The Google Impact Challenge is part of Google’s ongoing commitment to scale up nonprofits contributing to Kenya’s social and economic growth.
Google announced the 12 finalists for the first Google Impact Challenge in Kenya, which sought to identify and fund the most innovative social enterprises using technology to improve society on a local or national scale.
Her Excellency Rachel Ruto, who is the Founder, Joyful Women Organization and Global Champion of Economic Empowerment and Patron of the Google Impact Challenge, lauded Kenyans for the creative entries they submitted for consideration.
“The Google Impact Challenge has bridged the gap between Kenyans who have great ideas and no means to implement and scale them. I am grateful that Google.org created this avenue for innovative Kenyans to put forward their ideas for social impact,” said Her Excellency, Rachel Ruto.
Google will invest a total of Ksh 200 million in grants to the 12 finalist in Kenya with Lewa Wildlife Marathon being named the winner of the Public Vote, while African Prisons Project, Startup Lions and Ujuzi Kilimo Solutions won the Judges’ Vote with each of them taking home Kshs.25 million while the other 8 finalist went home with 12.5 million each
Google Kenya Country Manager Charles Murito said they celebrate the nonprofits that took part in the Google Impact Challenge especially for the waySS their work is fuelling social and economic change in their communities and that this Challenge is part of their ongoing commitment to invest and build initiatives relevant for Africans’ everyday lives.
The challenge was launched in May 2018 in Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa and during the six-month campaign period, over 5000 entries were submitted from the three countries, with over 1000 entries from Kenya.
Google has been in Kenya for more than 10 years and remains committed to making investments that develop the digital ecosystem and leveraging technology to improve the lives and wellbeing of its users. Last month, Google.org announced a partnership with One Acre Fund to provide training as well as products and services to smallholder farmers aimed at digitising their agribusiness operations and tasks.