Give1Project - Global Leadership Summit at UNESCO

On Friday, March 11, I had the pleasure and privilege of attending activities organized as part of the Give1Project Global Leadership Summit for 2016.

GIVE1PROJECT's mission is to invest in young global leaders, empowering and inspiring them to continuously strive for greater social, economic and political participation in their communities, both locally and internationally. Previous summits have been held in Cotonou, Benin (2013), Casablanca, Morocco (2014), and Washington, D.C., U.S.A. (2015).

The Paris summit was a four-day affair, with Friday's activities consisting primarily of two panel discussions about leadership. One hundred and fifty persons from 30 countries and 25 nationalities were in attendance.

Conference attendees
© Discover Paris!
The morning started with a brief introduction of the day's session by Jacqueline Cofield, director of Give1Project's Give1Arts program for the arts and cultural entrepreneurship. (Ms. Cofield organized the Global Educator Program that was an integral part of the Beauford Delaney art exhibition that took place in Paris from February 4 - March 15, 2016).

Jacqueline Cofield, Give1Arts of Give1Project
© Discover Paris!
This was followed by a presentation of UNESCO by Victoria Dellinger, External Relations and Public Information officer; spoken word by Ibson Littérapure; and an introduction to Give1Project by founder and CEO, Thione Niang.

Victoria Dellinger, UNESCO
© Discover Paris!

Thione Niang, Give1Project
© Discover Paris!
Give1Project executive director Dr. Anta Sané then introduced the first panel discussion, which was entitled "Women in Leadership: Inspiring Positive Change."

Dr. Anta Sané, Give1Project
© Discover Paris!

Panelists for "Women in Leadership: Inspiring Positive Change"
© Discover Paris!
Among the panelists were:

Karen Andre, White House Liaison to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development; Amaal Nuux, Somali-Canadian singer and songwriter; and Danielle Sassou Nguesso, president of the Sounga Foundation.

Karen Andre, White House Liaison, HUD
© Discover Paris!

Amaal Nuux, singer-songwriter
© Discover Paris!

Danielle Sassou Nguesso, Sounga Foundation
© Discover Paris!
This discussion went far longer than anticipated due to numerous comments given in response to a young man expressing his belief that women have no problems with inequality today and asking the panel whether women themselves prevented other women from achieving the success they desire.

Give1Project founder Niang then introduced the second panel, which was entitled "Against the Odds: Empowerment and Leadership."

Panelists for "Against the Odds: Empowerment and Leadership"
© Discover Paris!
Among the panelists were:

Mamadou Cisse, youngest mayor in Senegal; and Debo Folunrosho, Founder and Creative Director at Applause Africa.

Mamadou Cisse, mayor of Kédougou, Senegal
© Discover Paris!

Debo Folunrosho, Applause Africa
© Discover Paris!
Senegalese rapper and activist Simon Kouka delivered a powerful and impassioned speech about leadership and giving back to Africa.

Simon Kouka, Senegalese rapper and activist
© Discover Paris!
The afternoon ended with the presentation of Outstanding Entrepreneurship Awards to start-up business owners

Outstanding Entrepreneurship Award Winners
(far left, center, and far right)
© Discover Paris!
and Karen Andre presenting a gift from the White House to Morocco's Ambassador to UNESCO, H.E. Mrs. Zohour Alaoui.

Karen Andre and H.E. Mrs. Zohour Alaoui
(Anta Sané and Thione Niang in background)
© Discover Paris!
During the course of the summit, participants also enjoyed a welcome at the French Business Confederation MEDEF, a visit to the Presidential Palace, and a gala dinner and award ceremony hosted by Royal Air Maroc.

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Youssou N'Dour to Perform at the Louvre

Youssou N'Dour from Senegal performing in Warszawa, Poland
during the 5th Cross Culture Festival
13 December 2009
Photograph by Henryk Kotowski

Youssou N'Dour, world-renowned singer and recently appointed Minister of Culture and Tourism of Senegal, will appear in concert at the Louvre on September 29, 2012 in celebration of the reopening of the museum's Islamic Arts department. The Louvre is touting him as representing "another face of Islam, one of tolerance, dialogue and respect for others." As such, he is thought to be the perfect person to celebrate the opening of the department. N'Dour will perform in the Cour Napoléon, the grand courtyard that contains the glass pyramid erected by the American architectural firm Pei Cobb Freed & Partners.

From 1993 until 2003, the museum's Islamic collection was housed in an area of the Richelieu wing that was renovated by African-American architect David Harmon as part of the Grand Louvre project executed by the Pei architectural firm. When the department reopens, all works will be located in the Cour Visconti of the Denon wing.

The Louvre is using this auspicious occasion to solicit donations to the museum in support of the concert. They are offering perks in return for various levels of contribution:

• your name posted at the entrance to the concert (5€ and higher)
• limited edition T-shirt (30€)
• free pass to the Louvre (50€)
• an invitation to the concert and a donor bracelet (100€ and higher)
  an invitation to the concert and a visit for 2 persons to the Islamic Arts department when the museum is closed (200€)
• an invitation to the concert, priority seating at the concert, and a visit for 2 persons to the Islamic Arts department when the museum is closed (300€)
• a viewing of the Mona Lisa prior to the concert (museum will be closed), exclusive seating on a balcony terrace for the concert, and a visit for 2 persons to the Islamic Arts department when the museum is closed (1000€)

If you pay French taxes, you benefit from a 66% reimbursement of your gift to the museum, so the perks become even more attractive!

The evening before the concert, N'Dour will greet the public in the museum auditorium at 6:30 PM (free entry) and then appear as a guest performer at a concert featuring Guinean songstress Namassa Dioubaté. N'Dour invited Dioubaté to be a part of the event because he wished to include a female voice that represents Africa and Islam.

Namassa Dioubaté
Screenshot from YouTube video
Born in Kankan, Guinea Conakry, Dioubaté is descendant from two prestigious families of Mandinka griots. She will perform with N'Dour at his concert on the 29th.

Tickets for the N'Dour concert are 35 euros. They will be on sale at the Louvre beginning on September 3rd. To purchase tickets now, visit the FNAC Web site (3 euro supplement).

Tickets for Namassa Dioubaté's concert are 14 euros. They will be on sale at the Louvre beginning on September 3rd.

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