EDUCATION CHANGEMAKERS
HOW THE PROGRAM WORKS
A PAN-AFRICAN OPPORTUNITY
In February 2020, we launched Education Changemakers with 50 young leaders representing 13 Sub-saharan African countries. Our leaders had diverse sets of experience and backgrounds. About 50% were Principals or teachers and 42% identified as living in a rural area.
LEADERSHIP TRAINING: 4 WEEKS
Over the next four weeks, our Education Changemakers completed four weeks of intensive and experiential leadership training. They compared best practices, discussed cutting-edge topics with world-class facilitators, embarked on site visits, and perfected how to pitch their innovative business idea. Pictured here, our leaders visit Streetlight Schools in Jeppestown, an innovative model for low-cost education in the inner-city.
PITCHING INNOVATIVE IDEAS
RETURN HOME, EMPOWERED
In the end, we honoured the education leaders at a certification ceremony. In addition to the implementation grant, finalists are also paired with a business coach for 6 months, while all Changemakers continue to receive mentorship.
Leaving was bittersweet. Although many were excited to reunite with their families, the camaraderie was undeniably strong.
MEET SOME OF OUR CHANGEMAKERS
Vera is a Malawian artist by trade who created the Toon Notebook. Inspired by 3D gaming and cartoons, the Toon Notebook is a captivating, fun and culturally relatable learning material for Early Childhood Development education.
Lungisa co-founded Sikhulekile Reading Development and Life Skills, an academic and reading initiative in the Philippi community in Cape Town. The initiative’s goal is to inspire a culture of reading in township and rural areas by transforming avid readers into inspirational young authors.
Kabelo and Bonang, two teachers and social activists from South Africa, created The Marking App. This app allows teachers to spend less time on marking and administration and more time in front of the classroom. The app’s innovative features will allow for accurate corrections in a fraction of the time.
Jocelyn is a secondary School Head of Department from Seychelles. She developed the IAmSafe App, which services as a safe space for students to report bullying, seek advice, or be connected to a counsellor.
TESTIMONIALS
“I’m super grateful to the Trevor Noah Foundation and YALI RCL-SA for making this dream possible for us. As a long time activist, the Education Changemakers Program made me realise that I can be an entrepreneur too. While fighting for justice, one can also bring about much-needed solutions.” – Kabelo Mahlobogwane
“This was the biggest highlight of my life thus far, sharing the same vision with 44 Education activists did not only leave me empowered but obliged to submit to my calling!” – Lerato Esihle
HOW TO GET INVOLVED
Applications for Education Changemakers Cohort #2 are now closed. For more information about Cohort #2, please visit our blog post here.
