Tigo Tanzania launches 5th Annual Digital Changemakers’ Award This year’s award has new focus on education, digital inclusion and business entrepreneurship DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania, October 20, 2016/APO/ -- Tigo Tanzania (www.Tigo.co.tz), in partnership with the non-profit organization, Reach for Change (Africa.ReachforChange.org), has launched its 5th annual ‘Tigo Digital Changemakers’ Award competition. The competition aims at identifying and supporting social entrepreneurs who use digital tools and technology to improve communities and impact future generations. This year, Tigo is looking for innovations that focus on education, entrepreneurship and broadening digital inclusion.  Two winning ideas will receive a cash prize of up to USD 20,000 each and get access to Reach for Change incubator, business training and a global network of other social entrepreneurs. The application period for the competition is now open and applications will be received until 21st November 2016.  Speaking at a press conference during the launch, Tigo Corporate Responsibility Manager, Woinde Shisael said, “We are thrilled to be running the Tigo Digital Changemakers’ award with a new focus this year. Our team is very excited to support digital innovations that will improve education, digital inclusion and business entrepreneurship in Tanzania.” Shisael added that the Tigo Digital Change-makers’ Award is a great way to support the best and brightest social innovators that the country has to offer, empowering them to change society through digital solutions.  This is the fifth year that Tigo and Reach for Change are running the competition in search for social entrepreneurs.  She praised the work of the past winners who continue to impact society in areas like education, bridging gender gap in ICT while encouraging others to share their initiatives. “We have so far supported 8 social entrepreneurs through the Tigo Digital Changemakers’ initiative. They have made good use of funding, coaching, mentorship and together they have reached more than 10,000 children and youths.” said Shisael.  Carolyne Ekyarisiima, for example, is a Tigo Digital Changemaker who is working to bridge the gender gap in ICT technology through her social enterprise, Apps & Girls. “In 2015, Carolyne impacted over 1000 girls, through coding clubs in schools, workshops, hackathons, boot camps and competitions,” Shisael added. “Not only does this initiative help to ensure that more girls have access to digital technologies, it is also empowering them to become future ICT leaders”. Carolyne is just one example of the kind of talented digital innovators that Tigo is seeking to support through this year’s award. Shisael said she looks forward to reviewing new and exciting digital innovations that will be submitted to this year’s competition. All those interested in applying or finding out more about the completion are encouraged to visit www.Tigo.co.tz/DigitalChangemakers. The application period will run until 21st November 2016.  During the launch, a panelist of digital savvy innovators discussed a topic titled, ‘The Role of Digital Solutions in Scaling Innovation, Education, Entrepreneurship and ICT Inclusion’ to motivate and inspire more quality participants to take part in this year's competition. Distributed by APO on behalf of Tigo.Media Contact: William Mpinga  Tigo Brand Manager  Mobile: 0658123644 William.Mpinga@Tigo.co.tz Josephine Msambichaka Reach for Change Programme Manager - Tanzania Mobile: +255 784 785904 Email: Josephine.Msambichaka@ReachforChange.org Skype: Josephine.Msambichaka About Tigo: Tigo Tanzania (www.Tigo.co.tz) is the leading innovative telecommunication company in the country, distinguished as a fully-fledged digital lifestyle brand. Offering a diverse product portfolio in voice, SMS, high-speed internet and mobile financial services, Tigo has pioneered innovations such as the first Smartphone in Kiswahili, Facebook in Kiswahili, Free YouTube at Night, Tigo Pesa App and East Africa’s first cross-border mobile money transfer with currency conversion.   Tigo has captured most of the market growth in 2014 and 2015* becoming the number 2 operator in Tanzania. Tigo has also launched 4G LTE network in Dar es Salaam and 14 cities and will be available in all the major cities of Tanzania by end of October 2016.  In the past three years the company has launched over 500 network sites bring to over 2000 the total of its network sites. It plans to double its investment by 2017 in terms of coverage and additional capacity networks for deeper penetration in rural areas.  With over 11 million registered subscribers, Tigo directly and indirectly employs over 300,000 Tanzanians including an extended network of customer service representatives, mobile money merchants, sales agents and distributors.  Tigo started its operations in Tanzania in 1994. Tigo is the commercial brand of Millicom, an international company developing the digital lifestyle in 14 countries with commercial operations in Africa and Latin America and corporate offices in Europe and the USA. Find out more on: www.Tigo.co.tz. About Reach for Change: Reach for Change Africa (Africa.ReachforChange.org) is a non-profit organization that invests in innovative, early-stage social entrepreneurs who are addressing problems faced by children, youth and women in seven countries across the continent; Ghana, Senegal, Chad, Ethiopia, DR Congo, Rwanda and Tanzania. Reach for Change runs innovation competitions and provides Accelerator and Incubator programs to exceptional social entrepreneurs who are supported to scale their innovations through funding, access to technical and organizational management expertise, and networking opportunities. Reach for Change Africa is a part of the global organization Reach for Change which operates in 17 countries worldwide. Find out more on: Africa.ReachforChange.org.