega High School, where he managed to graduate with top marks, and was listed among the top 100 best students in Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education examinations of 2002. He later joined [[Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology]]<ref name=":0" /> and graduated in July 2009 with a BSc (honors) in Electronics and Computer Engineering. He later graduated with a Msc. Development Management in 2018.

Wadongo designed a solar lamp which he calls ‘MwangaBora'MwangaBora (Swahili for "Good Light")<ref name=":0" /> in 2004 as a way to address poor education, climate change, health and poverty in rural areas in Kenya. Wadongo named the entire project ‘Use'Use Solar, Save Lives’Lives' as he aimed to use solar technology as a way to save lives in the poor communities he grew up in.<ref>{{cite news |title=Solar lamps lifting Kenyans out of poverty |url=http://edition.cnn.com/2010/LIVING/11/01/wadongo.interview/ |publisher=[[CNN]] |date=1 November 2010 |accessdate=5 November 2010 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Kerosene Lamp That Lit the Road to Charity |author=Anthony Nyongesa|url=http://allafrica.com/stories/201009280065.html |work=[[Daily Nation]] |date=27 September 2010 |accessdate=5 November 2010 }}</ref>

He later founded Sustainable Development For All-Kenya (SDFA-Kenya), a non-profit in 2006. SDFA-Kenya was officially registered in Kenya in June 2007 and its primary focus is environment, education and economic empowerment. Wadongo was the founding chairman. SDFA-Kenya adopted the ‘Use'Use Solar, Save Lives' programme as its main focus program as it combines the three aspects of education, environment, and economic empowerment.<ref name="SEED" />

Apart from being the Chairmanchairman of the organisation, Wadongo doubled up as a Project Manager from 2006 to 2008. From 2008 to July 2010, Wadongo was the chairman and Programs Director. He is currently the Executive Director and Chairman of SDFA-Kenya.

In July 2011, in response to the increased publicity from the international community, Wadongo launched Just One Lamp, a globally-focused{{whatclarify|date=September 2017}} campaign that raised funding and awareness for MwangaBora lamps. Wadongo is now expanding his effort beyond Kenya and bringing his model to other developing nations.

In 20132016, Wadongo co-founded GreenWize Energy Limited, a for-profit social enterprise that designs and implements renewable energy solutions.

In recognition of his work in Kenya, Wadongo has received numerous awards{{how many|date=August 2021}} and publicity from the international community over the past few years.

Wadongo was voted one of [[CNN]]'s top ten heroes of 2010.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/cnn.heroes/archive10/evans.wadongo.html | workpublisher=CNN | title=CNN Heroes 2010}}</ref>

On 30 March 2011, Wadongo was named one of three recipients of the inaugural [[Mikhail Gorbachev]] Awards for "The Man Who Changed the World." His fellow inaugural recipients of this award were Sir [[Tim Berners Lee]], inventor of the World Wide Web and [[Ted Turner]], media mogul and founder of [[CNN]]. The ceremony, held in London, also celebrated Gorbachev's 80th birthday.<ref>{{cite news |title=Gorbachev honours 'world changers' |url=https://www.google.com/hostednews/ukpress/article/ALeqM5jummRWAweyuH44pHVFYaq6rzCpDQ?docId=N0315631301520820555A |publisher=[[Press Association]] |date=31 March 2011 |accessdate=31 March 2011 }}{{dead link|date=June 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>

Wadongo won the Outstanding Social Entrepreneur in Africa at the Africa Awards for Entrepreneurship held in [[Mauritius]] in 2013.<ref>{{citeCite news|url=http://www.thecitizen.co.tz/News/national/Kenyan-entrepreneur-wins-award/-/1840392/2020462/-/14n4rub/-/index.html|title=Kenyan entrepreneur wins award for improving lives|access-date=2017-09-20|language=en|archive-date=12 February 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150212175027/http://www.thecitizen.co.tz/News/national/Kenyan-entrepreneur-wins-award/-/1840392/2020462/-/14n4rub/-/index.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Wadongo was named Social Entrepreneur of the Year by the [[Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship|Schwab Foundation]] for 2011.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.weforum.org/news/africas-leading-social-entrepreneurs-be-awarded-world-economic-forum-africa |title=Africa's Leading Social Entrepreneurs to be Awarded at World Economic Forum on Africa &#124; World Economic Forum - Africa's Leading Social Entrepreneurs to be Awarded at World Economic Forum on Africa |access-date=3 June 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120529051829/http://www.weforum.org/news/africas-leading-social-entrepreneurs-be-awarded-world-economic-forum-africa |archive-date=29 May 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The awards ceremony was held in [[Cape Town]], South Africa, during the World Economic Forum for Africa. He was also among "20 Men Who Will Shape the Next 20 Years" by UK's [[Esquire magazine]] in 2011, and an Unreasonable Institute Fellow in 2011.

SDFA-Kenya is also a SEED award winner for 2011.<ref name=SEED>http{{citation|title=SEED winner - Use solar, save lives|publisher=United Nations|url=https://www.seedinitseed.org/enuno/awards/winners-database/2011-awardsall/use-solar-save-lives.html}}</ref>

Evans Wadongo and his story have been featured on [[CNN]], [[BBC]], [[Agence France-Presse|AFP]], [[The New Yorker]],<ref>http{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.newyorker.com/talkmagazine/2013/05/06/130506ta_talk_allenmagic-lantern|title=Magic Lantern|last=Allen|first=Emma|date=2013-04-29|magazine=The New Yorker|access-date=2017-09-20|issn=0028-792X}}</ref> [[China Central Television]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://english.cntv.cn/program/facesofafrica/20120521/100355.shtml|title=Faces of Africa 20120521 Wadongo´s little lamp CCTV News - CNTV English|website=english.cntv.cn|access-date=2017-09-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170921001256/http://english.cntv.cn/program/facesofafrica/20120521/100355.shtml|archive-date=21 September 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> Reuters,<ref>[https://archive.today/20140609173256/http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/08/21/mit-tech-awards-idUSnPNDC67187+1e0+PRN20130821 Reuters]</ref> [[France 24]],<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.france24.com/en/20150827-evans-wadongo-greenwize-energy-kenya-solar-rural-africa-economy|title=Green Africa: Solar lamps to empower the poor - France 24|date=2015-08-29|work=France 24|access-date=2017-09-20|language=en-US}}</ref> Discovery Channel,{{Citation needed|date=September 2017}} MBC South Korea, Deutsche Welle, German Radio, Russian State TV, [[HuffPost|Huffington Post]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://huffingtonpost.com/author/evans-wadongo|title=Evans Wadongo {{!}} HuffPost|website=huffingtonpost.com|language=en|access-date=2017-09-20}}</ref> among other international media channels. Locally in Kenya, Wadongo has been featured on KTN TV, K24 TV, NTV, KBC TV, Citizen TV, KISS FM Radio, Radio Jambo, Capital FM, Nation Newspaper, Standard Newspaper, The Star newspaper, The People newspaper, Parents Magazine, and Management Magazine.{{Citation needed|date=September 2017}}

Wadongo was named one of four torchbearers to represent Kenya during the [[2012 Summer Olympics|2012 London Olympics]] Torch Relay.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.london2012.com/torch-relay/torchbearers/community=solihull/|title=London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay News|date=2017-01-24|work=International Olympic Committee|access-date=2017-09-20|language=en|archive-date=13 September 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120913110304/http://www.london2012.com/torch-relay/torchbearers/community=solihull/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Wadongo has been a speaker in schools, colleges and international conferences in many countries in Europe, Americas, Middle East, and Africa, including the [[Global Entrepreneurship Summit]], African Development Forum, Clinton Global Initiative-University, African Union Youth Forum, Education Without Borders, LSE Africa Summit, among others.

In August 2013, Wadongo was named by [[The Diplomatic Courier]] as a Top 99 under 33 Shaper,<ref>{{cite web|title=Evans Wadongo|url=http://diplomaticourier.com/lists/top-99-under-33/2013/1757-evans-wadongo|publisher=Diplomatic Courier|accessdate=14 April 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140415225143/http://diplomaticourier.com/lists/top-99-under-33/2013/1757-evans-wadongo|archive-date=15 April 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> and on a list by [[MIT Technology Review]] of the Top 35 Innovators Under 35.<ref>Evans Wadongo Listed Among Top Global Innovators by MIT.</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=https://www.technologyreview.com/lists/innovators-under-35/2013/humanitarian/evans-wadongo/|title=Evans Wadongo {{!}} Innovators Under 35|work=MIT Technology Review|access-date=2017-09-20|language=en}}</ref>

* {{cite news |title=Kerosene LampEvans: Thata Litselfless theKenyan Road to Charityhero |url=http://allafricawww.comcapitalfm.co.ke/storieslifestyle/201009280065lifestyle/5286-Evans-selfless-Kenyan-hero.html |work=Capital Lifestyle |publisher=[[Daily98.4 Capital NationFM]] |date=2724 September 2010 |accessdate=5 November 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100930164640/http://www.capitalfm.co.ke/lifestyle/lifestyle/5286-Evans-selfless-Kenyan-hero.html |archive-date=30 September 2010 |url-status=dead }}

[[Category:21st-century Kenyan engineers]]