2024 mandela washington fellows

Adja Anatu Mohammed is a professionally trained teacher with over ten years of experience with the rank of Assistant Director II at the Ghana Education Service.As said by the current president of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo Addo “Teachers cannot become millionaires through their salaries alone (2019)”. He emphasized the importance of entrepreneurship and additional income streams for teachers to achieve financial prosperity. While his statement was met with criticism from some quarters, Adja Anatu, knew the truth in this statement even before it was quoted, she ventured into poultry farming in the year 2017 producing and selling live broiler birds at slaughter age. She is the founder of Msadja Fatoma Memorial Farm located in Wenchi, the Bono Region of Ghana. Currently, she rears synthetic antibiotic-free chicken and looking forward to producing fully organic chicken in the future for the good health and sustainability of consumers and also to uplift her brand name Her Legacy Chicken. As a member and leader of many agribusiness associations like, Wenchi Poultry Farmers Association, Women In Poultry Value Chain (WIPVAC), and Africa Women in Animal Resource Farming and Agribusiness Network (AWARFA-N Ghana), she is passionate about being a great leader and encouraging her gender to be independent. Having the opportunity to participate in the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders is a great opportunity towards her goal. She hopes to empower more women to engage in livestock farming and agribusiness.

Atinedi PITO has over 7 years of experience in agribusiness. He is a passionate advocate for nutrition, food security, and climate change issues, championing the Climate Smart Agriculture in Togo. Currently, Atinedi is managing Big Village Farm, where he is empowering smallholder farmers in rural communities, particularly focusing on women and young farmers, to mitigate food waste, enhance food security, and increase their income. In October 2018, he co-founded Heritage Drink, a company focused on processing fruits and vegetables into organic fresh juices and smoothies. In December 2022, recognized for his commitment to excellence and resilience in agri-food entrepreneurship, Atinedi received the prestigious BUSINESS AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP AWARD in the Alumni Excellence Awards category from USAID and YALI RLC Accra. Additionally, he generously volunteers his expertise as a Jury Specialist in Nutrition and Processing for UNICEF Nutrition Hackathons, contributing to innovative solutions in addressing food-related challenges. Atinedi is driven by a profound commitment to combatting food waste and insecurity in Togo and across Africa. Upon completion of the Mandela Washington Fellowship, Atinedi envisions bringing technology and innovative ways of farming to Big Village Farm and implementing a 50-hectare agro-ecotourism site that integrates agroforestry, farming, and livestock areas alongside training centers and processing units. This self-sufficient center will be powered by photovoltaic energy and biogas, that will serve as a beacon of sustainable agriculture, nurturing and empowering women and young agripreneurs to shape the future of Africa.

HORALOUBA BOLONGAR has over 6 years of experience in Agribusiness and Waste management. Currently, BOLONGAR is a CEO at Agri-Bio Production and Waste Management, focusing on transforming organic waste into biogas and using the effluents as bio-fertilizers to produce natural products (vegetables and fruits). BOLONGAR is also a Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene Engineer at the Ministry of Public Health and Prevention. BOLONGAR works to define the national reference norms and standards for drinking water, hygiene, and Sanitation in health facilities to sustainably improve the quality of care, and access to water, sanitation, and hygiene for staff and users of Chad's health facilities. BOLONGAR Promotes health and public hygiene through training and awareness-raising on hand washing, latrine construction, wastewater treatment, waste management, personal hygiene, etc. BOLONGAR holds a master’s degree in Geosciences and Environment. BOLONGAR is committed to contributing to the Sustainable Development Goals by reducing poverty and contributing to food selfsufficiency in Chad with an innovative approach integrating environmental protection. Upon completion of the Mandela Washington Fellowship, BOLONGAR plans to reach 1,000,000 people in rural areas, create direct and indirect job opportunities for young people in his community, and produce 20 tons of organic products for his community.

Imani Bora is a visionary entrepreneur with over a decade of experience in academia and startup entrepreneurship. As the founder and CEO of HatchPlus, he has spearheaded the development of groundbreaking digital solutions in Rwanda's agricultural sector. With ten years of academic expertise in electronics and embedded systems, Imani brings a deep understanding of technology to his entrepreneurial ventures. Over the past eight years, he has leveraged this knowledge to mentor aspiring entrepreneurs, guiding over 80 undergraduate students to transform their engineering skills into successful startup ventures. Through his visionary leadership, Imani has not only driven innovation but also facilitated economic growth, with his ventures creating over 150 job opportunities. With a relentless commitment to innovation and social impact, Imani Bora continues to pave the way for a brighter future in Rwanda's agricultural landscape.

Carolle Gracias Adigui is a dynamic and enthusiastic agripreneur with a passion for the production of plantain, bananas, and cassava, as well as the management and implementation of agricultural spaces for Beninese expatriates. She graduated from the Haute École Régionale de Commerce International with a degree in International Maritime Relations Management. Carolle possesses skills and experience in marketing, negotiation, supply chain management, and port operations. She is a founder of Africa Dô, an agro-food company located in Cotonou, Benin, and specializes in transforming cassava into couscous and producing chili and spices. Through her NGO, Jewel, Carolle provides moral support and seasonal employment to teenage mothers and single mothers. With approximately two years of experience in agriculture, Carolle is proud to manage 14 hectares of land today. As a newly selected 2024 Mandela Washington Fellow in Leadership in Business at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana she is Confident about the future. Looking ahead, Carolle aspires to expand her entrepreneurial endeavors significantly. She aims to learn advanced agricultural techniques, sustainable farming practices, and innovative business strategies to enhance and scale her enterprises. Carolle envisions Africa Dô becoming a leading agro-business in Benin within the next five years, with a substantial increase in production capacity, market reach, and product diversity. Her goal is to create a robust network of ecofriendly agricultural initiatives that not only contribute to food security but also promote environmental sustainability and economic empowerment for women in her community.

Chrisantus is a seasoned agronomist with over seven years of experience providing agricultural extension services in Kenya. With an extensive background in agricultural development, Chris has dedicated over a decade to researching social, economic, and environmental issues within the agricultural sector. He has a passion for growing, and nurturing, and a strong desire to produce food. Okaka is a proficient, charismatic, transformative leader, and a youth advocate. His desire for change, growth, and development has helped Chris actively serve in various leadership capacities. He chaired the Maseno University Agricultural Students Association from 2014 to 2017 and currently chairs the Afriponics Marketing Cooperative Society. Furthermore, a member of the International Association of Students in Agricultural and Related Sciences and the African Youth Agripreneurs. Chris practices hydroponics greenhouse production of Cucumber and Capsicum supported by the MasterCard Foundation Young Africa Works (Niko Waks)program in partnership with the Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) Foundation. Additionally, Okaka co-founded and serves as the Head of Operations of Digichange Agronomists Ltd. Digichange offers pre-production planning, farm management, and market linkages for Kenyan farmers. Moreover, Chris heads the partnership and research department of Smile Child Organization, a children’s rights, welfare, and development organization in Kenya. Academically, Chrisantus holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Soil Science and Plant Nutrition with IT and certificates in Agribusiness Management and other professional certificates. He is also currently pursuing a Masters in Dryland Agriculture. Chris Okaka is looking forward to being a YALI alumnus and a Mandela Washington Fellow for 2024.

Claire Chaseya Makuyana is a passionate AI engineer and entrepreneur at the age of 25. She has always had a strong drive to break barriers in a male-dominated industry and is proud to be an inspiration for other aspiring female engineers. In 2022, she co-founded BlitzAgroTech Pvt Ltd, an exciting start-up that focuses on developing innovative agricultural solutions. Her journey took off when her team won an impressive US$25,000 seed funding at the renowned Innovation Drive Hackathon hosted by POTRAZ. As the only female director among four directors, she has played a crucial role in driving BlitzAgroTech’s success through her leadership and technical expertise. BlitzAgroTech is one of the few teams to receive both seed funding and valuable mentorship from Zimbabwe’s top industry experts. The company utilizes cutting-edge technology like IoT, GPRS, deep learning algorithms, and cloud services to track weather patterns, analyze soil compositions, and provide detailed forecasts. With her engineering skills, her team is equipping Zimbabwean farmers with the necessary tools to adapt to climate change and overcome the challenges posed by unpredictable rainfall. Beyond her entrepreneurial ventures, she is deeply committed to promoting gender diversity in the ICT sector. As an active member of the Girls in ICT Innovation Drive organization, she uses her knowledge and experiences to inspire young girls in Zimbabwe to pursue careers in ICT. She believes in empowering them to make a meaningful impact on their lives while contributing to the growth of women in ICT in Zimbabwe. Her dedication to ICT extends beyond Zimbabwe. She has been honored to be selected as part of the ITU Youth Envoys C2024 organization, hosted by the United Nations and POTRAZ. In this role, she actively engages in discussions focused on improving ICT adoption and usage in Zimbabwe, working towards a future where technology plays a crucial role in advancing our society. At just 25 years old, she has achieved significant milestones as a female AI engineer and entrepreneur. Her passion for innovation, gender diversity, and the betterment of Zimbabwe’s agricultural sector defines her journey. With each new endeavor, she is determined to make a lasting impact on the world of technology and inspire generations to come

Ms. Emelda Nguma is a Nutrition & Gender Specialist with over 6 years of experience in nutrition, agriculture, environment, climate, gender, and social inclusion projects. As a trainer, founder, and CEO of Homeland Harvest Tanzania, Emelda is well known for her ability in capacity building, innovation, supervision, and mentoring. Before her current role as a Youth & Gender Specialist, she worked as a Nutrition and Social Inclusion Specialist and as a Nutrition Officer in National and International Organizations. Emelda has worked for Muhimbili National Hospital, Africare Tanzania, Tanzania Livestock Research Institute (TALIRI), USAID Feed the Future Tanzania Horticulture Projects, and Ryan Institute, in Tanzania & Ireland. Emelda has also served as a social media officer, community volunteer, and personal nutrition trainer. Emelda holds an MSc in Climate change, Agriculture, and Food Security (CCAFS) (National University of Ireland, Galway), a BSc in Human Nutrition (HNU) (Sokoine University of Agriculture), and a Diploma in Environmental Health Sciences (EHS) (Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences). Emelda is passionate about addressing the challenge of food loss and waste while promoting the consumption of safe and nutritious food in Tanzania. At the end of the Mandela Washington Fellowship, Emelda plans to push her start-up company that strongly contributes to the reduction of food loss and waste through innovative ways of producing safe, and nutritious value-added products while offering volunteering, mentorship, and employment opportunities to women and youth in Tanzania.

Fatoumata B. Sonko has over 3 years of experience in food technology and child nutrition. Fatou is the co-founder of Dugub Snack and Patat'innov, companies focusing on creating delicious nutritious snacks from locally-sourced ingredients for children. Fatou holds a Master's degree in Food Science and Technology. Recent laureate of the UNICEF Nutrition Hackathon and Alumni of the Academy of Women Entrepreneurship, Fatou is driven by her passion for child nutrition and her commitment to positively impact it with endogenous resources. Upon completion of the Mandela Washington Fellowship, Fatou plans to expand her company and engage in her community to solidify her impact on Nutrition in the West African Region.

Helina has a Bachelor of Science in Architecture from EiABC (Ethiopian Institute of Architecture, Building Construction, and City Development) and a Higher Certificate in Entrepreneurship from Regent Business School in South Africa. Helina is an East African Earth Champion for Climate change, Youth Ambassador for the 'My Future My Voice' campaign by Earthday.org, and has won Regional Climate Action Awards (Climate Neutral Now and Women for Results) in 2021. She is an Alumni of YALIRLCEA (Civic Leadership track), Tony Elumelu Foundation, Connect4Climate (C4C), Climate Reality Leader, WE4A, and a Laureate for Women Entrepreneur in Africa (WIA54) program. From 2019 - 2021, Helina served as the Networking and Events Chair for the YALIRLCEA Ethiopian chapter. Helina has 4 years of experience as a Junior Architect and Interior Designer (Furniture design). From 2018 - 2021, She worked as the CEO of Seed Bomb Ethiopia and recently opened her own company called Seed Balls Ethiopia where she fights deforestation and food insecurity in Ethiopia with the help of Seed Balls. Seed balls are marble-sized balls of clay, earth, compost, and seeds. Helina is also the founder of the Ethiopian Women and Youth Climate Assembly (EWYCA). EWYCA is a platform that aims to elevate the voices and perspectives of Ethiopian women and youth in addressing climate change and environmental issues.

Raïssa has over 10 years of experience in socio-economic surveys and community engagement, particularly within the renewable energy and agriculture sectors in Madagascar. Since 2023, she has been assuming the role of Head of Energy Applications at ANKA, a pioneer of mini-grid company in Madagascar. In this role, she is leading strategic initiatives aimed at enhancing the productive uses of energy and contributing to the development of e-cooking solutions in rural areas. Raïssa is the co-developer of the innovative AgriGrid© concept (https://enaccess.org/agrigrid/), an Agriculture-Energy nexus model designed to enhance climate resilience for rural communities. Passionate about rural development since childhood and eager to create an impact in rural villages, she pursued university studies in social sciences and holds a Master's degree in Population and Development. Upon completion of the Mandela Washington Fellowship, she plans to continue her work to advance renewable energy solutions and foster agricultural development to empower communities across Africa. She remains convinced that powering agriculture with clean energy is a sustainable path to rural community development

Issouf Soukaradji Barmou has over 8 years of experience in Volunteering, Business Development, Brand Management, and Career Growth. Currently, Issouf is a Manager of Global Advancement at a private educational institution, Sup'Management Niger, where he focuses on driving innovation, developing partnerships, and fostering sustainable growth to enhance the institution's impact and reputation on a local and global scale. He founded a computer science club aimed at promoting digital literacy, engaging students in STEM, and fostering peer learning, and has also previously served as president of his undergraduate student union. Issouf holds a bachelor's degree in Management Information Systems from African Development University. He is passionate about Business, Strategic Management, and Career Growth. Upon completion of the Mandela Washington Fellowship, Issouf plans to impact both the private and public sectors of Niger by firstly, helping organizations achieve their goals through Strategic management and Partnership and secondly, assisting students and young professionals to thrive in innovation in their workplace.

Bambesiwe Mbesi May is a Ph.D. (Chemistry) graduate from the University of South Africa. She has been shortlisted as a Finalist to attend the 2024 Mandela Washington Fellowship in the Leadership Institute of Business (Purdue University). She is one of eight young scientists invited to participate at the 73rd Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting dedicated to Physics from June 30 to July 05, 2024, in Germany. She was awarded the 2023 Department of Science and Innovation (DSI) South African Women in Science Award (SAWISA) in the DSI Doctoral fellowship category. She currently holds a role as a Geochemist at Digby Wells Environmental, specializing in geochemical assessments and waste classification. She has previously worked at Mintek (South Africa’s Council for Mineral Technology) as a Pre-Doctoral Researcher, leading research projects based on the detection of emerging contaminants in industrial wastewater; recovery of precious metals from industrial wastewaters; exploration of optical nano-sensors in analytical chemistry and iron species analysis in geological samples. She has gained experience in analytical chemistry techniques, material synthesis, and the application of various materials in biology, pollutant sensing, and water remediation throughout her academic career. Bambesiwe has co-supervised postgraduate students and has developed research skills which are also demonstrated in her list of publications. Her Ph.D. research was based on the development of sustainable magnetic field-driven fluorescent nanocomposites capable of detecting and removing heavy metals from industrial wastewater. This sparked her interest in environmental, industrial waste management and beneficiation.

Latyr Antoine Sarr is an Air Traffic controller aerodrome and approach at Blaise Diagne International Airport from Senegal. Additionally, he is an agripreneur with his company LAS GREENHOUSE which specializes in greenhouse farming. With a degree in Air traffic control from the African School of Meteorology and civil aviation (EAMAC) Niger, he started working in January 2017 at an internship at Leopold Sedar Senghor Airport before being tenured in 2018 at Blaise Diagne international airport after getting his license aerodrome and approach. From a farmer’s family, he returned to farm in 2019 to innovate the way of farming by implementing a greenhouse, using solar energy and drip irrigation to irrigate. The horticultural sector in Senegal faces lots of challenges during raining season with of lack of vegetables in the market and the only way he has found to resolve the problem is greenhouse farming. With his result, he is influencing farmers to do so. His company LAS GREENHOUSE supports those who wish to embark on this activity and is targeting to install thousands of hectares of greenhouses to resolve the problem of fruits and vegetables in Senegal and elsewhere.

Lucas Herbert Mungondo has over five years of experience in leadership positions. Currently, Mungondo is a Founder-CEO of MindShine, Agro-Mozpower, Agro-Huku, and Kafrimachaze, focusing on local youth in the elaboration of sustainable projects. For example, he is now developing a project to promote entrepreneurship for disabled people in Mozambique, especially in rural areas. He is an authentic young visionary leader, a holder of many leadership awards, after his presidential scholarship in Algeria focusing on the Development of rural areas. In 2020, he was the President of the Community of 300 Mozambicans Students in Algeria (CEMA), and in 2017, President of the Community of 30 000 International Students in Algeria. Students from more than 48 nationalists in Algeria. Mungondo holds a Master's degree in Petrochemical Engineering from UBM-Algeria, post-graduated in Business Administration from PPA-France, Bsc in Petrochemical Industrials specializing in refining and petrochemical, he also specialized in Leadership, Trainer-Consultant, Business and Entrepreneurship, Agriprenuership, Fundamentals of Business Expansion and Fundamentals of Climate-Smart Entrepreneurship from YALI, RLC Program-SA. Looking at Mungondo's professional and academic path, there is no doubt in his mind that he needs to increase his skills in business development and entrepreneurship. By seeking business plan development, financial management, business ethics, innovation and technology, diversity and inclusion in the workplace with a focus on people with disabilities, and conducting business in times of crisis. Upon completion of the Mandela Washington Fellowship, Mungondo plans to become a leader in the Mozambican market as an innovative agent of change in rural areas.

Luvo Gugwana is a dynamic leader and visionary with a passion for sustainable agriculture, infrastructure, finance, and investment for sustainable livelihood development for rural communities. He has over a decade of experience in social entrepreneurship, smart agriculture, and civic leadership. At the helm of Green Arch Innovation, Luvo spearheads initiatives poised to revolutionize agriculture through the adoption of cutting-edge technologies, robust infrastructure, and IoT integration. Central to the enterprise's mission is the advancement of aquaponics systems, addressing imperatives such as food security, human capital development, and climate-resilient farming practices. His background includes leadership and strategic development, ICT, and agriculture. He also sits as the chairperson of Youth in Agriculture and Rural Development (KZNYARD) in South Africa. Luvo is deeply committed to social impact, having volunteered with several organizations dedicated to addressing the needs of vulnerable communities. Luvo actively champions programs aimed at equipping women and youth with agricultural skills, fostering entrepreneurship, and unlocking employment opportunities. Luvo also holds a Bachelor of Health Sciences in Medical Orthotics and Prosthetics and is driven by a passion for value creation and positive change in the agricultural and food sectors. Based in South Africa, Luvo's impassioned pursuit of introducing aquaponics systems to rural communities resonates through his participation in the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders, where he seeks to leverage his expertise to foster growth and innovation within his ecosystem. Post-Fellowship, Luvo is poised to harness his expertise, skills, and networks to scale Green Arch Innovation's impact and forge collaborative ventures aimed at catalyzing sustainable agricultural practices globally.

Milton has over 5 years of experience in project management, engineering, and entrepreneurship. Currently, he serves as an associate at Trust Solution, PwC Angola, while also leading as the CEO of dotTerra Inc., a startup dedicated to empowering farmers with data-driven tools for sustainable growth. With a master's degree in electrical engineering from the Glasgow Caledonian University (GCU), UK, and a diploma in Petroleum Refining Engineering, Milton is deeply passionate about innovation and sustainability. He envisions leveraging cutting-edge technology, notably artificial intelligence, to catalyze positive change in agriculture, making it more sustainable and profitable for farmers worldwide

Moonga Chowe has over 7 years of experience in social entrepreneurship. Currently, Moonga is a Chief Executive Officer at Mukuwa Ushiya, focusing on climate change and Women empowerment. The Company extracts oil from the avocado paste and uses the avocado seed and peels to make eco-friendly briquettes that are smokeless, burn longer, and act as a substitute for charcoal, thus reducing deforestation and carbon emission. He also does Volunteer work in his community by training marginalized Women how to make briquettes from agricultural waste such as maize stalks, dried vegetable leaves, and groundnut shells. Moonga holds a Bachelors Degree in Economics (Honors) and is currently pursuing further studies. Moonga is committed to fighting climate change and empowering Women in his community with skills that can earn them a living. Upon completion of the Mandela Washington Fellowship, Moonga plans to improve and expand the operations of the Company to help solve the climate change crisis we are in and empower more Women.

One word that best describes Prince, is “Trailblazer". At the age of 23, Prince took a decadelong journey of fixing Africa’s broken recycling infrastructure following the loss of his best friend to a flood disaster that claimed the lives of more than 200 people on the 3rd of June due to improper waste disposal practices clogging the city’s main drainage systems. Today, his company, Coliba provides recycling services to more than 2 million households and employs 307 full-time workers. Coliba uses an innovative model that pays incentives to low and middleincome households for segregating and recycling their waste with Coliba. Today, Prince is building Africa’s first-ever re-commerce or reverse commerce platform for selling previously owned, used, and broken electronic products that would rather end up as e-waste. Through this platform, users can also have their electronic gadgets and appliances fixed using a circular economy model that ensures zero waste scenarios. His dream is to see a continent without plastic and electronic waste through the lens of innovation. He holds a first-class degree in Information Technology, is an Acumen West African fellow, and was named 2022 African Business Hero by the Jack Ma Foundation through the Alibaba Initiative. He hopes to deeply connect with the people of West Lafayette and the Purdue community, explore learnings, and cultural exchanges, and more importantly meet mentors who would guide his journey of scaling this initiative to 6 markets in Africa and 4 in Asia by 2030.

Roberta Edu is the founder of Moppet Foods. At Moppet, we're dedicated to giving little ones the best start in life by offering 100% natural, nutritious meals made with farm-fresh produce sourced from small organic farmers in Nigeria. Her commitment to sustainability extends beyond the plate, employing eco-friendly production methods to keep the environment green, supporting sustainable agriculture, and empowering small-scale farmers and women in rural areas. Roberta believes in the transformative power of wholesome nutrition, understanding that the food we consume shapes our well-being, and children should never have to eat food made with artificial sugar and additives. Before starting Moppet, she worked as Director of Technology & Digital Transformation at Dentsu, a world-class Advertising agency where she utilizes technology for everyday solutions, her passion lies in cloud technology, and digital innovation, seamlessly integrating technology into business operations to revolutionize core methods and elevate customer experiences. As the founder of Moppet Foods, Roberta is leading a movement towards healthy food accessibility, and fresh, natural, and convenient children's meals, addressing the alarming dearth of healthy options in today's food landscape.

Stella Phiri has over 13 years of experience in entrepreneurship and women empowerment. She owns and runs Rochis Investments Limited, a company that supplies agricultural inputs and implements to local farmers in the Eastern Province of Zambia. Stella has, over the years, leveraged the contracts she has with multinational input producers to empower women and youths that she employs in her last-mile network of supply chains. She holds an advanced diploma from the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA). Upon completion of the Mandela Washington Fellowship, Stella intends to upscale her women empowerment program and also venture into seed production.

Stephen Mwongela is a co-founder and the team leader at Plusfarm Kenya and Farmwiz Africa. Plusfarm offers farm management solutions to farmers while Farmwiz offers agritech solutions. He spearheads the development of cost-effective services and tech solutions for farmers in East Africa. Since 2019, Stephen has navigated Plusfarm's growth, achieving commercial success in rural Kenya. Plusfarm's flagship digital solution, PAMS Kenya, notably facilitates data collection, farm management, and market access. Under Stephen's leadership, the platform serves urban and diaspora landowners investing in agriculture. As CEO, he oversees various aspects of the business, prioritizing connections with small-scale farmers. Leveraging his business model development and entrepreneurship training expertise, Stephen contributes extensively to industry knowledge. He is a distinguished fellow of the Leaders in Innovation programs (LIF 4 2018 and LIF ADVANCE 2022) at the Royal Academy of Engineering UK, the Frontiers Forum UK, and the 2024 Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders. He plans to continue sharpening his expertise and skills in commercializing agriculture for African farmers.

Tatenda Muzangwa has over four years of experience in the engineering field. She holds a Bachelor in Chemical Engineering. Currently, Tatenda is a Managing Director at Choto Renewable Energy company, focusing on biomass energy products and solar-battery integrated systems. She has formerly worked as a metallurgy intern, battery developer, renewable energy researcher, assistant process engineer, youth instructor volunteer, executive assistant, as well as a sales and administration officer. Tatenda is a Solar Energy International (SEI) 2024 scholar; Academy of Women Entrepreneurs (AWE) 2023 fellow; an Africa Innovation Fellow (AIF2021) top five continental pitch finalist; a Younovation Digicon National Winner (2021); Lead Africa International Academy (2021) Future Females Business School graduate (2021); NUST Research Day winner (2019); ECONET Elevate Pitch competition winner (2019) and a Youth Connect Zimbabwe alumni and provincial winner (2019). Upon completion of the Mandela Washington Fellowship, Tatenda plans to use the business acumen attained to grow her engineering and fashion businesses into self-sufficient 'giants’.

Tawanda is an award-winning technology entrepreneur and the Founder of PRECISION AERIAL GROUP, a technology services, consultancy, and training organization based in Zimbabwe and operating throughout Southern Africa. Through his company, he secured the country license for ZIMBABWE FLYING LABS, the nation's first drone technology hub, part of the global FLYING LABS NETWORK, active in over 45 countries globally. This hub focuses on leveraging technology for agriculture, conservation, disaster management, environmental management, and youth education. Tawanda is the Director of Precision Drone Training, Africa's first fully integrated professional pilot training school. This institution provides advanced industry-specific drone training, including programs for government agencies and non-profits on applications in agriculture, wildlife management, medical deliveries, and disaster risk reduction. He is the first Civil Aviation Authority-designated flight examiner in Zimbabwe with Multirotor, Fixed Wing and BVLOS ratings. Tawanda serves on several industry committees and boards as a Drone Systems Integration Consultant. He also founded the Zimbabwe International Drone Conference, Southern Africa's leading event for drone professionals and stakeholders now in its 3rd edition. As an international speaker, Tawanda has addressed over 33 events in countries including Italy, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, the USA, Zambia, and Zimbabwe, focusing on drone technology, robotics, artificial intelligence, and STEM education. He is an international bestselling author, having co-authored two Amazon bestselling books on the drone profession, with his latest achieving #1 bestseller status in Germany, the UK, and the USA. In recognition of his contributions, Tawanda received the JCI Global Creative Young Entrepreneur of the Year award for Africa and the Middle East Region in 2021.

Teslem Meissa student with a Master's in logistics and supply chain in Tunisia, holds a master's degree in economic analysis and a license degree in logistics and transport and has over 6 years of administrative assistant experience. Teslem is an entrepreneur inventor of “SAHA COFEE” a coffee substitute made by date’s pits, she is the founder of a food processing company that works on collecting date’s seed and recycling it.

Teslem has won several prizes such as:

• The Best Inventor in Africa prize dedicated by OAPI in the 2023 Invention and Innovative Business Fair in Cote d'Ivoire,
• The winner of WIA2022 “Women in Africa, a program that identifies remarkable African women entrepreneurs who lead the business with high growth potential”,
• The winner of the best product issued from date dedicated by KHALIFA INTERNATIONAL FOR DATE AND AGRICULTURE in 2022,
• The youngest businesswoman in 2021, by the Federation of Leading Women in Mauritania
• Named in the Griot 2021 “United Nation Newsletter for the Sahel” among the 10 inspiring young actors from the Sahel, she represented the Sahel in general and Mauritania in particular in different countries as a young activist leader in the sector of promoting female entrepreneurship and highlight investment opportunities in the Sahel.

After returning home Teslem plans to learn transferable skills that she can spread and transfer through her community, expand her professional networks with people who can serve her professionally, promote local production, and extend it to be exhibited across the world.