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Press Releases
Prosper With The Â鶹Éç: Â鶹Éç Swahili entrepreneur competition finalists are named
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The Â鶹Éç's quest for a young Swahili-speaking entrepreneur is nearly over. Four finalists have been chosen for its Faidika Na Â鶹Éç (Prosper With The Â鶹Éç) 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 Â鶹Éç 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 Â鶹Éç 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 Â鶹Éç was launched by Â鶹Éç Swahili to celebrate its 50th anniversary.
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Head of Â鶹Éç 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 Â鶹Éç 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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Â鶹Éç World Service Publicity
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