Evans Wadongo
Encyclopedia
Evans Wadongo is a Kenya
n engineer
. He is a graduate in Electronic and Computer Engineering from the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology
in Kenya. Evans was born in the Western part of Kenya, where he grew up with his four brothers. He went to a rural primary school-Bisunu Primary school,where he walked over 10 km daily to reach the school. His home and school had no electricity. Evans is the youngest of a family of five. Both his father and mother are teachers. Evans 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. He later joined Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology and graduated in July 2009 with a BSc in Electronics and Computer Engineering.
While at the university, Evans was an active member of the Rotaract Club (part of Rotary International), where he participated in various community initiatives, including the donation of clothes to children homes and street clean up campaigns.
He did his internship at UUNET Kenya (Now MTN Business Kenya) in 2008, at Metsec Ltd in 2007, and at Kenyatta National Hospital in 2006. All his internships were in the fields of Electronics and Telecommunications.
Evans designed a solar lamp which he calls ‘MwangaBora (Swahili for good light) in 2004, as a way to address poor education, climate change, health and poverty in rural areas in Kenya. Evans named the entire project: ‘Use Solar, Save Lives’ as he aimed to use solar technology as a way to save lives in poor communities.
He joined Sustainable Development For All-Kenya (SDFA-Kenya) a non profit in 2006. SDFA-Kenya was officially registered by the NGO Coordination Board in June 2007 and its primary focus is environment, education and economic empowerment. Evans was the founding Chairman. SDFA-Kenya adopted the ‘Use Solar, Save Lives' programme as its main focus program as it combines the three aspects of education, environment and economic empowerment.
SDFA-Kenya is transforming into an international organization in order to expand its programmes to other countries. SDFA-US has been incorporated in Washington.
Apart from being the Chairman of the organization, Evans doubled up as a Project Manager from 2006 to 2008. From 2008 to July 2010, Evans was the Chairman and Programs Director. He is currently the Executive Director and Chairman of SDFA-Kenya and the President of SDFA-US.
Evans Wadongo and his story have been featured on CNN, BBC, AFP, France 24, MBC South Korea, K24 TV, NTV, KBC TV, Citizen TV, German Radio, KISS FM Radio, Radio Jambo, Capital FM, Nation Newspaper, The Star newspaper, The People newspaper, Parents Magazine, Management Magazine, and several online news sources.
Wadongo was voted one of CNN
's top ten heroes of 2010.
On March 30, 2011, Wadongo was named one of three recipients of the inaugural Mikhail Gorbachev
Awards for "people 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.
Evans is among the Social Entrepreneur of the Year by the Swabb Foundation for 2011. The awards ceremony were held in Cape Town, South Africa, during the World Economic Forum for Africa.
Evans has been a speaker in schools, colleges and conferences in several countries. He was one of the Mentors at the Education Without Borders International Conference in United Arab Emirates in March 2011.
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
n engineer
Engineer
An engineer is a professional practitioner of engineering, concerned with applying scientific knowledge, mathematics and ingenuity to develop solutions for technical problems. Engineers design materials, structures, machines and systems while considering the limitations imposed by practicality,...
. He is a graduate in Electronic and Computer Engineering from the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology
Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology
Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology is a public university near Nairobi, Kenya. It is situated in Juja, 36 kilometres North East of Nairobi, along Nairobi-Thika Highway. It offers courses in Engineering, Science, Architecture and Building sciences...
in Kenya. Evans was born in the Western part of Kenya, where he grew up with his four brothers. He went to a rural primary school-Bisunu Primary school,where he walked over 10 km daily to reach the school. His home and school had no electricity. Evans is the youngest of a family of five. Both his father and mother are teachers. Evans 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. He later joined Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology and graduated in July 2009 with a BSc in Electronics and Computer Engineering.
While at the university, Evans was an active member of the Rotaract Club (part of Rotary International), where he participated in various community initiatives, including the donation of clothes to children homes and street clean up campaigns.
He did his internship at UUNET Kenya (Now MTN Business Kenya) in 2008, at Metsec Ltd in 2007, and at Kenyatta National Hospital in 2006. All his internships were in the fields of Electronics and Telecommunications.
Evans designed a solar lamp which he calls ‘MwangaBora (Swahili for good light) in 2004, as a way to address poor education, climate change, health and poverty in rural areas in Kenya. Evans named the entire project: ‘Use Solar, Save Lives’ as he aimed to use solar technology as a way to save lives in poor communities.
He joined Sustainable Development For All-Kenya (SDFA-Kenya) a non profit in 2006. SDFA-Kenya was officially registered by the NGO Coordination Board in June 2007 and its primary focus is environment, education and economic empowerment. Evans was the founding Chairman. SDFA-Kenya adopted the ‘Use Solar, Save Lives' programme as its main focus program as it combines the three aspects of education, environment and economic empowerment.
SDFA-Kenya is transforming into an international organization in order to expand its programmes to other countries. SDFA-US has been incorporated in Washington.
Apart from being the Chairman of the organization, Evans doubled up as a Project Manager from 2006 to 2008. From 2008 to July 2010, Evans was the Chairman and Programs Director. He is currently the Executive Director and Chairman of SDFA-Kenya and the President of SDFA-US.
Evans Wadongo and his story have been featured on CNN, BBC, AFP, France 24, MBC South Korea, K24 TV, NTV, KBC TV, Citizen TV, German Radio, KISS FM Radio, Radio Jambo, Capital FM, Nation Newspaper, The Star newspaper, The People newspaper, Parents Magazine, Management Magazine, and several online news sources.
Wadongo was voted one of CNN
CNN
Cable News Network is a U.S. cable news channel founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. Upon its launch, CNN was the first channel to provide 24-hour television news coverage, and the first all-news television channel in the United States...
's top ten heroes of 2010.
On March 30, 2011, Wadongo was named one of three recipients of the inaugural Mikhail Gorbachev
Mikhail Gorbachev
Mikhail Sergeyevich Gorbachev is a former Soviet statesman, having served as General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union from 1985 until 1991, and as the last head of state of the USSR, having served from 1988 until its dissolution in 1991...
Awards for "people 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
Ted Turner
Robert Edward "Ted" Turner III is an American media mogul and philanthropist. As a businessman, he is known as founder of the cable news network CNN, the first dedicated 24-hour cable news channel. In addition, he founded WTBS, which pioneered the superstation concept in cable television...
, media mogul and founder of CNN
CNN
Cable News Network is a U.S. cable news channel founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. Upon its launch, CNN was the first channel to provide 24-hour television news coverage, and the first all-news television channel in the United States...
. The ceremony, held in London, also celebrated Gorbachev's 80th birthday.
Evans is among the Social Entrepreneur of the Year by the Swabb Foundation for 2011. The awards ceremony were held in Cape Town, South Africa, during the World Economic Forum for Africa.
Evans has been a speaker in schools, colleges and conferences in several countries. He was one of the Mentors at the Education Without Borders International Conference in United Arab Emirates in March 2011.