At just 19, Ornella has already made a name for herself. As the founder and CEO of Code Empowerment Progress, an initiative helping young Rwandans build tech skills, she’s empowering future generations to thrive in a digital world. 

At 5:30 AM, Jackline, a Kenyan mother-of-two, is already up preparing for the long day ahead. She bathes her toddler and then heads to the market at 6:30 AM to buy fresh vegetables for her shop. 

“I love fashion and shoes. People always ask where I get my shoes, then they ask me to bring them the shoes the next day,” says Precious, 20, from southeastern Kenya. What began as an interest in fashion is growing into a thriving business.

Peer-to-peer mentorship bridges the gap between learning and practical application whether within the education system or through out-of-school youth bootcamps.

Localization means adapting to suit local realities. Our bootcamps are uniquely tailored to address the differing challenges and opportunities present in each community. Educate! conducts thorough research to understand the diverse youth needs, obstacles and economic landscape of the area. This in-depth understanding allows us to more effectively meet the specific needs of youth.

Empowering youth in Africa with skills for dignified livelihoods and employment doesn't just support them to improve their personal prospects – it can also trigger positive ripple effects throughout their communities. Prossy and Ivan from Uganda are among the many young people translating practical skills learned through Educate!’s livelihood bootcamp into impact.

Every year, 10-12 million young Africans enter the job market, but there are only 3 million formal jobs, resulting in 95% of youth working in the informal sector. As education systems in Africa grapple with preparing students for the realities of a labor market marked by unique challenges, innovative teaching methods have a critical part to play. Educate!'s Skills Lab pedagogy offers a scalable solution to empower youth.