The best entry submitted by Educate! will receive US$10,000 in prize money and the two runners-up will be given prizes of US$5,000. This year 23 country prizes of US$1,000 will be awarded, with a further five organisations receiving commendations for their work.
The aim of the competition was to identify and celebrate the achievements of social entrepreneurs who understand the role education can play within their communities. "With this competition we were looking for programmes which are innovative, sustainable and create real impact - and we have found them. We hope through these awards to show that Africa is a continent of hope with much to be proud of. If by highlighting the best we can inspire the wider education community to aspire even higher, then the future will be a much brighter place for us all!" says Nik Kafka, managing director of Teach A Man To Fish.
Educate! is an organisation working in Uganda since 2002 that aims to foster entrepreneurship in students it works with by teaching its unique social change curriculum. In place of building its own school or giving scholarships to the current education system, Educate! works as a centralised education program that operates in partner schools across Uganda. In those schools students are assisted to create financially sustainable social enterprise initiatives in their community through the provision of a supportive, mentoring environment in which they develop their confidence, creativity, and leadership. Students thus gain a solid foundation in entrepreneurial leadership to drive sustainable development in Uganda.
House of Nations is a community-based organisation operating in Madagascar. The aim of the primary school that was established by House of Nations is not just to feed pupils with government program but also to help them to focus on character building. The project aims to raise a new generation to overcome the mindset of poverty and to bring transformation among its own communities and all over Madagascar.
Mama Zimbi Foundation is involved in Ghana and supports the Widowhood Alliance Network (WANE) project that was instituted to economically empower widows in Ghana through the provision of a pragmatic programme of education and self-sustaining business trades. The project has provided to date about 2000 direct and 6000 indirect jobs to widows in many Ghanaian communities.
