A lot happened on the internet in 2009:

• 90 trillion emails were sent
• 47 million new websites were added
• 1.73 billion people--a little over 1/4 of the world's population--were on the web.

The internet truly is a force to be reckoned with. But at only a quarter of world using it, we still have a ways to go. And in my opinion, that's especially true for Africa. Africa has ~1 billion people but of them, only 6.7% have access to the internet. That's crazy! Despite being the second most-populous continent, only 4 out of every 100 internet users lay their head there.

The continent has been plagued with senseless wars, underdeveloped infrastructure, and unimaginable corruption leaving the people unempowered.  But the internet can change that. It provides access to both the world and a world of information. It breaks down barriers and creates new opportunities.  Many people await change from the outside;  with the web, change can come from within. Given the right tools, Africans will take matters into their own hands.

Take William Kamkwamba for example. With some pictures and old schematics, he managed to build a windmill from spare parts and provide electricity to his family. His government was lacking so he made something happen. And this isn't an isolated case. There are plenty of other examples of African ingenuity.

Imagine how much more progress the people of Africa might independently make if they had access to the web. Africa needs the Internet. It's already transformed every other continent (except for maybe Antarctica). Once given access, people have been known to educate themselves, build businesses and use their own ability to prosper. If given the chance, Africans will too.