What started out as a pilot cohort during July of 2020 has perpetually evolved into a full scaled venture that has expanded to the town of Swakopmund for its fourth cohort.
Swakopmund Building Bosses cohort 4 is proudly funded by the US Embassy, through the Public Diplomacy Grant program. The program targets two crushing problems in Namibia: youth unemployment and financial literacy. Expanding the program to the Erongo region aims to proactively address these problems by facilitating entrepreneurship amongst youth aged 18-25 in the informal sector. The program further aims to strengthen ties between the United States and Namibia through the introduction of an entrepreneurial ecosystem that will promote bilateral cooperation and shared values.
During the morning of the 13 September 2021, an eager group of 20 participants entered the Swakopmund Municipal Rest Camp Conference Centre full of curiosity and determination. During the launch, Elzine Mushambi, the founder and CEO of Impact Tank, encouraged the participants to take full advantage of this opportunity and produce solid, strong and robust businesses through the program. Guest speaker Brett Stickels chatted to the participants about his personal struggles and triumphs as an entrepreneur. He reminded the participants that they do not have to wait for an opportunity to come their way to better their lives, but rather create opportunities for themselves and work adamantly every day to build their own legacy.
We at Impact Tank are immensely proud of this expansion and cannot wait to see the innovative and sustainable businesses these participants introduce into the Namibian community.