Calling All Young Moroccan Entrepreneurs

Rabat – The African Leadership Academy is currently touring North Africa. The tour started in earnest in Morocco last Weekend on Saturday, October 10th in the IRC section at the newly built United States Embassy in Rabat.

The IRC was packed to capacity with young entrepreneurs eager to become agents of transformative change in Morocco. In attendance were youth representing Enactus, Injaz and former Alumni of the YES program. They had the opportunity to learn about the MasterCard Sponsored Anzisha Prize.

“I hope that this year marks the first time that a Moroccan Entrepreneur will be a finalist for this prestigious prize. Morocco is in need of Entrepreneurs who employ others. Youth can no longer expect to have the government come and provide them with Jobs upon graduating from school. Young Moroccans need to be proactive and learn how to be Entrepreneurial in approaching their dreams. First, they must identify a problem, lots to choose from, then they come up with a solution; then they empower others from within their social network to help them affect global solutions that fulfil a vision that they are passionate about.” Says Elmahdi Oummih, Strategic Relations Director in North Africa for the African Leadership Academy.

The Anzisha Prize was first launched in 2011, and the 2014 finalists will join a community of Anzisha fellows from previous years. This is a life-long membership where the fellows will have access to Anzisha’s network of mentors, advisers and investors that extend across the continent.

The Anzisha Prize seeks to award young entrepreneurs who have developed and implemented innovative solutions to social challenges or started successful businesses within their communities. 12 finalists from across Africa will win an all-expenses paid trip to South Africa to be a part of a week-long entrepreneurship workshop and conference at the African Leadership Academy campus on the outskirts of Johannesburg.  The grand prize winners, selected from these finalists, will share prizes worth $75,000 USD

This is the time for Moroccans to start their projects so that by the time the application process opens up, they are able to apply for this once in a life time opportunity. Applications can be downloaded from www.anzishaprize.org

As part of the North African Tour, Mr. Oummih is also talking to youth about opportunities available to them through the Global Scholars program, www.alasummer.org and the Flag Ship 2 year program which has seen youth from all over Morocco go on to receive scholarships at some of the most prestigious Universities in the world. Those interested in applying to African Leadership Academy must commit to coming back to their countries (or another African country) and working for at least ten years on the continent. This fulfils one of the goals of African Leadership Academy, which is to reverse the brain drain that has wrecked such Havoc to the development of Africa. The application process is now open for the 2 year program, and all youth between the ages of 15 and 19 are encouraged to apply. Applications are available in Arabic, French or English and can be downloaded at www.africanleadershipacademy.org

The North Africa Tour will continue in Tunisia over the next two weeks, with appearances slated for Tunisian National Radio and Television as well as numerous visits to the top schools and Entrepreneurial Organizations throughout Tunisia before returning to Morocco briefly for the eagerly anticipated Early Admissions Finalist event to be held at Hotel Sofitel in Casablanca on November 1^st. The Tour will then make stops in Algeria, Libya, Sudan, Egypt and Ethiopia before coming back to Morocco again. “This is truly a once in a lifetime opportunity, if you know any youth between the ages of 15 and 19, please encourage them to download an application from the website today!” Said, Mr. Oummih.

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