#MEET The Container Village
This is a short interview we conducted with Maureen Molly Basemera, the creator of The Container Village. 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?
I am Maureen Molly Basemera. I am a Ugandan currently taking my BA degree in Ashesi University, Ghana. Growing up from an impoverished community always made me question several aspects of life.
2. Can you describe your idea or project in two sentences?
Container village is a two sided venture that hopes to secure the lives of people living on streets, slums and those living in slum areas. With the idea to recycle shipping containers, I hope to provide homes to these people and offer them with leadership and entrepreneurial skills that would help them attain jobs within their communities.
3. How did you get your idea or concept?
Growing up from a community with almost 80% living under the poverty line made me realize that the one problem these people faced was finance.
4. What is unique about your idea/project and how does it benefit mankind?
My idea combines three aspects indirectly.Firstly, reducing poverty by providing homes and encouraging people to look for jobs and develop their skills. Secondly, we care about our environment. That is the reason for recycling containers instead of throwing them away. And thirdly make money from the commercial aspect that would be used to sustain the non-profit structures and venture.
5. Describe yourself as an entrepreneur in one sentence
I am passionate, creative and a hard working entrepreneur.
6. How do you deal with people that doubt your abilities/initiatives?
I try not to associate a lot with people who do not believe in me. However, if I come across them, I try to involve them in the activity so that they also can rate the success of the project or anything.
7. Where does your passion lie?
Am passionate about seeing my continent Africa grow and develop.
8. What are you afraid of or what keeps you up at night?
I am always worried about how my future would look like. Whether I have planned well for it or nor. This is because I do not want to be dependent at 24years.
9. According to you, money is a synonym for.....
Happiness
10. If you could rid the world of three things, what would they be?
- Poverty
- Ignorance
- Death
11. What are the benefits you take from the Entrepreneurship Campus?
I have met wonderful people at the Entrepreneurship Campus.
I have learned a lot from the courses that I took
I have also improved on my idea.
12. What do you like more about the Entrepreneurship Campus?
I loved the courses.
13. Which idea/project do you like most?
People had wonderful ideas. They just needed some polishing. I didn't have a specific favorite.
Photo via pixabay.com
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!