Social Entrepreneurs at the 2016 edition [Part 1]

1. Chuck Slaughter, Living Goods, Uganda

Living Goods is creating a reliable distribution platform to improve the health and productivity of poor people in the world. It lends strengths to networks of entrepreneurs who sell antimalarial, ORT, safe delivery kits for expectant mothers, solar lights etc. while teaching them ways to improve their health.

2. Katherine Lucey, Solar Sister, USA

Solar Sister is an organization that trains and mentors women so that can build businesses by selling phone chargers, solar lamps and clean cook stoves. Through social networks, Solar Sister provides an efficient distribution system to rural areas and customers that are hard to reach.

3. Kristine Pearson, Lifeline Energy, South Africa

Lifeline Energy designs, manufactures and distributes solar and wind-up Prime radios, MP3-enabled Lifeplayers for use in developmental initiatives and/or emergency response. So far, the organization has distributed about 600,000 self-powered products, providing about 20 million listeners access to information and education.

4. Njideka Harry, Youth for Technology Foundation (YTF), Nigeria

The YTF Academy provides beneficiaries in African regions ravaged by chronic unemployment and poverty with skills and resources.  Since its inception in 2001, 40% of YTF Academy graduates have gained employment with local companies in YTF’s partner network, earning three times above average.

5. Patrick Schofield, The Indalo Project, South Africa   

The Indalo Project is a budding network of design and marketing excellence artisans. The Indalo Project designs new and unique marketable products, with designers from diverse fields working with local craftsmen. With a professional marketing strategy, they get the best return in income and opportunity for the producers.

6. Sameer Hajee, Nuru Energy Group, Mauritius

Nuru Energy is recharging platform that uses human energy or solar power to fast recharge Nuru Energy’s portable LED Lights (5 lights recharged in 20 minutes) as well as mobile phones and other USB-charged devices. Nuru Energy deploys its innovative technology via a network of micro-franchises operated by village level entrepreneurs, who sell Nuru Lights and then provide recharging services for a small fee.

7. Winner Social Entrepreneur of the Year Award 2016Luvuyo Rhani, Silulo Ulutho Technologies, South Africa

Silulo started in 2004 by selling refurbished computers, soon it expanded to IT training and servicing. In line with Silulo’s ‘one stop shop’ philosophy, its 38 branches with 178 staff offer CV writing and employment advice. The organization provides employment opportunities for unemployed youth as evidenced by 12 of its 38 branches that are franchised and are run by former graduates of Silulo’s IT training program. Over 50% of Silulo’s students have gained employment. The company has partnered with companies like Tsiba, Careers24, and Telkom to refer job seekers.

8. Winners Social Entrepreneur of the Year Award 2016Tracy Chambers and Tracey Gilmore, Co-Founders, The Clothing Bank

The Clothing Bank recruits and trains unemployed mothers across South African townships in a two-year training program, giving them an opportunity to earn a living by training them to be self-employed business women. The Clothing Bank serves the most disadvantaged who have to apply through a rigorous application process. The women are taught money management, business skills and mentoring by business leaders, as well as life coaching and counseling. The Clothing Bank has 1240 graduates and the capacity to have 800 women in the program. Since 2010, these women have collectively generated income for their families of more than $2.5 million USD.

9. Christie Peacock, Sidai Africa, Kenya @Global Alliance for Livestock

Sidai is a network of branded and quality assured livestock service centers that are owned and managed by qualified livestock professionals operating under a franchise agreement. The outlets stock quality products and offer quality services to farmers, giving them a genuine choice in the market. Farmers can therefore acquire the knowledge, products and services they need to look after their livestock, improve their production and increase income levels.

10. Ernest Darkoh, BroadReach Healthcare, South Africa @TEDx

BroadReach Healthcare focuses on improving the health and wellbeing of underserved populations around the world by powering the development industry- governments, donor groups, NGOs, and private sector companies - with intelligent systems and solutions to optimize their return on resource investments and systemically boost service delivery.  Broadreach uses a simple formula: Insights + Solutions = Results.

BroadReach offers the only data-driven system built for the developing world - with an easy-to-deploy cloud-based platform for data aggregation, powerful analytic and work flow optimization tools, and social networking for immediate collaboration, communications and data gathering.

The 2016 World Economic Forum on Africa will hold from May 11 to May 13, 2016 in Kigali, Rwanda.