My Dear Rishi,
I was hoping to talk to you more this weekend but at least I heard your voice for a second before the phone was disconnected. But I was delighted to hear your voice sweet heart.
The children can lead Africa from a dark continent to a light continent. These are very powerful words of a young a boy name Evans Wadongo. Who is Evans Wadongo? Why is he talking about light? What is so powerful about the words you just read? Rishi, this is a story of a boy from Kenya who brought light to his village and is an inspiration to many more around the world.
Evans was born on March 11, 1986 in West of Kenya. His home and school had no electricity. Evans, when he was young used to study using kerosene lamp. The smoke and fumes from the kerosene lamp hurt his eyes. This affected not only his eyes but also sometimes it affected his concentration as he could not study for longer time. In spite of all the obstacles, he went to graduate from his high school with top marks and was recognized top 100 students in Kenya. Subsequently he graduated with Electronic and Computer engineering .
He was determined to come up with an idea to reduce the harmful effects of kerosene lamp but also to help his friends and other children to study more so that they all can do well in school. In 2004, he designed a solar lamp. He called this lamp ‘MwangaBora (Swahili for good light)”. This lamp he believed as a way to address poor education, climate change, health and poverty in rural Kenya. Evans mission for this project was: “Use Solar, Save lives” he aimed to use solar technology as a way to save lives in poor communities. In 2010, Evans was voted one of CNN’s top ten heroes. On March 30th, 2011 he was named one of the three recipients of the inaugural Mikhail Gorbachev Awards for “people who changed the world” . Here is a small clip for you to watch, hope you learn and understand the message http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nupV53P8IXU
Rishi, the only way to fight Darkness of mind, heart and as well as physical darkness is through Light. You cannot find negativity with negativity but counter negativity with positivity. The only way you can stop darkness of negativity is through the light of positivity. May your life be the light to this universe and humanity. Did you know one of the meanings of your name, is ray of the first light. Rishi may you live up to your name and always bring light into the darkest corners of this world as well as light in everyone’s heart.
I love you Rishi and miss you. God bless you son..
With lots of love, hugs and kisses,
Daddy
On Wed., Nov. 14, I shall teach children and their families the process of invention during the Mensa Kids Trek Inventors Workshop here in Alabama, United States of America.
ReplyDeleteMiracles happen every moment of our lives. A miracle, by my definition, is anything that has not yet been explained by science.
The miracle of this moment is that I have found your letter just after learning about the accomplishment of Evans Wandongo that was posted by an organization who has worked to help our excellent President Barack Obama receive re-election.
How the threads intertwine is always amazing.
I plan to use your letter to inspire my children and their families to expand their minds through the invention process, and, also, to realize that people of all ages, of all backgrounds have the potential to be successful in their lives, to contribute to the world, and, possibly, to discover the geniuses that lie within all of us.
Thank you for taking the time to read my comment. May your life be blessed as you bless the lives of those around you.
Thank you Ms. Williams for kind words and also thank you for sharing my letter to inspire your children and families at Mensa Kids Trek Inventors. Although, I am not there with my son to share this stories personally, I see my son in every child's eye. Thank you for taking the time to read my blog, thank you for incoroporating this story in your teaching. I feel blessed and grateful to know that my blog is touching other children and people like you are spreading the "light of inspiration". Hope and wish someday my son also comes across this blog and various stories, poems etc and is inspired by them...God Bless...Vijay
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