{"id":10029,"date":"2025-11-26T14:18:00","date_gmt":"2025-11-26T14:18:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cms.ja-africa.org\/?p=10029"},"modified":"2026-01-19T20:27:35","modified_gmt":"2026-01-19T20:27:35","slug":"afrinnovate-youth-challenge-3rd-edition-showcasing-africas-marginalized-youth-as-drivers-of-social-innovation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cms.ja-africa.org\/backend\/afrinnovate-youth-challenge-3rd-edition-showcasing-africas-marginalized-youth-as-drivers-of-social-innovation\/","title":{"rendered":"AfrInnovate Youth Challenge 3rd Edition: Showcasing Africa\u2019s Marginalized Youth as Drivers of Social Innovation"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"10029\" class=\"elementor elementor-10029\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-561cb13 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"561cb13\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-ecf3ce8\" data-id=\"ecf3ce8\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8f629dc elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"8f629dc\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Accra, Ghana \u2014 November 20, 2025.<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As the world recognizes Social Entrepreneurship Day during Global Entrepreneurship Week, Junior Achievement (JA) Africa, JA Worldwide, in partnership with the Z Zurich Foundation, proudly announces the upcoming third edition of the AfrInnovate Youth Challenge (AYC), a continental platform celebrating the creativity and resilience of marginalized young Africans who are reimagining their futures through innovation and purpose-driven enterprise.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The 3rd edition of AYC will be hosted in Abuja, Nigeria, on December 3, 2025, in a hybrid format. While the in-person event is by invitation only, the public can join via a live YouTube stream, available in both English and French.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/><\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/youtube.com\/live\/Eu9tktH6PW0?feature=share\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">AYC 3rd Edition &#8211; English<\/span><\/i><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/><\/span><\/i><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/youtube.com\/live\/DZXrU8rToI4?feature=share\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">AYC 3rd Edition &#8211; French<\/span><\/i><\/a><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">AYC stands as the flagship showcase of JA Africa\u2019s Social Equity Program (SEP), a transformative initiative funded by the Z Zurich Foundation. SEP equips marginalized youth who are not in education, employment, or training (NEET) with entrepreneurial, financial, and digital skills to design and scale social enterprises that promote equity, mental well-being, and sustainable livelihoods.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Since its inception, the program has reached more than 150,000 young people across nine African countries, catalyzing over 7,000 youth-led social enterprises that address local challenges in climate resilience, education access, gender equity, and sustainable development.<\/span><\/p><p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cThe AfrInnovate Youth Challenge is a powerful reminder that when marginalized young Africans are given access to knowledge, mentorship, and opportunity, they reinvent Africa\u2019s economy,\u201d said Simi Nwogugu, President &amp; CEO of JA Africa. \u201cThese young innovators are designing practical, scalable solutions that address real-world problems while proving that inclusion is the foundation of sustainable growth.\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The challenge in its 3rd edition features nine finalist teams whose innovations reflect Africa\u2019s growing ecosystem of inclusive, community-driven enterprise:<\/span><\/p><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">SolAir (Burkina Faso) develops smart, solar-powered irrigation systems that conserve water and improve agricultural productivity.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/><br \/><\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">CaliFem (C\u00f4te d\u2019Ivoire) transforms marine waste into natural calcium powder, creating sustainable jobs for women.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/><br \/><\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">HSecret (Democratic Republic of the Congo) produces hibiscus-based health and wellness products that promote nutrition and local manufacturing.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/><br \/><\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ecobricks (Liberia) converts plastic waste into durable furniture while offering green employment to rehabilitated youth.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/><br \/><\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Kenema Water Supply (Sierra Leone) provides affordable, locally engineered irrigation systems for smallholder farmers.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/><br \/><\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Biosin Active Group (South Africa) uses biometric GPS technology to safeguard livestock and support rural economies.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/><br \/><\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Skyverse Solution (Tanzania) mechanizes post-harvest groundnut processing to increase yields and farmer incomes.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/><br \/><\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">EcoBrick (Togo) recycles plastic waste into eco-friendly bricks for sustainable, low-cost housing.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/><br \/><\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Agri-Cool Solar Chamber (Uganda) delivers affordable, solar-powered cold storage that reduces food spoilage and boosts farmers\u2019 profits.<\/span><\/li><\/ul><p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cAt the Z Zurich Foundation, we believe that empowering youth is one of the most meaningful ways to build resilience in societies,\u201d said Gregory Renand, Head of the Z Zurich Foundation. \u201cThrough our partnership with JA Africa, we are investing in young social entrepreneurs whose ideas are creating tangible, lasting impact in their communities and beyond.\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-803003e elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"803003e\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-34a2a85\" data-id=\"34a2a85\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5f7868e elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"5f7868e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-4935150 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"4935150\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-ca03822\" data-id=\"ca03822\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1a4d072 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"1a4d072\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3><b>About JA Africa<\/b><\/h3><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Junior Achievement Africa is one of the continent\u2019s largest youth-serving NGOs, reaching more than one million young people annually across 23 countries. The organization equips youth with the skills to thrive in the global economy through programs in entrepreneurship, work readiness, and financial health.<\/span><\/p><h3><b>About Z Zurich Foundation<\/b><\/h3><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Z Zurich Foundation is a charitable foundation that supports projects aimed at building community resilience and advancing social equity worldwide. Through initiatives such as the JA Social Equity Program, the Foundation helps marginalized youth gain the skills and confidence to drive inclusive and sustainable change.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-0fc4889 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"0fc4889\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-d2865bf\" data-id=\"d2865bf\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-da2975a elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"da2975a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-812d8c7 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"812d8c7\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-0ea77f3\" data-id=\"0ea77f3\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7bef250 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"7bef250\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Media Contact:<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ellen Ukpi<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Director, Marketing and Communications<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">ellen.ukpi@ja-africa.org<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">www.ja-africa.org<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Accra, Ghana \u2014 November 20, 2025.As the world recognizes Social Entrepreneurship Day during Global Entrepreneurship Week, Junior Achievement (JA) Africa, JA Worldwide, in partnership with the Z Zurich Foundation, proudly announces the upcoming third edition of the AfrInnovate Youth Challenge (AYC), a continental platform celebrating the creativity and resilience of marginalized young Africans who are &hellip;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"> <a class=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/cms.ja-africa.org\/backend\/afrinnovate-youth-challenge-3rd-edition-showcasing-africas-marginalized-youth-as-drivers-of-social-innovation\/\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">AfrInnovate Youth Challenge 3rd Edition: Showcasing Africa\u2019s Marginalized Youth as Drivers of Social Innovation<\/span> Read More &raquo;<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":10031,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-10029","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"acf":{"featured_alumni_video":"","year":""},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/cms.ja-africa.org\/backend\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/AYC_YOUTUBE-SCREEN_BANNER.png","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cms.ja-africa.org\/backend\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10029","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cms.ja-africa.org\/backend\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cms.ja-africa.org\/backend\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cms.ja-africa.org\/backend\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cms.ja-africa.org\/backend\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10029"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"https:\/\/cms.ja-africa.org\/backend\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10029\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":10327,"href":"https:\/\/cms.ja-africa.org\/backend\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10029\/revisions\/10327"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cms.ja-africa.org\/backend\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/10031"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cms.ja-africa.org\/backend\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10029"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cms.ja-africa.org\/backend\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10029"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cms.ja-africa.org\/backend\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10029"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}