Below are the profiles  of the 2020 Africa Youth Awards nominees for the Social Entrepreneur of the Year

 

Category Definition:

This category is designated to award young Africans excelling in the field of non-profit and social entrepreneurship. Their organizations must be involved in creating change coupled with great impact on the lives of their beneficiaries.NB: Profiles were submitted by nominators

NOMINEES:

 

ABDOU-RAMAN MAMODOU

Projet Chèque Santé

ABDOU-RAMAN is a young Cameroonian passionate about sustainable and inclusive development. his background as an economist and engineer in social sciences has led him to work on the three pillars of sustainable development (environmental, social and economic). since 2018, he is the referent (supervisor) of the activities of the Cheque Santé project in northern Cameroon. As part of my activities as a supervisor of the activities of the Cheque Santé project, I improve the living conditions of women through health. My actions are aimed at reducing the maternal and neonatal mortality rate. Concretely, I facilitate, through the health insurance system for the poor (called CHEQUE SANTE), access to obstetric care. Coordinating a team of about fifty collaborators, I carry out daily social mobilization activities through sensitization, advocacy and mass communications. In this context, I contribute significantly to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goal 3 related to health and well-being.

 

VIANNEY SAIDI BASEKA

UJEAD-Akeza Company

Baseka Vianney Saidi is the director, manager and founder of UJEAD-AKEZA Company linked with the youth organization UJEAD-Burundi bw’ejo. I live with disability but it is not an inability. Am from Muyinga, I hold a Bachelor Degree in Arts and Social Sciences delivered from the University of Burundi.

He is a young consultant in social entrepreneurship by profession through training. I gone in National and International countries. I have been Selected among 160 applicants as a Young Water Fellow 2019 due to proven commitment and innovative ideas to improve community issues in water, sanitation and hygiene.

I attended the Social entrepreneurship training organized by Cewas the international centre for water management in Switzerland. It supports dedicated entrepreneurs to develop their business ideas for sustainable development of the water, sanitation sector. The training comprises of identifying business opportunities, blueprinting the business model and planning operations and finances.

TEF 2019 Alumni after being selected to participate in the Tony Elumelu Entrepreneurship Programme among the 26000 applicants, I have been honoured to be one of the 3050 sponsored. I have gone the twelve weeks’ online entrepreneurship training. My business and financial plan have been approved and accepted by Deloitte TEF’s partner experts.

Am an Alumni from YALI Regional Leadership Center based in Nairobi 30 cohort participant in business entrepreneurship truck. From the program, I learn more in Design Thinking, Seven Habits, this is Africa and get to know how to pitch your idea.

Because I have noticed the challenge children living in rural areas are facing concerning skin’s diseases, I have innovated my business and brought new soap to reduce those diseases. Natural Health Care Soap, it is 90% natural except caustic soda. I add carotte, honey, milk, moringa, rice flour… Only my company is making this exceptional soap to care the health of rural communities’ health.

– Since the first case of covid-19 was confirmed Burundi, UJEAD AKEZA has supported many high risks locations such as schools, churches, bus stations, centres of people living with disabilities, the vulnerable communities. At all those places we donate products and kits for fighting the coronavirus: TUBABARANE Initiative (mutual-caring) has been launched by UJEAD-Burundi bw’ejo a youth local organization with the end in mind of supporting the most vulnerable and poor community, people living with a disability, old people, orphans and at risks locations; schools, churches & bus stations. We distribute with free of charge products and kits for fighting against Covid-19 transmission to vulnerable people. Twelve schools have been supported, five centers of people living with a disability, Bujumbura main bus station and Muyinga bus station and fifty vulnerable people of Kanyosha.

We are training and motivate young people in different provinces of the country to start their own business.”

 

MEBI DJAM ESPOIR ESPOIR EPOUSE ACHI

Association Rayons de Soleil

Madame MEBI DJAM ESPOIR ESPOIR épouse ACHI, 29 ans, mère de 4 enfants. Licence en Sociologie et Master Professionnel en Genre et Développement, mon mémoire de Master a porté sur la déscolarisation massive des enfants suite à la crise sécuritaire à l’Extrême-Nord. Co fondatrice de l’Association Rayons de Soleil créée en 2006, membre du conseil d’administration et depuis 2015 Directeur Administratif et Financier. Passionnée de mode, elle est également la co-fondatrice de la ligne de vêtements pour enfants Faith and Hope Design lancée en 2018, ainsi qu’une entreprise naissante qui fait dans la production des produits cosmétiques à base d’huiles végétales pures.

L’Association Rayons de Soleil milite d’une part pour promouvoir le leadership et la participation de la jeune femme dans les processus de prise de décision ; et d’autre part réduire les inégalités et injustices sociales basées sur le genre. Elle a activement participé à l’élaboration et la coordination de plusieurs projets notamment: le projet « Nanas Awards » pour la formation des jeunes filles au leadership et en entrepreneuriat qui enregistre à ce jour plus de 300 bénéficiaires; le projet « Engaging Cameroonian youths against violent extremism and radicalization » qui a formé 500 jeunes leaders ambassadeurs de la paix au Cameroun ; le projet «Girls for Peace » qui a mobilisé 700 jeunes, femmes et leaders communautaires sur les violences faites aux femmes et aux filles pendant les conflits ;  le projet « Youth voice in réintegration process » pour la participation des jeunes dans le processus de Désarmement, de Démobilisation et de Réintégration des ex combattants extrémistes ; le projet « Psychosocial support » qui a formé 44 leaders communautaires sur l’accompagnement psychosocial des populations affectées par Boko Haram dans l’extrême- Nord Cameroun qui a produit comme résultats 2 095 entretiens d’aide menés dans les communautés , 180 causeries éducatives pour un total de 9 038 personnes mobilisées, 114 médiations sociales, 399 référencements auprès des institutions et organisations en vue de bénéficier des aides. L’association a reçu plusieurs distinctions notamment le prix « Countering Violent Extremism Award » du Département d’Etat Américain en 2015 ; le prix « Cameroonian Woman of Courage Award » décerné par l’Ambassade des USA au Cameroun en 2017 ; et le « prix d’excellence dans l’encadrement de la jeunesse » en 2018.

 

LUCY MARY ATHIENO

Eco-Pads Uganda

Lucy started a social enterprise called ECO-PADS washable, affordable and environment-friendly sanitary pads that will help keep a girl child in school and drive human potential and solve social problems with motivation from her personal story. She has supported over 2m girls with these Eco-Pads and has produced over 3 million pads. She has supported over 10,000 young people with mentorship and training as champions on menstrual health, trained over 400 senior women and male teachers on menstrual health

She is a YALI fellow 2014 who was at Dartmouth College Boston on business and Entrepreneurship track, she was the inaugural board treasurer of the Uganda Youth Advisors to Washington, A member of the Global Youth Ambassador, treasurer of YALI UGANDA chapter 2015, A Global change-maker, She was the Africa Global Emerging Entrepreneurs representative of young entrepreneurs at the white house in 2015 featuring president Obama and shark tank.

Member of First Lady Of The United States (FLOTUS) panel discussion on Let girls learns, An alumni of Tonny Elumelu Entrepreneurship Project and Young person of October award receiver from the Opportunity Desk Nigeria and an Alumni of FSI.

She has won several awards including; Inspire Her magazine recognition 2016, a Young person of 2015, USADF Africa’s Impact Entrepreneurs 2015, YALI award fellow nominee 2019, Uganda Daily Monitor full woman 2014 among others.

 

BENEDICTE MUNDELE KUVUNA

Kuvuna Foundation

Benedicte Mundele Kuvuna is the Executive Director at Kuvuna Foundation. Where she initiated the Youth Leadership Program, a High School Program that helps youth to find out their real potential and become an actor of change by Mentoring, Empowering, Equipping and Training them in many different activities.  She is also the Founder & CEO of Surprise Tropicale, a Congolese food enterprise with a mission to promote fresh local food, educate people on its benefits, and eradicate food poverty. After her Bachelor’s Degree in Business Communication, she was accepted in the Master Program in Food Innovation with the Design Thinking approach in Italy.

She is the Curator of Global Shaper Kinshasa Hub, a branch of the World Economic Forum. A recipient of Tony Elumelu Entrepreneurship Program seed fund (2015 first edition); An Anzisha Prize Alumni (The Prize of young entrepreneur under 22 years old funded by African Leadership Academy and MasterCard Foundation). She is featured in several magazines such as Forbes; Venture Africa, How We Made It In Africa, Go ladies, Jeune Afrique, etc… Benedicte is committed to help young people to become an actor of change in their communities and not victims of problems, reduce food poverty by making healthy food available, accessible, and affordable. In 2019, she was named by BBC News as one the 100 most inspiring and influential women from around the world.

In partnership with GEM, Benedicte plans and manages SCoPA and [email protected] activities in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

 

HASTINGS HAGO GOLOSI

HD PLUS CREATIONS

Hastings Golosi is a self-made entrepreneur and co-founder of HD Plus Creations Limited, where he uses his filmmaking skills for a social change. He is a business development specialist and also the founder of ENACT, an organization that mentor the youth with business and entrepreneurship skills. He is a passionate business consultant with problem-solving and decision-making skills. Ability to establish and maintain strong alliances; lead and motivate teams and drive projects to successful completion. He is a holder of a bachelor’s degree Science in Information Technology obtained from the Malawi Polytechnic and he has just been chosen to participate in Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders under Business and Entrepreneurship track-USA (YALI 2020 cohort).

His journey as an entrepreneur started in 2011 when he was in the first year. During his days at the campus, he did various businesses and his first business was providing computer services and products to his fellow college students. In 2013 while in the third year, using the book allowance ($41) that he received from the Malawi government, he invested it in pig farming at his home village to empower his relatives who dropped out from school because of no school fees. He started with only 2 piglets and by 2016, he had more than 70 pigs.

Having the passion in film making, in 2014, he partnered with a college classmate, Gift Sukez Sukali in a media consultancy business called HD Plus Creations which they have successfully managed to employ more than 20 people. It is their goal to be leaders of the film industry in Africa and employ more youths by 2030. Typically, as a young and upcoming entrepreneur, he is on a personal mission to make the world a better place for the youth both from the rural and urban areas.  He has produced short films and documentary films about poverty reduction among the youth, girl child empowerment, entrepreneurship, climate change, agriculture and environment.

As a young person who has a passion to develop businesses for the youth, he saw there was a need to promote entrepreneurship among his fellow college students in his country. Since Malawi is one of the top poorest countries in the world, it is his goal to boost entrepreneurship and hence create more jobs among the youth.  Every year, more than 30,000 college students in Malawi are graduating, but are faced with high unemployment rates. ENACT organization started mentoring the student to think outside the box in case jobs are not available.

Since 2018, Hastings works as an assistant consultant at Lead and Manage to consult. He organizes and executes assigned business projects on behalf of clients according to the client’s requirements. He analyses and interpret data to unearth weaknesses and problems, and comprehend the causes and formulate recommendations and solutions with attention to a client’s wishes, capabilities and limitations forming concise reports. He presents findings and suggestions to clients with ample justification and practical advice.

In July 2020, he joined the Rice 360 institute for global health International virtual internship program where he is encouraging student interns and empowering future innovators through their design work. The program comprises students from Rice University (USA), Malawi University of Science and Technology (MUST) and the Malawi Polytechnic (Malawi. His engagement and topics dwell much on him being a full-time entrepreneur and film maker for a social change

Hastings believes he is the new breed of individuals that use entrepreneurial values and approaches to solve the major sustainability problem. Eradicating poverty in all its forms remains one of the greatest challenges facing humanity and Malawians. Youths are still struggling for the most basic human needs this is why in 2015, he embarked on helping them to enact on their business ideas and so far, he has helped about 103 youths who have created jobs for others and his goal by 2030, is to increase the number to 1000.

One of his greatest achievements is the establishment of HD Plus Creations, media and advertising company that produces films for a social change. His company has created employment to more than 20 people and created internship programs to 11 fresh graduates.  As a filmmaker, Hastings has so far produced more than 50 documentary films about poverty reduction, girl’s empowerment, youth-entrepreneurship, climate change and agriculture. Despite not attaining formal training in videography, he has equipped more than 1000 youths in videography skills. His vision is to be African leaders in media industry.

He is also a founder of Entrepreneurship in Action (ENACT) organization that has mentored more than 3000 college students in business and entrepreneurship. The establishment of ENACT organization has also been his significant achievement especially when he sees his fellow members becoming full-time entrepreneurs and creating jobs for others.  Every year, more than 30,000 college students in Malawi are graduating, but are faced with high unemployment rates. ENACT started mentoring the student to think outside the box in case jobs are not available. However, being a student then, he did not have enough finances and adequate knowledge on running the initiative in different universities. Therefore, he used profits made from his videography business to effectively run the initiative In 2020

 

HENRY MATHAYO

MEDPACK TANZANIA

Henry Mathayo he is a social entrepreneur dedicated to solving problems in the healthcare sector in Tanzania and he is the CEO of MEDPACK Tanzania. He was among 50 most influential young Tanzania

Founder of Health Initiative -community company that raise awareness on the prevention of diseases.

 

MODOU A. NJIE

Startup Grind Banjul

Modou the Director of Startup Grind In The Gambia part of a global community which educate, inspire and connect entrepreneurs with resource-based founders in The Gambia.

Modou is passionate about business and project analyst and has a focus on helping businesses in various industries improve on their revenue and service to their clients through data-driven business intelligence. He has been a recipient of Africa 35.35 2019 Corporate Manager Award held in Ghana and 2020 Top 50 Career Influencers In Africa and also Top 10 Platinum Career Influencers by Workbooth Magazine. He also serves as a 2020 mentor and Influencer for the Tony Elumelu Foundation. He is also 2020 Top 50 Digital Champions Awardee by the Africa Digital Festival which is the largest digital festival in Africa.

Modou has worked for Organizations such as Ministry of Finance (The Gambia) Under EU Cooperation, IOM (UN Migration Agency), Dalberg Reseach  (Kenya), World Bank Group

He has been featured in various podcast with Rare birds, Replenish me show and featured on Magazines Mojatu Magazine (Nottingham UK), Blue Pinterest (US), ALFI.

Significant Achievements are:

  • Top 50 Digital Champions in Africa by Africa Digital Festival
  • 35 Awardee Best Corporate Manager
  • Top 10 Platinum Career Influencers In Africa.

 

TOLUWALASE AWOYEMI

The Ganglion Initiative

Dr Toluwalase Awoyemi graduated from the best medical school in West and Central Africa as the best graduating student with 19 academic prizes. He followed this by winning the most prestigious scholarship in the worlds, the Rhodes scholarship. He is the first recipient of this scholarship from Nigeria in 25 years. He was admitted at the best University in the world for a molecular biology PhD in Women’s and reproductive health without doing a master’s degree. He has been awarded the U.K rarer rising star award which rewards the most excellent black students in the U.K, He has been named as a part of the Oxford BLM 100, a list of people who have contributed to the advancement of the university academically. He has also been named as one of the 35 most excellent youths under 35 in Africa (Africa 3535 awards). He co-founded a Ngo that provides mentorship, career counselling and university admission services to public secondary school students in Nigeria. His organisation has recently been leading the COVID prevention campaign among secondary school students in Nigeria by providing masks and handwashing units to public secondary schools which have been neglected by the government. Till date, they have reached more than 8000 students. Africa 3535

 

WINNIE MAKHWANYA

Keagile wellness development centre

Winnie is mental health care practitioner passionate about youth development, she has provided numerous wellness programs within the township and rural areas and her goal is to establish a fully functioning centre, she has achieved stakeholder partnership with the municipality of Tshwane Established well-designed programmes address drug substance abuse and career counselling. Achieved municipality fund and partnership