Focus Project Toolkit

The Mandela Washington Fellowship is a program of the U.S. Department of State

with funding provided by the U.S. Government and administered by IREX.
 This toolkit has been developed by the Mandela Washington Fellowship in partnership with
Appalachian State University.

The Mandela Washington Fellowship is a program of the U.S. Department of State with funding
provided by the U.S. Government and administered by IREX. Appalachian State University is a
sub-grantee of IREX and developed this content as a part of the Fellowship.

Through its programming, the Mandela Washington Fellowship seeks to provide Alumni and Fellows
with opportunities to hear from and engage with U.S. faculty and professionals representing
a diversity of viewpoints across a range of topics. By providing a balance of perspectives, the
Fellowship aims to empower Alumni and Fellows in their capacity as leaders to be informed by a wide
selection of sources and viewpoints from which to draw their own conclusions. The views expressed
in these courses and materials do not necessarily represent the views of the U.S. Government.
Table of Contents
Introduction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Worksheet 2. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Worksheet 3. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Worksheet 4. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Worksheet 5. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Focus Project Toolkit 1

 INTRODUCTION

Introduction
The Focus Project Toolkit is an action-planning framework that encourages you to process learnings from the
Fellowship and apply them to your work. This toolkit will walk you through the stages of project planning so
that you are prepared to implement your plan after the Fellowship. Your Focus Project should concentrate on
the topic identified in your Pre-Fellowship Focus Project Worksheet and will develop over the course of the
Fellowship. You are required to complete your Focus Project Toolkit by the end of the Fellowship; however, you
are not required to implement your Focus Project in order to be considered a Fellowship Alumni. The Focus
Project comprises three phases:

1. Two Short Introductory Lectures

The first lecture (5 minutes), provided prior to the Fellowship, introduced the Focus Project concept and
encouraged you to start generating ideas for your Focus Project. If you have not yet completed the Pre-Fellowship
Focus Project Worksheet, please visit the Pre-Fellowship Modules on the Fellowship Portal as soon as possible.

The second lecture (10 minutes), located in the Focus Project module on the Fellowship Portal, concentrates
on the development of your Focus Project throughout the Fellowship. It discusses the steps for developing
your Focus Project action plan, including an overview of the Focus Project Toolkit’s weekly worksheets that you
should complete during the Fellowship.

2. Development of Your Focus Project

Throughout your Leadership Institute, you will complete this toolkit independently to develop your Focus
Project action plan. To provide clear touchpoints on your project, you will meet one-on-one with a Focus Project
Coach for a total of three hours during the Institute to discuss your progress. Your Coach will be identified by
your Leadership Institute, and you will work with your Coach to schedule coaching sessions based on your
mutual availability. Be sure to come to these meetings prepared with any questions or challenges you may be
facing, which will help you maximize your time with your Coach.

3. Completion of Your Focus Project Toolkit

While you must complete your Focus Project Toolkit by the end of the Fellowship, you are not required to
implement your Focus Project to be considered a Fellowship Alumni. This toolkit is a unique product you can
use as an action plan to implement your Focus Project after the Fellowship. You should invest sufficient time and
energy to complete the toolkit and maximize the time with your Coach to best position yourself to operationalize
your plan. After the Fellowship, this toolkit can continue to serve as an ongoing resource for future project
planning and professional growth.

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 INTRODUCTION

Suggested Timeline for Independent Work

This suggested timeline is a guide for completing your Focus Project Toolkit:

Timeline Activity

Pre-Fellowship period: Focus Project Introduction Lecture via Canvas

April 14 – May 23 Worksheet 1: Focus Project Idea Generation
Focus Project Overview Lecture via Canvas
Week 2
Worksheet 2: Problem Statement
Week 3 Worksheet 3: Goal and SMART Objectives
Week 4 Worksheet 4: Activities
Week 5 Worksheet 5: Responsible Party, Timeline, and Indicators
Week 6 Finalize Focus Project

Schedule your coaching sessions to align with your progress on the Focus Project Toolkit.

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 WORKSHEET 2

Worksheet 2
Focus Project Problem Statement/Statement of Need
A problem statement, also known as the statement of need, is a key element of the Focus Project that clearly and
concisely outlines the issue you are seeking to address. It is a statement of a current challenge, issue, or problem
that requires timely action to improve your community, organization, or business. This statement concisely
explains the current problem and the barriers to achieving a solution.
A problem statement is completely objective and evidence-based, focusing only on the facts of the problem and
leaving out any subjective opinions. A strong problem statement should:
• Describe the problem;
• Provide evidence that demonstrates the problem’s existence;
• Describe the target population this problem is impacting; and
• Explain the economic and social impact of this problem.

A problem statement does not attempt to define a solution, nor does it outline the methods of arriving at a
solution. It merely initiates the process by recognizing the problem.

In 500 words or less, please draft a problem statement for the issue that you have decided to address.

Problem Statement/Statement of Need (500 words)

Example 1

The culture of civic engagement among the youth in my town of Bukoba does not exist, or is at best very
limited. Even though young people have the potential to be a positive force for change, only a very small
number of young people are civically engaged. The United Nations Security Council Resolution 2250 on
Youth, Peace and Security highlights the importance of understanding young people’s concerns, grievances,
and responsibilities. It also emphasizes the need for young people to be meaningfully engaged in decision-
making, so that they can contribute to building more equitable and peaceful societies.

However, there are a variety of challenges faced by youth in Bukoba seeking to become civically engaged.
One of these challenges is the fact that adults lack the awareness and capacity to equip young people with
the tools, support, and encouragement for them to be civically engaged. For example, despite teachers’
great influence on young peoples’ lives, most teachers are not adequately trained to build the knowledge,
skills, attitudes, and values needed for future participation and civic engagement.

While Tanzania promulgated the National Youth Development Policy through its Ministry of Labor and
Youth Development in 1996, realization of the policy goals has been inconsistent. Primary policy objectives
include preparing young people to assume responsibilities as citizens, parents, and community leaders, as
well as enabling young people to participate in national development.

The policy specifically aims “to establish good plans for preparing and involving youth in national
development activities,” with plans to involve young people in economic, social, and cultural activities,
in preparation for leadership roles. This policy provides a strong foundation for a robust culture of civic
engagement in the country.

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Example 2

Every year in my district, X number of people contract preventable diseases, and X% die due to these
diseases. My local government does not often partner with local media outlets to share information about
disease prevention, and when they do, it is often only in one language. There is a lack of public information
available to educate citizens on fighting preventable diseases and protecting themselves and others. The
target population impacted by this problem is low-income community members, who often lack access
to healthcare and necessities like clean drinking water. Additionally, rural communities are also uniquely
challenged, as they are not often reached by the government’s public health messaging, or they do not
speak the language in which information is disseminated.

A lack of information about disease prevention can lead to increased infection levels, which puts a strain
on society. Healthcare systems, especially in rural communities, can become strained by increases in the
number of patients when there are outbreaks. People who are ill or are taking care of ill family members
may have to step away from work, which can inhibit them from supporting themselves. This absence from
work has ripple effects on the local economy, hurting the workforce and straining social systems by using
up community resources. Additionally, the stigma around certain diseases can harm social networks when
community members become infected.

Example 3

There is limited opportunity to grow my business in my local community, as I have reached X% of my target
market and have successfully met the need I set out to address by selling X product. Because I have met this
need, I cannot expand or grow my business in its current location, and sales have mostly remained stagnant
in the last few years. I have not been able to sell X product in surrounding communities, as I need a physical
presence and additional associates to successfully enter a new market. I also lack the data to determine
which neighboring community would be a prime market for X product.

This limited opportunity for growth is impacting my business and my employees, as I am unable to innovate
and offer them better opportunities that come with expansion and innovation. It is also impacting my
business by limiting the interest of investors, who want to see the potential for growth and innovation to
decrease the risk associated with their investments.

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In the space below, develop a Problem Statement/Statement of Need for your Focus Project.

Problem Statement/Statement of Need (500 words)

Youth unemployment is a major issue in my country Gabon, and the lack of updated and verified
statistics even make it worse. In 2020, the world Bank estimated that 36.9% of young adults between
18-25 years-old were unemployed. This is an alarming statistic when considering that Afghanistan, a
country which has been at war for almost the past 2 decades has only 16.2% the same year. Most of
all, these statistics were provided prior to Covid-19, and could mask the sadden reality of youth
unemployment today. I would assume quite honestly, and many experts in the country agree on, that
youth unemployment in 2023 in my country is around the double of what is used to be in the era
before the pandemic. Placing it at a horrific rate between 60-70%. The social consequences of such
a dramatic unemployment are huge: economically, socially and politically.
-Economically
Gabon is only 2,3 million people and it is estimated by the Central Intelligence of America (CIA) that
60% of the population is under 25 years-old. More than half of the population unemployed. Half of the
population who is deprived of a revenue and therefore a purchasing power. Over the past decade the
country has tried to transition from an oil extractive economy to an economy based on services.
However, without demand there is no supply. How can a market be sustainable without sufficient
consumers? Few investors, few companies, high inflation because the few companies would like to
have return on investments maximizing on the final price of their goods and minimizing their inputs.
Employing a minimum workforce and it is a vicious cycle.
-Socially
There is an increase in addictions to drugs, alcohol consumption among teenagers and young adults,
uncontrolled pregnancies. Moreover, a surge of violent crimes for the young men and prostitution for
the young women as a result. As the saying goes: Idleness is the mother of all vices.
-Politically
The contested 2016 presidential elections only highlighted how vulnerable is the country. The most
affected part of the country by the riots turned out the be the communities with the highest
unemployment rates. And almost 99% of those arrested during these riots were young people below
30 years-old.
Youth unemployment and the lack of opportunities for young people to achieve financial
independency is a ticking bomb for the country economically, socially and politically. It affects
everyone in the community the graduate student who cant find a job after college or non-graduate
who dropped out school, some extent, it affects half of the population. It affects every family, every
neighbourhood.

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Worksheet 3
Focus Project Goal and SMART Objectives
While developing your Focus Project, it is important to break down the specific actions you will take to achieve
the project goal. You should know the difference between goals, objectives, activities, outputs, and outcomes,
and how to write SMART objectives for your Focus Project. Objectives are SMART if they are specific, measurable,
achievable, realistic (or relevant), and time-bound (or timely).

Know the Difference: Goals, Objectives, Activities, Outputs, and Outcomes

Goal Broad statement of the ultimate effect you want to achieve

Example 1: To develop a culture of civic engagement among young children in
Bukoba, Tanzania.

Example 2: To create a public health campaign that effectively disseminates health

and safety information in my district.

Example 3: To expand my business into a neighboring community within the

upcoming year.

Objective What you aim to accomplish (SMART)

Example 1: By August 2023, the number of young children ages 12–18 in the Town
of Bukoba engaged in volunteerism activities will increase by 20% from 2021.

Example 2: By August 2023, there will be printed literature and radio

announcements on health and safety practices disseminated to 40% of the
population in at least three of the primary languages spoken in my district.

Example 3: By August 2024, we will establish a brick-and-mortar location in a

neighboring community and increase overall revenue by 20% from 2021.

Activity What you do with your resources to cause change

Example 1: Conduct volunteerism events for primary and secondary school
students in Bukoba through community partner organizations.

Example 2: Connect with local media organizations across the district to garner
interest and support in disseminating public service messages.

Example 3: Conduct a needs assessment in neighboring communities to gauge

interest in top products and locate investors for the new location.

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Output What you actually deliver

Example 1: Twenty-eight (28) volunteerism events involving 200 students from
10 schools (20 students per school) through community partner organizations.

Example 2: Twenty (20) radio stations playing public service announcements and
ten (10) media organizations producing informative literature.

Example 3: One (1) new location for the business and an increased customer base
of two hundred (200) people.

Outcome What the organization or beneficiaries gain from your output

(the effects of your work)
Example 1: Young children and youth play a critical role in addressing social
challenges facing their town.

Example 2: Decrease in the rate of disease in the district as a result of increasing

public awareness about health and safety practices.

Example 3: Increased profit as a result of more sales.

Five Elements of a SMART Objective

Direction of Change Increase, decrease, or maintain the balance
Degree of Change Percentage or nominal number
Area of Change A geographic location, village, town/city, region, etc.
Target Population Primary and secondary school students ages 12 – 18; prospective business
owners; communities in your district, etc.
Timeframe Days, weeks, months, years

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Using the challenge, problem, or need you have identified, please develop one goal and three SMART objectives for
your project in the table below.

Goal SMART Objectives

My Goal: Objective 1:
The overall goal is to significantly reduce youth Reduce by 5% by next year the rate of youth
unemployment in my country. Doing so I will also unemployment in my country. My main target is
reduce poverty in my community. The idea is to the city capital which has more than 800 000
connect young job seekers with employers, small people.
companies and big companies on an online
platform But also federate young entrepreneurs
and matches them with potential investors.

Objective 2:
Bring 10 majors companies on the plateform by
January 2024.

Objective 3:
Bring 50 young entrepreuneurs on the plateform
by January 2024.

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Worksheet 4
Focus Project Activities

KEY QUESTIONS FOR FOCUS PROJECT ACTIVITIES

To develop activities for your Focus Project, ask yourself the following questions:

What additional areas of expertise, knowledge, or skills do I need to effectively function as a change
agent in my business, organization, or community? Honestly answer the following: do you need to conduct
additional research to refine your vision? Is additional data or knowledge needed to accurately assess the
problem or situation? Are there additional skills that you need to facilitate change?

For my project I need 2 IT developers, someone who can create an app easily accessible either on
desktop or mobile device. Too many young people only have access to their mobile phones and few
have a laptop. One will build the App, the other will refine it. A specialist in Digital Marketing and web
design.
For administrative correspondences such as sending letters to officials, emailing and phoning, I will need
an executing assistant specialist.
Communication is a key aspect for this project, so I will hire a communication specialist to speak on the
national TV GABON24, UrbanFM the local radio which is listened by a large audience of young people in
my country.
Social media are the most effective way of communication in Gabon so I intend to fully profite from the
pages that I administer as a community Manager during my spare time. On Facebook with over 1.5
thousands followers, on Linkedin and Instagram.

What mechanisms should I employ to achieve my goals? What types of partnerships need to be established
or utilized for you to be successful? Do you need to establish a committee, task force, or council to coordinate
activities? Do you need to partner with other organizations or communities? What factors do you need to
consider in determining what organizational mechanisms are needed to help you achieve your goals?

For the IT and development part, I need to associate with 2 persons. One is my friend and the other is
brother-in-law. Both graduated from the Pan-African school of Information technology (IAI) which is a
well renowned college in Central Africa.
For the communication part, I will associate with a YALI alumnus by the name of Gina NZENGUE who
hosts a local radio show on Urban FM, she is also a specialist of communication.
The executing assistant Rudy OSSIA is also a 2023 Mandela Washington fellow from the University of
Iowa, she is a storyteller and a specialist of communication.
The National office of Employment is also a public organization I have been working with for almost 4
years and implementing training programs for the youth in the sales department. Sarah Bath from the
Iowa Workforce Development is ready to support us in this project with the resources and expertise of
her department.

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What are the programs, projects, and/or activities I must implement to achieve my goal and objectives?
Define the activities that need to be implemented to achieve agreed-upon goals. In some instances, a
comprehensive program may not be required – a series of projects or activities may serve to accomplish the
identified goal and objectives.

What resources will I need to implement the programs, projects, and/or activities? Resources include
human capital, technology, financial capital, physical capital, and inventory (goods and products). Often,
NGO, entrepreneur, and community leaders falsely believe that simply having enough money would resolve
their problems. However, having access to people who are properly trained and equipped can be more critical
to a project’s success than money. Be sure to carefully assess all the resource needs of each endeavor before
attempting to implement your Focus Project.

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FOCUS PROJECT ACTIVITIES

Read the examples below. Then, fill in your own objectives and activities in the blank table on the next page.

SMART Objectives Activities

Example 1
Objective 1: By August 2023, the number of children Activity 1: Recruit and select 5 primary and
ages 12–18 in Bukoba engaged in volunteerism 5 secondary schools to participate in the project.
activities will increase by 20% from 2021.
Activity 2: Recruit and select 100 primary and
100 secondary school students to participate in
the project.

Activity 3: Conduct 28 volunteerism events for

primary and secondary school students in Bukoba
through community partner organizations.

Example 2
Objective 1: By August 2023, there will be printed Activity 1: Survey a representative sample of the
literature and radio announcements on safety population to find gaps in information available about
practices disseminated to 40% of the population a particular public health issue.
in at least three of the primary languages spoken in
Activity 2: Hire three health professionals and two
my district.
marketing professionals to summarize key health and
safety information and package it for the public.

Activity 3: Connect with local media organizations

across the district to garner interest and support in
disseminating public service messages.

Example 3
Objective 1: By August 2024, we will establish a brick- Activity 1: Conduct a needs assessment in
and-mortar location in a neighboring community and neighboring communities to gauge interest in top
increase overall revenue by 20% from 2021. products.

Activity 2: Survey sites in neighboring communities

for the new location.

Activity 3: Develop a refined pitch that demonstrates

the demand for your business and potential for
growth to deliver to investors.

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SMART Objectives Activities

My Objective 1: Activity 1:

Activity 2:

Activity 3:

My Objective 2: Activity 1:

Activity 2:

Activity 3:

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My Objective 3: Activity 1:

Activity 2:

Activity 3:

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Worksheet 5
Focus Project Key Responsible Person(s), Timeframe, and Indicators
of Success

KEY QUESTIONS FOR RESPONSIBLE PERSON(S), TIMEFRAME, AND INDICATORS

OF SUCCESS
Before completing Worksheet 5, ask yourself the following key questions:

What will the organizational structure be for my organization or project? Which people or departments
will be responsible for implementing which tasks? It is very important to identify who will be responsible for
implementing specific tasks or projects to achieve your goal and objectives. In some situations, it may be a
department or division within the organization instead of an individual.

What is the timeframe within which these programs, projects, and/or activities will be implemented?
How much time will it take for you to achieve the identified goals and objectives? Each activity will have its own
timeframe – consider whether each activity will take weeks, months, or years.

What indicators will I use to measure progress toward my goal and objectives? How will the impact (short-
term, medium-term, and long-term) of each project or activity be measured? How will you know that the project
or activity is achieving its objectives? What indicators will you use to assess each project activity? How will you
use this information to take corrective action and ensure implementation is on track?

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 WORKSHEET 5

FOCUS PROJECT KEY RESPONSIBLE PERSON(S), TIMEFRAME, AND INDICATORS OF SUCCESS

For each Focus Project objective and activity, identify the key responsible person(s) by their titles, the timeframe for implementing each activity, and the
indicator(s) of success (how will you know that you are succeeding?).

Objectives Activities Key Responsible Timeframe Indicators of Success

Person(s)
Example 1:
Goal: To develop a culture of civic engagement among young children in Bukoba, Tanzania.
Objective 1: Activity 1: Recruit and Project Director August – October 2022 • Number of schools contacted;
By August 2023, the select five primary and • number of schools accepting the
number of children ages five secondary schools to invitation to participate;
12–18 in Bukoba engaged participate in the project.
• signed agreements with selected
in volunteerism activities
schools
will increase by 20%
Activity 2: Recruit and Project Director October – November 2022 • Student application form;
from 2021.
select 100 primary and 100 • number of student applicants;
Volunteer
secondary school students
Coordinators • number of students selected to
to participate in the project
participate in the project;
(20 students per school).
• notification letters to selected
students;
• number of students accepting the
invitation to participate in the project
Activity 3: Conduct 28 Volunteer January – July 2023 • Number of community partners
volunteerism events for Coordinators organizations identified to provide
primary and secondary volunteer opportunities;
school students in Bukoba • signed agreements with community
through community partner partner organizations;
organizations.
• number of volunteer opportunities
identified through community
partners

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Objectives Activities Key Responsible Timeframe Indicators of Success

Person(s)
Example 2:
Goal: To create a public health campaign that effectively disseminates health and safety information in my district.
Objective 1: Activity 1: Survey a Director of Planning August – October 2022 • Online survey created; team of field
By August 2023, there will representative sample of and Evaluation researchers created;
be printed literature and the population to find gaps • number of online surveys submitted;
radio announcements in information available
• number of field surveys completed
on safety practices about a particular public
disseminated to 40% health issue.
of the population in at Activity 2: Hire 3 health Human Resources September 2022 – • Announcement for open positions;
least three of the primary professionals and 2 Director January 2023 • number of qualified applications
languages spoken in my marketing professionals received for each position;
district. to summarize key health
• number of candidates interviewed
and safety information and
package it for the public.
Activity 3: Connect with Director of August – December 2022 • Number of radio stations contacted;
local media organizations Communications • number of print media organizations/
across the district to garner companies contacted;
interest and support in
• number of radio stations/media
disseminating public
organizations who commit to
service messages.
partnering with initiative

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Objectives Activities Key Responsible Timeframe Indicators of Success

Person(s)
Example 3:
Goal: To expand my business into a neighboring community in the upcoming year.
Objective 1: Activity 1: Conduct a needs Director of Sales September – November • Assessment of top products;
By August 2024, we will assessment in neighboring 2022 • stakeholders in the community
establish a brick-and- communities to gauge identified;
mortar location in a interest in top products.
• surveys completed
neighboring community
Activity 2: Survey sites in CEO/President December 2022 – • Budget for new location set;
and increase overall
neighboring communities April 2023 • top communities for new location
revenue by 20% from
for the new location. identified;
2021.
• number of sites within budget
identified
Activity 3: Develop CEO/President November 2022 – • Best community for expansion
a refined pitch that April 2023 identified based on needs
demonstrates the demand assessment;
for your business and • viable sites for new location
potential for growth to identified;
deliver to investors.
• number of potential investors
identified

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Objectives Activities Key Responsible Timeframe Indicators of Success

Person(s)
My Goal:

My Objective 1: Activity 1:

Activity 2:

Activity 3:

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Objectives Activities Key Responsible Timeframe Indicators of Success

Person(s)
My Goal:

My Objective 2: Activity 1:

Activity 2:

Activity 3:

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Objectives Activities Key Responsible Timeframe Indicators of Success

Person(s)
My Goal:

My Objective 3: Activity 1:

Activity 2:

Activity 3:

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