INSIDE
4th issue of Verso Magazine
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CELEBRATING A LEGEND THE NELSON MANDELA STORY FROM THE DREAM OF A FOOTBALLER TO A FASHION DESIGNER START NOW BY CURTIS OKONA FRIMPONG HOW TO ADD AN AFRICAN TOUCH TO YOUR OUTFITS
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HOW TO GET YOUR CLOSET TO SUIT EVERY EVENT A BLOGGER WITH A DIFFERENCE MOBILE WARS 2018 09 MOST LUCRATIVE PROFFESSIONS IN AFRICA PERSONALITY OF THE MONTH THINK YOUR WAY OUT THE FLAMING FIRE GIRL
Message from Editor-In-Cheif
START NOW by Curtis Okona Frimpong
Tips For A Change Maker
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he extent of your greatness in life is dependent on your level of imagination and reasoning today. The things you think about, the way you see things and the inspiration you get from the things you see or do greatly affect your imagination. You can be your best tomorrow when you start what you want to see tomorrow today. There is so much a person can achieve in the future by starting now. With the right attitude and perseverance you can make anything possible. A wise man once said everyone was born a creator. In the book of Genesis 1:27 the bible says……… So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. And in Psalm 82:6 the bible says…….I have said, ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High. These scriptures are a confirmation of that saying. We are special creations and we have been made to cause things to being. We have the power to change this world because we have been given special abilities that are meant to play a role in the development of our society. There is something special in us that produces results no one else can produce. When we get to that conciousness of this fact we can work to make this world a better place for ourselves and others.
ou must have love for others. There are three kinds of love and among these kinds of love is the unconditional love of God also known as Agape Love. This love exist in spite of any flaws. As a person on a mission to make a difference in this world, this kind of love must dwell inside you each day. You should be able to show compassion for those who need it. Doing this or having this kind of love makes you aware that something has to be done and no one person can accomplish that. You must renew your mind. Our minds are the centre for many possibilities. Our culture as Africans has affected as so much that we are not able to think critically to analyse situations. With the renewal of our minds we can think critically to turn things around. Changing our thought pattern also means we are evolved and ready to change things. Identify a problem and address it. More than often we hear stories from great people and they always say they became great because they solved a problem. Africa is in need of great problem solvers and that person who finds a problem that he/she is passionate about and is ready to set a standard glows. There are problems everywhere we go and these problems create opportunities that can help us change our setting or society at large. Run with the vision. After identifying a problem that you are so passionate about, the next thing to do is to run with it. At this stage you must carefully plan and get your facts right about the vision and start work on it. One may say “what if I don’t have money to finance this vision”, that should not be the case .You must always start somewhere. There is always a slow starting point but with perseverance and persistence the end would be glorious.
Cover Story
ERNEST COLEMAN CEO, Reverse
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here are quite some great entrepreneurs and young generational changers. On our search for such greatness, we came across Ernest Coleman, the founder of Reverse.
Just like every young man, there was a dream, and Ernest’s vision was to become a footballer. Although he was discouraged by his parents, he set an aim to become a millionaire. After thinking it through, he realised it was essential to create value in people’s lives than having a selfish interest. This is why one of the trademarks of Reverse is to sell quality products at an affordable price. Ernest says he encountered many problems at the beginning due to inadequate managerial skills. However, his consistency together with his team’s hard work is making him a better manager than he was a few years ago. Ernest’s Reverse promises to be a household brand and one of the most valuable companies in the world. We at Verso believe this because of the impact Reverse has made over the years of their existence. He also said, “Our brand looks at empowering people with eccentric features, such as albinos and our brothers and sisters with vitiligo. So anytime you buy a product from us, you can hold your head up high and say “I have contributed to the fight against racism” Reverse will continue to produce quality products and sell them at an affordable price.
@cole_xy @ernestcoleman_
ernestcolemanbizz96@gmail.com
Inspirational Quotes
Inspiration
“Inspiration drives Innovation”
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. Abraham Lincoln: “Things may come to those who wait, but only the things left by those who hustle” . Jim Rohn: “Either you run the day, or the day runs you.”
. Karen Lamb: “A year from now you will wish you had started today.” . Rand Fishkin, Moz: “Don’t build links. Build relationships.”
Rand_Fishkin quote
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. M. Scott Peck: “Until you value yourself, you won’t value your time. Until you value your time, you will not do anything with it.” . Scott Belsky, Behance: “It’s not about ideas. It’s about making ideas happen.”
Scott_Belsky quote
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. Vivienne Harr, Make A Stand: “Stick with it, even on the bad days.”
Vivienne_Harr quote
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. Albert Schweitzer: “Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful.” Albert_Schweitzer quote
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. Simon Sinek: “Dream big. Start small. But most of all, start.”
Simon_Sinek quote
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0. Tim Ferris: “Think big and don’t listen to people who tell you it can’t be done. Life’s too short to think small.” Tim_Ferriss quote
1
. “Love is that condition in which the happiness of another person is essential to your own.”
—Robert A. Heinlein
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. “Let us always meet each other with smile, for the smile is the beginning of love.”
—Mother Teresa
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. “You can search throughout the entire universe for someone who is more deserving of your love and affection than you are yourself, and that person is not to be found anywhere. You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe deserve your love and affection.” —Gautama Buddha
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. “Love is friendship that has caught fire. It is a quiet understanding, mutual confidence, sharing and forgiving. It is loyalty through good and bad times. It settles for less than perfection and makes allowances for human weaknesses.” —Ann Landers
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. “Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage.” —Lao Tzu
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. “Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into friend.”
—Martin Luther King, Jr.
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. “Our first and last love is self-love.” —Christian Nestell Bovee
. “You will find as you look back upon your life that the moments when you have truly lived are the moments when you have done things in the spirit of love.” —Henry Drummond
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. “Love recognizes no barriers. It jumps hurdles, leaps fences, penetrates walls to arrive at its destination full of hope.” —Maya Angelou
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0. “Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries. Without them humanity cannot survive.”
—Dalai Lama
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1. “Don’t act because emotions are involved” Serene Boyson
REVERSE
SOPHOMORE SEQUEL pre-order today 0559539022 @ reversecentral
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AFRICAN PRINT ACCESSORIES Necklaces, earrings, bangles are a nice complement to probably a simple plain dress. You could also have hair accessories made from Ankara fabrics. These can be bought at local stores or using online shops. Alternatively you could go online and research DIY tutorials to make them yourself. For guys accessories such as bowties, suspenders and even belts can be used to add that African touch to your corporate outfit.
AFRICAN PRINT BAGS Complementing your outfit with an Ankara bag is a perfect way of adding style and definitely color to you look. The options you can get with African print bags are endless. There are totes, pouches, clutches and even back packs made of African print to beautifully complement your style and taste.
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AFRICAN PRINT SHOES These instantly add sophistication to your outfit. Whether corporate shoes, sneakers, flats, slippers, sandals etc you can have them made with African print. Another alternative is taking shoes of your choice to a shoe designer to get them covered with African print for you.
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HOW TO AN AFRI TOUCH T YOUR OU
O ADD ICAN TO UTFITS.
CUTE LITTLE POCKETS AND PATTERNS
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Complementing your outfit with an Ankara bag is a perfect way of adding style and definitely color to you look. The options you can get with African print bags are endless. There are totes, pouches, clutches and even back packs made of African print to beautifully complement your style and taste.
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AUTHENTIC AFRICAN BEADS African beads have often been used to make beautiful jewelry such and necklaces, bracelets and rings. These are always known to make a statement! Mainly because of the variety of sizes, shapes and absolutely stunning colors they come in. They bring all the boldness into an outfit. It’s the perfect item for creating color coordinated styles for those who would love to match their jewelry to their shoes or belts or any other accessory
KENTE Kente is always in vogue and makes a statement of authentic African style whenever it is worn. A kente sash/tie on otherwise ordinary suit has worked wonders. Ladies have used it to give life to many dresses.
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@ africodegh
Coming s
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Celebrating A Legend
THE RY STO
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elson Mandela was born in Transkei, South Africa on July 18, 1918. He was the son of a local tribal leader of the Tembu tribe. As a youngster Nelson, took part in the activities and initiation ceremonies of his local tribe. However, unlike his father Nelson Mandela gained a full education, studying at the University College of Fort Hare and also the University of Witwatersrand. Nelson was a good student and qualified with a law degree in 1942. During his time at University, Nelson Mandela became increasingly aware of the racial inequality and injustice faced by non-white people. In 1943, he decided to join the ANC and actively take part in the struggle against apartheid. As one of the few qualified lawyers, Nelson Mandela was in great demand; also his commitment to the cause saw him promoted through the ranks of the ANC. In 1956, Nelson Mandela, along with several other members of the ANC were arrested and charged with treason. After a lengthy and protracted court case the defendants were finally acquitted in 1961. However, with the ANC now banned, Nelson Mandela suggested an active armed resistance to the apartheid regime. This led to the formation of Umkhonto we Sizwe, which would act as a guerilla resistance movement. Receiving training in other African countries, the Umkhonto we Sizwe took part in active sabotage. In 1963, Mandela was again arrested and put on trial for treason. This time the State succeeded in convicting Mandela of plotting to overthrow the government. However, the case received considerable international attention and the apartheid regime of South Africa became under the glare of the international community. At the end of his trial, Nelson Mandela made a long speech, in which he was able to affirm his commitment to the ideals of democracy. We believe that South Africa belongs to all the people who live in it, and not to one group, be it black or white. We did not want an interracial war, and tried to avoid it to the last minute.
The
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Girls on fire for Christ
THE FLAMING FIRE GIRL M
y name is Jackie Amissah - Nunoo and I’m a 21 year old girl on fire for the Lord. I am currently a student at Calvin College majoring in Public Health with a minor in Business. I love God so much and I think it’s safe to say that I’m obsessed with Him. I was led by the Holy Spirit to write a book during my quiet time one morning; specifically a one-year devotional for young ladies - FLAMINGFIREGIRL DEVOTIONAL. The purpose of this book is to raise an army of ladies on fire for Jesus. It was not an easy process. I encountered and fought many battles which included spiritual, emotional and also financial battles. My love for God sustained me through this process. This is exactly how it was for Jesus. He decided to rid himself off everything: His throne, His crown and His reputation to die on a cross as though He were a criminal just for you and I. He said YES to God but along the line, it got rough and He felt like giving up. But He prayed, “Lord, if you are willing let this cup pass over me, YET not my will but your will be done.” (Matt. 26:39) His love for God and the Kingdom sustained Him to the very end. Your love for God should burn in you like a fire. It should consume you so that you feel it in your very bones. You should be so on fire for God that giving up on your God-given vision or dream would be an abomination. God has called us all to do great things. We are alive so that our entire lives glorify Him. God doesn’t promise us an easy path but He promises to be right by our side through it all. It is a real blessing to have God by your side through it all.
God is ever-near. He so desires intimacy with you that He wants to be right by your side when you’re happy; to smile & laugh with you & He also wants to be right there when times are tough and your heart is broken to wipe your tears and give you the sweetest and comforting hugs and heal your broken heart. God is closer than you think. I believe there’s no better way to reciprocate my love to God than to be on fire for Him In Revelations 3:15, I understand that being on fire for Jesus is one thing He desires & lukewarmness is one thing He truly detests; so much that He would vomit us out of His mouth on the day of judgement. This is why God led me to write this devotional, God wants to raise an army of ladies on FIRE for Him. For me, to believe in God and to have faith in Him is to believe that I am deeply loved by Him no matter the obstacles I run into. Jesus said that if we truly love Him we will feed His sheep - His people, meaning we will share the GOOD NEWS and WITNESS to souls. That is our responsibility as children and servants of God. When you truly love God, there’s fire in your heart and in your bones. This fire propels you to do great things for God in your best capacity. You don’t really care who stands against you, you’re willing to FIGHT; FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT TILL THE VERY END. God wants to do mighty and wondrous works here on earth but He’s looking for willing vessels. Give God your whole heart, give Him your entire being. Allow Him to consume you with His fire. Never let the fire in your heart die. Keep it alive & Serve the Lord. You will look back on your life years later and thank God that you made a decision to be on fire for Him. Generations unborn are counting on your obedience. Let your obedience to God spread like a fire. I obeyed God by writing this devotional, what is God asking you to do and what are you doing about it?
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The Fashion Statements That Can Change your Life
One black blazer and you’ve totally dressed up an otherwise casual outfit. This is one staple piece that still keeps your outfit simple but adds a bit of style! If it doesn’t fit right off the bat this is where your trusted tailor comes in. It should flatter your Body.
The little black dress is simply that go to look when you’re short of outfit ideas. Suits every event, skin tone and style. It’s a no-brainer basic. So we’ll just let this pretty number do the talking.
HOW TO GET YOUR CLOSET This is one easy dress up item that always looks so clean and crisp! Choose one that is not too sheer or tight with cap sleeves. If you like accessorizing go for a V-neck, so that the depth shows them necklaces. White tees are an equivalent of no makeup. They put together an entire outfit handily. This is a classic. Denim jackets will give any casual outfit an extra edge. Always looks better oversized and less on the fitted side. One with no fraying, holes should be a daytime standard.
A classic leather belt is a worthy investment. They may be expensive but definitely have a long term span. It will also boost the average jeans and T-shirt look.
Classic white kicks are a casual basic that will go with everything.
TO SUIT EVERY EVENT Whether they are flared, cropped, skinny, boot cut everybody needs a pair of jeans that fits great and is also comfy. It’s an instant mood-booster.
Buying a perfect pair in neutral colours such as black or brown can come in very handy when going for a simple less glam look.
Even faux diamond studs are a classic act to instantly bring glam to that outfit. These paired with your cute LBD is sure to make a statement.
A BLOGGER WITH A DIFFERENCE E
ugene Kwame Sarfo Kantanka known popularly as Kwame Sarfo is a Ghanaian multiple nominated and internationally recognised entertainment, lifestyle and Celebrity blogger, Publicists, Social and Digital Marketer. He is the founder and CEO of Kwame Sarfo Media (KwameSarfo.com) which is a multi-media content service provider, Infotainment portal, social and digital marketing agency dedicated to promote Music, Videos, Events, Artiste, Brands & more. The media house is also into PR & AR, Brand Awareness, Article Publication, BTL Activation, Social Media Management, Advertisement, Website Development, Graphic Designing, Photography and more. He has worked with producers and other artists and has also helped push artistes and songs from some Ghanaian artiste across the boundaries of Ghana to Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa and Nigeria respectively. He is currently the publicist for the Atlanta based Ghanaian artiste Wayo who released his debut single Muscatella featuring joey b which really made lots of waves online, streets, radio stations and other parts of the world. He is an inspiration to many up coming bloggers in Africa and we can’t wait too see him blossom greatly @OfficialKwameSarfo
@KwameSarfoGh
info@KwameSarfo.com
A #vesselofchange initiative
Mobile Wars
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his year came with a lot of tech flagships trying to prove their worth mainly in design. We saw almost flagships trying to make the dream of Sci-Fi fans possible, that all screen phone. We had been introduced the era of bezel-less design in smartphones. And truth to be told, that is the battle flagship phones have been trying to beat. The idea to remove bezels in smartphones where first materialized when it introduced the edges. Beginning from the note 4 edge, through to the s6 and s7 edges and now to the s9 and s9+ we have experienced beautiful as much screen as possible. And these phones are gorgeous. The s9 and s9 plus currently pack a screen to body ratio of 83.6 and 84.2 percent respectively. With their curved infinity displays and they may probably the best looking phones out there. However, Samsung could not entirely get rid of the bezels. There are thin bezels on top and at the bottom. Samsung had to ditch its home button
Technology that is revolutionalising how we see things
and opt for the standard navigation icons on the screen. The top bezel houses the iris scanner, proximity sensor, the earpiece and the selfie camera. Apple introduced its almost all screen iPhone X. Yeah the best iPhone probably made. It packed a gorgeous 5.8-inch OLED panel with curved corners and the thinnest of frames. It also has the sharpest display an iPhone has ever possessed with a resolution 2,436 x 1,125 pixels. The iPhone got rid of the its iconic home button along with its TouchID fingerprint sensor and replaced it with FaceID. The phone however had an indented notch at the top that is packed with sensors, a speaker, microphone, and the front facing camera. The iPhone’s approach to the bezel-less era is seen in most flagship releases later that year, with top phone makers like OnePlus, Huawei and LG spotting the notch design in their phones.
sight. The camera array is motorized and only rises when you tap on the camera, taking only 0.5 seconds to complete its journey. Close the camera app and everything and the whole assembly motors back into the phone chasis Unfortunately it does not have any fingerprint authentication but the Oppo company boasts of its 3D facial recognition system. The combination of the hideaway camera and the infinity screen is what enables the device to reach its current screen to body ratio. This is the future. We have seen a massive change in the design, and it is impressive, stylish and so cool. Initially people thought this was not possible, well it is now and technology continues to defy all odds even when we think we have reached its threshold. We wanted all screen phones well, here we are now and the future looks more bezel-less than ever.
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ssential H device then decides to dump the notch design which the iPhone introduced, ushering us into a new direction in terms of screen to size ratio. I possessed the thinnest bezels at the top and at the sides of the devices but there is still a fairly big bezel at the bottom of the screen. The obvious challenge for the design team after the design team dropped the notch was where exactly to fix the selfie camera in this selfie crazy era. To solve this issue, the designers decided to include a curved tip at the top of the display that eats into the screen. This approach was interesting but it had divided views like the notch.
Iphone X
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he Vivo Nex s device decided to solve the notch problem with a different approach. The front part of the phone is mostly screen except for a very tiny chin at the bottom. The phone boasts of a game changing in display fingerprint scanner. Yeah they didn’t move the fingerprint scanner to the back like most phone companies did. The phone also uses the display itself as a speaker. This technology was introduced by LG in its new OLED television. Now where is the selfie camera? The selfie camera only pops up from the edge of the phone when you need it.
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he Oppo Find X is an astonishing glossy beauty and it’s the closest anyone has come to an all front screen yet. Its huge 6.42 inch AMOLED infinity display has virtually no bezels, lust a slim chin at the bottom and the back is a shiny expase with no
Samsung Galaxy s9 Essential H
Vivo Nex s
Oppo Find X
Entertainment Bloggers
Verso Trends
Show business is full of drama and crazy moments. There is always something happening somewhere in a celebrities life. With these entertainment bloggers we are always updated about the ups and downs in the life of celebrities. There is a high demand for content creators in this field of work. With the right content you can build your exposure.
2018 09 MOST
LUCRATIVE
PROFFESSIONS IN AFRICA Real Estate Agents There is a great demand out there for real estate developers. The selling of apartments, work spaces and houses grows as the day goes by. There is always a family looking for the right apartments and a business man looking for the right space. This is will real estate developers are important.
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Beauticians Everybody wants to look beautiful. However, just like a garden, beauty needs maintenance and care that can be best provided by a professional. That is why being a beautician is one of the most lucrative jobs you can find out there.
Event Organizers
Publishers
Daily there are great events organized in Ghana. These events range from amazing parties to inspirational summits. This is the reason why the rise for great event organizers grow as the day goes by. Entering into this field of work will assure you of getting your funds back with added interest.
Writing is an act that is loved by many. With right piece you can turn your life from zero to Hero. This is why there is a drastic rise of publishers in Africa today. And there are still not enough publishers.
05* 02* Food Venders Selling food, Pastries or other delicacies is one business that is always booming. There is an unending chase for good meals or finger foods in this part of the world. And the person who makes the right meals with the right recipe would reap greatly.
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Photographers One reason people take pictures is for future reference. Picture taking will never stop .We take pictures during weddings, graduations, birthdays. This is the reason why the market for good photographers will forever grow.
Graphics Designers/ Website Developers With the growing number of businesses in Africa today, there is always the need for good graphic designers and website developers. There will always be the need to hire graphic designers when it comes to making logos or fliers and also the demand of good website developer to make attractive and responsive website for businesses to be launched online.
Dress Makers
Just like food, dresses are the second most important commodity in a person’s life. There is a market out there for dress makers. The person who makes attractive dresses or great designs will not run out of customers. Especially during special occasions like parties, weddings just to name a few.
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Wonder Woman
Personalityof the
Month
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ur African hero for this edition is our very affable, stunning and kind-hearted YVONNE OKORO, born on the 25th of November 1984. She is a renowned and celebrated actress in Ghana as well as Africa. Being a celebrity, some people may think that life is all about acquiring wealth and carving a name for yourself in the industry but that is not the case in her situation. As much as she is able to get the big deals and contracts that bring her lot of cash, she does not only think about herself and her family, she also thinks about the underprivileged in society. She has really made a positive impact in the lives of people. She has been able to set up the ELIZABETHAN SCHOLARSHIP SCHEME where she has decided to pay the fees of brilliant but needy students. Though she did not say when this was going to start we believe that it will start out well and continue so as to help these pupils to become the great leaders in society. To add to her many works, she also has not only lent a helping hand to those in Accra but has gone all the way to the Northern Region of Ghana to relief a village called Walewale of their water shortage problems. For quite a long time, the community had been struggling with water problems and people had to walk several miles just to get water for their daily activities. Yvonne came to their rescue when she decided to make provision for a bore hole and saw to it that it was constructed. She commissioned the project as soon as it was completed and it was ready for use. The people were very elated by her good deed and they are sure to forever remember her.
In addition, she donated some items to kids on the street. Christmas is that time of the year where we show love to our friends and family as well as loved ones. Miss Okoro together with her siblings and a fellow actress took it upon themselves to make the day of some street kids at Spanner, Tema Station and Opebia. I’m pretty sure these kids could not hide their joy because they did not only get to spend time with them but they also got gift items such as deodorant, food, slippers among others. Yvonne could not hold back her tears because she would have wished these kids would be in a better place and have families that will celebrate this festive season with them. It is my hope that other generous individuals and celebrities will imitate or do more than what Miss Okoro is doing because it goes a long way to help better the lives of many others in society.
Fact She was born to a Nigerian dad and Ghanaian mother, Yvonne Okoro is of mixed lineage and calls herself an African.
Changing Lives each person at a time
INSPIRATION
THINK YOUR WAY OUT F
or many exquisite reasons, we stand the chance as youthful people to make a positive impact on people in terms of influence and affluence and this led to the birth of Live the Life Empire (LTL Empire). We are a youthful organization who believe in our vision as a five sense charm and to engage in business entrepreneurship and social responsibility projects. For the past four years, we have been very successful in all our endeavours to the envy of many. Our main aim is to create platforms for talent exhibition, global employment and to grant aids to the less privileged people in the society (philanthropy). The LTL mission statement which says: “ To combine creativity, craftsmanship and entrepreneurship for an effectually youthful global amalgamation” and our motto: “Think Your Way Out” have urged us on to do some incredible projects such as My Love Gospel Concert (Talent Exposé and Fundraiser for New Life Nungua Children’s Home) in partnership with A-Jhay Charity Foundation at the Emmanuel Presbyterian Church Auditorium, Madina-New Road in 2015. In 2016, we embarked on a social media project dubbed ‘Talent Ride’ with two editions in two different countries, China and USA to empower talented people to unleash their creative side. In the same year, we were staunched for matchless greatness as we organized The Stardom Mandate Talk of Empowerment at Early Bird School, Taifa to empower
the youth to yearn for stardom in their future career . We reached out to the less privileged people in the society with an initiative tagged, Orphanage Touch Base (fundraiser for HVMI Children’s Home, Haatso). We got invited in April 2018 as a business firm representative for a business presentation on mind-set at Start Young Africa Inauguration, Ayeduase, Kumasi. In the year 2017, we began a business journey and Writers’ Lodge today caters for her clients’ CVs, business proposals, letters, write-up editing, books review etc. Our business plans are set and there is more to come. It is Live the Life Empire to the world and we can only break free, think our way out as youthful people and live the life we have been called to.
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To combine creativity, craftsmanship and entrepreneurship for an effectually youthful global amalgamation.