Tigo Ghana narrows Playing For Change shortlist

DEVELOPMENT

By Nana Appiah Acquaye, Accra, Ghana

Tigo Ghana says two social entrepreneurs will be chosen out of four potential and viable contestants in the Playing for Change Foundation contest.

Playing for Change is a challenge sponsored by Tigo, in which would-be social entrepreneurs can submit their ideas for projects to improve the lives of children. The most viable and innovative ideas receive seed funding and support.

Last year, five Playing for Change entrepreneurs were selected. Their projects are now impacting on over 142, 000 children.

This year, almost 900 ideas were submitted, says Tigo. Through an extensive five-step selection process the 900 ideas of the potential entrepreneurs have been pruned to only four – the most innovative, powerful and sustainable ones. On Friday March 29, the four social entrepreneurs behind these ideas willpitch their ideas to a jury that includes the acting General Manager of Tigo Ghana, together with the CEO’s of the other Kinnevik companies in Ghana – Bayport Financial Services, Consumer Finance Company and Viasat1.

The jury will select two winners. These winners will benefit from expert advisors from Tigo and the other Kinnevik companies in the course of their work. They will also receive salary funding and expert coaching for up to three years to implement their ideas.

The support also includes an incubator where the social entrepreneur gets professional support to develop, scale and become financially sustainable.

Eight Senior Managers in Tigo are appointed as advisors - dedicated to helping the social entrepreneurs develop their strategies.

Other Playing for Change Kinnevik Companies in Ghana are Bayport, CFC and Viasat1.