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Press Releases
Prosper With The ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳: ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Swahili entrepreneur competition finalists are named
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The ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳'s quest for a young Swahili-speaking entrepreneur is nearly over. Four finalists have been chosen for its Faidika Na ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ (Prosper With The ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳) competition, and they will compete in a live broadcast final attended by Tanzania's President, Jakaya Kikwete, on Wednesday 27 June.
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Kenyan Arthur Buliva, Tanzanians Francis Wakara Baraka and Geofrey Kibiki and Ugandan David Ssegawa were shortlisted from over 5,000 young Swahili–speakers from Burundi, DR Congo, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda.
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They all have innovative ideas on how to start a successful business which will have a positive impact on their community.
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The winning entry will be judged by young East African entrepreneurs and social activists: Kenyan Zablon Karingi Muthaka, Tanzanian Humphrey Polepole and Ugandan Halima Abdallah.
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The gripping finale comes live from Kilimanjaro Hotel Kempinski in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, and is broadcast across East Africa from 6.30pm by ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Swahili on radio and online at bbcswahili.com and on the popular television channels ITV and EATV in Burundi, DR Congo, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda and Uganda.
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Highlights include a special guest performance by the multi-award winning singer Lady JD and a speech by President of Tanzania, Jakaya Kikwete.
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The Faidika Na ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ winner will be awarded US $2,000 and a laptop computer. The two runners–up will receive $600 and $400 respectively and a mobile phone.
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The winner will also have an opportunity to make a presentation to delegates at the Commonwealth Youth Forum, which runs from 14 to 21 November, prior to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Kampala, Uganda.
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Faidika Na ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ was launched by ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Swahili to celebrate its 50th anniversary.
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Head of ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Swahili, Solomon Mugera Omollo, explains: "Launching a Swahili-language radio service 50 years ago was innovative and exciting. It stole the hearts of millions of listeners across East Africa.
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"We wanted to capture that spirit of creativity, loyalty and daring with a competition focusing on the business ideas of young people – the young men and women whose aspirations and passions will shape the future of the region."
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The Director of the Commonwealth Youth Affairs Division, Fatiha Serour, says: "This is a wonderful opportunity to showcase the talent and dynamism of young people. We are proud to be associated with this competition."
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Notes to Editors
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Faidika Na ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ judges:
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Zablon Karingi Muthaka lives in Kangemi on the outskirts of Nairobi, Kenya. He started Beta Bins Waste Management and Environmental Conservation, with US $1,500, and now has an annual turnover of US $6,152.
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Humphrey Polepole is the current Secretariat Director of the Tanzania Youth Coalition and a member of UN-Tanzania CSO advisory committee. He is also a steering committee member of the Sustainability Watch Network under Tanzania Coalition on Sustainable Development. He is a freelance trainer and facilitator on development issues and research methodologies.
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Halima Abdallah is a well–known journalist with Uganda's national daily, Observer. Specialising in business reporting, she has done a number of researches and documented the viability of small agricultural enterprises as businesses for farmers.
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³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ World Service Publicity
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