Empowering Innovators With Seed Capital

At just seven years old, Mauristeta Zimba is already proving that big ideas can come from the youngest minds. What began as a simple concern about regular toothpaste sparked a journey of curiosity, research, and experimentation, leading her to develop a natural toothpaste using locally available ingredients.

Supported by her family, school, and the Excel Foundation’s seed grant, Mauristeta is now working to improve her product, enhance its packaging, and produce more samples. Her inspiring journey is a reminder that with curiosity, creativity, and the right support, young innovators can turn simple ideas into solutions with the potential to make a real difference.

BY LUYANDO MOOYA

BY LUYANDO MOOYA

At just 7 years old, Mauristeta Zimba is already showing the world that children can be inventors, problem solvers, and dreamers with big ideas. Her story is one of curiosity, creativity, and determination all sparked by something as simple as brushing her teeth.

Her Childhood

Mauristeta describes her childhood as joyful: she plays with friends, learns new things every day, and enjoys reading books that are above her level, watching cartoons, and writing. Her family plays a big role in her growth, encouraging her, advising her when she’s unsure, and providing the materials she needs to explore her interests.

The Spark of Inspiration

Her journey began when she noticed discomfort every time she used regular toothpaste. Sometimes, when she accidentally swallowed it, she experienced mild stomach aches. This made her curious, could there be a safer, natural alternative?

With her father being a scientist, her mother a teacher, and her cousin a medical personnel; she was surrounded by inspiration. Her school also encouraged her through the JETS platform, which promotes creativity and innovation among young learners.

Experimenting With Nature

Mauristeta began searching for local natural ingredients that could help with oral health. She asked adults for advice, tried different combinations, and carefully observed texture, taste, and smell. After many trials, she finally settled on a recipe that was easy, pleasant, and suitable.

Her toothpaste has a fresh natural smell thanks to mint and cloves. It has a mild taste and leaves the mouth feeling clean and refreshed after brushing.

Challenges and Triumphs

Finding the right combination of ingredients and texture wasn’t easy. But through research and consultation, she overcame the difficulties. Her teachers and family encouraged her creativity, helping her understand that young people can solve problems in their communities.

When she shared her toothpaste, people were excited and asked many questions about how she made it. Some even felt inspired to try their own ideas. Mauristeta herself felt proud when her idea became a real product that children could use.

Representing her province at the national level at such a young age was a moment of pure joy.

Dreams for the Future

Mauristeta hopes her toothpaste will help children and families improve their oral hygiene. She also wants to inspire other children to be creative and solve community problems.

With the seed grant she received from Excel Foundation, she plans to improve her toothpaste by buying better materials, enhancing packaging, and producing more samples. She will also continue researching and developing the product with guidance from adults.

Her dream is to grow her toothpaste into a successful local business that creates opportunities for others. And when she grows up, she wants to be a dentist and an inventor, creating products and solutions that make life better.