For Ugandans like Aisha Nabwanika – a tour operator and founder of Ewaffe Cultural Village, attending the Qweekstart Conference in Boston, Massachusetts was an opportunity of a lifetime which became a springboard for her now booming tourism business in Naggalama, Mukono.
In her quest to establish herself in the tourism industry which is still a fast growing sector in Uganda, Nabwanika needed more than just months in the ideation corner, visualizing the Ewaffe concept. Funds, a resourceful network, cross border connections among other necessities presented on the list of key drivers for her start-up to materialize.
Then Qweekstart happened and pieces started to fall into place.
“Before I left to Massachusetts, I thought long and hard about what exactly I needed from the conference. For me, getting the right network and the much needed funds was the quest. When arrived in what many refer to as the land of opportunities, I had no doubt I had made the right decision. I met people who have been instrumental in shaping my career,” Nabwanika said in her testimonial.
The Qweekstart Conference could be your chance too, to make the right connections, be inspired and embark on a life-changing journey in your respective venture.
But what exactly is Qweekstart?
Simply, Qweekstart is a platform where creators, entrepreneurs, business leaders, professionals, philanthropists, artists, athletes, politicians and community leaders of color converge to share ideas, solutions and take on challenges affecting society as well as networking and discussing opportunities leading to positive change and success in the marketplace.
Based in Wakefield, Massachusetts, Qweekstart uses a multimedia approach to motivate, inspire and spread life changing messages and practical solutions especially in the minority communities.
Founded by Pastor Andrew Kizito of Greater River Church, also an author and entrepreneur, Qweekstart encourages and creates a platform for people in the minority community to share their journeys and success stories to inspire their fellows but also enable networking opportunities for individuals, companies and communities for mutual benefit.
“Out of frustration because of lack of mainstream platforms, Qweekstart was created to fill the void and give immigrants and minorities a seat at the table and the opportunity to motivate and inspire people. I decided that I would encourage people every Monday morning to go out and do what they love to do. I didn’t have much to this end but I had my phone so I recorded a two-minute video clip and shared it on my WhatsApp status, shared with friends and family. Soon enough, people demanded that I do more of these and that’s how Qweekstart was birthed,” Pastor Andrew shared while meeting a group of youths at Sheraton Hotel – Kampala on Friday last week during his visit to Uganda.
He added, “Initially, it was about encouraging people to have a better outlook on Mondays but as time went by, people loved the idea and asked me to start making more and longer videos. The audience grew and my team suggested that we expand our territory – maybe get people into a room for physical attendance. We did exactly that and Qweekstart is now prepping for its 4th annual conference.”
Since its inception, Qweekstart has morphed into numerous departments that cater to various audience needs such as;
The Annual Qweekstart Conference – which draws in people from all walks of life to network and expand their vital social circles.
Qweektalks – for motivational and educational content – both blogs and podcasts. The talks, unlike the annual conference, are held in various states all year round.
The Speaker Academy – which trains people in public speaking, shaping them to tap into the dynamic, multi-million industry among others.
Global Digital Community – Through the various digital media outlets including social media and websites, Qweekstart has built a digital community that continues to grow and serve the networking needs of individuals, bolstering faith, hope and entrepreneurial partnerships.
How to participate in the conference
Scheduled for 23rd-25th August 2024, the Qweekstart conference themed “Opportunity in Diversity” will be held at Hilton Garden Hotel – Burlington, Massachusetts.
The general registration fee is US$300 per person for attendance only and US$500 for vendors. Vendors are attendees who go ahead to showcase their businesses during the conference and have invaluable engagements with prospective clients or partners.
Visa and transportation costs are met individually.
Qweekstart can be contacted via email: qweekstart@gmail.com or WhatsApp at +1(339)203-2741. Registration can be done via their website: www.qweektalks.com. You can also keep up with the updates on their social media platforms under @qweekstart.
About Pastor Andrew Kizito
Andrew Paul Kizito was born and raised in Kampala, Uganda. He moved to the U.S when he was 24. He is based in Wakefield – Massachusetts.
He is a Pastor (Greater River Church), entrepreneur, author, father and husband.
