Global Changemakers

Good Morning Global Changmakers, H.E.C here.
 
H.E.C – the Hoima Entrepreneurial challenge was the brain child of many little ideas generated during dozens of conversations over multiple weeks culminating into one three day conference that would be followed up by two – participant run – spin off projects. It is worth mentioning that one great source of inspirations was DARECHA another entrepreneurial CAP launched over in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.  The tangible positive effect(s) that the project has had in the city is one that we hoped to replicate in Hoima, Uganda.
 
 
Despite the challenges of organizing a conference with participants, facilitators and a sponsor across half a dozen countries, financial constraints and many more challenges the conference took place at the Hoima Kolping Hotel – as planned – between the Tuesday the 6th and Thursday the 8th of July 2010. The first day saw the initial registration of over 52 students from 7 participating schools in and around Hoima. Despite, delays we were able to fully cover the agenda that was set out for the three day period. As the name suggests the challenge saw the seven participating schools compete against each other to win seed funding against sustainability, feasibility and financial criterion. The two teams who came out on top are now in preparation to start two agricultural projects – one pig farm and one vegetable farm.
 
Perhaps the most innovate aspect of H.E.C is that it is run and managed by youth that have gone through a program very similar to the one that our (H.E.C) participants will be going through. The importance of this shouldn’t be underestimated.   Facilitators are mostly ALA (African Leadership Academy) students that have gone through a rigorous two year program on Entrepreneurship and Leadership amongst other disciplines. But of particular interest is the experience that the students have gained as they themselves implemented projects within and around the ALA campus in South Africa. Fresh from such ventures they are keenly aware of the challenges and opportunities that youth taking the initiatives to start projects similar to those of these teams would face. They are aware of particular challenges that they might face as youths, given financial constraints, working in a diverse environment and striking the balance between academic commitments and such ventures in the community. The conference as such gave participants a unique opportunity to share practices.
 
 
The better than expected attendance, enthusiastic participation and the support thus far received from administrators in our target school are a great success. However, we would like to reiterate that for the H.E.C the ultimate measure of success for the project – in our view- would be too see both spin-off projects take off.
 
Before I close this off I would like that to whole-heartedly thank the following people (and organizations) for their support before, participation during and continued support after the conference:
 
1.    Joseph Munyambanza
2.    Beryl Samba Obiero
3.    Michael Kayemba
4.    Tabitha Almondi
5.    Eddie Oketch
6.    David Scudder
7.    Elishibah Msengeti
8.    Eric Glustrome and Educate!
9.    Daniel Muhwezi and COBURWAS
10.    Gabriela Jaeger and the British Council
11.    Sony, Amanda and the countless other people who helped and made H.E.C 2010 possible.
12.    And last but not least – below is the list of schools that participated in our program.

1.      Bwikya Muslim Secondary School ( 6 pupils)
2.      Morning Star Secondary School ( 9 pupils)
3.      Kitara Secondary School ( 8 pupils)
4.      Millennium Secondary School ( 6 pupils)
5.      Central Secondary School ( 9 pupils)
6.      Kalegete Memorial Academy ( 6 pupils)
7.      Duhaga Secondary School ( 8 pupils)
 

Thank you very much.
PLU
Dawit Bekele Mekonnen