THE AFRICAN SOLUTION TO THE AFRICAN PROBLEM

I am a big believer in entrepreneurship. I believe not only in its ability to create jobs, transform communities and improve economies but more, in its ability to solve some of the continent's deepest problems.

1. Poverty in Wealth- Interesting how Africa is the richest continent in the world and yet most of the population is poor. Why you may ask? Unfair resource distribution, lack of transparency and accountability.
2. Foreign aid doesn't always help!- The continent receives aid from international providers that cost more than we know! Tax havens, corruption and hidden charges lead to more of a problem than a solution.
3. Limited global partnership- Many times partnerships with international organizations are limited to oil and other resources. Thus, when the price of these commodities dips, so do the associated revenues. Africans need to find other paths of partnership and ways to provide value to the world through the one thing we have the most of, youth. How can the youth in Africa provide value to the world?

It is no secret that being an entrepreneur in Africa comes with an entirely new set of changes. When @arielleforafrica reached out to 10,000 entrepreneurs in the continent to understand the challenges entrepreneurs face, many pointed out lack of relevant skills and business knowledge, lack of mentorship and necessary networks, lack of suitable funding options and limited government support.

Take a second and imagine a situation where entrepreneurs have ACCESS! ACCESS TO FUNDING, ACCESS TO MARKET and ACCESS TO TOOLS/SUPPORT!

After imagining that, let me tell you what you saw...

A better Africa! The Africa I want to see! The Africa I labour to see!

Now, let's talk about SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURS. These are entrepreneurs in the continent that go a step further. They not only have a revenue or profit objective but their core is build on wanting to make a difference. The venture is anchored on the SDG goals.

I have always believed;

You can do well and do good.

The challenge however with being both an entrepreneur in Africa and a social entrepreneur at that, is a one I know all too well. From the assumption that black means ignorant in many developed countries, lack of support from correct networks, struggle to access funding to create the necessary level of impact and in general constantly having more doors shut in your face than those held open.

My story? Well it's quite simple, I have been fighting to create opportunities for the youth in my continent for the last 7 years. Recently, I have focused in on supporting entrepreneurs in particular and that was why I co-founded Arielle for Africa Ltd

I was fortunate to complete two masters abroad in Finance and in International Business where I majored in Disruptive Innovation, a journey I took in the USA and in the UK all in the name of refining myself for the purpose I knew I had ahead of me, giving the youth in my continent all the opportunities they have been denied and all those they desperately deserve.

Does this mean that it was easy for me as a Social Entrepreneur? (excuse my French)

HELL NO!

I feel like I can write a book at this point! It has been such a long journey, and sometimes it feels like decades. But being a 25 year old, black woman has meant that even in my journey to do good, I have experienced more rejection than support.

My team at Arielle for Africa is the reason I keep going. Even when it doesn't make sense all I need to do is look at them or my Co-Founder and pillar in this journey, Feruz Semere and I remember,

If it was easy, it wouldn't be worth it and if it was easy, I would forget that it has been and always will be greater than me.

Have the trials discouraged me?

Have the obstacles hurt?

Has the rejection kept me from keeping on?

Well I will be discussing all of this and more on a webinar on July the 2nd with other Social Impact founders from Ghana, Uganda and more! Feel free to join!

Below is a description of the webinar. The team at Arielle for Africa really wants to continue to open doors for founders all over Africa to share their journeys, their plans and their visions;