Video Contest Winners Announced!

After a competitive process of public voting and panel selection, ITC and YALDA are happy to announce the two winners for the video contest: Celebrating African Youth Innovators are Mechi Amaah (Judge’s Pick), Black and Natural Cosmetics, and Bashiru Mansaray (People’s Choice), OS Corp. Each youth innovator demonstrated how youth are rising to the challenges brought on by the virus and innovating in entrepreneurship.

Congratulations to these two young entrepreneurs on showing how youth leaders can turn the crisis into an opportunity using innovation and adapting to challenges!

A big thank you to the Ye! Community for making your voices heard and sharing your support for your peers. 

The two winners will receive the following prizes:

• Technical assistance from ITC to support the winner in positioning his/her business towards gaining access to international markets, one-on-one support for export strategy development and market segmentation, as well support with market analysis and comprehension.
• Invitation to the next YES Forum with a verified speaking role as a young African youth innovator
• 30 minute one-on-one virtual discussion with ITC's Executive Director, Ms. Pamela Coke-Hamilton to discuss business, trade, and what youth need to support their enterprises.

Watch the two winning videos below:

Get to know more about our African Youth Innovators

Mechi Amaah

Passionate about creating employment in her community and promoting economic growth.

Mechi’s business, Black and Natural Cosmetics, is a 100% organic hair product manufacturing company with all ingredients derived from plants. From the chemistry of shampoos to the biology of the scalp, she promotes her culture and roots, as well as helps train internally displaced youths with relevant hair dressing skills. A hairdo at Black and Natural Cosmetics is empowering a youth with skills to fight poverty, unemployment and enhance economic growth.

Visit Mechi’s profile to connect directly and send a message to build your network!

Bashiru Mansaray

A self-taught virtuoso developer, writer, humanitarian, social entrepreneur, and digital creator.

Bashiru’s business, OS Corp, provides easy access to register start-ups, different technology tools, resources, networks and funding. In doing so, OS Corp serves as a platform for young entrepreneurs, and in turn, to address the issue of lacking infrastructure and support for start-ups in Sierra Leone.

Visit Bashiru’s profile to connect directly and send a message to build your network!

Interested to take part in similar events and win your spotlight at global level? Looking for resources and network to grow your business? Create your profile with Ye! today and check out what we can offer for you!