Dar es Salaam, 3rd July, 2012: Preparations are in high gear for
Tanzania mainland and Zanzibar to take part fully in the Global
Entrepreneurship Week (GEW) 2012 it has been announced.
The Global Entrepreneurship Week planning team has chosen Zanzibar
Association for Youth Education and Empowerment (ZAYEE) to host the
first GEW Tanzania initiative that is geared to empower young
entrepreneurs all over the country and presented under the theme
“Amsha Uwezo Wako” which is Swahili for “Awaken Your Potential”.
The initiative is considered to be the largest celebration of
innovators and job creators, where start-ups are encouraged ad
empowered to drive economic growth and improve the quality of life for
all. The initiative kicked off in 2008 and directly engages more than
7 million people in 35,000 events, activities and competitions each
November.
“Entrepreneurship is what will take Tanzania to be an economic giant
to reckon with across the globe. We have all the potential, we have
all the resources in the land and sea—- what we lack is the spirit
of entrepreneurship being embedded in our lifestyles and culture,” Mr
Omar Said Shaaban, the Vice-Chairman and co-founder of ZAYEE said.
He said GEW Tanzania is part of a global initiative within an
international network of over 125 countries dedicated to advancing and
empowering young entrepreneurs.
“From Zanzibar to the shores of Lake Victoria and Tanganyika, in every
corner of the land, we want to make a rallying call to youth to
nurture their talents for entrepreneurship,” he added.
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The one week initiative set for November 12 to 18, 2012 will mobilize
youth in an effort to awaken their potential.
“A new generation of startups and the entrepreneurs who lead them are
emerging to do good—and do well,” said Jonathan Ortmans, president of
Global Entrepreneurship Week. “In one week, we introduce the notion of
entrepreneurial activity to those who have never considered it as a
possibility in their lifetime.”
Calling for the government and the private sector to support youth
power in entrepreneurship, Mr. Shaaban said GEW Tanzania can change
the course of the nation for the good.
“This nationwide event is targeted at identifying and enhancing
youths’ natural talents through empowerment, access to resources that
will nurture their academic, professional, social and interpersonal
skills,” said Shaaban.
Noting that over 70 per cent of the population in Tanzania are youth
under the age of 35 and children, it is paramount for the majority
populace to be aware of the changing global economic trends and be
prepared to take entrepreneurship not as the alternative to paid
employment but as the best alternative.
“The government and private sector in the last ten years or so has
been unable to absorb many University graduates,” added Shaaban. “We
are already in a job crisis. We must act positively now by
inspiring the youth to explore their potential as self-starters and
innovators.”
Mr. Shaaban said ZAYEE was looking for partnership with the
government, agencies, businesses, business leaders and academics in
order to make the event a huge success.
-end-
Editor’s Note:
About “The Host” ZAYEE
The host of the début GEW Tanzania is the Zanzibar Association for
Youth Education and Empowerment (ZAYEE), a non-profit organisation
launched in June 2010. ZAYEE’s objective is to enhance the potential
and talent of Tanzania’s youth through initiatives that empower
education and promote entrepreneurship. Partnering with non-profit,
community service organisations, government departments and the
private sector, ZAYEE mobilizes resources to facilitate youth
engagement in wealth creation for development. Through ZAYEE,
Tanzania’s youth have access to consultation, counselling, educational
workshops, training, conferences and seminars and symposiums. ZAYEE is
managed by an Executive Committee of dynamic young professionals and
comprises of 58 members. For more information on ZAYEE visit:
www.zayee.org or Email your queries to: info@zayee.org
About Global Entrepreneurship Week
During one week each November, thousands of activities around the
world inspire millions to engage in entrepreneurial action while
connecting them to potential mentors, collaborators and investors. In
three short years, Global Entrepreneurship Week has expanded to over
120 countries—empowering nearly 20 million people through 95,000
activities. Powered by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, the
initiative is supported by dozens of world leaders and a growing
network of 24,000 partner organizations. For more information, visit
www.unleashingideas.org, and follow @unleashingideas on Twitter.