The Anzisha prize scours the continent seeking to find entrepreneurial
youth between the ages of 15 and 22, who have identified opportunities to
better their communities and done so inclusively. This year's finalists have
started ventures in a diverse range of economic sectors including energy,
health care, tourism and hospitality.
Sam Kodo (Togo), 22, began designing robots at the age of eight and now
runs an IT hardware company that assembles low cost computers that he
sells to students. He has six employees and plans to expand the rest of
Togo and neighbouring countries. Gabriel Kombassere (Ivory Coast), 17,
runs a farming association geared to eradicated poverty in his community.
Annually, he produces maize and cassava feeding the association's 30
members and their families.
“2014 has been an exciting one for the Anzisha Prize search team. We
brokered partnerships with key local organisations enabling them to play a
primary role in evangelising the Anzisha Prize in their country. This has
led to not only a stronger pool of applications but also more female
applicants than ever before.” said Chi Achebe, Program Manager, Anzisha
Prize.
"We are excited to see such a talented cohort of innovative and
entrepreneurial young people join the Anzisha prize community," said
Deepali Khanna, Director of Youth Learning at The MasterCard
Foundation. "This Pan-African prize has had tremendous success over the
past four years and is inspiring other young entrepreneurs across Africa to
develop their own businesses or social innovation ventures."
Now in its fourth year, the Anzisha Prize received 339 applications this
year from 32 countries for Africa's premier youth entrepreneurship award.
The 2014 finalists are:
Benedicte Mundele, 20, DRC. Founder of Surprise Tropical, an organic
local produce canteen to promote a healthy lifestyle in her community.
Gabriel Kombassere, 17, Ivory Coast. Founder of Rible Neda, a farming
association that produces 20 bags of maize and 1 cargo of cassava per year
feeding its members and their families.
Noah Walakira, 21, Uganda. Founder of Namirembe Sweater Makers, a
community based organization that provides school uniform sweaters to
over 40 schools across the country.
Nteff Alain, 22, Cameroon. Founder of the gifted Mom project, an e-
content platform for pregnant women to combat the high mother and
infancy deaths.
Winifred Selby, 19, Ghana. Founder of the Ghana Bamboo Bikes Initiative,
a bamboo bike making technology to manufacture affordable multi-
purpose bikes suitable for the Ghanaian terrain.
Tom Osborn, 18, Kenya. Founder of Greenchar, a clean energy project that
produces smokeless charcoal briquettes and distributes clean cook stoves
throughout Kenya.
Martha Chumo, 19, Kenya. Founder of Nairobi Developer School, an
institution that provides the youth with computer programming knowledge
and skills to build sustainable solutions using technology.
Chineye Okoro Onu, 19, Ghana. Founder of the Mosaicpiration Project, an
initiative that uses recycled material to create art and impact
entrepreneurial skills to young people through training and mentorship.
Chukwuwezam Obanor, 22, Nigeria. Founder of Prepclass, an online
platform that provides study content (past tests, answers etc.) for local
Nigerian schools in preparation for national exams.
Thato Kgatlhanye, 21, South Africa. Founder of Repurpose Schoolbags, an
initiative that designs school bags made from up-cycled plastic shopping
bags that integrate solar technology, charging up during the day and
transforming into light for learners to study after dark.
Jeffrey Mulaudzi, 22, South Africa. Founder of Mulaudzi Bicycle Tours, a
lifestyle tour in Alexandra township that engages members of the
community by telling their stories and enveloping them into the business,
creating a socio-economic transformation.
Sam Kodo, 22, Togo. Founder of LC-COM (Low cost-Computer) / Infinite
Loop, a company that produces low cost personal computers for students.
The Anzisha Prize is a partnership between African Leadership Academy
and The MasterCard Foundation. Our 12 finalists will be flown to
Johannesburg, South Africa for the 2014 Anzisha Week taking place from
18 – 25 September where a panel of judges from across the entrepreneurial
sphere will convene to select the grand prize winners. They will receive
training from African Leadership Academy's renowned Entrepreneurial
Leadership faculty and engage with industry leaders, mentors as well as
engage with change agents from across the continent.
The Anzisha Prize team is running a social media campaign where
members of the public can rally behind the young entrepreneurs and offer
words of support and encouragement on their Anzisha journey. For more
information on the Anzisha Prize and the campaign, go to:
➢ Website: click here for more information
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