In a ceremony held at its headquarters, Dreams Hub—Equatorial Guinea’s center for innovation, leadership, and entrepreneurship—officially welcomed the 25 selected youth and women participating in Project 19: Support for Environmental Initiatives in the Congo Basin. The project, funded by the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie (OIF) and implemented by Dreams Hub with technical support from Kosala Africa PME, aims to foster eco-innovative solutions in one of Africa’s most vital green lungs.
The event marked the formal launch of the program, which over the coming months will support participants in developing and scaling their sustainable initiatives addressing key environmental challenges in the region. Candidates were selected based on the innovative potential and social impact of their projects.
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Representing the Executive Director, María Concepción Nchaso, Dreams Hub’s Head of Operations, offered an inspiring message: “Never underestimate the power of an idea when it serves the common good.” As a symbol of this vision, a “green tire” was presented—not for its color, but as a metaphor for a collective seed of ingenuity, hope, and environmental commitment.
The ceremony was attended by Juan Ondo Ovono, National Correspondent of the Francophonie and representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, alongside the Dreams Hub team, the program’s lead trainers, and the full cohort of beneficiaries.
The training schedule was unveiled during the event, noting that most workshops will run in three-week cycles. Meanwhile, French language instruction—an essential element of the initiative—will be offered continuously until the program’s conclusion, reinforcing linguistic and cultural integration within the Francophone space.
In his remarks, the government representative reaffirmed institutional support for the project and encouraged participants to serve as ambassadors for Equatorial Guinea within the OIF and broader Francophone community. “This program is an opportunity to show that African youth offer concrete responses to the climate challenges facing our region,” he stated.
During a Q&A session, participants raised questions regarding the practical aspects of the program, including team participation, scheduling, and email communication. All concerns were addressed by the Operations and Monitoring & Evaluation leads, reflecting the program’s participatory approach.
The day concluded with a group photo, networking session, and refreshments—marking the beginning of a new chapter in strengthening eco-innovation capacity in Equatorial Guinea, with regional reach across the Congo Basin and the Francophone world.