THE 35th KiBO CLASS DISCUSSES AFRICA’S YOUTH & LEADERSHIP: A TICKING BOMB OR AN OPPORTUNITY?

Africa is the next big thing in terms of opportunity. It has the most naturally rained arable land in the world. Its physical size is larger than North America, China, India, Europe, Argentina, and New Zealand combined. Innovations and technology are growing every time. There is a rise in the number of aggressive and dynamic entrepreneurs in Africa. Above all, Africa’s population is one billion people with a silently vibrant youth whose voice could thrust this continent to the next level.

Anthony Samuel setting the stage for the presentations

Did You Know? About 65% of the total population of Africa is below the age of 35 years, and over 35% are between the ages of 15 and 35 years - making Africa the most youthful continent. By 2020, it is projected that out of 4 people, 3 will be on average 20 years old.

Team Somalia doing their research 

While moderating a discussion on a topic; “Africa’s Youth and Leadership: A Ticking Bomb or an Opportunity?” Anthony Samuel (of Habib Group) engaged the 35^th Class through this amazing session. It was about the youth at KiBO stretching their minds and looking at Africa as one unit, how the youth of Africa can make Africa the next super power, and what policies the African Union should put in place to harness the voices of Africa’s youth for prosperity of the continent. For the class, it was about quick thinking, research, innovation, public speaking, teamwork and confidence building.

Tracy Kansiime of the "Nigerian Envoy" presenting her case  

The class was divided into six teams (with 4 people per group) representing six African nations (Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Somalia, and Nigeria). There was a panel of five judges (Anthony Samuel, Christine Adhiambo, Jonathan Ebuk, Rosemary Amuge, and Baingana Sabiti) that gave general comments and feedback at the end of the presentations.  The discussants gave a brief history, statistics, and current state of affairs of all these countries. They presented a case for the youth in Africa. Their presentations showed that Africa’s youthful population is a massive opportunity. Young people are dynamic and are eager to take advantage of what life can offer them. It was clear that Africa’s youth need access to education, land, financing and credit to take advantage of the opportunities that lead to productive incomes.  Among the many solutions provided by the discussants also included; adopting a pro-Africa school curriculum which emphasizes practical and vocational skills, creating a think-tank comprising of youth which addresses youth policy issues, forming an African centre of education that supports and promotes Pan Africanism, and compulsory civil service to help the youth serve their countries to build a sense of nationalism and patriotism.

 

Ambrose asking a question

The discussants clearly indicated that there is underutilization of Africa’s resources. The youth have a big role to play in making Africa the place to live in. Africa is taking over.

THE KiBO BUSINESS INCUBATION PILLAR KICKS OFF WITH A BANG!

The Business Incubation Pillar, commonly referred to as the Entrepreneurship Pillar is the latest of KiBO Foundation’s 8 pillars. The focus of this pillar is to create a generation of youth with an entrepreneurial mindset; a mindset that believes in job creation, calculated risk taking, and taking advantage of every opportunity. The 35^th class has fully embraced this pillar and for the first time in KiBO’s history, they presented their business ideas before their fellow classmates and KiBO staff. The Nadra Movement, KiBO Tasty Delights, and Say It With Love (SIWL) are the three ideas that three teams from this class are working on. Right here before your eyes ladies and gentlemen, could be the birth of three multimillion dollar enterprises.

Enoch, Regan, and Baingana taking notes during the presentations

The Nadra Movement- A Movement Like No Other: “Nadra” is a Swahili word meaning Rare or Unusual. This team’s idea is about empowering the next generation of Uganda through motivation, inspiration, and talent identification right from primary school. The Nadra Movement aspires to use performing arts and talks by successful people from different fields to change mindsets of children, to make them believe in possibilities, and to aspire for greatness from a tender age. Nadra believes that once a child grows up with an “Its Possible” mindset, only the sky will be the limit to their success.

Matthew presenting on the idea of Nadra 

Team Nadra Movement 

KiBO Tasty Delights- It’ll Blow Your Mind: KiBO Tasty Delights (KTD) prides itself in providing the best, most affordable tasty foods around Kansanga. They currently have two products; chips and pilau. In just over a week of running this business, KTD has raked a profit of 36,500UgShs. With remarkable budgeting, planning, sales, negotiation, and record keeping skills that they have employed, KTD could be the next big fast food restaurant chain in this country. The hospitality industry might just welcome another player in the market. Watch this space.     

Agnes of KiBO Tasty Delights drives her point home 

Team KiBO Tasty Delights

Say It With Love (SIWL): The name speaks for itself; SIWL is a company that delivers gifts to your loved ones. They currently deliver Candy and will soon be bringing to you fresh, beautiful Flowers and Cards. They are a team that catalyzes the process of spreading love and joy by being the people who deliver your thoughtful gifts and messages to areas you might not reach due to time constraints. They are in the business of sharing love and making this world a place of smiles, laughter, and joy.  

Ambrose Saying It With Love

Team Say It With Love

Final remarks from Abraham at the end of the presentations

With all these great ideas, greatness is bound to happen. 

KiBO SUMMER CAMP CREATES AN IMPRESSION ON THE LIVES OF 26 HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS

KiBO Foundation last week conducted a week-long summer camp which hosted 26 high school students ranging between 14 and 21 years of age. This was an amazing, life changing, and inspirational journey that opened their minds to a world of many possibilities. The experiences, games, lessons, and activities all created an environment of learning which was unique considering what the current school curriculum teachers. Thanks to Empower African Children and Makerere University-Johns Hopkins University Research Collaboration for sponsoring these students for this program.

The Crate Game: Every team is required to move a distance of about 50 meters on crates without any member stepping off the crate. This require planning, innovation, and patience

The activities during this week focused on work, giving back, experiential learning, career awakening and fundamental IT. Every session was tailored towards equipping the students with skills and ideas which could make them all round persons. It was about seeing “beyond the now” and focusing on a lifetime of influence in the most productive way possible.

With notable high achieving personalities who among others included Fagil Mandy and Kenneth Kimuli “Pablo”, speaking to and sharing their experiences with the students, this was surely a powerful program. In addition to class instruction, the students did community service at Loving Hearts Babies Home, visited Uganda Industrial Research Institute and the National Water and Sewerage Corporation, had spontaneous public speaking sessions, and had group discussions. All these sessions were aimed at shaping an all round person while building their self confidence as well.

That cracked us up! Kenneth Kimuli “Pablo”, a highly revered comedian and journalist left everyone in stitches during his talk

Rajab Basoga: “I got the chance to understand what life really is in Africa. Lucy made me understand that there are no jobs in Africa and I have a big part to play in solving Africa’s unemployment problem. When we went to UIRI, I was challenged by the person who was making briquettes from home waste. I thought you needed so much money to start a business but my mindset has totally changed after that visit”

Frank Isabirye: “I thank KiBO and the facilitators for this week. Before this week, I didn't know anything regarding business. Today, I have an idea which I’m going to act on. I am now going to write a proposal. Thanks to everyone who has made this possible. My Aha moment was listening to Pablo tell his story especially how he started honing his comedy skills while in high school”

Salima Merunisha Babirye: “I thank everyone who has made it possible for us to be at KiBO this week. I loved Barbara’s talk. I would love to have her come and speak to us again, whether at Empower or at School. From Barbara’s story, I learnt that no matter how many challenges you go through, you can still raise yourself up and have a positive impact on society”

That sums up how powerful the summer camp was. KiBO will always create innovative programs that engage the youth at all levels so that everyone will unleash their potential.