FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | Date: August 2025
The Education Changemakers Program (ECM) is back for its second cohort in East and Central Africa. Spearheaded by the Regional Leadership Center East Africa at Kenyatta University in Nairobi – a legacy of the Young African Leaders Initiative Regional Leadership Center East Africa (RLC EA), the program is once again calling on passionate and driven young leaders across the education sector to apply for a transformative leadership development opportunity.
The Trevor Noah Foundation (TNF), supported by the Oak Foundation, is dedicated to equipping underserved youth in Africa with the necessary educational foundation and opportunities to become resilient future leaders. TNF’s interventions focus on learner skills development, teacher training and support, and infrastructure improvement to ensure young people have viable learning options post-matric.
The Education Changemakers Programme was originally launched as part of the broader Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI), with foundational support from the YALI Regional Leadership Center East Africa. Over time, the programme has evolved, reflecting the changing landscape of partnerships and opportunities in the region. Today, the Trevor Noah Foundation and the Regional Leadership Center continue to build on this legacy by independently sustaining the program’s impact. Together, they remain committed to empowering young education leaders across East and Central Africa with the tools, networks, and support needed to transform their schools and communities.
ECM is designed to empower young educators, school leaders, education innovators, and policy advocates to lead change within their schools and communities. Through intensive in-person training, mentorship, and small grants, participants will gain the skills, tools, and networks necessary to improve education outcomes across the region.
“Our commitment to nurturing African-led education innovation has manifested through our first cohort in Central and Eastern Africa. Last year we celebrated a cohort of 80 education leaders and awarded 10 grants to top participants from seven African countries. These visionary social entrepreneurs are transforming educational access and outcomes through diverse approaches – from Tanzania’s Silabu tutoring platform to a reusable pad initiative keeping girls in school in Uganda. By fuelling local social entrepreneurs who intimately understand their communities’ challenges, we’re fostering sustainable solutions that will continue to grow and adapt long after our initial investment,” said Shalane Yuen, Trevor Noah Foundation Founding Managing Director.
“It is inspiring to witness the impact that young changemakers in the education ecosystem across East and Central Africa are driving after receiving transformative training from the Regional Leadership Center. These investments will indeed pay off as education remains the most enduring gift African parents can give to their children.” Prof. George K. Kosimbei, Director, Regional Leadership Center East Africa, Kenyatta University, Nairobi, Kenya
About the Education Changemakers Program (ECM)
The program consists of two phases:
- Phase 1: Four weeks of immersive, in-person leadership training in Nairobi, Kenya. Participants will gain foundational leadership skills, explore the application of business and public institution tools in education, and participate in live case studies and site visits.
- Phase 2: Six months of post-training support, including coaching, mentoring, and access to small grants to implement school-based initiatives.
Participants will join a growing alumni network of changemakers committed to transforming education across Africa.
Who Should Apply?
We’re looking for young leaders between the ages of 18–35 from 14 East and Central African countries:
Burundi, Central African Republic, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda.
Applicants must:
- Be actively working in or with the primary or secondary school education sector (as teachers, school leaders, policy advocates, edtech innovators, researchers, or in education non-profits).
- Have a demonstrable commitment to improving education outcomes in their communities.
- Be proficient in English.
- Be first-time applicants (not alumni of YALI RLC or Mandela Washington Fellowship programs).
- Be willing to commit to the full 4-week in-person training and post-program engagements.
Inclusive and Accessible
The program prioritizes inclusivity and strongly encourages applications from:
- Rural-based and economically disadvantaged youth
- Young women
- Youth with disabilities
- Refugees and displaced persons
- Individuals working with learners with disabilities or adolescent girls and young women (AGYW)
- LGBTQI+ advocates and other minority group representatives
No fees are required to apply or participate.
Key Dates:
- Applications Open: 04 August 2025
- Applications Close: 15 August 2025
- Training Dates (Cohort 2): 21 September 2025 – 17 October 2025
Applications are reviewed through a merit-based process, including interviews for shortlisted candidates.
Apply now to become part of the next wave of Education Changemakers transforming schools and communities across Africa.
Application Link: https://mis.rlceastafrica.org/
3 responses
Honestly,I’m applying this opportunity due to my high interests of observing a community changing through knowledges acquired in school,as long as I’m a leader working in primary school, I wish to make changes,and transform a school and community,Thank you.
i wan to become the with the leadership training young Africans and it will be great opportunity for me if you select me
I wanna to join this program