Backing Africa’s forward thinkers -- Meet the 2018 Google.org Impact Challenge winners

Today is a day for celebration. Six months ago, the Google Impact Challenge (GIC) asked Kenyan, Nigerian, and South African social innovators for big and bold ideas to drive community impact. We received more than 5,000 submissions across the continent.

Today, 36 local nonprofit leaders and social entrepreneurs across Kenya, Nigeria, and South Africa stood onstage and pitched their ideas to grow economic opportunity in their countries and beyond to a panel of expert judges. 12 total finalists were selected as winners by our judges and three “People’s Choice” awardees were announced, after more than 200,000 public votes were tallied, the highest in any Impact Challenge globally.

We would like to congratulate the winners in each country:

Thanks to all of those who applied, took time preparing their proposals and shared ways in which they wanted to impact their communities. Congratulations to the finalists who have made it today.We will be rooting for you and will partner you with Googlers to bring your ideas to life over the coming months.

Winners will receive a $250,000 grant from Google.org, while finalists will receive a $125,000 grant - totaling $6M in new grant funding across the continent.

We’re inspired by the passion and vision of all of our finalists - and the real work is just beginning. We are excited to partner with these organizations as they dig in to new and innovative projects to make our communities even better.

Thanks to everyone from all of the organisations who applied, all of the public who voted, to our esteemed judges, and most of all, the 36 finalists. Today was a celebration because of you.

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