Meet our social entrepreneur...Ms. Olivia Mukam
Born in Yaounde on November 11th, 1987, Olivia Mukam obtained her High School Diploma from the American School of Yaoundé in 2005. She graduated from Johns Hopkins University with a degree in International Relations and a concentration on African Development in January 2009.
Harambe Cameroon's Vision
Build a nation of Problem-Solvers, engrained with the Harambe spirit: Knowing that beneath every problem is an opportunity to be seized. In a spirit of Harambe/“togetherness” in Swahili, we can transform our problems into opportunities, and have a long-lasting impact on the development of our nation.
About Harambe Cameroon
As President and Founder of Harambe-Cameroon, Olivia Mukam established Cameroon’s first Social Entrepreneurship Program: an opportunity zone for Cameroonian university students to translate their ideas into actions, as they propose business enterprises to solve local problems.
The initiative Harambe Cameroon is led by an alliance of young Cameroonians in the diaspora, from the US, UK, France and Asia. Founded in 2009, Harambe Cameroon is an independent branch of the global alliance Harambe Entrepreneur Alliance, recognized and supported by the White House in the United States, Westminster, England, the Ghanaian Parliament, African and global leaders such as Mo Ibrahim and Aliko Dan Gote.
The Social Entrepreneurship Program
Harambe-Cameroon’s Social Entrepreneurship Program aims at promoting entrepreneurship among university students in Cameroon, specifically through the organization of annual competitions. The objective is to provide participants with tools to translate their ideas into concrete projects, with an impact on our community. Harambe Cameroon's mission is "to inspire a new generation of young leaders and entrepreneurs who see problems as opportunities in need of solutions".
In March 2010, and as part of the first edition of the social entrepreneurship program, Harambe-Cameroon hosted its first competition at Mont Febe Hotel, entitled, “The Problem-Solvers’ : 90 seconds to convince " Competition. The Top-four students who proposed the best solutions - creative, convincing, and enterprising - to problems they had identified in their communities were rewarded by the United States Embassy in Cameroon. Due to the buoyant success of this competition, Harambe-Cameroon organized a national competition in 2011.
Harambe Cameroon's Objectives
Change the paradigm as it relates to entrepreneurship and competition among Cameroon’s youth.
Empower the individual by providing necessary training and skills development that will allow them to translate their ideas into ventures for the benefit of the community.
Provide a support network comprising of students, mentors/experts, NGOs, businesses and government agencies.
The Social Entrepreneurship Program is structured in 5 steps [ISICI]
Introduction: Activate Harambe Clubs “The Problem-Solvers’ Club” in each regional University (Yaoundé, Douala, Buea, Dchang, Bagangté).Applications open to all university students.
Selection: Online/social network challenges to select the Top-5 nationwide Problem-Solvers.
Incubation: Top-5 teams invited to the 2-days Business –camp, prior to the Competition
Competition: Each of the 5 Teams of 5 will propose a social innovation project.
Implementation: The Top-2 social enterprises would be implemented.
Ms. Mukam....The Humanitarian
Prior to Harambe, Ms Mukam initiated a couple of projects to solve critical problems in some communities in Cameroon. In 2007, the alarming health conditions of children in the village of Bamendjou-West Cameroon suffering from water-borne diseases prompted her to start a water addition and sanitation project in collaboration with the Engineers Without Borders (EWB) of the University of Delaware. After 3 years of implementation, the project has provided access to clean water to about 3,000 people in the village, reducing the risk of diseases in the village. Moreover, as a spokesperson for Les Amies Colombes, in 2008, Ms Mukam rallied the Johns Hopkins University’s (JHU) African Student Association (ASA) to collaborate with this Cameroonian youth-empowerment NGO. Ms Mukam was motivated to form this collaboration after identifying the need for destitute Cameroonian girls to be educated and self-empowered. During the annual African Student Association Festival, the JHU ASA raised funds to sponsor 20 Cameroonian girls’ training in a vocational school in Douala, Cameroon.
Since her return to Cameroon in July 2009, Olivia Mukam has gained professional experience working with UNICEF Cameroon (September-December 2009), and as a consultant for international NGOs and investment companies.
@ Harambe Cameroon HQ
University Information Session!!
Youth4Change - Unversity of Douala (ESSEC) The WINNERS of the First national Problem-Sovers' Competition. Find their executive summary here http://www.scribd.com/doc/59676649/HCam-Top-11-ESSEC-en-Youth-4-Change-Operation-500-Youth-Jobs-w-Farming-of-Corn-Grits
CONTACT INFORMATION
Email: olivia.mukam@gmail.com, Blog: oliviamukam.blogspot.com
Tel: +237 7013 5705 /+1 240 408 2901
P.O. Box: 5787, Yaoundé -CMR Office: Hajal Center 601, Yaoundé
Implementation: The Top-2 social enterprises would be implemented.
Ms. Mukam....The Humanitarian
Prior to Harambe, Ms Mukam initiated a couple of projects to solve critical problems in some communities in Cameroon. In 2007, the alarming health conditions of children in the village of Bamendjou-West Cameroon suffering from water-borne diseases prompted her to start a water addition and sanitation project in collaboration with the Engineers Without Borders (EWB) of the University of Delaware. After 3 years of implementation, the project has provided access to clean water to about 3,000 people in the village, reducing the risk of diseases in the village. Moreover, as a spokesperson for Les Amies Colombes, in 2008, Ms Mukam rallied the Johns Hopkins University’s (JHU) African Student Association (ASA) to collaborate with this Cameroonian youth-empowerment NGO. Ms Mukam was motivated to form this collaboration after identifying the need for destitute Cameroonian girls to be educated and self-empowered. During the annual African Student Association Festival, the JHU ASA raised funds to sponsor 20 Cameroonian girls’ training in a vocational school in Douala, Cameroon.
Since her return to Cameroon in July 2009, Olivia Mukam has gained professional experience working with UNICEF Cameroon (September-December 2009), and as a consultant for international NGOs and investment companies.
@ Harambe Cameroon HQ
University Information Session!!
Youth4Change - Unversity of Douala (ESSEC) The WINNERS of the First national Problem-Sovers' Competition. Find their executive summary here http://www.scribd.com/doc/59676649/HCam-Top-11-ESSEC-en-Youth-4-Change-Operation-500-Youth-Jobs-w-Farming-of-Corn-Grits
CONTACT INFORMATION
Email: olivia.mukam@gmail.com, Blog: oliviamukam.blogspot.com
Tel: +237 7013 5705 /+1 240 408 2901
P.O. Box: 5787, Yaoundé -CMR Office: Hajal Center 601, Yaoundé
Thumbs up Olivia..You are an inspiration..Continue flying the Harambe flag high..Keep up the great work!!
OK..people..Have a nice weekend..UK peeps..Enjoy the long weekend!!
Y.M.
IRepCamer
