The African Philanthropy Networks (APN) is excited to announce the twenty (20) winners of the Youth Essay Contest, which focused on “The Role of African Philanthropy in transforming community challenges through Innovation, Policy and Practice”. The essay contest, which was launched on the 25th May 2022, attracted 300 essay submissions from youth aged 18 – 35 years old around the African continent. The goal of the APN Essay contest is to grow the culture of philanthropy among the youth. As a first step towards nurturing this philanthropic culture in African youth, APN decided to sponsor a continentwide youth essay competition to encourage youth to think about innovation and the practice of African philanthropic giving in addressing development challenges. Furthermore, the essay contest provided a space for African youth to raise their voice and generate a new African philanthropy narrative.
After careful deliberation, the judges selected Teboho Polanka from Lesotho as the overall winner of the contest. His winning essay illustrated the nature of African philanthropy and the challenges that are still dominant in the sector. Emerging as the second winner, Keyame Gofamang from Botswana focused on how Africa should collectively transcend and activate the phenomena of African giving to drive its transformational agendas for its communities through innovation, and political commitment underpinned by the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Philip Hope Ifeoluwa from Nigeria, who scooped the third position, delved into the challenges faced by African Philanthropy in effectively transforming community challenges in Africa.
Commenting on the essay contest, APN Executive Director, Dr Stigmata Tenga said, “It is very inspiring to see how passionate young people think about the effectiveness of African Philanthropy in transforming the continent. From the essays, it is evident that many young people are actively engaged in helping address challenges in their communities through different forms of giving.
All the 20 essays will be published on the APN website. Additionally, the top three winners will participate in a Youth in Philanthropy webinar which will be hosted by APN on the 30th of August in commemoration of Youth International Day which fell on the 12th of August.
Below is a full list of the 20 winners.
| Rank | Name | AGE | Gender | COUNTRY |
| 1. | Teboho Polanka | 29 | M | Lesotho |
| 2. | Keyame Gofamang | 24 | F | Botswana |
| 3, | Philip Hope Ifeoluwa | 22 | M | Nigeria |
| 4. | Mercy Murigi Wangari | 28 | F | Kenya |
| 5. | Bill Ivans Gbafore | 24 | M | Liberia |
| 6. | Ebrima Secka | 29 | M | Gambia |
| 7. | Petronella Buwerimwe | 22 | F | Zimbabwe |
| 8. | Richard Chomba | 26 | M | Zambia |
| 9. | Maryse Dossou-Yovo (French Essay) | 20 | F | Benin |
| 10. | Aremu Ololade Mustafa | 24 | M | Nigeria |
| 11 | Shareefa Youshna Jewan | 28 | F | Mauritius |
| 12 | Modester Phiri | 25 | F | Malawi |
| 13 | Sarah Annabell | 24 | F | Kenya |
| 14 | Catherine Kantono | 31 | F | Uganda |
| 15 | Tracy Wambugu | 21 | F | Kenya |
| 16 | Gritejie Nthabiseng | 26 | F | Botswana |
| 17 | Joseph Masangula | 23 | M | Tanzania |
| 18 | Thandolwethu Jele | 27 | F | South Africa |
| 19 | Shu Mabel Lum | 34 | F | Cameroon |
| 20 | Sandros Kathumbi | 18 | M | Namibia |
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