CAREY OKAL MANWA
FRIEND • SON • DEVELOPER
INTRODUCTION
Jambo! (Hello) I'm Carey, but my friends call me Okal. I'm a
first-gen undergrad from Kisii, Kenya, studying Information Science at
Cornell University.
I have a diverse range of interests that encompass information
architecture, front-end web development, and web application
development on both the client and server sides, along with a strong
focus on search engine optimization. My technical skills include
Python, Java, shell scripting, and proficiency in front-end technologies
such as HTML5, CSS3, Vanilla JavaScript, ReactJS and JQuery.
Additionally, I have hands-on experience with various Python libraries
like NumPy, Beautiful Soup, Pandas, Requests, Seaborn, Matplotlib for
data analysis and visualization, as well as expertise in SQL for
efficient database management.
Apart from my studies, I'm an active member of the Under
Represented Minorities in Computing group on campus. I'm also involved
in the Adventist Christian Fellowship. And of course, I really enjoy
cracking jokes and meeting new people.
INITIATIVES
As I neared the end of my high school years and began preparing
for the future, I noticed a significant issue at Darajambili
Primary school, where I had studied earlier. They were facing a
shortage of math tutors due to budget constraints, which was
creating a noticeable gap in the students' education. Driven by
a strong desire to contribute, I decided to take action. Instead
of being idle, I dedicated my weekends to volunteer as a math
tutor for these students. My approach was patient and
passionate.
I focused on making math concepts more accessible and
understandable. The results were evident after each session. The
students' comprehension of math visibly improved, and their
grades began to rise. For me, this experience was more than just
teaching mathematics; it was about instilling confidence and a
love for learning in these young minds.
I created a hotel management system using Visual Basic for Applications for Ufanisi Resort in Kisii. This system streamlines guest bookings, report generation, and inventory management for the hotel. In addition, I added advanced data analysis capabilities to help Ufanisi Resort make smarter decisions. The system also features a user-friendly interface I designed for easy navigation and efficient use of its functions. You can check out an unlicensed version of the system here .
In response to our community's struggles with insecurity and
unemployment, I started "Vijana na Computer." Our goal is simple
but vital: give local youth a boost by teaching them how to
code. As the founder and lead instructor, my job was to steer a
small, eager group of 10 students into the exciting realm of web
development.
This adventure meant diving into CSS,
HTML5, and the ever-changing world of JavaScript. But it wasn't
just about coding. I also shared handy tips on tools like
Twitter Bootstrap, how to showcase projects on GitHub, and the
tricks to make a website more noticeable on search engines
(that's SEO for you!). Teaching these skills was part of a
bigger picture – to give a comprehensive education. It's been an
amazing journey guiding these incredible young minds.
BLOGS
GAME THEORY
As I delved deeper into the objectives and provisions of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), I couldn’t help but notice the striking parallels between its goals and the principles of Nash equilibrium in game theory... Read more
INFORMATION CASCADES
Kenya just ended a closely contested presidential election on August 8th, in which H.E William Ruto defeated Hon Raila Odinga to rule the country for the next five years. Unlike previous elections, however, this year’s race was primarily fought, Read more
DISCOVERING MYSELF
It started with a simple, “We do not want to play with you,” before drastically escalating to the assignment of quite disparaging nicknames that implied I was a sissy (unmanly). As a young boy in a local primary school, none of this made sense since .... Read more
PROJECTS
