Welcome to the start of Entrepreneurship Week 2024 — an initiative between the Karume Institute of Science and Technology and AP Hogeschool.
This week-long program is all about solving real-world challenges with sustainable and innovative solutions. The challenges focus on Zanzibar’s Blue Economy, addressing critical issues in plastic pollution, and sustainable tourism, food waste and nature conservation.
The first day was all about introductions, inspiration, and laying the groundwork for the week ahead. Here’s a quick look at how the day unfolded:
Morning Kick-Off: Welcoming and Inspiration
The day started with a warm welcome from the organizing teams at KIST and AP Hogeschool. Participants were introduced to the week’s goals, the Design Sprint methodology, and what they can expect over the next five days. The excitement was tangible as everyone prepared to dive into challenges that matter to Zanzibar’s future.
Participants were presented with three major challenges, each crucial to Zanzibar’s sustainable development:
- Food waste: Design and implement a sustainable and scalable solution to reduce, repurpose, or eliminate food waste in Zanzibar.
- Plastic-Free Zanzibar: Finding scalable solutions to reduce and repurpose plastic waste.
- Sustainable Tourism: Designing eco-friendly tourism practices that benefit both the environment and the local economy.
Participants broke into teams based on their interests and backgrounds. The diversity within the teams promises a rich blend of perspectives and skills. Each team set out with a common mission: to tackle their challenge head-on by the end of the week.
Afternoon Brainstorming: Igniting Ideas
The afternoon session was dedicated to brainstorming, fueled by the principles of the Design Sprint. Teams started by:
- Setting Long-Term Goals: Where do they want their solution to be in 6 months, 1 year, or even 5 years?
- Identifying Sprint Questions: What challenges could prevent their solution from succeeding? How can they address these uncertainties early?
- Creating User Maps: Mapping out the key players, their needs, and how they interact with potential solutions.
