With the conclusion of the COP26 Conference in Glasgow earlier this month, it was clear that the world was generally less excited about the outcomes than they had hoped in the build-up to the event. The message was quite clear that we need leaders to lead and that we need to take more action now towards the adverse effects of climate change.
It is in this premise that the next cohort of 2022 Canada Africa Innovation Fellowship will solely focus on building the entrepreneurship, innovation and leadership skills of fellows with the aim of coming up with green innovation technologies to mitigate the adverse effects of climate change or coming up with renewable energy solutions not only in Sub-saharan Africa but also in Canada. In typical EWB fashion, we will not just talk the talk, but we will also walk the talk when it comes to this issue of our environment.
Do these words; entrepreneurship, innovation, leadership, environmental sustainability, deeply resonate with you? Are you a Canadian recent graduate or a current student in your final year of study or close to your final year of study and looking at the prospects of starting something that can positively influence the world? Are you a serial problem solver who is always excited at the prospect of finding a solution to a complex problem? Are you excited to work with a diverse team from different cultures to tackle a common problem? If your answer to these questions is YES then this program is curated for people like you.
This entrepreneurship, innovation and leadership program is looking at attracting 20 Canadians who have an interest in social entrepreneurship and environmental sustainability. The 20 Canadians will be paired with 10 Ugandans and 10 Ghanaians and will undergo a series of learning labs, coaching, mentorship and leadership development. This will all happen in a span of 16 weeks, which will conclude with groups pitching viable innovative solutions in the areas of climate change and renewable energy that can go into the market as social enterprises. Typically, the program will also demand an average of 15 hours per week commitment and leadership from each participant.
What some of the past fellows had to say about the program:
“The experience I had was awesome both in terms of knowledge and the people I met. Indeed, the many sessions as well as the speaker series were interesting on many points such as how to analyze a problem in a systemic way, how to manage a financial model, how to find and evaluate a potential solution in terms of impact and feasibility”. - Eliott Baltz, a fellow from École de Technologie Supérieure (ETS) in Montreal and Co-founder GERIS Agris-Solutions.
“I am extremely thankful of the opportunity to be part of the Canada-Africa Innovation Fellowship. As a new member of EWB, I wanted to learn more, become involved in international development, and use the skills I have gained during my years at University to drive progress in an area aligned with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. This fellowship granted me a wealth of knowledge from interacting with my Ugandan fellow colleagues to learn about their lived experiences and their thoughts on how to tackle different humanitarian goals and through the structured and insightful weekly lessons led by the leaders at United Social Ventures”. - Alan Payno Montoya fellows from University of Guelph and Co-founder On the Spot.
Therefore, what are you waiting for? Keep in touch with the EWB chapter nearest to you to be the first to hear about application details and links to apply and be part of the next innovation fellows and the leaders who are doing something to protect and conserve our environment.