ACCELERATING ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Youth unemployment is a perennial challenge in East African countries such as Kenya and Uganda, where young people struggle to find jobs that pay a fair living wage.
Most jobs are created by entrepreneurs and small business owners, however there are many aspiring entrepreneurs who lack the capital and confidence to start new ventures.
Without startup capital or mentorship, many never pursue their dreams.
5.3M
Kenyan youth are unemployed
75%
of East Africa's total population will be under the age of 34 by 2030
14.6M
Kenyans are employed by small & medium sized businesses
OUR SOLUTION
Our approach is simple: we find talented people with great ideas and help them build job-creating businesses that pay fair living wages.
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We provide startup capital and mentorship to help them get off the ground, and continue to support them as they grow.
$4,000
awarded to each winner
10
jobs created on average by 2018 Give Work Challenge winners
$240
Average cost per job created through the Give Work Challenge
PAST WINNERS
2018 WINNERS
For the inaugural Give Work Challenge, we received over 70 applicants and awarded $12,000 to six finalist.
SUPER PEANUT
Creates products and opens up market channels for simsim & groundnut farmers in Rural Uganda. His products are now being sold in three supermarkets.
5 JOBS CREATED
$4,000 AWARDED
REAFRIC SOCIAL
Re-Afric makes upcycled footwear from waste materials such as leather boards, used fabrics, used vehicle tires, and old jeans.
$3,000 AWARDED
43 JOBS CREATED
SEEDS OF HOPE
Seeds of Hope makes and sells organic honey, and trains women on sustainable ways of protecting the endangered honey bee.
$2,000 AWARDED
3 JOBS CREATED
RUNNERS UP
WAYDEN FARM
Wayden farm seeks to address food shortage caused by flooding through employing youth to engage in poultry farming on a large scale.
$1,000 AWARDED
CITY YARD
City Yard is an agribusiness company started with the aim of utilizing the smallest available space to practice organic urban farming.
$1,000 AWARDED
CYBER MTAANI
Cyber Mtaani seeks to employ community youth to run cyber cafes with affordable high-speed internet in the slums.
$1,000 AWARDED
2019 WINNERS
In 2019, we received over 200 applicants and awarded $12,000 to six finalist.
Impact data on job creation is still being collected.
CHALONN RECYCLERS
Plastic Waste management and manufacturing company from Uganda.
$3,000 AWARDED
SAVANNA PIPES
Environmentally friendly straws made from bamboo from Kenya.
$3,000 AWARDED
PURE HONEY
Local beekeeping company, processing, packing, and marketing honey from Uganda.
$3,000 AWARDED
RUNNERS UP
AFRO CHIC ENVIRO
Collection and processing of waste materials to create new products i.e night light bulb holders, vases, mason jar, ornaments, etc. From South Africa and Kenya.
$1,000 AWARDED
AKUJJUAH DESIGNS AND CRAFTS
Promote African culture through art & craft making. African wears, jewelry, bags, mats etc. From Uganda.
$1,000 AWARDED
ECO FRIENDS BRIQUETTE
Produce charcoal briquettes as an alternative for firewood and charcoal using agricultural waste. From Uganda.
$1,000 AWARDED
