This blog was written by Caroline Kende-Robb, Executive Director, Africa Progress Panel. It was first published January 27, 2016 in the Huffington Post.

In 2016, the world faces uncertainty and volatility – as well as huge opportunities for significant progress. Africa stands not just to gain from these major shifts, but also to lead some of them.

The global landscape is certainly challenging, with the political and economic news dominated by slowing growth, rocky stock markets, falling commodity prices, risks in emerging markets (especially China), increasing numbers of refugees, geopolitical tensions and the threat of violent extremism.

Emmanuel’s journey started in 2008 with an Aiducation scholarship. Now, 8 years later he has successfully launched TechNet, a provider of dynamic and affordable websites and mobile applications for local Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Kenya. In an interview, he tells us how everything started and what role Aiducation played in the success of his business.

Emmanuel, how did you come up with your small business idea?

Upon joining University, I developed a passion for website designing and development. This was brought by the need to set up an online e-commerce shop for my mother, who was running a boutique at one of the tourist hotels on Kenya’s coast. Through watching youtube tutorials and other tutorials from free online courses provider like Cousera and others, I honed my web designing skills. One day, I successfully designed a fashion blog website for one of the students. Before I realized, the student had become my first client and I went on to acquire extra clients and set up a company.

Was this a project you have always dreamt of launching?

Never before had I dreamt that I would run a company that deals with web design and mobile applications development. I think the fact that I realised that there was a market gap where web design and apps companies never targeted SMEs that is when I started pushing myself to the idea that I can one day bridge that gap. Well, I guess we are on motion to achieving that.

What role did Aiducation play in the success of your business?

Lynda K. is one of our first scholar who received a scholarship from Aiducation. Scoring 51 out of 20,000 students who took the final examination in Kenya’s coast region in 2011, she got a governmental scholarship to study law in Nairobi. Lynda, however, is a young lady with strong entrepreneurial spirit who aims for more. In an interview she shares how her business idea turned pink and what role Aiducation played in the success of her startup.

Lynda, what is the idea behind „Think Pig” and when was is founded?
The idea is to rear and sell fully grown pigs in the Coastal town of Mombasa. It was founed in January 2016 and I currently have 24 pigs on my farm that is run with the help of one employee.

How did you come up with your small business idea?
I wanted to venture into agribusiness, but I wasn’t sure which path to take. I was inspired by a pig farmer in a nearby town. It was common to rear cows and goats there, but rearing pigs is something rare in my part of the country. I spotted a niche and rose to the task.

Lynda checking if her pigs are all well.

Was this a project you have always dreamt of launching?
Not at all. I had all manner of business ideas, but not pig farming! I thought about the fashion industry and was almost sure that is what I wanted to do. But here I am today!

What role did Aiducation play in the success of your business?
Through the mentorship academies, I am fully equipped to run a start-up. In addition, I won the first round of the wonderland award, which was again being run by Aiducation. The award was a sum of USD 300, which I used to buy my first four pigs. Most importantly, I received the rest of the capital needed for my business from the Start Up Fund.

Were there any challenges you were facing when you started your project?
Yes. I did not eventually win the grand prize of the Wonderland Award and the running capital for my business was a bit too high. I was not sure whether I would be able to sustain it. I, however, got capital from the Start Up fund and the business is up and running.

Are you now a full-time business woman at Think Pig? What does a normal working day for you look like?
I play a managerial and supervisory role in my business. When I am at the farm, that is once per month, I am mostly checking the health of the pigs, consulting with the Vet and generally checking the conditions of the pigs and the environment they are in. I am also constantly checking out on market opportunities.

What is the most memorable feedback you have ever received on your project?
“There is so much potential in this project. The sky is the limit.” This was a remark by one of my mentors.

A pink business with pigs.

And what was the most memorable experience you ever had at your start up?
Hosting Aiducation and Swiss Re mentors at the farm was definitely my best memory of my start up!

What are the future plans for Think Pig?
I want to have at least 100 pigs at any given time. My vision is to get to processing pig meat.

Enjoy an amazing and inspiring video of the first Aiducation Mentorship Academy ever held in the Philippines. The academy took place in December 2015 and was organized in collaboration with Synpulse, a management consulting company for international financial services companies, and Pathways, our partner organization in the Philippines.

Angelica is like many other teenager girls: she likes the color orange and hates cockroaches. Loves to read books, watch movies and eat her mom’s delicious version of Adobo, a traditional Filipino dish with pork or chicken in soy sauce. But unlike many others, she got a golden opportunity in her life.

The family’s financial situation is tight and her parents struggle to feed and house her and her four siblings. Not much money is left for Angelica’s education. However, through the partnership of Aiducation and Pathways in the Philippines, Angelica found an Aidumaker who supports her High School studies that prepare her to enter university. And – even more fortunately – she was the 1000th AiduFellow awarded with an Aiducation scholarship.

Angelica is well aware of how Aiducation will help her in her life, as she has a strong believe: “Education is really an important part of everyone’s life and it will open a door of opportunities in my life and I will make the best of it!” This determinate young woman is fearless and ready to go after her dreams: finish her studies, go to university, work on her biochemistry career, and by this, support her family and community. Happy to be awarded this opportunity, she has a promise for her Aidumaker: “I will make the best out of this and I won’t waste it!”. Watch her video message and learn more about Angelica.