Butterfly Works

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

UPDATE: Mark Kamau gave an inspiring speech at TEDx Amsterdam which was for many, a highlight of the day. Mark even made an impact on influential website WIRED as well, who called his speech simple and powerful.

Watch Mark Kamau on stage at TEDx Amsterdam by clicking the video below.



Read about Mark Kamau and TEDx Amsterdam on WIRED.

To watch a clip of Mark being interviewed live at TEDx Click here.

Mark made a great impact at TEDx Amsterdam, his speech was inspiring for all and Butterfly Works was proud to have been there.

From WIRED:

"Slumdog digital design

Mark Kamau, the general manager of Nairobits, a digital design school that provides education to young people living in Nairobi slums. Calling himself the ‘Slumdog Manager’, he gave an inspiring talk on his journey out of the slums of Kenya and the future of African aid.

He estimated that 80 per cent of his school friends were either in prison or dead – two had been covered in petrol and set alight, suffering the ‘instant justice’ of the slums after they had been caught stealing.

But his message was hopeful and he argued that the way in which he had been helped by the Nairobits program could serve as a template for Africa: he was respected, challenged, supported and given responsibility and Africa needs this sort of intelligent engagement over aid, he said.

His simple and powerful speech earned a standing ovation."

About Mark

Mark Kamau was born against a backdrop of crime and hardship in the slums of Nairobi in 1980. Mark’s dream of a better future finally became reality in 2000 when he registered at web design school NairoBits.

Although he had never touched a keyboard before, Mark began as one of the first web design students in East Africa studying design, technique and African culture.

Following graduation he moved from creating his first website for an international client, to becoming a trainer at NairoBits, he set up his own web company, then became manager of Kilimanjaro Film School in neighbouring Tanzania.

Now Mark is heading back to Nairobi to become the manager of NairoBits (now a hub of technological innovation) where his next step is inspiring the next generation of Nairobits students.

In 10 years, Mark (and many NairoBits students like him) has shown what talent and drive can achieve when given exposure and fertile ground. Mark is excited about the future.

Nairobits is a unique web-design school in Nairobi, founded in 2000 by the Dutch foundation Butterfly Works.


About TEDx

TEDx Amsterdam was held on November the 20th, hosting a variety of speakers from the arts, design and technology fields, all with a unique and inspiring story to tell.

TED is a nonprofit devoted to ” Ideas Worth Spreading’’, Through annual conferences TED brings together the world's most fascinating thinkers and doers, who are challenged to give the talk of their lives (in 18 minutes). On TED.com, the best talks and performances from TED and partners are available to the world, for free.