Safaricom yesterday kicked off the second regional summit of its BLAZE BYOB Summit in Nakuru County at Afraha Stadium. This year’s Summits and BYOB Show are pegged on the theme: Greatness Requires Internal Toughness(G.R.I.T). G.R.I.T aims to provide mentorship opportunities as well as build resilience.
As the first of its kind platform in Kenya, East and Central Africa, BLAZE was founded on what Kenyan youth say is most important to them: freedom, empowerment and success.
The event is part of the second season of BLAZE Summits, and follows the launch event held at the Meru Polytechnic in early July this year.
At that event, seven participants won business funding and earned themselves a chance to be part of the BYOB TV Show season two set to air later in the year.
Thousands of participants are expected to take part in the Nakuru summit, which features events taking place at the Stadium until Saturday.
“We hope to run a truly unique series by focusing on two key areas. We will provide free access to mentors as well as introduce BLAZE CSR Fridays, which are sessions aimed at empowering the youth to give back to the society,” said Sylvia Mulinge, Director – Consumer Business, Safaricom.
Over three hundred participants have been pre-screened for the Nakuru co-creation camps. Those with the best business ideas will get funding courtesy of BLAZE as well as get a chance to audition for Season Two of the BYOB TV Show.
On Friday, the BLAZE mentors will deliver a mentorship session at Nakuru High School and Milimani Special School as the Safaricom Foundation donates key resources to the visually impaired units in the two institutions as part of CSR program.
“BLAZE provides the technology and tools that connects BLAZErs with the ability to transform their lives. We hope that G.R.I.T will help turn their passions to success,” Ms. Mulinge added.
Some of the mentors expected at the Nakuru summit include Nyashinski, who is a noted musician and music composer; Jibril Blessing, a well-known producer and videographer; popular comedian and actor Njugush; Abel Mutua, a digital content developer; Wycliffe Waweru, an entrepreneur and bicycle manufacturer; and Caleb Karuga, an Agribusiness entrepreneur.
Tickets for the Summit are on sale at Safaricom Shops in Naivasha and Nakuru as well as on the grounds at Afraha Stadium on the Summit day.
