If you are on any social media platform, you must have heard of the 40-40 group or better still attended their fun charity events like Hoops 4 Grace, Croak & Rhyme and 5-Aside soccer.
Well, the initiative that has raised funds to help in feeding, clothing, providing scholastic materials and building dormitories for underprivileged children over the last three years has got the 40 Days Over 40 Smiles Foundation team leader Esther Kalenzi shortlisted for the prestigious 2015 Commonwealth Youth Awards for Excellence in Development Work.
Catherine Nakitende, 24 of Kingfire Energy Solutions has also been shortlisted among 16 extraordinary young people from Commonwealth countries for the awards.
The awards recognise outstanding young people under 30 whose development projects and programmes have had significant impact on their communities, countries and across the globe.
“Young people throughout the Commonwealth are creating and leading projects that have real and tangible impact. The work of our incredible finalists is proof that young people are integrally involved in the process of change, and not simply passive beneficiaries of development,” said Katherine Ellis, Director of Youth at the Commonwealth Secretariat, while announcing the finalists.
Winners will be announced on 10th March and given an undisclosed cash prize, a trophy and a trip to London to meet Commonwealth leaders.
Kalenzi and Nakitende are among four Africans, the other two coming from Nigeria and Tanzania.
Esther Kalenzi
Esther Kalenzi (Uganda, age 26) has been improving access to education for orphans and children from poor families, through her youth-led charity 40 Days Over 40 Smiles Foundation. Kalenzi’s organisation, which has helped over 700 vulnerable children, spearheads income generating projects in slums and uses social media and social events to raise funds and resources to mobilise volunteers.
Catherine Nakitende
Nakitende started Kingfire Energy Solutions in November 2013, to provide a cleaner and cheaper alternative to charcoal and tackle problems such as deforestation, waste management, limited access to energy and respiratory diseases by using briquettes . Created with a capital of just Shs1000, the innovative business, which benefits poorer communities, won the SEED Initiative Africa Award in 2014.