Global Entrepreneurship Week encourages and supports entrepreneurs and the entrepreneurial spirit – and activities around world spotlight the real-world issues entrepreneurs are working to solve through innovation.
In Namibia, Global Entrepreneurship Network (GEN) Namibia, hosted more than a dozen activities nation-wide, and worked with 11 partners to bring GEW to the country. GEN Namibia reported that a young entrepreneur, who lives close to the sewage plant in Windhoek, decided to research how to remove the smell that lingers in his neighborhood. He came up with the idea to turn the refuse into organic fertilizer, and take away the smell in the community – while also supporting food security.
It is the individual stories of success and meaningful entrepreneurial impact that helps drive the purpose of GEW activities around the world.
In Jordan, a regional partner for GEW activities offered six individuals traveling to Jordan training and competition opportunities, and connected IEC with the Arab Innovation Network (AIN). GEW Jordan lead nearly 26,000 participants in 140 activities during the week, and worked with 60 partners. The Minister of Social Development pledged her ministry’s resource to improve the entrepreneurship ecosystem in Khartoum and Sudan.
GEW also helps strengthen local entrepreneurial organizations and ecosystems. During this past celebration, the entrepreneurial technological community in Ecuador was bolstered because of the contacts and support provided. Fundación Emprender is the host organization for GEW Ecuador. They worked with more than 150 partners to bring 160,000 participants a variety of activities.
In the Philippines, GEW brought investing and startup success to multiple budding entrepreneurs. One agri-basedd startup that participated in the GEW Philippines’ events was able to garner investor interest, which helped them capitalize their business and is now operating commercially. The founders also won the competition event and were awarded a free trip to Europe for bootcamp training. Another startup, Sustainable Alternative Lighting, which uses salt water to help power LED lamps, was a runner-up in the GEN 2015 Startup Open competition.
Photo Credit: Sustainable Alternative Lighting