By BBC World Service International Publicity
Published July 29, 2009
BBC Kiswahili Service has named six finalists of the Faidika na BBC (Prosper with the BBC) young entrepreneur competition. Aspiring business people who have won the country heats in Burundi, DR Congo, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda will compete in a live broadcast in Mombasa, Kenya on Thursday, August 13, 2009.
Ciza Bone of Burundi, Nyota Kikukama Angelique of DRC, Jane Mueni of Kenya, Hakizimana Aladin of Rwanda, Mbarak Juma of Tanzania and Gakuo Roy of Uganda have each demonstrated innovative ideas on how to start, with US$5,000, a successful business that will have a positive impact on their respective community. They have been selected from more than 10,000 young entrants (a record for the competition) from Kiswahili-speaking territories, each of whom submitted a proposal for the contest.
Ciza Bone is optimistic: “I think good luck is coming my way.”
Nyota Kikukama Angelique is sure of winning the final: “To me the finals will be a walk in the park.”
Jane Mueni is full of confidence, too: “Wow, Faidika is coming home.”
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However, Mbarak Juma doesn’t take competition so lightly: “Walk in the park? What a joke.”
Gakuo Roy, too, anticipates a tough contest: “This is just the beginning.”
The emotions of all the finalists of Faidika na BBC 2009 are best summed by Hakizimana Aladin, who says: “I am ecstatic.”
The Faidika na BBC project manager, BBC Kiswahili producer, Salim Kikeke, says: “There’s so much enthusiasm, we’ll surely see fireworks at the finals in Mombasa.”
The winner will be awarded the Faidika na BBC trophy and receive US$5,000 to help realise his or her business idea.
