the pride of Africa's women entrepreneurs
Achenyo Idachaba-Obaro, founder of MitiMeth (Nigeria)
Lioness Launch
MitiMeth is an award-winning, cause driven brand, transforming waste and building livelihoods in Nigeria via the Creative Economy. The company has just opened its new “All Things Water Hyacinth” Showroom in Lagos. The new retrofitted “for-purpose” Showroom and Production Hub will be a centre for the transformation of water hyacinth into Home Goods and Accessories.
Read moreMaria Baryamujura, founder of COBATI Uganda
Startup Story
Community tourism has long been recognised as a driver of local economic development, particularly for women. In East Africa, social entrepreneur Maria Baryamujura, founder of COBATI Uganda, knows just how to innovate and make tourism work for rural communities.
Read moreKristine Pearson, founder of Lifeline Energy
Lioness Weekender Cover Story
Kristine Pearson, founder of Lifeline Energy, is a real impact driven social entrepreneur, on a mission to bring the power of radio to people in remote and under-resourced areas of sub-Saharan Africa. Her work is positively changing the lives of millions of people who would have little access to news and information without these innovative solar powered and wind-up radios. Lionesses of Africa chatted to Kristine this month to find out more.
Read moreDiana Sierra, founder of Be Girl Inc. (Mozambique)
Startup Story
Girls in Mozambique have a number of challenges to overcome, and one of those is getting access to menstrual products, menstrual education and addressing social stigma around menstruation. But that is now changing, thanks to entrepreneurs like Diana Sierra, a Columbian designer and social entrepreneur who is the founder of Be Girl Inc. in Mozambique.
a around menstruation. But that is now changing, thanks to entrepreneurs like Diana Sierra, founder of Be Girl Inc.
Read moreMariam Lawani, founder of Greenhill Recycling (Nigeria)
Startup Story
In Nigeria’s rural communities, poverty and unemployment are major challenges, as is the issue of waste management. For entrepreneur Mariam Lawani, finding solutions to all of these challenges was the motivation for her business, Greenhill Recycling.
Read moreKeep your goals in sight…
Dr Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka, founder, Gorilla Conservation Coffee (Uganda)
Read moreNana Lusevakweno Luyindadio, founder of Cewon (Democratic Republic of Congo)
Startup Story
Many women in the Democratic Republic of Congo need to access key skills and resources in order to fulfil their potential, and that is where Cewon comes in. Founder Nana Lusevakweno Luyindadio is creating a platform which empowers women to make the change they need in their lives.
Read moreChristelle Kwizera, founder of Water Access Rwanda
Lioness Launch
Getting daily access to safe, clean, affordable water is a priority for many of Rwanda’s citizens. For entrepreneur Christelle Kwizera, providing a series of game-changing solutions to that challenge is what drives her business, Water Access Rwanda.
Read moreChinwe Ohajuruka, founder Comprehensive Design Services, Nigeria
Chinwe Ohajuruka, founder of Comprehensive Design Services (Nigeria)
Read moreTadziripa Madzima, founder of IGNITE Youth (Zimbabwe)
Startup Story
Africa is a young continent with millions of young people with vast potential ready to make their contributions to its future economic development and prosperity. But those young people need support, encouragement and the right environment to thrive. In Zimbabwe, social entrepreneur Tadziripa Madzima, founder of IGNITE Youth, has created an enterprise committed to empowering young people to fulfill that potential.
Read moreCaptain Kgomotso Phatsima, founder of Dare to Dream (Botswana)
Startup Story
They say that to make a difference in the world you need to dream big, and for one truly inspirational woman social entrepreneur and aviator in Botswana, she is demonstrating that if your dreams are big enough you can make big change happen. Captain Kgomotso Phatsima, founder of Dare to Dream, is inspiring a new generation of young women to follow in her footsteps and carve out careers and businesses in the exciting world of aviation and aerospace.
Read moreDAISY Handmade Soap, the inspirational social entrepreneurship project in Mozambique that aims to empower people with skills to produce low cost hand-made soap by reusing ingredients and materials, to create jobs and protect the environment, is launching an exciting new product to add its popular range. The company’s new soap dish gift product is aligned with the company’s environmental awareness purpose. It is made of recycled coconut shell, handmade by Isaura, that accompanies the highly popular soaps made of coconut oil or recycled sunflower oil with citronella and lemongrass aroma. Each gift product is wrapped in cellophane bags (a plant based product which is also environmental friendly).
Read moreDawn Close, founder of F.R.E.E (the Foundation for the Realization of Economic Empowerment) (Zambia)
Making jewellery and making a difference to women’s lives is the mission behind F.R.E.E (the Foundation for the Realization of Economic Empowerment). Created by entrepreneur Dawn Close in Zambia, the goal is to empower highly skilled craftswomen in the country to create high quality, handcrafted jewellery for sale around the world.
Read moreEzlyn Olivia Barends, co-founder of DreamGirls Academy (South Africa)
Making a difference to the lives of others is something that drives the passionate social entrepreneur and co-founder of DreamGirls Academy, Ezlyn Olivia Barends. She believes that by harnessing the power of community and mentorship, young women can equip themselves with the knowledge and skills to fulfill their potential in life and become change-makers in their own right.
Read moreAfia Bobia Amanfo, founder of Studentshubgh (Ghana)
Young people are the economic future of Ghana, and it is critical that they are given the opportunity to fulfill their true potential if they are going to make their contributions to the country. Helping them to achieve this is a young social enterprise, Studentshubgh, driven by a social entrepreneur, Afia Bobia Amanfo, with a big vision and the passion to match.
Read moreMelissa Bime, founder of Infiuss (Cameroon)
As a nurse, Melissa Bime saw a huge challenge in her country’s hospitals - getting essential blood supplies to those in need in order to save lives. So she became an impact entrepreneur, choosing to change the situation rather than being part of it, launching her online blood bank Infiuss as a solution.
Read moreAndra Massamba, founder of Uabalika (Mozambique)
As human beings, celebrating and embracing our differences is what makes for a tolerant society, and for Andra Massamba, founder of Uabalika, this was the inspiration for starting her social entrepreneurship venture.
Read moreCarrie Leaver and Shona McDonald, founders of Stoep Startup Co-Working & Stay (South Africa)
One of the biggest challenges for many startup entrepreneurs who work from home is connecting with other like-minded people in an environment which is supportive and creative. In Cape Town, social entrepreneurs Carrie Leaver and Shona McDonald have created the answer with their Stoep Startup Co-Working & Stay business venture.
Read moreMarjorie Atuhurra, founder of Gejja Women Foundation (Uganda)
For countries and communities to thrive, they need to ensure that every person is empowered and equipped to fulfill their potential. In Uganda, Marjorie Atuhurra, founder of Gejja Women Foundation is working tirelessly to ensure that other women and young girls are given the opportunity to become fully participating, independent and contributing members of society.
Read moreOlivia Onyemaobi, founder of Pad-Up Creations (Nigeria)
Personal experiences and the desire to make a difference in the lives of others are often the two key drivers of social entrepreneurs when it comes to starting up their businesses. For Nigerian social entrepreneur, Olivia Onyemaobi, founder of Pad-Up Creations, her inspiration came from the need to help women and girls to manage their menstrual hygiene and fulfill their potential.
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