Press Release: Grand Prize Winners Announced for Africa Rural Connect’s Second Chance Ideas Contest

Washington, DC — January 15th, 2013 — Washington, D.C – Africa Rural Connect, an online program of the National Peace Corps Association that brings together people from around the world to help solve rural Africa’s greatest challenges, announced today the winners for the Second Chance Ideas Contest. The online competition which ran from September 15 to November 30th was designed to give ideas that had never won a second chance at winning.

“I applaud the winners,” said Eric-Vincent Guichard the judge for the Second Chance Ideas Contest. “The successful entries shared a thorough practical understanding of the problems and highlighted the key intersections of creativity, technology, hands on experience, finance and patience.” Eric-Vincent Guichard, is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for Homestrings.

First Place – Fighting rural household poverty through piggery

The remix idea posted by Alex Kyeyune on November 22, 2012 will help 100 rural farmers acquire one male and female pig.  The original idea was posted by Christopher Mulindwa on January 24, 2012 to create a pig multiplication farm.

Second Place – Supporting women farmers and entrepreneurs in Busia County, Kenya

The remix idea posted by Francis Anyona on November 26, 2012 will focus on the production of soya beans, sorghum, sunflower, cotton, and sweet potatoes using the Long Learning For Farmers (L3F) initiative. The original idea was posted by Lawrence Rokani on May 10, 2011 to create high quality seeds for sale in local markets by the Makwisi Youth.

“These projects have already succeeded,” said Adrienne McCloud Program Manager for Africa Rural Connect. “The winners and their projects are inspiring people and guiding them in concrete ways to bring change.”

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About the National Peace Corps Association (NPCA)

Founded in 1979 and headquartered in Washington, D.C., the National Peace Corps Association (NPCA) is the nation’s leading 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization connecting and championing Returned Peace Corps Volunteers and the Peace Corps community. It provides service and education opportunities that build on the Peace Corps experience, and is also the longest-standing advocate for an independent and robust Peace Corps. To learn more, visit: www.peacecorpsconnect.org

Media contact:
Erica Burman
Director of Communications
Phone: 202-293-7728

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