Things to do while Social Distancing #Day4; Start or Join A Challenge.
So everyone is paying attention right now.
It’s an unprecedented outcome that no strategist could have easily predicted.
Yet it’s happening. Social attention is at its peak and so you want to take advantage of it because it probably won’t last for long.
Why?
There are hundreds of spectacle-wearing, labcoat-clad, scientists all over the globe trying desperately to find a vaccine to combat the Corona virus epidermic and with the way they are toiling day and night, they probably will find a cure soon enough.
Meanwhile let’s do something fun for a change. There are many social challenges making the rounds right now and here’s your chance to join in on the social foolishness and get noticed for something other than office reports and corporate deadlines.
You owe it to your kids to pretend that you had fun at least once in your life.
Here are the challenges worth exploring:
- The Push Up Challenge: some isolated moron somewhere far away from this clime( no Nigerian would dare) decided that doing push ups would passs for a challenge and as expected it went viral.
So we have celebrities as well as trend vultures and social miscreants latching onto the strange challenge.
Follow the hashtag #Pushupchallenge and #30dayChallenge to see who has done it and then have a go at it.
- The Singing challenge;
kickstarted by movie producer Tyler Perry, it is an attempt by people to sing the popular song, ‘He’s for the whole world in his hands.’
A soothing rendition in a time of turmoil.
We have an amazing constellation of adopters in this trend, from Oprah Winfrey to Jessie Jay, Jennifer Hudson and a thousand other culture adopters.
Check out the challenge with #hesgotthewholeworldinhishands
That’s all for #Day3.
See you tomorrow.
Free e-books for young South Africans during lockdown
Web browser developer Opera has partnered with non-profit-organisation (NPO) Worldreader to offer young South Africans free e-books during the nationwide lockdown.
SA began its three-week lockdown at midnight today following the outbreak of the coronavirus (COVID-19), with confirmed cases surpassing 1 000.
Opera and Worldreader say they are looking to keep young South African minds stimulated during the country’s lockdown by giving them access to an expanded range of e-books via the Opera Mini browser.
Starting this week, Worldreader will offer a new selection of e-books to Opera Mini users as well as a new mobile Web app designed to offer reading material tailored specifically for young adult readers.
Worldreader is a global NPO that provides people in the developing world with free access to a library of digital books via e-readers and mobile phones.
Since 2010, when the organisation was founded, 12.1 million people across 47 countries have read from Worldreader’s digital library of thousands of e-books, it says.
Opera is a freeware Web browser for Microsoft Windows, Android, iOS, macOS and Linux operating systems, developed by Norwegian-based Opera Software.
The company recently told ITWeb it is looking to build data centres in SA this year.
With 6.93% market share in Africa, Opera is the third most popular browser on the continent after Chrome (70.14%) and Safari (8.93%).
The regular version of the Worldreader app provides e-books for young readers and features hundreds of books for learning and pleasure, in categories including learn, health and career, the NPO says.
It says over 100 000 people make use of the platform each month, with new readers joining every day. The new app – BookSmart – from Worldreader, offers a wide variety of e-books dedicated to children.
Both apps can be accessed from the Opera Mini browser, by tapping on the Worldreader speed dial icon. Users will then be able to access the new children’s version of the BookSmart app.
“When considering ways to mitigate learning loss in a pandemic, it should be a top priority to address supporting reading skills and engagement with books, bridging the gap until schools are in session again,” says Rebecca Chandler Leege, Worldreader’s chief impact officer.
“Through mobile technology, we can support the distribution of e-books and attend the needs of millions thanks to the massive reach of the Opera Mini browser in Africa.”
According to UNESCO, as of 24 March, 82% of the world’s learners had been shut out of traditional schooling and education programmes due to social distancing.
In response to the global health crisis, UNESCO is supporting the implementation of large-scale distance learning programmes and recommending open educational applications and platforms that schools and teachers can use to reach learners remotely.
Since 2015, Opera and Worldreader have successfully promoted literacy worldwide, with greater attention in Africa to enable millions of people to read free books. There are, however, several barriers in certain African communities that hinder access to online educational materials, especially when schools are shut down, the organisations say.
They note that high data costs, lack of access to mobile technology, and slow mobile network connectivity are some of the challenges faced by these communities when accessing educational content online.
“Mobile data is still very expensive in most parts of Africa, hence the Opera Mini browser’s popularity in the region. Its ability to reduce Web page sizes and save up to 90% of users’ mobile data has enabled even more people to connect to the Internet,” says Jørgen Arnesen, head of marketing and distribution at Opera.
“We believe that millions of children and students can benefit from our partnership with Worldreader by now being able to access educational online content while the COVID-19 outbreak lasts.”
#RoundAboutTown With Henri Yire; The Corona Virus Episode
This is the stay-at-home edition.
And it’s no fault of ours.
I am only doing my part to help flatten the curve and keep the world breathing. Literally.
So as you know, face masks and other accompanying virus protective gears are the in-thing now and finding them is really hard. But we have a few plugs we are willing to hook you up with.
Jumia online store is a real food resource to easily get masks and gloves. So check it out.
Meanwhile, every gig, event or tip featured is online-based but it’s something to keep you entertainment while social distancing.
So here goes:
- #StayHomeWithMe Concert:
It’s happening all weekend and we have some interesting artistes featuring in the virtual concert on YouTube. Simi, Timi Dakolo, ASA, Skales, the list is endless.
You can join in on the concert on YouTube by just searching for the artistes scheduled on the line up.
Thank me later.
DJ Obi’s InstaLive Party:
Tonight Bellanaija Weddings and Guinness record holder, DJ Obi team up to do a special InstaLive party, dedicated to couples who have had their wedding plans impacted by COVID-19.
They are dedicating this InstaLive Party to lovers and joining them to celebrate their love tonight, and always.
It kicks off from 8PM till 10PM.
He also hosts a live DJ session with his industry mates and will be be announcing the next one soon enough.
