Becoming the difference she wants to see in the youth
Aquila Ledbetter is inspired by the need to innovate and develop
Desiree Gases
As the first founder of Afrisource Innovation Centre, in 2017 Aquila Ledbetter saw the gap in the market and that’s where Afrisource was born out of the need to support local SMEs in Oshana and nearby regions. Afrisource has five founding members who all had their own individual business that needed technical and human support to grow.
Ledbetter was a US Peace Corps volunteer in 2004 -2007. She was assigned to teach computer science at Omukwiyugwemanya in Oshiigambo, Otjikoto Region. Ledbetter’s work was valued and later she extended for a third year and was assigned to manage the IT department for the regional office of the ministry of education.
“It was there that I recognised the need for innovation for the Namibian Youth and then wrote the business model and plan of Afrisource,” said Ledbetter.
Ledbetter was inspired by the belief that every entrepreneur and farmer should get the support they need to innovate and develop their ideas to sustain their communities. “Afrisource’s core philosophy is that we are for the people, by the people and with the people. Meaning that our success is the success of our local SME ability to innovate and aspire to do the work needed to enhance their community,” adds Ledbetter.
With running Afrisource Ledbetter faced challenges in acquiring safe space and technical equipment. One of the major challenges is funds or grants to run the Innovation centre efficiently.
As much as there have been bumps in the road for Ledbetter, there were also achievements.
“We were able to acquire local and international partners that have provided technical and some funding support to train and establish a space. We were selected to receive virtual volunteers to train our local trainers from the US Peace Corps. We supported Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) in farm technology training at the Startup Hub in Ongwediva. We also supported the Rössing Foundation at the Oshikuku Project of Agripreneurship. We hosted our first Market Day event in Ondangwa with 12 vendors. We provided space for the Candlelight project to meet to strategically plan the first annual Oshana Arts Festival for December 2022,” said Ledbetter. Ledbetter’s offices will be open to the public again from 7 February to 3 December 2022.
As the first founder of Afrisource Innovation Centre, in 2017 Aquila Ledbetter saw the gap in the market and that’s where Afrisource was born out of the need to support local SMEs in Oshana and nearby regions. Afrisource has five founding members who all had their own individual business that needed technical and human support to grow.
Ledbetter was a US Peace Corps volunteer in 2004 -2007. She was assigned to teach computer science at Omukwiyugwemanya in Oshiigambo, Otjikoto Region. Ledbetter’s work was valued and later she extended for a third year and was assigned to manage the IT department for the regional office of the ministry of education.
“It was there that I recognised the need for innovation for the Namibian Youth and then wrote the business model and plan of Afrisource,” said Ledbetter.
Ledbetter was inspired by the belief that every entrepreneur and farmer should get the support they need to innovate and develop their ideas to sustain their communities. “Afrisource’s core philosophy is that we are for the people, by the people and with the people. Meaning that our success is the success of our local SME ability to innovate and aspire to do the work needed to enhance their community,” adds Ledbetter.
With running Afrisource Ledbetter faced challenges in acquiring safe space and technical equipment. One of the major challenges is funds or grants to run the Innovation centre efficiently.
As much as there have been bumps in the road for Ledbetter, there were also achievements.
“We were able to acquire local and international partners that have provided technical and some funding support to train and establish a space. We were selected to receive virtual volunteers to train our local trainers from the US Peace Corps. We supported Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) in farm technology training at the Startup Hub in Ongwediva. We also supported the Rössing Foundation at the Oshikuku Project of Agripreneurship. We hosted our first Market Day event in Ondangwa with 12 vendors. We provided space for the Candlelight project to meet to strategically plan the first annual Oshana Arts Festival for December 2022,” said Ledbetter. Ledbetter’s offices will be open to the public again from 7 February to 3 December 2022.
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