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How It Works

Mentorship

Teams are supported with guidance from mentors to build a business plan and set the stage for their next phase of growth.

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.

The Give Work Challenge is a business plan competition for low-income entrepreneurs in Kenya & Uganda.

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Winners receive mentorship, grant support, and community connections to build their ideas.

Winners & Runners Up

2018
2019
2020
2021
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

City Yard

An agricultural company that promotes organic urban 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.

SECOND PLACE

Savanna Pipes

Environmentally sustainable bamboo straws from Kenya.

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. 

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