The Maxine’s Village Business Grant
Maxine’s Village Business Grant
The Maxine’s Village Business Grant honors the memory of Maxine Edelman, mother, world traveler, artist and collector. Her delight in the wide world was undiminished by age or infirmity. As her mobility declined and her own world shrank, she harnessed her creativity to bring the outside world into her own room. Using shoeboxes, recycled odds and ends, found objects, children’s toys and collage, Maxine built a village, each room reflecting a different locale. In its chaotic, diverse, creative vision, Maxine’s Village represents the global and the local: the intersection of our big world and our small worlds of community, family, and home. The Maxine’s Village Business Grant seeks to honor that vision by supporting small entrepreneurs all over the world, growing their local ecosystems through positive and creative business development.
Selection Criteria
Creativity
The business and/or entrepreneur can fulfil the creative requirement by demonstrating innovative aspects within the design of the product or service.
Leadership
The entrepreneur must excel in leadership. Leadership qualities can be measured by personal integrity and commitment, having key objectives, and determination for business growth.
Passion
The entrepreneur can demonstrate passion by approaching their work with enthusiasm and by setting goals for their business or service. Being passionate and driven is an integral part of this program.
Commitment to Communities
A committed approach to the betterment of communities through the product or service. A committed approach is demonstrated by a willingness to ease life for those around them through their product or service.
Global/Local Impact
The product or service must have a positive impact on the local communities of the inventor and the potential to assist those in the global community. A product or service that strives for the betterment of lives in both the local and global communities is imperative.
Delivering Transformative Changes
The product or service must have a positive impact on the local communities of the inventor and the potential to assist those in the global community. A product or service that strives for the betterment of lives in both the local and global communities is imperative.
Eligibility:
Age of Entrepreneur
There is no age requirement for this grant
Business stage
All business stages are eligible
Geographical Scope
Applicants to this grant can come from any world region
How to Apply
Each year UPG Biashara Entrepreneurs are considered for this grant. Grants are awarded during the “Action Journey” phase of the UPG Biashara experience. And the specific details of each grant are communicated to all those selected as Candidates to become UPG Biashara Entrepreneurs. To become a UPG Biashara Entrepreneur, please apply below.
Meet the Winner of 2022
As the first recipient of the Maxine’s Village Grant, he finds the opportunity a great honour from the grantors who he has great respect and love for. The grant, will enable Afredia to develop her innovative tech platforms which include a hybrid website and mobile applications. The grant will also set Afredia running and cater to its foundational needs including staff renumeration. Samuel believes Maxine’s Village Grant will greatly contribute to his works of impact done for young Africans through the symbiotic relationship between Afredia and her sister organization; PAN – as Afredia aims to commit some percentage of its earnings to the development works of PAN. He encourages young people to embrace entrepreneurship skills especially through the UPG Biashra programme.
Olalekan Samuel Ajayi
Olalekan Samuel Ajayi is a graduate of Law from the University of Lagos, Nigeria He is a United People Global Sustainability Leader as well as a UPG Biashara Entrepreneur.
As a big believer in young people and their capacity to deliver transformative change, he founded Project Africa Now (PAN) in 2020. PAN is a youth-led organization using media to drive and inspire young Africans towards creating positive change. PAN has positively impacted over 2,700 young Africans from 18 countries. He is a recipient of over 30 honorary awards and once spoke at an auditorium of 50,000 people at the age of 17.
Samuel believes the media is the greatest tool in the hands of young Africans who form the largest youth group in the world. Capitalizing on this huge market, he is building Afredia, a media company which will be Africa’s first youth focused media portfolio curating news and youth-culture contents for young people. Afredia is passionate about youth culture, news and Africanness believing their ideas shape the future.
As the first recipient of the Maxine’s Village Business Grant, Samuel finds the opportunity a great honour from the grantors whom he has great respect and love for. He believes Maxine’s Village Business Grant will not only help his entrepreneurship pursuits but also contribute to social good through the symbiotic relationship between Afredia and PAN. Samuel encourages young people to embrace entrepreneurship as a tool to make the world a better place especially through the UPG Biashara programme.
Coming from humble beginnings, he hopes to be a symbol of hope for young Africans from disadvantaged backgrounds by showing them through his works that there is no limit to what they can achieve.
