Kijana Leo: Propelling young innovators to greater heights
Kijana Katika Mabadiliko – “Youth in Transformation”
As its name implies, “Kijana Leo” is a Swahili youth entrepreneurship program empowering Tanzanian youth to scale their businesses and unlock growth opportunities. Originally launched as a 60 minute interactive television show, it has now evolved into a dynamic 6 month accelerator that supports youth-led social enterprises through curriculum-based training, mentorship, and practical skills development. While the TV component remains central, the program’s core focus is to equip young people with the tools needed to build sustainable ventures and create decent work. It showcases inspiring youth stories to encourage peer learning and local
innovation.”
Training Curriculum
The Kijana Leo Accelerator is a structured, 6 month curriculum-based training program designed to support young Tanzanian entrepreneurs in building scalable, socially responsible businesses. The curriculum blends practical skill-building, technical mentorship, and personal development to help youth-led enterprises thrive in dynamic markets. Each module is designed to equip participants with tools, knowledge, and confidence to navigate the entrepreneurial journey from ideation to investment readiness.
Harnessing the Power of Digital Media in Youth Engagement
Tanzanian youth have relied on television programs for amusement, news, education, culture, the weather, sports, and even music since the debut of music videos, as more and more means to watch television have become available. The appropriate use of television can provide youth with an informative experience that contributes to the development of their informal skills, connects them with opportunities, and inspires them so that they can contribute to employment and be equipped to shape their behavior and actions to support the achievement of their goals.
Nowadays, more than 56% of Tanzanian homes have access to satellite TV, with AZAM TV, the country’s main provider, reaching 81% of these households.
Tanzania’s viewing culture extends beyond the home, as most of the television viewing takes place in communal and digital spaces, allowing it to reach more people, especially in rural areas. Consequently, the Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete Foundation (JMKF), AZAM TV, and the Prime Minister’s Office – Youth Development Division (PMO-LYED) collaborate with youth and youth organisations throughout Tanzania to use television as a platform to educate, cross-learn, and inspire youth on social innovation – with tremendous success.
We are delighted to present here the bright stars of KIJANA LEO TV episodes have risen to greater heights in their various fields after appearing on the TV program.
Saving Forests, Creating Jobs: How Kapok Collective Is Transforming Lindi’s Kapok Trees
Tanzania is home to thousands of kapok trees, particularly in coastal regions such as Lindi, Mtwara, and parts of the southern corridor, where they naturally thrive in dry forest ecosystems. However, for decades, these trees have been largely undervalued, with an...
Tomato Powder Revolution: Turning Post-Harvest Loss into Profit in Mbeya
Tanzania produces an estimated 600,000 to 700,000 tonnes of tomatoes annually, making it one of the most widely grown horticultural crops in the country. However, due to poor transportation networks, long distances from rural farms to urban markets, and limited...
Soil-Free Farming: How Hydroponics Is Transforming Vegetable Farming in Zanzibar
Tanzania’s demand for fresh vegetables continues to rise, driven by population growth, expanding urban markets, and a booming hospitality industry, particularly in tourist destinations. Yet supply challenges remain persistent. Seasonal shortages, high transportation...
From Farm to Phone: The Tanzanian Startup Revolutionizing Animal Health
Tanzania is home to one of the largest livestock populations in Africa, with millions of cattle, goats, and sheep supporting rural livelihoods, nutrition, and national economic activity. Yet behind these impressive numbers lies a persistent challenge: every year,...
Youth Powering Change: Zanzibar Group Produces Smoke-Free Charcoal to Fight Deforestation
Tanzania faces a critical challenge of deforestation, with an estimated 469,000 hectares of forest lost annually. According to the 2022 Zanzibar Population and Housing Census, about 46.9% of households in Zanzibar use firewood as their main cooking fuel, and 28.9% use...
Najivunia Youth Bootcamp: Empowering Youth from Mindset to Markets
A bold new chapter in youth development unfolded last month as the Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete Foundation (JMKF) and the International Youth Fellowship (IYF) formalized a landmark partnership to unlock opportunities for young Tanzanians. The partnership started with the...
Feeding the Future: Transforming Livestock Farming Through Sustainable Nutrition
Climate change is no longer a distant threat. It is a present reality that is already disrupting lives and livelihoods. In 2021 and 2022, a devastating drought struck Simanjiro District in Tanzania’s Manyara Region, leading to the death of over 92,047 livestock...
Building Businesses That Last: Training Tanzania’s Youth to Scale Their Businesses to New Heights
Across Tanzania, young people are bursting with ideas, and the entrepreneurial spirit is high. From tech innovators, artist’s and farmers to creatives turning talent and current gaps into income, their potential is powerful but too often...
Youth, Art, and Enterprise: A Two-Day Workshop Igniting Tanzania’s Creative Economy
Art has always been and will be central to African culture. The creative arts industry in Africa employs 5 million people. With the existing high youth unemployment rates, with East African unemployment standing at approximately...