Anzisha Prize for Africa’s youngest entrepreneurs increases award to $100,000 and adds $7,500 fellowship; 2016 applications and nominations now open
After five years of success, the Anzisha Prize is investing further to find, celebrate and expand the award to the very youngest entrepreneurs in Africa. Look for the 2016 Anzisha Prize Tour in cities across the continent as our ambitious search for this year’s top 12 entrepreneurs begins!
HONEYDEW, South Africa, March 1, 2016/APO (African Press Organization)/ —
The 6th Anzisha Prize (http://www.AnzishaPrize.org) application phase is now open, and the search is on to find 12 of Africa’s youngest, most innovative social and business entrepreneurs under the age of 22. Organisers are calling for more nominations from the public this year to ensure they discover the very best talent on the continent.
African Leadership Academy (ALA) and The MasterCard Foundation – co-hosts of the Anzisha Prize – are also excited to announce a significant increase in the support available to selected entrepreneurs over the next five years. Each of the 12 finalists will now receive a $7,500 USD fellowship package with the ALA’s Youth Entrepreneur Support Unit (YES-U) which includes the Anzisha Week boot camp, mentorship and consulting services, travel opportunities to network and business equipment.
In addition, a new $25,000 USD prize category has been created to recognize Anzisha Fellows who have created further social and economic value through their ventures by effectively leveraging the opportunities provided by the fellowship with ALA.
This brings the total prize pool to $100,000 USD annually, with the Grand Prize Winner taking home $25,000 USD, 1st Runner-up receiving $15,000 USD and 2nd Runner-up receiving $12,500 USD. The remaining nine finalists will receive $2,500 USD each.
“It is essential that we nurture young, African entrepreneurial talent if we want to see the economic gains we all hope for in the future,” says Koffi Assouan, Program Manager for the Anzisha Prize at The MasterCard Foundation. “Through the provision of leadership skills, access to finance and business networking opportunities, these young entrepreneurs will have the opportunity to reach their full potential and to improve their lives and the lives of others.”
The prize is open to any African national under the age of 22 with an active project, social venture or for-profit business based on the continent. Judging criteria for the prize have been refined for 2016 to better represent the entrepreneurial talent that the Anzisha Prize wants to uncover and support. These criteria can be found in all application materials.
Applications will close on 15 April 2016, and the Anzisha Prize team wants to encourage nominations from teachers, parents and community members to identify talented young people. The Anzisha Prize is one of the most accessible and inclusive pan-African opportunities for youth. Application forms and information are available in English, French, Portuguese and Arabic, and the Anzisha Prize Tour team will visit key hubs across the continent and engage local media in every region. Both paper and electronic applications are accepted.
“The true impact of our work is only possible if we can find the top entrepreneurial potential wherever it may be,” comments Grace Kalisha, Manager of the Anzisha Program at African Leadership Academy, “If anyone out there has seen or heard of young people running amazing projects or businesses, we want to hear from you!”
Meet 2015 Grand Prize Winners Chris Kwekowe (http://www.apo.af/lH62DD), (Nigeria), Fabrice Alomo (http://www.apo.af/qqGtfx) (Cameroon) and Mabel Sugo (http://www.apo.af/wlBgUv) (Ghana) and be part of our story at AnzishaPrize.org or join our growing community on Facebook (fb.com/anzishaprize).
Distributed by APO (African Press Organization) on behalf of African Leadership Academy (ALA).
NOTES TO EDITORS
Press Contact:
Melissa Mbazo – media liaison, Anzisha Prize
Email: prize@anzishaprize.org / +27 11 699 3000
Images and Content
A full media centre with logos, photos and interviews is available at www.anzishaprize.org/media-centre.
Exclusive media interviews with promising local applicants
As applications are received, the Anzisha Prize would like to connect you with the most promising applicants from your region for interviews. If this is of interest to your publication, please reach out to the Anzisha Prize team.
For more information and regular updates visit:
About the Anzisha Prize
The Anzisha Prize (http://www.AnzishaPrize.org) aims to stimulate, celebrate, nurture and scale young African entrepreneurs and catalyse the ecosystem that supports them. It seems to recognise young innovators, aged 15 – 22, who have developed and implemented solutions to challenges facing their communities and created dynamic businesses. The program celebrates young leaders who are blazing a trail for others to follow, showing us all that if you are good enough, you’re old enough! For more information, visit www.anzishaprize.org.
About African Leadership Academy
African Leadership Academy (ALA) seeks to transform Africa by developing a powerful network of entrepreneurial leaders who will work together to achieve extraordinary social impact. Each year, ALA brings together the most promising young leaders from all 54 African nations for a pre-university program in South Africa with a focus on leadership, entrepreneurship and African studies. ALA continues to cultivate these leaders throughout their lives by providing ongoing training and connections to networks of people and capital that can catalyse large scale change. For more information visit www.africanleadershipacademy.org.
About The MasterCard Foundation
The MasterCard Foundation works with visionary organizations to provide greater access to education, skills training and financial services for people living in poverty, primarily in Africa. As one of the largest, independent foundations, its work is guided by its mission to advance learning and promote financial inclusion to alleviate poverty. Based in Toronto, Canada, its independence was established by MasterCard when the Foundation was created in 2006. For more information and to sign up for the Foundation’s newsletter please visit www.mastercardfdn.org. Follow the Foundation at @MCFoundation on Twitter.
