Funding
Winning teams receive cash grants to help grow their businesses, hire staff, and/or purchase raw materials and equipment.
Support & Community
Winners receive ongoing support to help them overcome the challenges of growing a business.
How It Works
Mentorship
Teams are paired with an expert mentor who helps them refine their business plan and set the stage for their next phase of growth.
The Give Work Challenge is a business plan competition for low-income entrepreneurs in Kenya & Uganda.
We run several editions throughout the year.
1st Edition for existing businesses looking to grow.
2nd Edition for brand new businesses either in stealth or ideation phase(s).
The Growth Fund, which launched in 2022, as an avenue for additional business funding for past GWC winners whose businesses demonstrate phenomenal growth and still possess the potential for expansion.
Winners & Runners Up
FIRST PLACE
Super Peanut
Creates products and opens up market channels for sesame & peanut farmers in Rural Uganda.
SECOND PLACE
Reafric Social
Makes upcycled footwear from waste materials such as leather, used fabrics, tires, and old jeans.
THIRD PLACE
Seeds of Hope
Makes and sells organic honey, and trains women on sustainable ways to protecting endangered bees.
Wayden Farm
Addresses food shortages caused by flooding by employing youth in large-scale poultry farming.
RUNNER UP
Cyber Mtaani
Employs community youth to run cyber cafes with affordable high-speed internet in the slums.
RUNNER UP
FIRST PLACE
Chalonn Recyclers
Plastic Waste management and manufacturing company from Uganda.
THIRD PLACE
Pure Honey
Local beekeeping company, processing, packing, and marketing honey from Uganda.
Afro Chic Enviro
Collection and processing of waste materials to create new products i.e night light bulb holders, vases, mason jar, ornaments, etc.
RUNNER UP
Akkujuah Designs
Promotes African culture through art & craft making. African wears, jewelry, bags, mats etc. From Uganda.
RUNNER UP
Eco Friends Briquette
Produces charcoal briquettes as an alternative for firewood and charcoal using agricultural waste. From Uganda.
RUNNER UP
Re-Use Energy
Re-Use Energy converts widely available cattle dung into clean-burning biogas for use in cooking and lighting.
Raha Reusable Pads
Raha Reusable pads sells safe and affordable cloth sanitary pads to women in schools, local markets, and slums.
Kavera Art Project
Kavera Art Project "turns waste into wealth" by training youth to create art from waste plastic.
Karatac
Karatac uses recycled paper to make environmentally sustainable jewelry, paper bags, and packaging.
Our work is made possible by our generous donors and individual supporters.
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About the Give Work Challenge
The Give Work Challenge supports new and early stage businesses in East Africa through funding, mentorship, and community support.
Our impact since 2018:
$138k
AWARDED
33
TEAMS FUNDED
245
JOBS CREATED
Plastic & Rubber Art Gallery
Create upcycled products, such as vases, shoes, and jewelry, from plastic waste.
SPRING 2021 | UGANDA
Gulu Solid Waste
Waste management service that recycles plastics into building materials.
SPRING 2021 | UGANDA
Letasi Oils
Organic sesame oil producer that employs low income women and girls.
SPRING 2021 | UGANDA
UR Drive
A mobile app that connects users to nearby car mechanics for reliable and transparent repair services.
SPRING 2021 | KENYA
Selela Furniture
Upcycles bicycle scraps & other waste into innovative furniture products.
SPRING 2021 | KENYA
The Woman Founder Award
This program provides resources and support for women entrepreneurs in the Lake region of Kenya, including access to educational materials, mentorship opportunities, and financial support.