PANAPRESS
Panafrican News Agency
Kenya: Africa to reward its youngest entrepreneurs
Nairobi, Kenya (PANA) - The 5th Anzisha Prize application phase is now open, and the search is on to find Africa’s youngest, most exciting social and business entrepreneurs under 22 years of age.
In a news dispatch from Johannesburg Friday, organizers said Africa is the world’s youngest continent, with over 600 million people under the age of 25.
The Anzisha Prize is a growing social impact programme entirely focused on accelerating the entry of millions of young Africans into viable and exciting entrepreneurship opportunities within high growth economic sectors.
The impact and success of the programme to date has encouraged co-hosts African Leadership Academy and The MasterCard Foundation to extend their collaboration for a further five years.
The Anzish Prize will be a feature of the entrepreneur landscape in Africa until 2020, and aggressively expand its activities to encourage young entrepreneurs.
It also seeks to strengthen and celebrate the ecosystem of organisations that develop young African entrepreneurial talent in this age group.
According to the organizers, "Africa needs strong, innovative entrepreneurial young leaders to create jobs, solve problems and drive our economies. Our continent’s future will be determined by entrepreneurial leaders across all sectors. We have already seen the #AnzishaEffect at work through the inspirational stories and leadership of Anzisha Fellows like Laetitia Mukungu, Andrew Mupuya and Thato Kgatlhanye."
"They are now globally recognized and celebrated role models,” says Reeta Roy, President and CEO of The MasterCard Foundation.
“We’re excited about expanding our support of the Anzisha Prize so that many more young entrepreneurs in Africa can make a lasting impact in their communities and countries.”
Each year, 12 finalists win a two-week trip to South Africa for a learning experience of a lifetime at African Leadership Academy, and share over US$75,000 in cash funding.
At a Gala Dinner, the grand prize winner is announced and recieves US$25,000 with which to grow their business. From 2015, Anzisha Fellows will be actively supported through the recently launched Youth Entrepreneur Support Unit (YES-U), based at African Leadership Academy.
The Academy is a collaboration with leading business incubators on the continent.
Mentorship, consulting services, community gatherings and travel opportunities will now define the fellow experience as they grow their business ventures.
New programmes will be announced soon that focus on and invest into other areas of the youth entrepreneur value chain.
-0- PANA DJ/VAO 27Feb2015
In a news dispatch from Johannesburg Friday, organizers said Africa is the world’s youngest continent, with over 600 million people under the age of 25.
The Anzisha Prize is a growing social impact programme entirely focused on accelerating the entry of millions of young Africans into viable and exciting entrepreneurship opportunities within high growth economic sectors.
The impact and success of the programme to date has encouraged co-hosts African Leadership Academy and The MasterCard Foundation to extend their collaboration for a further five years.
The Anzish Prize will be a feature of the entrepreneur landscape in Africa until 2020, and aggressively expand its activities to encourage young entrepreneurs.
It also seeks to strengthen and celebrate the ecosystem of organisations that develop young African entrepreneurial talent in this age group.
According to the organizers, "Africa needs strong, innovative entrepreneurial young leaders to create jobs, solve problems and drive our economies. Our continent’s future will be determined by entrepreneurial leaders across all sectors. We have already seen the #AnzishaEffect at work through the inspirational stories and leadership of Anzisha Fellows like Laetitia Mukungu, Andrew Mupuya and Thato Kgatlhanye."
"They are now globally recognized and celebrated role models,” says Reeta Roy, President and CEO of The MasterCard Foundation.
“We’re excited about expanding our support of the Anzisha Prize so that many more young entrepreneurs in Africa can make a lasting impact in their communities and countries.”
Each year, 12 finalists win a two-week trip to South Africa for a learning experience of a lifetime at African Leadership Academy, and share over US$75,000 in cash funding.
At a Gala Dinner, the grand prize winner is announced and recieves US$25,000 with which to grow their business. From 2015, Anzisha Fellows will be actively supported through the recently launched Youth Entrepreneur Support Unit (YES-U), based at African Leadership Academy.
The Academy is a collaboration with leading business incubators on the continent.
Mentorship, consulting services, community gatherings and travel opportunities will now define the fellow experience as they grow their business ventures.
New programmes will be announced soon that focus on and invest into other areas of the youth entrepreneur value chain.
-0- PANA DJ/VAO 27Feb2015
