April 1, 2025—Toronto, Canada—21 young African social entrepreneurs selected as winners of the 2024 Resolution Social Venture Challenge. The Social Venture Challenge (SVC), a collaboration between the Mastercard Foundation and Resolution Project, identifies Mastercard Foundation Scholars who want to make a difference in their community. It provides them with seed funding, mentorship, and access to a network of global changemakers.
“What’s special about our partnership with the Mastercard Foundation is that it equips brilliant young minds with world-class education, then provides funding and mentorship to create change in their home communities—supporting them in giving back to the places that raised them. Through Resolution Project, these [Mastercard Foundation Scholars] access premier programming for young social entrepreneurs globally, along with our network spanning 35 countries following our groundbreaking integration with Enactus Global. This integration has transformed our capacity, connecting [Mastercard Foundation Scholars] to over 40,000 young changemakers annually and resources that amplify their impact,” said George Tsiatis, CEO & Co-Founder of Resolution Project.
A total of 75 Mastercard Foundation Scholars, representing 39 dynamic teams, participated in the highly competitive 2024 Social Venture Challenge (SVC). After presenting their innovative ideas and impactful solutions, 13 outstanding teams emerged as SVC winners, demonstrating exceptional creativity and a strong commitment to social change. Additionally, 21 Mastercard Foundation Scholars were honoured with prestigious Resolution Fellowships, recognizing their potential to lead transformative ventures and drive meaningful change in their communities.
Following this remarkable achievement, one of the winning Mastercard Foundation Scholars shared their thoughts on what this recognition means for their venture and its impact on the community:
‘’Winning the SVC strongly affirms our mission to provide sustainable solutions to rural communities. It enhances our determination to drive innovation and create a lasting social impact through clean energy and eco-friendly technologies. This recognition will increase our visibility, opening doors to valuable partnerships and resources that will accelerate the growth of our ventures. It also strengthens our commitment to delivering affordable, sustainable energy solutions, such as solar-powered smart freezers through our project E-Cool, which improves the quality of life and preserves the environment for future generations.’’ Dossiya Dakou, E-Cold, Benin
“The Social Venture Challenge provides the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program community with a platform to transform innovative ideas into impactful social ventures and connect to a network of like-minded young people (or entrepreneurs). Mastercard Foundation Scholars are challenged to develop and exercise essential entrepreneurial skills, gaining mentorship and access to resources to refine their business models and implement sustainable solutions if they win.
The Mastercard Foundation recognizes that the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program community values entrepreneurship as a way to achieve dignified and fulfilling work and has designed programs for young people that provide needed financial capital, training, and social capital through mentorship and network-building. The partnership with the Resolution Project is one example of this. The partnership empowers Mastercard Foundation Scholars to participate in the Social Venture Challenge, provides initial financial support, and guides them through their entrepreneurial journey—both during their studies and as they transition beyond school.” Nura Yunus, Lead, Scholar Onboarding, Inclusion and Well-Being at the Mastercard Foundation
This inspiring quote highlights the resilience and determination of young leaders like Pascal Muzungu, who are dedicated to creating meaningful change despite challenging circumstances.
‘’Winning the Resolution Project Social Venture Challenge is a significant milestone in my journey to serve humanity. As a refugee student, becoming a fellow is a testament to my resilience and dedication to personal and professional growth. It also serves as recognition of the positive impact I aim to make within my community.’’ Pascal Muzungu, Hope For Refugees Foundation (HRF), Zambia
Since 2016, the Mastercard Foundation has partnered with the Resolution Project through the Social Venture Challenge (SVC), empowering 285 Mastercard Foundation Scholars to launch impactful ventures across Africa. These ventures span critical sectors such as agriculture, education, health, and environmental sustainability, addressing pressing challenges in their communities.
The partnership has awarded $773,700 in seed funding to Mastercard Foundation Scholars, supporting 150 ventures across the continent. In addition to financial support, Mastercard Foundation Scholars receive mentorship and leadership development opportunities, fostering transformative leadership and equipping them with the skills to drive meaningful change. Through this collaboration, ventures such as UNEGA Farm in Uganda and Happy Home Eco-Sanitation in Ghana have created employment opportunities, introduced innovative solutions, and impacted lives across the continent, with Resolution Fellows reporting 968,346 direct beneficiaries for ventures on the African continent
“A seed of purpose, when nurtured with resilience and vision, grows into a tree of impact. Winning the 2024 Social Venture Challenge proves that when we commit to solving real problems, the world listens and supports us.
This recognition is not just for us—SoyLife.Kitgum—but for every child suffering from malnutrition, every farmer striving for better livelihoods, and every community yearning for a healthier future. It strengthens our resolve to scale SoyLife.Kitgum ensures that nutritious food is not a privilege but a right for all.” Okello Godfrey, SoyLife.Kitgum, Uganda
List of 2024 SVC Winning Ventures
AgroDream Solution TCM – Benin
Members: Esaïe Kombetto, Kouagou Joseph N’tcha
Partner University: University of Abomey-Calavi
Venture Description: AgroDream Solution TCM converts biodegradable waste into eco-friendly charcoal for households in Natitingou. By using agricultural, household, and carpentry waste that is typically discarded, they produce clean, smoke-free green charcoal.
E-cold – Benin
Members: Dossiya Dakou, Nassiratou Sambieni
Partner University: University of Abomey-Calavi
Venture Description: E-cold designs innovative solar freezers and cold rooms for rural areas, integrating AI for market connectivity and IoT for efficient energy and food management. Their goal is to reduce food waste and enhance food security sustainably.
EcoRabbits Revolution – Ghana
Member: Gabriel Domoninge Naa
Partner University: Ashesi University
Venture Description: EcoRabbit Revolution is a sustainable rabbit production social venture that provides employment and modern farm skills to young people in rural communities. The venture uses a circular economy model to feed rabbits with food waste, monitor production with IoT technology, and produce biopesticides from rabbit waste.
Fikisha Ujumbe Mashinani Project – Kenya
Member: Dafali Okoth
Partner University: United States International University Africa
Venture Description: The “Fikisha Ujumbe Mashinani Project” is a student-led initiative to establish a Community Information Centre in Nyang’oma, Kisumu County. It will feature a library, computer lab, and video conferencing to enhance education, digital literacy, and community engagement, empowering 10,000 students annually and fostering sustainable development through community partnerships.
Glamour Haven Africa – Kenya
Members: Alice Jeremoki, Kharis Ilunga
Partner University: United States International University Africa
Venture Description: Glamour Haven Africa is a beauty parlour dedicated to providing personalized beauty services for individuals with disabilities, ensuring accessibility, comfort, and empowerment.
Green Grub Revolution – Uganda
Members: Immaculate Babalanda, Christine Namiyingo
Partner University: Makerere University
Venture Description: Green Grub Revolution addresses the high costs of livestock protein sources in Uganda by offering an environmentally sustainable protein source from Black Soldier Fly Larvae (BSFL). They engage immobilized women in Buseyi Village to produce BSFL from organic waste at an affordable cost.
Hope For Refugees Foundation (HRF) – Zambia
Members: Pascal Muzungu, Komani Sinyinza, Florence Muchoma
Partner University: Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST)
Venture Description: HRF empowers impoverished single refugee mothers and children living in refugee camps by producing and selling rice to commercial markets. This supports Zambia’s efforts to achieve food security and economic prosperity.
Hygiene Heroes Women Empowerment and Poverty Eradication Initiative (HHWEPEI) – South Sudan
Member: Rejoice Johnson Stephen
Partner University: United States International University Africa
Venture Description: Hygiene Heroes empowers young and single mothers aged 13 to 25 years with the skill of making handcrafted, environment-friendly bar soaps. The project focuses on direct consumer sales through local markets with a stable profit margin to ensure sustainability.
MindMentor Foundation – Ghana
Member: Nafisah Adams
Partner University: United States International University Africa
Venture Description: The MindMentor Foundation empowers young people through STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics, and Entrepreneurship) education and mentorship. Their STEAM and Mentorship Park provides practical learning, fosters inclusivity, and challenges gender stereotypes. It addresses resource gaps and promotes sustainable development and skill acquisition.
Smart Farms – Zimbabwe
Member: Trymore Kunjenjema
Partner University: Ashesi University
Venture Description: Smart Farms is a social venture that empowers Zimbabwean small-scale farmers by integrating drone technology to optimize crop planting.
Solganic – Zambia
Member: Tulisha Malichi
Partner University: EARTH University
Venture Description: Solganic proposes decomposing organic waste using two different composting methods: vermicomposting and traditional composting. This approach produces a product with the high nutrition of vermicompost and the soil structure and health regeneration benefits of traditional compost. They also sell liquid fertilizers to smallholder farmers.
SoyLife.Kitgum – Uganda
Member: Godfrey Okello
Partner University: Makerere University
Venture Description: SoyLife.Kitgum combats malnutrition in Kitgum District, Northern Uganda, locally producing soy flour and RUTF. They source raw materials from five smallholder farmers and directly employ and train two young people. Community nutrition education promotes health and resilience, aiming for a nourished, thriving Kitgum.
STEM Futures Initiative – Malawi
Members: EsnartChinyani, Fanne Kaudza, Begin Fadonna
Partner University: United States International University Africa
Venture Description: STEM Futures Initiative aims to establish a rental-based science laboratory at Chiyambi Secondary School, benefiting approximately 2,989 students, including those from surrounding peri-urban secondary schools. With only one out of eight schools in the area having a laboratory, this initiative addresses the educational gap, enabling hands-on learning and improving academic outcomes in science disciplines.
About the Mastercard Foundation
The Mastercard Foundation is a registered Canadian charity and one of the largest foundations in the world. It works with visionary organizations to advance education and financial inclusion, enabling young people in Africa and Indigenous youth in Canada to access dignified and fulfilling work. Established in 2006 through the generosity of Mastercard when it became a public company, the Foundation is an independent organization separate from the company, with offices in Toronto, Kigali, Accra, Nairobi, Kampala, Lagos, Dakar, and Addis Ababa. Its policies, operations, and program decisions are determined by the Foundation’s Board of Directors and leadership.
For more information on the Foundation, please visit www.mastercardfdn.org.
About Resolution Project
Resolution Project works with young people to build a lifetime of impact, starting today. At the core of our work is the Resolution Fellowship, which provides seed funding and lifelong support to promising young leaders on the path of social entrepreneurship. We identify these leaders early on, help them launch their first social impact ventures, and stick with them as they grow. This proven model has supported the growth of over 570 Fellows across six continents and over 80 countries. Through Resolution, social entrepreneurs who are just starting out receive unmatched guidance and wisdom from a team of partners, volunteers, and innovative peers around the globe.
For media inquiries, please contact:
Jared Proudfoot
Director of Communications, Resolution Project