#MEET iEducate
This is a short interview we conducted with B. Amma Serwaa Frimpong, the creator of iEducate. If you like this project and would like to vote for it, click here
1. Please, tell us a bit about yourself: where are you from and what is your background?
B. Amma Serwaa Frimpong is a young Ghanaian compassionate social entrepreneur with a degree in Marketing. Her drive to see to help the less privileged in society, coupled with her childhood experience of poverty led her to set up and not funded NGO which mainly focused on the development of Ghana in areas of Education, Health and Infrastructure. She is an SDG 4 zealot and has won a few recognition in that stead from UNESCO and some other organizations. She believes in her founding principle which says: "If I impact the lives of two persons who go on to do the same; there will be a ripple effect of the change we all desire to see in no time". She is an advocate of youth rights and matters and a mentor for young girls and has trained more than two hundred in that regard. Her passion for entrepreneurship has not ended as she has recently established a start-up business that deals in the processing of superfoods to promote healthy living in Ghana. Her thirst for knowledge and capacity is evident as she is slated to start an MBA in Human Resource Management in October 2017. With no support whatsoever, she has relentlessly done her bid in society. Imagination can only fathom what more she will do with the needed assistance and right support.
2. Can you describe your idea or project in two sentences?
iEducate is an innovative informal learning platform that promotes self-discovery, self-improvements and vocational skills training through interactive learning and participatory practices. The innovative approach used is termed as the "impact triangle"; where the three angles are: i) Community Heads, ii) young participants and iii) accomplished entrepreneurs.
3. How did you get your idea or concept?
I worked off an agricultural project in a village in Ghana. That was where I was exposed to the adverse effect on poverty especially on Education. I resolved to help in any practical way to assist those who are not able to further their education after the basic level due to no real fault of theirs.
4. What is unique about your idea/project and how does it benefit mankind?
The unique elements of our project are the motivational and mentorship angle coupled with the vocational training. We use the clichè approach that says: " it's better to train a man how to fish than to give him fish". We have however added the elements of "making the belief in the first place that he can fish". When you live in poverty your whole life, it is sometimes very difficult to trust your own capabilities. So we instill in these youngsters the "I Can Do It'' spirit which is very critical to success in a lot of things.
5. Describe yourself as an entrepreneur in one sentence
A compassionate social entrepreneur committed to steering development and the change she desires for her continent, one project at a time.
6. How do you deal with people that doubt your abilities/initiatives?
I do not try to prove them wrong. I only invert that energy in upgrading my abilities and work. With time my abilities and work will speak for itself. I regard them as motivation to do more.
7. Where does your passion lie?
Capacity building and investing in people as a change maker.
8. What are you afraid of or what keeps you up at night?
The fear of merely existing, and not living. I believe we begin to exist from the day we are formed but we only live once we begin to influence the world in a bid to make it better. I want to change lives and be a source of Hope for young people.
9. According to you, money is a synonym for.....
Assistance
10. If you could rid the world of three things, what would they be?
1. Poverty: It goes without saying that poverty is the worst canker on earth. It is probably the same reason why it tops the chart as the number one goal of the United Nations Sustainable Development goals. Once poverty is totally eradicated, a lot of the world's problems will be solved. Children will no longer die of hunger or certain diseases. Healthcare will be more accessible. Education will be a right for all and Corruption will no longer be of the essence. 2. Wars: The world will be a much peaceful and happy place to live in when there are no wars. 3. Discrimination: This may seem a bit off in the list but once we regard and define ourselves only as humans and nothing more or less, we will peacefully co-exist giving each other the utmost of respect and accord; and this certainly will make the world a better place.
11. What are the benefits you take from the Entrepreneurship Campus?
1. It's been a platform to network with some great young entrepreneurs around the world. 2. I have gained valuable lessons and observed key innovation that I can apply or implement in my organization to boost our impact levels. 3. Generally, it's been an exciting opportunity to present our local initiative to a bigger international community platform.
12. What do you like more about the Entrepreneurship Campus?
I love the fact that the campus sheds light on young individuals across the globe doing extraordinary things to make the world a better place by becoming change makers. I also love the fact that; even though none has been selected yet; the campus celebrates this young budding business and social entrepreneurs and acknowledge their efforts
13. Which idea/project do you like most?
iEducate
14. Please, include a link to a video if you have one
https://youtu.be/73cFce6p3Vc
NOTICE: If you want to see more submitted ideas and projects at the Youth Citizen Entrepreneurship Competition, visit BEST IDEAS and BEST PROJECTS and VOTE for the ones you think deserve to WIN the Competition!
