Judean Space Agency

In 2008, I graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce degree in Accounting from the University of Kwazulu Natal. The guest speaker of the graduation ceremony told us that we should use our education not to only make a simple living from it but to help others to make a living and to use it to make a difference and as big of global impact as we possibly can. I took those words to heart and set out on a rather interesting journey from there that spanned over three continents.

I worked as an Accountant/Auditor and then quit my job to work at the Israeli ministry of foreign affairs in Jerusalem After my diplomatic stunt , I moved to British Columbia in Canada, .then the unexpected happen, I met a flock of  Biblical Jacobs sheep and advocated 2 years to bring them back to Israel after 2000 years of exile.

1. Lack of innovation and education in the space sector. Especially under represented by woman, special needs individuals, minority groups and individuals from a disadvantaged background.

Not enough space research that leads to the commercialization of applications researched.

Not many small business taking part in private space initiatives

2. To build an observatory, space research center that promotes research, encourages tourism and educates general public and students through courses.

To commercialise research and accelerate it into viable space business ensuring the participation of individuals not otherwise able to enter the space sector.

Mapping stars, galaxies. Teaching astronomy and quantum physics etc

3. It will give hope, opportunities and the ability to dream big to many people. Increase our knowledge base of space and create a global community of space entrepreneurs and enthusiasts that share and build a common vision to move to new frontiers of space innovation and knowledge cultivation. 

The scale of the problem is global:

1. Lack of innovation and education in the space sector. Especially under represented by woman, special needs individuals, minority groups and individuals from a disadvantaged background.

Its a global problem that many individuals who have the skillset to participate in the space sector is left behind due to socio-economic conditions and lack of institutions and platform offering them opportunities. 

2.Not enough space research that leads to the commercialization of applications researched. They lack the business tools to commercialize " backyard ideas" or those drawn in a notebook kept next to the bedside table lamp.

3.Not many small business taking part in private space initiatives. Not many financial institutions offer funding for space ventures and little is understood about the industry and the return on investment to lenders and angel investors. Lack of affordable space flights to test the applications and their viability

4. Space is only accessible to space faring nations and the non space faring nations are not able to participate. This can be due to a lack of funding, inaccessibility of space education and knowledge to poorer nations. 

1.To build an observatory, space research center that promotes research, encourages tourism and educates general public and students through courses.

Course will be offered online on zoom and in person making it globally accessible. Some courses open source and others for a small fee to cover costs. 

In house space accelerator program to encourage small business and startups to innovate and commercialize their applications. Connect angel investors and space entrepreneurs. 

Publish astrophotography on social media platforms to promote the observatory and approach tour companies and operators to include in their tour itenary. 

2.To commercialise research and accelerate it into viable space business ensuring the participation of individuals not otherwise able to enter the space sector.

Mapping stars, galaxies. Teaching astronomy and quantum physics etc

3. Focus area for research would be on interplanetary living to generate electricity, water harvesting techniques, building infrastructure and heating, space food and growing vegetables in space with carbon circulating agricultural techniques. 

4. Rocket propulsion systems and satellites (micro, cube etc) with an aim to reduce space junk by using technology that  navigates to reduces space collisions

As they say the potential is as vast as the universe if you have the right people connected

It will give hope, opportunities and the ability to dream big to many people. Increase our knowledge base of space and create a global community of space entrepreneurs and enthusiasts that share and build a common vision to move to new frontiers of space innovation and knowledge cultivation. 

In order to engage such a large and diverse group of people as we are going to target to be equal opportunity and all inclusive, it requires a set of partners and opportunities that are radically diversified in order to appeal to everyone. 

We will be engaging with our target audience through social media platforms (combination of a few for a far reach), update our website and ask partners to promote our activities in as many platforms and countries as possible. 

I believe our products and success stories that we will publicize will be what would draw more of our target audience to engage with us. The proof is in the pudding as they say. Word of mouth is very powerful. The people we will engage with will be our ambassadors and spread the word about their good results and experience as we would be particular in each engagement who to target

My project relates to all  three dimensions. It will be elevating people who are traditionally left behind in the space sector like woman, special needs, minority groups and people from regions with disadvantaged backgrounds through programming, calls for proposals, accelaration of business ideas and course work. 

However through reaching out to a new pool of people who would of usually been left behind we will be finding new approaches to solving the world most difficult challenges like how to create energy, water, space food and infrastructure when we live interplanetary 

Through global collaboration we become more understanding of each other. 

I have always been interested in the universe and love astrophotography, astronomy and quantum physics. I remember vividly when I was 3 years old in the 1980s learning about all the planets and quizing our gardener to teach me more about space while reading my first children's book about space and the planets. 

About a year ago, I registered the Judean Space Agency Ltd at the Israeli ministry of Justice. My lawyer filed the paperwork and the same morning I received a company registration number. I saw it as a "this is from God moment'.  I was appalled when the Space IL rover crashed on the moon because I thought their Israeli team did such a great job and those last seconds was a pity. But it highlighted to me the need for our small country to be more involved in space as we have a very talented pool of people in our country being the start up nation to contribute and make a huge impact in the space sector if there was a platform or space agency that is privately funded to encourage participation and innovation. Filing the registration papers was a humble beginning to a Big vision. 

One of the most significant astrological events happened in my farm field here in the first shepherds field outside of Bethlehem as recorded by Western Scholars. I have a personal connection to this geography as I raise my flock of Jacob's sheep that I brought from Canada to Israel and its only flock of its kind in Israel after 2000 years of exile of the breed believed to been raised by our Biblical patriarch Jacob. They are speckled, spotted and knee banded with 4 to 6 horns. The farm is called Migdal Eder or Tower of the flock as mentioned in the book of Micah 4. 

Many people from around the world visit my location and recall the story of the shepherds witnessing the astrological event of the bright light and the Star of Bethlehem. The skies here have no light pollution and almost most nights clear weather making it a perfect location by imagination and by actualization. 

But above it all, I'm an activist of change and want to see ordinary people doing extraordinary things. It's no surprise or coincidence that in this field King David started as a young insignificant forgotten shepherd boy and became King of Israel

My work with returning the Jacob's sheep to Israel from Canada are internationally known and respected. The location proposed is internationally studied by Biblical Scholars and of global importance. 

I have a diverse background ranging from Accounting to working at the Israeli Ministry of foreign affairs to advocating for animal rights even read the night news for a local TV station called Bay TV news as a volunteer journalist. Was sent as Rotary peace scholar to represent my district at a Peace conference in Hawaii in 2013.

Thus I am able to drive change to any cause I feel passionate about and see it through until the end working with a diverse range of people and interests. 

I believe in the power people driven change. I believe in the man who has a suitcase full of ideas and just needs to be discovered. I believe in the woman who no one wants to give an opportunity to. I believe in the autistic student that has ability to analyze data that we can only dream of to be capable of. I believe in the power of diverse people coming together to bring their different approaches to the table and end up solving a problem that moves humanity forward. I believe in people who see change before it is created. The star that lies hidden in you and me. 

I believe in those who inspire others to make the change that makes a societal impact. And I try to be that change. 

Bringing the Jacob sheep to Israel had many challenges to overcome. Despite the diplomatic negotiations, protocol for medical testing and import conditions that had to be agreed upon between two countries, I ran into beauracratic hurdles like finding an airliner wiling to fly the sheep and finding a customs import code that fits the unique description of the import. 

Upon arrival in Israel many hardships hit immediately, the government certified quarantine flooded and the sheep was literally stranded in mud. Four months later half the flock died from Bluetongue disease. No permanent home existed at the time for the Jacob sheep who was wandering around Israel from place to place. 

After 2 years a permanent home was given to the flock in Efrat and when the permits opened that night the field of the previous home of the sheep was set on fire by arsonists and we literally evacuated to our permanent home running from the forest flames. 

I have overcome flooding, fire, disease and lack of permanent home. If I was not committed to the cause I would of quit long ago but I decided long ago I have staying power and take the adverse out of adversity. 

When I arrived at the permanent home of the Jacob sheep, there was literally an empty field with rocks, no trees, no electricity and water connection. Not even a single building. I arrived late in the night just being evacuated from our previous field on fire due to arsonist. It seemed like a mammoth task to begin from scratch and woman alone. 

I started in a small tent and my sheep in an enclosure made from wooden pallets I picked up from the local grocery store. 

From there I fundraise built a barn, shepherds caravan and with a tractor made a driveway. The municipality build an access road. 

I trucked in water and powered the farm with generators. I had to learn to live off grid by myself in the middle of nowhere. No Jewish community nearby. 

I learned the difference between worrier and warrior. I chose warrior with an "a". The barn roof blew off the night I was giving birth in the hospital and I managed to arrange a solution on the phone for a nearby beduin shepherd to fix it while I was in labor. 

Strength is not a physical attribute but a quality of the soul. 

The proposed location for this project is at the Migdal Eder farm where the Jacob sheep is kept. 

The Jacob sheep is a project of the Genesis 123 foundation, a 501c3 registered entity in the USA. 

The Judean Space agency Ltd is a seperately registered entity at the Israeli Ministry of Justice with its own company registration number. The Judean Space agency observatory and space research center will be built at Migdal Eder where there are building permits available to do so.