startup open global competition 2015 for entrepreneurs around the world

Startup Open is a global competition to identify and recognize startups founded between GEW 2014 and GEW 2015. It is open to any entrepreneurs who has just or is about to start a new venture and has a “startup moment” between November 23, 2014 and November 16, 2015. A startup moment can be when a business is incorporated, doors open for business, a first sale is completed, outside funding is secured, or something else that can be interpreted as the company is “open for business.”

Startup Open recognizes the GEW 50 – the 50 most promising ventures from around the world– based on their growth potential, passion, creativity, level of idea development, and pitching skills. Those 50 companies will then compete for a handful of prizes with the winners announced during GEW, November 16-22, 2015.

Applicants will have until September 14 to submit their startup. The GEW 50 will be announced in October and the Startup Open winner will be announced during GEW.

• All applications must be submitted in English.
• Applications will be accepted from January 1, 2015, until September 14, 2015.
• Applications will only be accepted online through the iStart platform or through an officially approved National Competition.
• It is not required that a startup be incorporated, but a company cannot be incorporated over 18 months to compete.

• The GEW 50 and the winners will be selected by a panel of judges who are looking at a range of criteria including growth potential, passion, creativity, level of idea development, and their pitching skills.
• Each judge’s score is weighed equally.

• Prizes are nontransferable.
• Prizes must be accepted as awarded.

• This contest is subject to all federal, state and municipal laws.

visit the official webpage of start up open: http://startupopen.com/about-2/ 

August 21 & 22 Fight for Life (6 &7) ©C DIEGO 2015

August 21 Fight for Life (6) ©C DIEGO 2015

2 Corinthians 10:5 AMP [Inasmuch as we] refute arguments and theories and reasonings and every proud and lofty thing that sets itself up against the [true] knowledge of God AND WE LEAD EVERY THOUGHT AND PURPOSE AWAY CAPTIVE INTO THE OBEDIENCE OF CHRIST…

It’s not enough to just refute arguments- that’s where most of us stop! Yes we KNOW God means well for us, our families, business, etc. We know, yet we suffer the debilitating effects of failure, non achievement and depression! We must LEAD EVERY (not some) THOUGHT AND PURPOSE AWAY CAPTIVE INTO THE OBEDIENCE OF CHRIST!

Most of us are quite good at refuting arguments but LEADING EVERY THOUGHT into obedience? I must confess I am a learner! I can faithfully confess that I’m becoming better and better each day, but when I hit a brick wall- maybe a presentation didn’t go well, I wonder, am I really any good at this? I can be consistently praying and believing God that my husband and I are becoming better at meeting each other’s needs, then something happens and I throw my hands up and think: why do I even bother? 

Perhaps you are a man who is currently dependent on his wife and YOU KNOW YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO PROVIDE or you are a woman completely dependent on your husband but you KNOW HE WHO WOULD NOT WORK, SHOULD NOT EAT and you try but hit brick walls, the tendency is to give up! Maybe that’s how God wants it! But a better option is to LEAD YOUR THOUGHTS; don’t just allow your thoughts carry you. If your life’s experiences are not OBEDIENT TO JESUS YET, don’t stop there, blaming the economy, and everyone else but you. 

If even one person can do it, so too can you! Stop excusing yourself and giving sound arguments for being where you hate to be. Dig deeper into God, ask empowering questions and remember, it’s not just about you- you’re giving your children a blue print for their life’s expectations!

Lord teach me to LEAD MY ALL THOUGHTS into OBEDIENCE OF CHRIST

August 19 & 20 Fight for Life (4 & 5) ©C DIEGO 2015

August 19 Fight for Life (4) ©C DIEGO 2015

2 Corinthians 10:4 AMP For the weapons of our warfare are not physical [weapons of flesh and blood], but they are mighty before God for the overthrow and destruction of strongholds,

If marriage and infertility are not your issues,  you can replace them with anything that's your own-poor business, lack of money/job etc. I am amazed at the number of people who say they are looking for jobs for example, who mindlessly forward their cvs through the black hole of the internet, even though research shows that people are more likely to get jobs through relationships, or people who manage to live for 3 decades and have no mentors/friends who can pull them by the ears, tell them what they don't want to hear or people who want to be rich and have no rich friends.

I know you've always read today’s verse as a battle cry to get your fighting prayer on but for today, I'd like for you to REALLY READ what the verse says: the weapons of our warfare are not carnal BUT MIGHTY THROUGH GOD FOR THE PULLING DOWN OF STRONG HOLDS(KJV). Tomorrow we'll go into details about what strong holds are (and it might not be what you've always thought!)Let it just suffice to say that strong holds are more about YOU, than any external force.

You are more critical in this battle than a thousand demons put together, so today THINK! I know you've been raised to almost associate thinking with sinning but give it a shot today. Think through whatever issues face you, preferably with a pen and paper: what are the REAL ISSUES? What are your STRONGHOLDS? Could you possibly be the one restraining God? Then PRAY. I'm amused today by the fact that I once struck off a potential suitor because he couldn't cook, it won't be so funny if it wasn’t so pathetic, I had gotten that stronghold from the movies. And seeing my dad cook maybe twice in my lifetime.What's your stronghold?

Lord, thank you for helping us pull down strongholds

Assistant Communications Officer, Communications Division, The common wealth £28,500 pa + benefits Aplication Closing date: 4 September 2015

Location: Central London
Closing date: 4 September 2015

Contract duration: 2 years 

£28,500 pa + benefits

The Commonwealth Secretariat is proud to be supporting youth empowerment through our newly created

 Young Professionals Programme (YPP). The YPP creates multiple opportunities for talented and qualified

 young people from across the Commonwealth to contribute to our core work through the transference of 

technical expertise, innovative ideas, specialist knowledge and fresh perspectives.

The Assistant Communications Officer role sits within the Communications Division and is focused on 

providing technical and administrative support to the Communications Division.

To be considered for this opportunity, you must have a strong Bachelor degree or higher in a related field 

such as media, communications or Journalism. You will have at least one year of work experience in media, communications or a related field.  

We are the inter-governmental body of the Commonwealth, comprising 53 independent sovereign states. 

Our aim is to provide sustainable and people-centred development through professional advice, transfer of 

best practice and the enhancement of skills and knowledge. Here you will be making a valued contribution 

to the wellbeing of 2.2 billion citizens, 60% of whom are under 30 years of age.

If you are keen to gain excellent experience with us, and can thrive in our multi-cultural environment, we 

look forward to hearing from you.      

To be considered for this role you must be a citizen of a Commonwealth country aged 27 years or younger at the time applications close.

We will accept a maximum of three (3) applications for YPP roles from each candidate.

Deadline for applications is 17:00 BST on 4 September 2015.

- See more at: http://thecommonwealth.org/jobs/assistant-communications-officer-communications-division#sthash.l47YZYcl.dpuf

U.S. Consulate Hosts Google Hangout on Visa Process August 28 2015

The United States Consulate General in Lagos will host a Google Hangout on Friday, August 28, 2015 at 12 noon to help address the public’s questions about the process for obtaining American visas.

On-air-personality Oluwaseun P of NigeriaInfo 99.3 FM will moderate the one hour Google Hangout session and direct your questions to three American Consular Officers who will share practical information about the process of obtaining a U.S. visa.  The Consular Officers are particularly interested in helping to dispel myths and rumors about applying for a visa to visit or study in the United States.

Nigerians at home and abroad are encouraged to participate by tuning in to the live broadcast via the event page linkhttps://goo.gl/qOPHaH or by logging on to the United States Embassy’s Google+ Profile (https://goo.gl/c3Zts5) and YouTube channel (http://www.youtube.com/USEmbassyNigeria).

The session will be available for subsequent viewing via the United States Embassy’s YouTube channel.

Questions can also be submitted in advance via the Google Hangout event page (https://goo.gl/qOPHaH), the U.S. Embassy’s Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/usembassynigeria), or by tweeting @USEmbassyAbuja using the hashtag #AskTheVOs.

Please, share this message with your friends and family members.

---- end text --------

August 17 & 18 Fight for Life (2 & 3) ©C DIEGO 2015

 August  17 Fight for Life (2) ©C DIEGO 2015

Nehemiah 4:17 AMP Those who built the wall and those who bore burdens loaded themselves so that everyone worked with one hand and held a weapon with the other hand

Israel with only 7.1 million people, no natural resource and bordered by enemy-nations on every side has been fighting wars none stop since its nationhood- 1948. That’s 67 years!  Israel has managed to turn out some awesome feats: with over 50% of the land area as desert & only 20% naturally arable and only 3.7% of its population involved in agriculture, it produces 95% of its food and agriculture accounts for 2.5% GDP. Next to America, it’s the largest technology hub. Jews make up 45% of the top 40 of Forbes  400 (America’s richest);25% of all American Nobel Prize winners; 20% of professors at leading universities…

Why have I reeled all these statistics? To tell you that life is for living! Don’t be so engrossed in fighting for life that you forget to LIVE LIFE!! Statistically, Israel in more unsafe than Nigeria, yet annually more and more people elect to go to Israel! Don’t be deceived, the reason Nigeria is more backward than Israel is not so much because of terrorism as because of an absence of a will to thrive!  Whatever front we may be fighting our war of life, please lets determine the following ahead: 1. You will win or 2. Die trying!

It’s amazing how if we’re not careful, we can elect to live a less than par life, not quite what we dreamed, but at least we are alive? Really? Stop accepting the unacceptable! We want more people in God's kingdom? A spouse? Child?Job?House? Etc. Please lets stop pretending we don’t want what we do! Check the spiritual and physical dimensions. Conduct honest reviews and ACT! We must stop waiting for life to happen to us! Lets go happen to life!

Lord, thank you for grace to fight hard&live well

August  18 Fight for Life (3) ©C DIEGO 2014

Jeremiah 6:16...Stand by the roads and look...ask for the eternal paths...then walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls...

In fighting for life:  Be a student of history and LIFE. My mum got married at 18, left her family and all that was familiar and went all the way to Kano by road with a young Air force officer, 28  whom she had met working as a receptionist in a  Hotel and dated for about 6 months (he did not live in Lagos). She had never been to Kano, knew no soul there. Yet, when he & his 6 relatives came to ask for her hand in marriage, she parked up all her worldly goods in a taxi (he had no car) and went.

Apart from showing off my family history which I’m currently writing, I told you that story to show the simplicity of life 43 years ago. Today, everything is complex- the guy must be a graduate, at least 30, drive a car (s), have a nice house, the church must inspect the house (dad lived in the mess at this time by the way-this is like a hotel for military personnel). The woman must be a graduate, slim, tall, rich, etc. They must date at least one year and have a wedding that gulps a fortune (how else can they and their families prove their wealth and ‘levels’?)

These creates problems: 1. People marry older 2. older women are less PHYSICALLY attractive to men, older men are more attractive to women (in general), men therefore, fish in a wider pond 3. Infertility rises with age! This is a NATURAL problem! Other dimensions like serial dating,sexual exposure and demons can make this complex but at the surface, the reason more people are unmarried/ infertile is because of the complexity introduced into the marriage equation. Even when people marry ‘young’ by today’s standards, they are still significantly older than God’s original design.

Before you go demon chasing and pulling heaven down, do you understand the natural dimensions of your issues?

Lord, teach me to pray with understanding

Scripps Howard Semester in Washington Internship Program (fully funded)

Scripps Howard Semester in Washington Internship Program

Click here to apply for this program

The Scripps Howard Foundation Semester in Washington internship program brings two international students per year to Washington, D.C., to work at the Scripps Howard News Service for a semester. The internship is designed to give international students an opportunity to cover events in the U.S. capital, as well as to report and write feature stories for the Scripps Howard Foundation Wire. Stories written by Scripps Howard interns may be published in newspapers across the United States.

Former intern Marta Lillo describes her internship experience and how it has affected her journalism career.

The internship is open to undergraduate journalism or communications students who intend to pursue careers in journalism after graduation. Interns must be fluent in both spoken and written English. Interns who are selected in the program will work in one of two periods: Early January to mid-April or September to December.

The internship is sponsored by the Scripps Howard Foundation, which strives to advance the cause of a free press through support of excellence in journalism, quality journalism education and professional development. International participants in the program are recruited and selected by the International Center for Journalists, which provides training and other assistance to journalists across the globe.

2016 nikon small world photomicrography in motion digital video competition

ENTER

Contestants may enter the Competitions by uploading digital images or videos directly to our Small World servers at MicroscopyU.com. Before you begin, read the Contest Rules and prepare your images for uploading according to the instructions. You may also download a Competition Entry Form in portable document format (*.PDF) for submission of entries by mail.

2016 SMALL WORLD
PHOTOMICROGRAPHY COMPETITION

• Info
 
• Rules
 
• Prizes

Enter

2016 SMALL WORLD IN MOTION
DIGITAL VIDEO COMPETITION

• Info
 
• Rules
 
• Prizes

Enter

Philips South-African innovation fellows competition 2015 for innovators R 200000 for the next big idea

Do you have the #nextbigidea for meaningful innovation?

Philips is giving R200,000 to the #nextbigidea in improving access to primary healthcare Based on the concept of “open innovation,” we believe that everyone has the potential to change the way we live our lives – for the better. That’s why we are calling on you to submit the next big idea to address the gaps recently identified in our African Innovation Report According to a pan-African research commissioned by Philips, nearly 52% of Africans consider themselves innovators, and 43% believe they are sitting on an idea for “the next big thing,” and just need money and know-how to develop it.  Amongst the top items innovators felt were the key to achieving successful innovation was financial support from big companies and mentor relationships. Respondents also said successful innovation should improve lives and makes daily life easier. In other words, people are not as interested in technologies that are created for technology’s sake, but those that are meaningful. 70% of those surveyed indicated that Healthcare was the area in which innovation could improve lives. As a result, Philip is launching its first “South African Innovation Fellows Competition”! We are calling on you to submit your ideas for products and services that will improve access to primary healthcare. Do you have an idea for the next big thing in healthcare? Do you want to help change the world? If so, we want to hear from you. Philips Innovation Fellows Competition               Philips Innovation Fellows Competition How does it work? Phase 1 – Submit an idea View on www.innovationfellow... Preview by Yahoo

Apply to be a TED Fellow

Twice a year, the TED Fellows program opens applications to find a new class of extraordinary thinkers and doers. Though we target innovators aged 21 to 40, we encourage anyone over 18 years old to apply.

How to apply

The TED2016 Fellowship application is now open! To apply, please fill out the online application form. In addition to basic details and contact information, you’ll need to answer essay questions and provide three references.

Apply now

Before beginning your application, please review our Application tips, our Program FAQ, and our Terms and conditions.

Applications close Sunday, September 20, 2015 at 11:59 p.m. UTC / 7:59 p.m. ET.

Application cycle dates

Each year we open two application cycles: one for TED and one for TEDGlobal. Each application cycle has an opening and closing date – you may only apply to be a Fellow between the opening and closing dates. We do not accept applications during the dates that fall outside of the application cycle window.

Dates for the TED2016 application cycle is as follows:

TED2016 application cycle
Opening date: August 11, 2015
Closing date: September 20, 2015

Who should apply

We look for different applicants than many other leadership-oriented programs. Instead of business people, professionals, policy wonks and government officials, the TED Fellows program focuses on doers, makers, inventors, advocates, filmmakers and photographers, musicians and artists, scientists, entrepreneurs, NGO heads, and human rights activists.

In addition to impressive accomplishment, fine character and a good heart are two very important traits we look for in a every potential TED Fellow. More than anything, this focus on character has defined the success of the TED Fellows program.

The application process

Candidates may apply to attend either TED or TEDGlobal. We welcome anyone over the age of 18 to apply. We choose 20 Fellows to attend each TED Conference. Email fellows@ted.com to be reminded when applications open and include your name, title, organization, email address and country.

The selection process

TED Fellows are selected by the program staff, with extensive reference checking and consultation with experts across all fields. Selections are made by the group as a whole, not by individuals.

There is no algorithm for how we select our TED Fellows. We select Fellows based on their accomplishments in their respective fields, the potential impact of their work and also, most importantly, their character. The ideal applicant is multidisciplinary in their pursuits, and is at a moment in their career to maximize the support of the TED Community.

visit the official webpage http://www.ted.com/participate/ted-fellows-program/apply-to-be-a-ted-fellow#

CLIMATE CHANGE: International Student Photo Contest, Deadline January 5, 2016

AUGUST 5, 2015

CREDIT: Jordan McQueen

Carnegie Council for Ethics in International Affairs announces its third annual International Student Photography Contest. 

This year's topic is Climate Change: Send us your photos that show examples of climate change OR examples of combating or adapting to climate change.    

The contest will be conducted on Carnegie Council's Global Ethics Network, our social media platform for exploring the role of ethics in international relations. Check out last year's winners on the theme of Fairness and its Opposite, and see below for details on how to participate.

ELIGIBILITY: All students of every nationality are eligible. Non-students will be disqualified. The minimum age is 13.

TOPIC: Climate Change: Send us your photos that show examples of climate change OR examples of combating or adapting to climate change.

DEADLINE: January 5, 2016

PRIZES:

1st prize: $200 Amazon Gift Certificate

2nd prize (two): $100 Amazon Gift Certificate

Winning photos may be posted on other Carnegie Council websites.

HOW TO ENTER:
1. Join the free Global Ethics Network (GEN) website: www.globalethicsnetwork.org.

2. Upload your photo in the photo section of the website.

3. Please explain each image in 250 words or less.

4. Include your full name, school affiliation, and nationality in the following format:

[Full Name]
[School Affiliation]
Nationality: [Country Name]

5. Tag the blog post with #photo2015 and publish it. Please allow 24 hours for approval.

6. Entries are limited to 3 photos per person.

NOTE: In order to ensure high quality reproduction, we will require larger versions of the winning photos. All participants must be able to submit a high-resolution version of their photographs upon request (at least 300 dpi at 3,000 pixels on the longest side).

EDITING: All photos must be your original work. Collage, cropping, and use of software such as Photoshop is permitted.

COPYRIGHT: By entering the contest, you acknowledge that the submitted photo is an original work created solely by you, that the photo does not violate, plagiarize or infringe on the copyrights, trademarks, database, moral rights, rights of privacy/publicity or intellectual property rights of any person or entity, and that no other party has any right, title, claim, or interest in the photo.You will retain all copyrights over the image, and the image will be attributed to you when used.

USAGE RIGHTS: By entering the contest, all entrants grant Carnegie Council and its affiliated publications an unrestricted, perpetual, royalty-free, non-exclusive license to publish, reproduce, display, distribute and create derivative works of the entries (along with a name credit). Such use may include, but is not limited to: a photo exhibit or slideshow featuring selected images from the contest; use for illustration purposes on the Carnegie Council website, in online or print versions of Ethics & International Affairs and Policy Innovations, as well as any future Carnegie Council publications; and promotion of future contests. Display or publication of any entry on Carnegie Council's affiliated websites does not indicate the entrant will be selected as a winner. Carnegie Council will not be required to seek any additional approval in connection with such use.

Read on organizations website http://www.carnegiecouncil.org/news/announcements/373

International Student/Teacher Essay Contest, 2015: Goals for a Better World

AUGUST 5, 2015

CREDIT: Massimo Valiani (CC)

Carnegie Council for Ethics in International Affairs announces its seventh annual International Essay Contest, open to teachers and students anywhere in the world.

This year, we are asking you to write about one of three selected Sustainable Development Goals. The SDGs will replace the Millenium Development Goals when they expire at the end of 2015.

(There are a total of 17 SDGs. For a concise rundown of all of them, click here).  

ESSAY TOPIC: Focusing on one of the following SDGs,  propose specific measures for your country (or region or city) to reach the goal’s objectives in the next 15 years.

• Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls: OR  
• Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts: OR
• Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable

CONTEST REQUIREMENTS:

• Style: Op-ed style (not academic, footnoted papers)
• Length: 1,000 to 1,500 words
• Format: Word document, or email. English language entries only.
• Limit: One entry per person.

This competition is open to teachers and students of all nationalities.

All teachers, at whatever level, are eligible.

All students, from high school students through graduate students, are eligible. Non-students are automatically disqualified.

Collaborative essays between students and teachers are welcome.

Previous winners and honorable mentions are not eligible.

COMPETITION DEADLINE: January 5, 2016

HOW TO ENTER:

Please email your entries to carnegiecontest2015@cceia.org. Please include your full name, full address, email, age, name of your school, whether you are a teacher or a student, and if a student, what level (high school, undergraduate, graduate level).

PRIZES:

1st prize: $250 Amazon Gift Certificate

2nd prize: $150 Amazon Gift Certificate 

3rd prize: $75 Amazon Gift Certificate 

Read on organizations website http://www.carnegiecouncil.org/news/announcements/372