<html><body><div style="color:#000; background-color:#fff; font-family:HelveticaNeue, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, Lucida Grande, sans-serif;font-size:12pt"><div><span><br></span></div><div style="display: block;" class="yahoo_quoted"> <br> For Your Information<br><br>Jane<br><div style="font-family: HelveticaNeue, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, Lucida Grande, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><div style="font-family: HelveticaNeue, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, Lucida Grande, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><div class="y_msg_container"><div id="yiv1906659967"><div><div class="yiv1906659967moz-forward-container"><table class="yiv1906659967moz-email-headers-table" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0">
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              ‘Africa Connected’ Finalists announced</span><div dir="ltr"><span id="yiv1906659967docs-internal-guid--97208b7-4645-6118-e6c7-6650a377c0b0">
          <div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:13px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-style:italic;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">$25,000
              [271,000 rand] prizes for five winners whose lives are
              ‘powered by the web’ </span></div>
          <div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:13px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-style:italic;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">Online
              voting for the winners now open</span></div>
          <br>
          <span style="font-size:13px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:bold;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;"></span>
          <div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">
            <span style="font-size:13px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:bold;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">Johannesburg,
              19 February 2014</span><span style="font-size:13px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">
              - Google has today announced the finalists of the </span><a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://www.africaconnected.com/" style="text-decoration:none;"><span style="font-size:13px;font-family:Arial;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:underline;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">Africa
                Connected competition</span></a><span style="font-size:13px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">.
               The competition was launched in August last year, calling
              entrepreneurs, creatives, innovators and web-lovers to
              share stories of how the web has transformed their lives
              and work.  The 10 finalists have been selected by a panel
              of judges from over 2,200 entries from 35 countries.  </span></div>
          <br>
          <span style="font-size:13px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;"></span>
          <div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:13px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">Five
              successful winners from among the finalists will now be
              selected by the online voting public.  The winners will
              bag $25,000 [ZAR 271,000] each, and will also have the
              opportunity to work with a Google sponsor over a six-month
              period to further their online business success.  The
              competition categories included Education;
              Entertainment/Arts/Sports; Technology; Community and NGOs;
              and Small Businesse</span><span style="font-size:13px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-style:italic;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">s.</span></div>
          <br>
          <span style="font-size:13px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;"></span>
          <div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:13px;font-family:Arial;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">"Africa
              Connected is a competition that has run for over six
              months and we are thrilled at the number of amazing
              stories that have been collected from across Africa. Today
              we are excited to announce the top 10 finalists who have
              been selected by our judges’ panel. The diversity of their
              ventures - from providing clean drinking water to
              preserving culture - shows how the web can truly drive
              positive change in the lives of many people and their
              communities. We look forward to seeing who the voting
              public choose as the winners - the top five most inspiring
              success stories from across our continent." </span><span style="font-size:13px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">says
              Affiong Osuchukwu, Google Lead for the Africa Connected
              initiative.</span></div>
          <br>
          <span style="font-size:13px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;"></span>
          <div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:13px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">The
              ten finalists, in random order, include:</span></div>
          <br>
          <span style="font-size:13px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;"></span>
          <ul style="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">
            <li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:13px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;">
              <div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IMyOl952xnc" style="text-decoration:none;"><span style="background-color:transparent;font-weight:bold;text-decoration:underline;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">Steve
                    Kyenze</span></a><span style="background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">,
                  Kenya, </span><a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://www.uwezakenya.org/" style="text-decoration:none;"><span style="background-color:transparent;text-decoration:underline;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">Uweza
                    Slum Gallery</span></a><span style="background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">
                  (</span><a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://www.uwezakenya.org/" style="text-decoration:none;"><span style="background-color:transparent;text-decoration:underline;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">http://www.uwezakenya.org</span></a><span style="background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">)</span></div>
            </li>
            <ul style="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">
              <li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:circle;font-size:13px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;">
                <div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">
                  <span style="background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">Steve
                    uses Google Search to inspire underprivileged kids
                    through art and helps to improve their skills, so
                    that they can sell their artwork to support their
                    schooling. </span></div>
              </li>
            </ul>
            <li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:13px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;">
              <div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">
                <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wT5VapUZ9cs" style="text-decoration:none;"><span style="background-color:transparent;font-weight:bold;text-decoration:underline;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">Sitawa
                    Wafula</span></a><span style="background-color:transparent;font-weight:bold;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">,
                </span><span style="background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">Kenya,
                </span><a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://sitawa.blogspot.com/" style="text-decoration:none;"><span style="background-color:transparent;text-decoration:underline;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">My
                    Mind, My Funk</span></a><span style="background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">
                  (</span><a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://sitawa.blogspot.com/" style="text-decoration:none;"><span style="background-color:transparent;text-decoration:underline;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">http://sitawa.blogspot.com</span></a><span style="background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">)</span></div>
            </li>
            <ul style="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">
              <li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:circle;font-size:13px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;">
                <div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">
                  <span style="background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">Sitawa
                    is an influential blogger on mental health in East
                    Africa, who has used Google Blogger to establish her
                    award winning blog, which is a reference point for
                    people looking for support and information.</span></div>
              </li>
            </ul>
            <li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:13px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;">
              <div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">
                <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sJw-od5A7Dg" style="text-decoration:none;"><span style="background-color:transparent;font-weight:bold;text-decoration:underline;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">Eunice
                    Namirembe</span></a><span style="background-color:transparent;font-weight:bold;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">,
                </span><span style="background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">Uganda,
                </span><a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://tmcg.co.ug/" style="text-decoration:none;"><span style="background-color:transparent;text-decoration:underline;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">The
                    Medical Concierge Group</span></a><span style="background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">
                  (</span><a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://tmcg.co.ug/" style="text-decoration:none;"><span style="background-color:transparent;text-decoration:underline;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">http://tmcg.co.ug/</span></a><span style="background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">)</span></div>
            </li>
            <ul style="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">
              <li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:circle;font-size:13px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;">
                <div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">
                  <span style="background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">Eunice
                    has built a 24-hour accessible ambulance call centre
                    to improve access to health care services, by using
                    the Google API dashboard and Google Maps to record
                    patient information and track patient locations.</span></div>
              </li>
            </ul>
            <li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:13px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;">
              <div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">
                <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d1P5OcP3eOI" style="text-decoration:none;"><span style="background-color:transparent;font-weight:bold;text-decoration:underline;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">Lamine
                    Mbengue</span></a><span style="background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">,
                  Senegal, </span><a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://senegaltvcommunication.simplesite.com/" style="text-decoration:none;"><span style="background-color:transparent;text-decoration:underline;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">SenegalTV</span></a><span style="background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">
                  (</span><a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://senegaltvcommunication.simplesite.com/" style="text-decoration:none;"><span style="background-color:transparent;text-decoration:underline;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">http://senegaltvcommunication.simplesite.com/</span></a><span style="background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">)</span></div>
            </li>
            <ul style="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">
              <li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:circle;font-size:13px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;">
                <div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">
                  <span style="background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">Lamine
                    believes in taking African culture to the rest of
                    the world, and that the Internet is the lifeblood to
                    support his mission. YouTube and AdSense has helped
                    SenegalTV to share their unique content around the
                    world while enabling him to employ others. </span></div>
              </li>
            </ul>
            <li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:13px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;">
              <div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">
                <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h8EZqDHKR6g" style="text-decoration:none;"><span style="background-color:transparent;font-weight:bold;text-decoration:underline;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">Timothy
                    Maguire</span></a><span style="background-color:transparent;font-weight:bold;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">,
                </span><span style="background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">South
                  Africa, </span><a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://www.gci.org.za/" style="text-decoration:none;"><span style="background-color:transparent;text-decoration:underline;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">Grace
                    Communion International</span></a><span style="background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">
                  (</span><a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://www.gci.org.za/" style="text-decoration:none;"><span style="background-color:transparent;text-decoration:underline;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">http://www.gci.org.za</span></a><span style="background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">)</span></div>
            </li>
            <ul style="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">
              <li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:circle;font-size:13px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;">
                <div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">
                  <span style="background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">English-speaking
                    Timothy uses Google Translate while providing
                    humanitarian relief in Portuguese speaking northern
                    Mozambique, so that he can communicate with project
                    members building water purification plants. He also
                    uses Google Search and Google Maps which assists
                    with projects in remote locations.</span></div>
              </li>
            </ul>
            <li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:13px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;">
              <div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">
                <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GarGowPGfLQ" style="text-decoration:none;"><span style="background-color:transparent;font-weight:bold;text-decoration:underline;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">Nqobizitha
                    Mlilo</span></a><span style="background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">,
                  Zimbabwe, </span><a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://nafuna.tv/" style="text-decoration:none;"><span style="background-color:transparent;text-decoration:underline;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">Nafuna
                    TV</span></a><span style="background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">
                  (</span><a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://nafuna.tv/" style="text-decoration:none;"><span style="background-color:transparent;text-decoration:underline;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">http://nafuna.tv</span></a><span style="background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">)</span></div>
            </li>
            <ul style="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">
              <li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:circle;font-size:13px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;">
                <div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">
                  <span style="background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">Nqobizitha
                    uses YouTube to post all his new animation and HD
                    video content on his channel to reach a wide
                    audience. He is self-taught, based on information
                    found with Google Search. </span><span style="vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">He
                    is now able to give people in his home country and
                    beyond an alternative form of entertainment not
                    found on traditional channels.</span><span style="background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;"></span></div>
              </li>
            </ul>
            <li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:13px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;">
              <div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">
                <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KACKs-GIRIk" style="text-decoration:none;"><span style="background-color:transparent;font-weight:bold;text-decoration:underline;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">Christopher
                    Panford</span></a><span style="background-color:transparent;font-weight:bold;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">,</span><span style="background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">
                  Ghana, Technol Services</span></div>
            </li>
            <ul style="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">
              <li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:circle;font-size:13px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;">
                <div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">
                  <span style="background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">Christopher
                    uses Google Maps in his vehicle tracking devices to
                    record the location of their vehicles at any point
                    in time. This gives local banks the confidence to
                    provide loans to drivers, thus providing them with a
                    means to earn a living.</span></div>
              </li>
            </ul>
            <li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:13px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;">
              <div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">
                <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SPfviZaY5ow" style="text-decoration:none;"><span style="background-color:transparent;font-weight:bold;text-decoration:underline;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">Eric
                    Obuh</span></a><span style="background-color:transparent;font-weight:bold;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">,</span><span style="background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">
                  Nigeria, </span><a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://vocalslender.net/" style="text-decoration:none;"><span style="background-color:transparent;text-decoration:underline;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">Vocal
                    Slender</span></a><span style="background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">
                  (</span><a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://vocalslender.net/" style="text-decoration:none;"><span style="background-color:transparent;text-decoration:underline;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">http://vocalslender.net/</span></a><span style="background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">)</span></div>
            </li>
            <ul style="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">
              <li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:circle;font-size:13px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;">
                <div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">
                  <span style="background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">Eric
                    is a musician who used YouTube to distribute his
                    content and Google+ to interact with his fans. His
                    music and online popularity have led him to become
                    earn a living from concerts and appearances. He uses
                    his earnings to raise awareness about
                    underprivileged youngsters in the slums of Lagos
                    where he comes from, thereby providing financial aid
                    for the scholars and encouraging school attendance.</span></div>
              </li>
            </ul>
            <li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:13px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;">
              <div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">
                <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UhVlYI_oYBU" style="text-decoration:none;"><span style="background-color:transparent;font-weight:bold;text-decoration:underline;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">Eseoghene
                    Odiete</span></a><span style="background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">,
                  Nigeria, </span><a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://www.heseydesigns.com/" style="text-decoration:none;"><span style="background-color:transparent;text-decoration:underline;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">Hesey
                    Designs</span></a><span style="background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">
                  (</span><a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://www.heseydesigns.com/" style="text-decoration:none;"><span style="background-color:transparent;text-decoration:underline;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">http://www.heseydesigns.com/</span></a><span style="background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">)</span></div>
            </li>
            <ul style="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">
              <li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:circle;font-size:13px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;">
                <div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">
                  <span style="background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">Eseoghene
                    used Google Products to promote her brand as a young
                    entrepreneur, creating international awareness for
                    her fashion label Hesey Designs. She now runs
                    workshops to train other women how to generate an
                    income from designing fashion accessories.</span></div>
              </li>
            </ul>
            <li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:13px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;">
              <div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">
                <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5mgjA_4Irf4" style="text-decoration:none;"><span style="background-color:transparent;font-weight:bold;text-decoration:underline;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">Mayowa
                    Adegbile</span></a><span style="background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">,
                  Nigeria, </span><a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://www.ashakefoundation.wordpress.com/" style="text-decoration:none;"><span style="background-color:transparent;text-decoration:underline;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">Ashake
                    Foundation</span></a><span style="background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">
                  (</span><a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://www.ashakefoundation.wordpress.com/" style="text-decoration:none;"><span style="background-color:transparent;text-decoration:underline;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">http://www.ashakefoundation.wordpress.com</span></a><span style="background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">)</span></div>
            </li>
            <ul style="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">
              <li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:circle;font-size:13px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;">
                <div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">
                  <span style="vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">Mayowa
                    initially used YouTube to post an appeal in order to
                    raise funds for her initiative, a business school
                    for widowed mothers, giving them the tools to make a
                    living and support their families. Because of the
                    getting online she is helping to change lives and
                    give the people who need it a second chance in life.</span><span style="background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;"></span></div>
              </li>
            </ul>
          </ul>
          <br>
          <span style="font-size:13px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;"></span>
          <div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">
            <span style="font-size:13px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">Anyone
              who would like to vote for the 5 winners, in whose lives
              the web and Google have played a pivotal role, can do so
              on the Africa Connected website: </span><a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://www.africaconnected.com/" style="text-decoration:none;"><span style="font-size:13px;font-family:Arial;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:underline;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">www.africaconnected.com</span></a><span style="font-size:13px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">.
              The winners will be announced on 1st April at an event in
              Nairobi, Kenya.</span></div>
          <br>
          <span style="font-size:13px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;"></span>
          <div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:13px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">The
              partner judges for Africa Connected, who selected the ten
              finalists, include:</span></div>
          <br>
          <span style="font-size:13px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;"></span>
          <ul style="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">
            <li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:13px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;">
              <div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">Adiel
                  A. Akplogan, CEO, African Network Information Centre
                  (AfriNIC), Mauritius</span></div>
            </li>
            <li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:13px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;">
              <div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">
                <span style="background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">Nardos
                  Bekele Thomas, Resident Coordinator, United Nations
                  Development Program, Kenya</span></div>
            </li>
            <li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:13px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;">
              <div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">Dr.
                  Towela Nyirenda Jere, Programmes Manager, NEPAD
                  e-Africa Programme, New Partnerships for African
                  Development (NEPAD), South Africa</span></div>
            </li>
            <li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:13px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;">
              <div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">
                <span style="background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">Temilola
                  Balogun, Radio personality, fashion photographer and
                  artist, Cool FM, Nigeria</span></div>
            </li>
            <li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:13px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;">
              <div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">Adv.
                  Leslie Sedibe, CEO, Proudly South African, South
                  Africa</span></div>
            </li>
            <li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:13px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;">
              <div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">
                <span style="background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">Wallace
                  Kantai, Editor, NTV, Nation Media Group, Kenya</span></div>
            </li>
            <li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:13px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;">
              <div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">Franklin
                  Leonard, Founder, The Black List, USA</span></div>
            </li>
            <li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:13px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;">
              <div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">MI
                  Abaga, Artist and UN Ambassador, Chocolate City Music,
                  Nigeria</span></div>
            </li>
            <li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:13px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;">
              <div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">
                <span style="background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">Ory
                  Okolloh, Director of Investments, Omidyar Network,
                  South Africa</span></div>
            </li>
            <li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:13px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;">
              <div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">Doha
                  Marzouk, Head, Marketing, Sub-Saharan Africa, Google,
                  Egypt</span></div>
            </li>
          </ul>
          <br>
          <span style="font-size:13px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;"></span>
          <div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">
            <span style="font-size:13px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">For
              more information about the Africa Connected contest, visit
              <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://www.africaconnected.com/">www.africaconnected.com</a></span></div>
          <div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:13px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">New
              to the web? Learn more about the web and Google through
              this platform, so that you too can do amazing things using
              the web as your springboard.  You can also follow us at
              @GoogleAfrica and +GoogleAfrica.</span><span style="font-size:13px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:bold;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;"></span></div>
          <br>
          <span style="font-size:13px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;"></span><span style="font-size:13px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:bold;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">ENDS</span></span>
      </div>
      <br>
      <pre class="yiv1906659967moz-signature">-- 
Patricia Gnilane SENGHOR
Cooperation and Project Development Manager, AFRINIC Ltd.
t: +230 4035144. | M: +230 58275956 |tt: @afrinic | w: <a rel="nofollow" class="yiv1906659967moz-txt-link-abbreviated" target="_blank" href="http://www.afrinic.net/">www.afrinic.net</a>
facebook.com/afrinic | flickr.com/afrinic | youtube.com/afrinicmedia
___________________________
Join us at AIS14/AFRINIC20, Djibouti, Djibouti, 25 May-6 June 2014.
</pre>
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