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91Èȱ¬ Swahili announces regional winners of its entrepreneur competition
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Finalists from Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda have been selected to go through toÌýthe live, televised grandÌýfinal of the 91Èȱ¬ Swahili Faidika na 91Èȱ¬ (Prosper with the 91Èȱ¬) competition for budding entrepreneurs.
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At the final in Kampala, Uganda, on Thursday 26 June 2008, the five finalists will pitch their business ideas to an independent panel of local judges chosen for their entrepreneurial spirit and business experience.
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The young entrepreneur who demonstrates best how they could use US$5,000 to help turn their idea into a successful business – with a positive impact on their community – will be awarded this sum towards their business costs.
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The winner also will be awarded the Faidika na 91Èȱ¬ trophy designed and made by Ugandan artist Peter Oloya.
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The finalist from Burundi is 24-year-old student Ashura Kisesa. Her idea is to build commercial public toilets in the cities and towns of East and Central Africa.
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Ashura, who entered but failed to reach the Faidika na 91Èȱ¬ finals last year, has 12 brothers and sisters and is studying for a degree in agronomy at Burundi University. She says: "I could not believe when my name was announced. I am very happy andÌýI hope to also win the finals in Kampala."
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The national winner for Kenya is Witness Omoga from Kakamega. The 22-year-old, whose business idea is the production of ID cards for schools, is currently working as a volunteer at his uncle's photo studio.
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Witness, who is also waiting for his academic results to see if he will be accepted to Makerere University to pursue a degree in computer science, says: "I am very excited. I have never been number one in my life, but now I have emerged first in this competition."
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The Rwanda winner is a 17-year-old student from Kigali, Rangira Aime Frederick. He impressed the panel of judges with his biomass idea which involves making energy from domestic waste. He attends St Andrew's Secondary School in Kigali where he is studying languages including English, French, Kinyarwanda and Kiswahili.
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Rangira says: "I am happy and confident of winning this competition. I believe the top prize can be mine."
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The national winner for Tanzania is a private tutor from Dar es Salaam, Apolinary Joseph Laksh. Apolinary provides tutoring in business education, among other subjects. The 23-year-old's business idea for Faidika na 91Èȱ¬ is to produce charcoal from recycled materials to offer people in rural areas sustainable and affordable cooking fuel.
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ApolinaryÌýsays: "It was a tough competition, but I guess I won because I was more confident than my rivals. I am not nervous, I hope I'll do well in Kampala."
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The winner for Uganda is 23-year-old Dereick Kajukano who is in his last year at Kampala International University doing a degree in business administration.
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Dereick, whose business idea is making bags out of plastic trash, says he was inspired by last year's Faidika na 91Èȱ¬ winner, David Ssegawa from Uganda: "When I heard him defend his proposal on air, I said to myself, why don't I do it as well. That's when it all started, and here I am. I am very happy because I'm getting closer to the top prize."
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91Èȱ¬ World Service Publicity
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