³ÉÈËÂÛ̳

Twenty-one-year-old Kenyan Jane Mweni has won the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Swahili Faidika na ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ (Prosper with the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳) young entrepreneur competition in a grand final broadcast live from Mombasa, Kenya.

She was presented with the competition trophy and US$5000 prize to help launch her business proposal on waste management in Mombasa.

Jane Mweni is awaiting her Graduate Diploma results from Dalc College in Mombasa. Her initial reaction to winning the contest, which is now in its third year, was: "I'm speechless..."

³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Swahili producer, Salim Kikeke, who manages Faidika na ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳, says: "Faidika is not all about winning. To me all are winners – from national finalists to those who made it here. I thank all the youth who participated in Faidika 2009 with their fantastic enterprise and community spirit."

Jane came ahead of five other aspiring entrepreneurs representing Burundi, DR Congo, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda by effectively demonstrating how she would use the prize money to help turn her idea into a successful business that would have a positive impact on her community.

The runners-up were: Ciza Bone, from Burundi; Nyota Kikukama Angelique, from DRC; Hakizimana Aladin, from Rwanda; Mbarak Juma, from Tanzania; and Gakuo Roy, from Uganda. They had been selected from over 10,000 young entrants from Swahili-speaking territories across East and Central Africa.

Notes to Editors

³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Swahili is a multimedia broadcaster providing radio and online content to Swahili-speaking audiences. ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Swahili is available on ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ FM stations and/or partner radio networks in Burundi, DR Congo, Kenya, Malawi, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda.

Programmes are also available via the website bbcswahili.com which offers up-to-the minute news, features and analysis on East Africa and the rest of the world

World Service Publicity