Friends of Bata started the $1000 micro-initiatives to give local leaders, grass roots organizations or dedicated individuals the opportunity to fund their projects. Every week Friends of Bata selects a winner from the applications received that week.
Baraka, an organisation operating in Zambia, as well as in other countries and regions, aims to better educational opportunities for children by providing improved infrastructure and teaching resources in schools, by sponsoring children and young adults to attend school or college.
Baraka assists over 20 rural schools, their teachers and thousands of children, as well as supporting the wider community. At their schools they build classrooms, science rooms and toilet blocks. They provide training and resources for teachers, install blackboards, donate text books, computers and sports equipment. Baraka even supply simple things like chalk, pens and paper where many schools don’t even have these basic but essential supplies.
To ensure the children continue to learn during the Covid pandemic, they provided educational packs with financial assistance from Friends of Bata among others, in Lusaka & Kapiri Mposhi Districts, Zambia.
Education packs for English and Maths were created for several grades. Three Baraka teachers worked solidly to identify and develop suitable and relevant content for Baraka students. Each pack reviewed by our Baraka education consultant, before being signed off. In total 160 packs were printed with enough material to last 30 to 40 days. The packs were delivered to students across the Lusaka and Kapiri Mposhi Districts by the Education Field Officer. Baraka weren’t able to deliver to all 80 students due to travel restrictions, so the remaining packs will be delivered to a youth foundation/football team.
The monitoring and evaluation phase is currently underway to assess the success of these packs. The Programme Manager, Education consultant and Baraka teachers are working on developing a feedback system that will allow to identify how useful the content of the packs were, this is to ensure the field staff and beneficiaries’ safety when delivering the packs, and to help us improve our packs for the second batch. Also a second batch of education packs is currently developed.
Friends of Bata is proud to have been able to support this great project and we wish Baraka and their students good luck and all the best for the future.
Embarking on the path of entrepreneurship can be daunting, fraught with obstacles and uncertainties.
However, the journey of Adrian Escabias, as detailed in our latest Friends of Bata case study, offers invaluable insights and practical lessons for aspiring entrepreneurs. Here's why young entrepreneurs should delve into Adrian's story of ups and downs, and the strategies employed to successfully launch Aticco Ventures:
Resilience in the Face of Adversity: Adrian's transition from the corporate world to entrepreneurship showcases the importance of resilience. He faced significant setbacks, including the collapse of his startup Subbo and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Escamu. His ability to bounce back and continue innovating is a powerful lesson for any entrepreneur.
Learning from failure: The case study highlights how Adrian turned failures into learning opportunities. For example, the legal issues and partner conflicts he faced in Subbo underscore the necessity of solid legal agreements and the importance of having experienced advisors.
Importance of Intellectual Property: Protecting intellectual property is crucial, as illustrated by the challenges Adrian faced with his CTO at Subbo. Ensuring proper legal safeguards can prevent devastating losses and help maintain the integrity of your business.
Securing Funding: Adrian's experiences reveal the complexities of startup funding. From relying on personal finances and bank loans to establishing community-based pledge funds, his journey underscores the need for creative and strategic approaches to secure capital.
Building a Supportive Community: Aticco Ventures is a testament to the power of community-driven innovation. By fostering a network of experienced entrepreneurs and investors, Adrian has created an environment where startups can thrive through mentorship, collaboration, and shared resources.
Networking and Relationship Building: The value of strong professional networks is a recurring theme in Adrian's story. Regular networking events and workshops at Aticco Ventures help entrepreneurs build essential connections that can lead to new opportunities and collaborations.
For aspiring entrepreneurs, Adrian Escabias's journey provides a realistic and inspiring look at the highs and lows of entrepreneurship. It offers practical lessons on resilience, the importance of solid legal foundations, creative funding solutions, and the power of community. By learning from Adrian's experiences, entrepreneurs can better navigate their own paths and avoid common pitfalls.
Click here to download the case study and find our all details about his challenges and journey!
