Daniel Molina

This thoughtful, concise book describes a valuable and much needed approach to spreading access to education throughout Africa, where it's badly needed. This distance learning concept -- using computers, cell phones, and other electronics -- is necessary on the one hand to meet needs such as population growth that've been evident for years. But over the past year Covid-19 has made the need all the more acute. This book, however, goes much further than simply describing resources for expanding access to education. The focus described is the practical needs of individual people. Much of this spirited book consists of fascinating stories told by real people whose lives have changed for the better Here is the heart of DeAfrica -- people like Sister Lydia Wachira Wanjuku, who now combines the empathy of her faith with the business strategies of an educated banker. The many stories all add up to a commitment to social good. Clearly this book describes pride in initial success. But it also makes clear that ten years of work have only created a beginning. But in this beginning founder Sidiki Traore, the co-authors, their colleagues at the University of Virginia and other universities have pursued a unique and admirable vision -- making distance education in Africa available, affordable, and for the common good. Daniel Molina is a journalist and filmmaker, formerly a national and International correspondent for NBC News.