the pride of Africa's women entrepreneurs
L-R: Katherine Lucey of Solar Sister, Christie Peacock of Sidai Africa, Sharanjeet Shan of Maths Centre
Thirty-one social entrepreneurs have been recognized by the Schwab Foundation as awardees of the 2015 Social Entrepreneur of the Year. Three of the four awardees for Africa are women who are each making an incredibly positive social impact on the continent. Meet them here....
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The Bold Kampala team have returned to the continent following a highly successful tour to London, UK. Whilst there, they launched their Bold Kampala Pop-Up store on Saturday 14 March at the highly trendy Milk Room at the Grace Bar in Great Windmill Street, right in the heart of the bustling West End.
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Every month at Lionesses of Africa, we shine a spotlight on a particular industry sector where Africa’s women entrepreneurs are making a real impact, through their businesses, their innovation, their products, services and craftsmanship, and their passion for what they do. This month (April), we are turning our attention to the truly inspirational African Women Fashionpreneurs.
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Fashion Revolution Day on the 24th April 2015, is an international day and opportunity to celebrate fashion as a positive influence, raise awareness of the fashion industry's most pressing issues, show that change is possible and celebrate those who are on a journey to create a more ethical and sustainable future for fashion.
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Ally Angula, co-founder Leap Investments & My Republik
Congratulations to Namibian serial entrepreneur, Ally Angula, who has been chosen as one of the 17 Sub Saharan Members on the Forum of Young Global Leaders (YGL) by the World Economic Forum. Ally co-founded Leap Investments in Namibia and South Africa, an integrated group of companies involved in the growing of fresh produce, garment manufacturing and retail. She also recently launched Namibia's first commercial clothing brand, My Republik.
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Cape Town, March 2015: Little Bo Babies launches its 'When I Grow Up…' doll, an initiative that will help young girls from poor and underprivileged areas have a vision for their future, and a tangible reminder of that vision as they grow up.
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Chloe Townsend and Lizel Strydom, founders of Missibaba
Congratulations to Missibaba who took home the 'Maker to Market' award in recognition of excellence at the annual Southern Guild Design Foundation Awards ceremony that took place recently. Missibaba is a luxury accessory label established by leather devotee Chloe Townsend in 2005. Passionate about South Africa and supporting local industry, Chloe works alongside business partner Lizel Strydom from a light flooded studio in Woodstock, Cape Town.
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March 8 marks the celebration of International Women’s Day, a global observance day which started out in the early 1900s. This year, the theme of the day is "Make It Happen", a call to the world to help support the empowerment of women and to positively change women's lives.
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Our favourite fashionistas at Bold Kampala are living up to their name, as they are about to embark on their first-ever, hugely exciting world tour, taking their concept store to cities from London to Nairobi, Kigali to Luanda.
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Every month at Lionesses of Africa, we shine a spotlight on a particular industry sector where Africa’s women entrepreneurs are making a real impact, through their businesses, their innovation, their products and services, and their passion for what they do. This month (March), we are turning our attention to the truly inspirational African Women in Tech, those truly innovative pioneers who are building unique, high impact businesses and shaking up the tech world at the same time through their efforts.
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As February comes to an end, we reflect on what has been a really wonderful and particularly colourful month, as we have been celebrating some of Africa's finest and most creative women designers. From fashion designers and jewellery makers, to glorious shoemakers and architectural designers to name but a few, we have shared their inspirational stories and showcased their work. There is such a wealth of design talent here in Africa and it has been a pleasure showcasing just a few of them.
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Calling all South African designers and artisan food and wine makers - the 6th annual Sanlam Handmade Contemporary Fair will take place a little earlier this year on 9-11 October 2015. The venue will still be on the fabulous rooftop of Hyde Park Corner in Johannesburg, South Africa.
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The selections for Acumen's fourth cohort of East Africa Fellows were announced on 1 February after a competitive application process. This year’s Fellows are fighting poverty and changing lives across East Africa through unique social initiatives that range from providing much-needed ambulance services to helping make hygienic sanitation more accessible and affordable to empowering young women to start viable agro-enterprises and more.
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Africa has always had a vibrant design scene, but no more so than today, with a host of incredibly talented young women designers emerging from every corner of the continent. So, at Lionesses of Africa, we are declaring the month of February as Design Month, each day showcasing some of the finest design talent and telling their unique start-up stories.
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The end of January draws to a close a focused month of storytelling, aimed at celebrating and acknowledging the incredible achievements and impact being made by Africa’s inspirational women social entrepreneurs. At Lionesses of Africa, we salute their life-changing contributions to making the African continent a better place for all who live and work there.
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Impact Amplifier, Growth Africa, VC4Africa and Hivos have announced the entrepreneurs selected to participate in the 2015 Green Pioneer Acceleration Program. The Programme aims to support and help scale green innovations in Kenya and South Africa. The final selection includes 11 Kenyan and 12 South African green businesses. Included are two talented young women entrepreneurs, Joyce Gema the founder of Boma Safi in Kenya, and Jessica Bonin the founder of Lady Bonin’s Tea Parlour in South Africa.
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Akosua Afriyie-Kumi (Ghana), Loza Maléombho (Ivory Coast), Katherine-Mary Pichulik (South Africa)
Vogue Italia has announced the final shortlist for its "Scouting for Africa" contest, an event organized by Vogue Talents in collaboration with the International Business Consortium Nigeria Limited. Included on the final shortlist of 11 designers are 3 of Lionesses of Africa's favourite women designers on the continent, Akosua Afriyie-Kumi of AAKS in Ghana, Loza Maléombho from Ivory Coast, and Pichulik by Katherine-Mary Pichulik from South Africa. We wish all three women the very best of luck in winning the ultimate accolade and prizes.
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International whisky brand Chivas Regal has just unveiled the five finalists of its Win the Right Way campaign. Included are two inspiring women-led social ventures from South Africa, Subz founded by Sue Barnes, and Rethaka Trading creators of Repurpose School Bags, founded by Thato Kgatlhanye and Rea Ngwane.
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L-R: Essma Ben Hamida, Anne Githuku-Shongwe, Njideka Harry
The Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship is hosting 25 social entrepreneurs from around the world who will substantially contribute to the 2015 edition of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. Three of Africa's leading women social entrepreneurs Essma Ben Hamida (Tunisia), Anne Githuku-Shongwe (South Africa), and Njideka Harry (Nigeria) have been included.
Read moreHow do you use ICT to create social impact? Ashoka in partnership with the Intel Foundation have published a new report on how social innovators are making the most of information and communication technologies to create social impact and change the world!
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