After having received 99 applications this year of impactful ideas and already running social enterprises, our independent jury carefully selected the 8 finalists continuing to the next phase of the Social Impact Award, with a one week bootcamp in July at the Social Innovation Academy (SINA) to help structure and test their ideas and social enterprises and help them get to the next level.

The final event will be in September, where the finalists will present in person to the judges and an audience, where the two winning teams will be chosen. Via public voting, the community award will be chosen as well.

Our Finalists are:

Bamboo Water Tank makes cost-effective local water tank from bamboo for rainwater harvesting.

Bloom Toilet Spray, locally produces disinfectants to prevent infections in latrines and public toilets

Clay Cosmo offers a natural and organic soap using a green clay from DR Congo (called French Clay) that effectively works on eczema, psoriasis and skin complications.

Dr Bahati Project, screens for cancer of cervix in rural districts, taking biopsy samples for early detection to increase chances of successful and affordable treatment for safe motherhood.

Fast Emergency Response System (FERS) is an artificial intelligence powered mobile application that enables real-time matching of ambulances to patients in Kampala, Uganda.

Ouroots Africa partners with nature to organically grow re-usable straws and products replacing single use plastics.

Reform Africa transforms plastic waste polythene bags into sustainable, durable, waterproof bags and accessories

TJA Solar Moquito Kit provides a portable, solar powered, chemical free and naturally made mosquito repellent.

The three winners of the Social Impact Award 2018 in Uganda are:

• Ride Up, a courier service in Kampala with former street children
• Pearl Farm, making investment into rural agriculture easy and a win-win for everyone
• E-Maktaba (Community Voting winner), giving visually impaired students access to educational material through audio books and an app

We congratulate all three enterprises and are excited to see them at the Global Social Impact Summit in Tiblisi Georgia in November, where they will meet the winners of all 25 countries of the Social Impact Award.

Honorable mentions: the enterprises Totya Women and e-Fundi became tied second place after the scoring together with Pear Farm, after which the jury had to take a tough decision.

The Social Innovation Academy (SINA) is empowering marginalized youth to become social entrepreneurs and create jobs. In 2018 SINA is bringing the Social Impact Award to Uganda. The award is currently present in 25 countries and for the first time in Sub-Saharan Africa and Uganda in particular. The award is more than a mere cash price but provides training, mentoring and seed funding to nurture a movement of social entrepreneurs who launch social ventures with a positive impact.

Nationwide applications are open until 15th May 2018 for anyone with ideas or social projects to apply. Eight finalists and their teams will be selected in early June by an independent Jury composed of ten high level government officials, investors, social entrepreneurs and academics. Finalists then go through a residential incubation bootcamp at the Social Innovation Academy (SINA) in Mpigi. During the bootcamp, the teams get matched with mentors and grow their ideas into competitive social enterprises. All finalists are showcased internationally on the Social Impact Award website and join a global community of social entrepreneurs.

Afterwards, the jury selects three winners, who will be awarded in September with each winner receiving a cash prize of up to $1000 Dollars and be invited in November 2018 for the Global Social Impact Summit in the capital of Tbilisi, Georgia in Europe. During the summit, the projects get further support for their venture development and connect to other global winners and high level social entrepreneurship stakeholders.

Eligibility:

• Enterprises, ideas and projects working in Uganda to tackle social or environmental problems
• Team members need to be born between 1988 and 2003 (14 to 30 years)
• The project team must have started to work on their idea not earlier than 1^st January 2017.
• Applications are open for ideas not yet implemented as well as projects in the early stages of implementation
• Submitted projects must not have received funding exceeding 3500 US Dollars (investment, grants, donations, prize money etc.) and with no participation in a comparable incubation program