This blog post features Educate!’s Managing Director, Uganda and Gender Specialist, Hawah Nabbuye, sharing her beliefs and experiences with gender equity and empowerment.

Educate! is thrilled to join the Engaging Kenyan Youth in Agriculture and Nutrition (EKYAN) program, collaborating with Generation Unlimited’s Global Youth Agribusiness Network (GYAN), Kuza Biashara, and UNICEF Kenya. This initiative is set to transform the role of young people — particularly young women — in the agriculture sector, a powerhouse of the Kenyan economy.

Educate!’s core experience centers the critical soft skills we see as building blocks for long-term success. On top of that foundation, we layer the entrepreneurial skills youth in East Africa need to thrive in their largely informal local economies. Ugandan Educate! graduate, Ronnie, is leveraging this combination to drive the success of his small enterprise while also giving back to the community.

Through participation in the Educate! Experience, Peace was motivated to become a leader in her school and beyond - building confidence and becoming a fierce advocate for gender equity. We know that educated and empowered girls, like Peace, create more equitable societies. From shaping policies to providing learning materials that combat traditional gender norms, Educate! is committed to implementing a gender-transformative approach.

Kenyan single mother of three, Rose, is one of millions of young women in Africa in danger of being left behind because they don’t complete secondary education. Through Educate!, she is now thriving as the owner of a second-hand clothing stall. Rose was empowered through SkillUp, Educate!’s innovative, cost-effective bootcamp that combines skills training, practical experience, and individualized support over six weeks in Kenya.

Improperly dumped waste causes land degradation, soil erosion, and even injuries and illnesses. Through Educate!, Keneth turned his passion for protecting the environment into a thriving recycling business. His efforts have helped him build financial security while positively impacting his community.

From an early age, Nzabarinda thought of himself as an entrepreneur. Seeking to improve the living standards of those in his town and beyond, Nzabarinda first applied the skills he garnered through Educate! to manufacture a liquid soap made to repel mosquitoes.  Fast forward to today, Nzabarinda is pursuing a degree in business marketing while simultaneously running Tuuza Industries Ltd, a registered startup.

Elizabeth’s education in rural Uganda was cut short when the fees became too much for her family, and she was forced to drop out of secondary school. Now, the wife and mother of two is determined to achieve financial security for her growing family. By addressing a need in her community, where locals typically walk eight kilometers to the nearest store, she’s increased her income and built a strong support network driving her success.

In today’s ever-changing world, ensuring that women are not only included but at the forefront of design and technology is pertinent to growth and development. In addition to empowering the young women and girls that participate in our models, we also seek to empower the women driving them forward. We recently spoke to some of our leading female tech team members to learn more about their experiences and to better understand how Educate! is leveraging technology to impact youth.

Educate!’s vision of one day measurably impacting millions of youth across Africa begins internally. As an organization committed to developing people, we are continuously inspired by teammates who embody our “youth first” values and have dedicated their work to expanding opportunity for young people. One such individual is Beverly Nicole Adhiambo from Homa Bay, Kenya.

After nearly 15 years, our Chief Strategy & Innovation Officer and Co-Founder, Angelica, will be stepping down from her leadership role to support the education system in her current home country of Namibia. Read her message to Educate!’s champions.

Ritah’s passion for entrepreneurship stems from her upbringing. From an early age, she was taught how to interact with customers at her family’s shop. These experiences instilled in Ritah the importance of leveraging her skill set to realize her goals. As an active participant in Educate!, Ritah continuously sought leadership opportunities - eager to grow both personally and professionally while also contributing to her community.

In 2021, our Uganda Country Director found herself in a meeting accompanied by an incredible set of sector experts, many of whom she used to work alongside at Educate!. After catching up with old friends, she realized just how many former staff credit Educate! with their professional development and the impact they’re now making after moving on from the organization. Following a joyful reunion, we caught up with a few of the all-stars who shaped Educate! into what it is today and asked them about their time at Educate! and how it might have shaped their career paths. Check out where they are now!

Throughout her life experiences, Sarah has developed an incredible zeal for the importance of self-reliance. When we last talked to Sarah, she was running a series of small businesses in Jinja, Uganda. For Sarah, these endeavors paved the way for independence when her father’s sudden passing left her family unable to support Sarah and her siblings. Coupled with entrepreneurial knowledge and skills, Sarah’s determination not only led her to finish secondary school and secure financial freedom but also inspired her to help those in a similar position. She ultimately dreamed of starting an orphanage. Today, Sarah is one step closer to this goal.

Dieudonne’s life took a drastic turn when, at only 17 years old, he was forced to flee from his home country of Burundi due to political instability. Separated from his family, he was placed at the Mahama Refugee camp in Kirehe, Rwanda. When the pandemic hit, Dieudonne worked to gain financial independence by starting his own food production business. Initially, he struggled with his venture due to his inexperience. Then, he joined Educate!, which he says paved the way for his growth and success.

To succeed in a fast-paced world, young people need focus, innovative skills, and creativity. Over the last seven years, Educate! has worked closely with the Rwandan government to embed these critical skills into the national education system. We recently had the pleasure of connecting with State Minister of Education of Rwanda Honorable Mr. Gaspard Twagirayezu and reflect on our partnership thus far.

From a young age, movies and television shows intrigued Deborah. She took a keen interest in the art form and was eager to learn how directors and producers made films. Deborah could see the power of great visual storytelling — its ability to evoke emotion, make you nostalgic, and even push you to take action.

Illicit. Underground. Noncompliant. These are some of the stigmas surrounding the words “informal economy,” but in a world where 61% of workers earn their living through informal employment, these words, along with many misconceptions, don’t paint an accurate picture.

Educate! not only celebrates the important contributions of informal workers but believes that investing in youth who will likely enter this market is a key step in empowering them to become leaders with the skills to drive positive change.

When her father passed away and her family could no longer afford her school fees, Olivia had to drop out of secondary school in Western Uganda. At 25 years old, Olivia viewed herself as a girl from a modest background, dependent on her mother to support her basic needs. Then, Olivia joined SisterConnect, an Educate! bootcamp aimed to provide an alternative pathway to employment for youth who are unable to access post-primary education. Over the next few weeks, Olivia would build more than just a business.

Taking a gender-transformative approach — addressing inequities at the individual, institutional, community, and governmental levels — is the most powerful step we can take towards creating more vibrant, healthier, and more peaceful communities around the world. Three gender-transformative education principles drive our impact on girls and gender equity-related outcomes for all youth.