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CAPs Friday 19/2/10
Friday, 19 February 2010 | posted by Sara_BC
Do read about what impact DARECHA, Julius' CAP, has had on its first winner!
TRANSFORMATION OF MY VILLAGE IN TANZANIA
My name is Lusekelo James Nkuwi. I am 18 years old and an advanced level student at Kibaha secondary school in Tanzania. My parents are teachers at Saint Carolus Secondary School in my home region Singida, hundreds of kilometres away from Dar Es Salaam. Apart from studying for my science courses I also like to get involved in business and agriculture activities in my home village. At first, I had the dream of being an entrepreneur but I’ve always thought, “not at this age.” This is due to a lack of entrepreneurial spirit in most of our young people of my country and a lack of capital for even those who are interested.
The Tanzanian education system does not encourage students to get involved in extracurricular activities such as business, so the youth only concentrates on their studies and waits until they’re being employed. For me, something has recently changed the path of my life. In 2009, I participated in Dar Es Salaam Young Entrepreneurial Challenge (DARECHA) under the youngest CEO I’ve ever met, Mr. Julius Shirima. He organized this event with his team of students from the African Leadership Academy in South Africa. I learned a very useful entrepreneurial lesson through this business ideas competition. Among more than 500 youth participants, I became the first winner of the business idea presentation challenge.
Being the first winner of DARECHA 2009, I was awarded 500’000 Tanzanian shillings, which is approximately 250 GBP. This was the first capital I ever possessed to start implementing some of my business ideas. While thinking of starting a business, I thought of starting a business that could help my village. This is why I opened a small medicine shop. I offer medicine that I was sure the villagers would need regularly; such as pain relievers, anti-malarial medicine, anti-flu medicien, antibiotics or cough medicine. There had been no such a shop in the centre of the village.
Apart from the shop, I have also become engaged in agriculture. I asked my parents to give me one acre of land where I started my own farm with the cash I received from DARECHA. I now have one acre of maize and it is going very well. I expect to harvest in the mid-June 2010. I am going to sell my harvest in order to expand my businesses. Also, I intend to use part of my harvest to feed the needy members of the community, such as old people and orphans.
Now, I am facing some challenges which include: time to closely monitor my businesses because I am away at school and proper facilities for my business, such as computers that will enable me to do my work in a more professional way.
My greatest appreciation goes to DARECHA who exposed and trained me and to the British Council Global Changemakers who sponsored the first ever Dar Es Salaam Young Entrepreneurial Challenge in 2009.
For more info about DARECHA follow the link http://darecha2009.wetpaint.com
Written by Lusekelo Nkuwi
First winner DARECHA 2009
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20 February 2010
I love this story!
Thank you for believing in Africa, our continent, unlike other young people who just want out.
21 February 2010
Great story, It is good to know that youths have the power to impact people’s lives positively. DARECHA has indeed opened gates not only you but also other young people with dreams like you. It is evidently that Africa needs more entrepreneurs to solve challenges being faced. Thanks Joseph for the motivating story and keep it up.
22 February 2010
This is great.I believe if we have people like Lusekelo it will be possible to eradicate poverty on the African continent.Keep the spirit up,Iam proud of you.Being the first winner and capable of starting a business is a challenge to all future DARECHA winners.
23 February 2010
Hey great Julius!! Keep the great work going
25 February 2010
...the Changemakers never cease to amaze… )
28 February 2010
helo Lusekelo thats a nice start keep it moving ahead also much congrats to Julius for his motivation to young entrepreneurs.
28 February 2010
that’s the spirit needed for Africa develoment!!
wish you luck brother!!
Keep it u Julius!
God Bless Africa.
14 March 2010
Well done Julius! You’re a model for African Youth!
I have been with you and I have witnessed how hard you have tried to make this project happen.
May Jehovah be with you…
Your friend!
15 March 2010
Big up Lusekelo, The story is inspiring and i urge we African youth to quite our worries on becoming entrepreneurs since only we can change our continent to higher lever .I believe nothing is impossible when efforts and determination is put forward. Bravo to Julius for his motivation.