Eco-fuel Africa, created by Ugandan accountant and social entrepreneur Moses Sanga to reduce deforestation and carbon emissions, is one of 12 winners of Verizon’s 2014 Powerful Answers Award. The award is a multi-million dollar challenge to entrepreneurs, companies and thinkers worldwide to provide innovative solutions in four categories—education, healthcare, sustainability and transportation.
Eco-Fuel Africa addresses unsustainable levels of deforestation and CO2 emissions by selling green charcoal through a network of female retailers. Produced from agricultural waste, the charcoal is 65 percent cheaper than charcoal from wood and burns clearer and longer. The fuel helps users save money and helps reduce the rate of deforestation, create sustainable local jobs and reduce indoor air pollution.
Verizon will publicly acknowledged the winners at a live event on January 27 in New York City, and will announce at that time the winners of the $1million top prize in each of the four categories. The remaining eight winners will receive $250,000 each.
Aside from Eco-Fuel Africa, the 2014 winners are:
Books That Grow. A learning acceleration program. (Education)
School Yourself. The future of digital learning. (Education)
Sesame Enable. Touch-free smartphone and tablet technology. (Education)
Aldatu Biosciences. Changing infectious disease treatment through innovative diagnostic solutions. (Healthcare)
ORGANIZE. Organ donation simplified. (Healthcare)
Talkitt. Voice-to-voice application that translates distorted pronunciation to understandable speech. (Healthcare)
d.light. Mobile-enabled grid for distributing solar light and power products. (Sustainability)
Radiator Labs. A smart-energy storage and distribution system. (Sustainability)
HopOn. Ticketing and boarding public transport systems through cloud service technology. (Transportation)
Matternet. A new paradigm in small flying vehicles, networks and goods transportation. (Transportation)
Vaxess Technologies. A soluble, silk-stabilized vaccine that can be shipped without refrigeration. (Transportation)
