African incubator encourages social entrepreneurship to improve young lives

Ventureburn readers from Chad, DRC, Rwanda, Senegal and Tanzania might find this compelling. GSM network Millicom, operating under the Tigo brand, and non-profit organisation Reach for Change, are launching a programme to improve the lives of children in the aforementioned African countries, through social entrepreneurship — creating innovative solutions to society’s most pressing social problems.

Social entrepreneurs with the strongest and most promising ideas will be invited to join a three year incubator programme where they will work on transforming their ideas into sustainable ventures. The entrepreneurs chosen to join the incubator will receive salary funding as well as mentoring and professional advice from senior employees of Tigo.

The programme runs throughout 2012 and has already been piloted in Ghana in 2011, reaching more than 140 000 children in the first year.

“We are thrilled to have this opportunity to improve the lives of children in Africa on a large scale together with Tigo. We believe that the best way to create social change is to give the right tools to people who are passionate about their task and who have the entrepreneurial driving force to make a change”, says Sara Damber, CEO, Reach for Change.

Mikael Grahne, CEO of Millicom commented “there is hardly a better way to take part in building the long term success of the countries in which we operate than investing in children and local entrepreneurship. The programme with Reach for Change helps us to understand burning social issues affecting the lives of children and gives us a unique opportunity to work hands-on, together with local talent, to address them.”

Tigo will contribute to funding, support for social entrepreneurs with technology and expertise, and helps Reach for Change implement its programme.

If you’d like to get involved, you can apply until the 21st of September.

We here at Ventureburn give the programme a big thumbs up and we encourage those participating to foster social environments where children can grow into brilliant entrepreneurs such as those recognised by the Anzisha Prize.

*Image courtesy of Official US Navy Imagery