National curriculum change in Uganda mentioned in leading Ugandan newspaper

Educate!’s work changing the national entrepreneurship curriculum was recently highlighted in a leading Ugandan newspaper. For the Ugandan Government, it’s a work in progress. For Educate!, it’s a sign of our impact and change to come.

While the Ugandan government must overcome the hurdles described below in this article, the education reform taking place has come as a result of Educate!’s advocacy, our model’s impact, and government buy-in!

This reform includes inclusion of:

1. A more practical and relevant entrepreneurship curriculum.

2. A business club in schools.

3. A national exam that evaluates what students actually do in the business club, thus forcing the curriculum to be fully practical and transforming the classroom into a business lab.

While change can be slow, this clipping shows how Uganda is taking a huge step to a practical and relevant model of education being a fundamental part of the Uganda’s education system.

Please click on the picture below to see the full article: 

3 Educate! Members Named Acumen Fund Fellows!

Three of our very own… two Educate! graduates, George William Bakka, and Joachim Ewechu, and one Educate! staff member, Hawah Nabbuye, were selected for the Acumen Fund East Africa Fellowship, Class of 2013!!

For 10 years Acumen Fund has been leading the way in entrepreneurial approaches to solve the problems of global poverty. Only 20 Fellows were selected in ALL of East Africa. Having three Educate! members selected as Fellows is truly an honor and a testament to our approach and vision.

More on Acumen: Acumen Fund seeks to identify and train the next generation of leaders united by a common mission of harnessing the power of social innovation to create solutions to East Africa’s most pressing problems. Building off of the success of the Global Fellows Program, Acumen expanded their investment in leadership with the East Africa Fellows Program in 2011.

More on the Fellowship: The program is made up of individuals, (three of our very own!), who are driving groundbreaking projects with large social impact both as employees with businesses, public sector organizations, and leading NGOs - and as entrepreneurs. The East Africa Fellows Program offers Fellows the opportunity to receive world-class leadership training along with the tools to accelerate the progress of their social projects.

George, Joachim, and Hawah, were selected because of the social projects they are leading, their outstanding leadership skills, and their potential to empower others. The selection process was extensive and included presentations, group assignments, and individual interviews.

The success of our graduates and team member in receiving the Fellowship is a direct result of the dedication of our supporters like you. Read more about our Acumen Fellows HERE!

Do You Know Why We are Grateful?

Here is a list of Our Top 10 2012 Things We are Grateful For:

10. Educate! Efficacy Gets Co-Founders Recognized.

Our co-founders were named to Forbes magazine’s Top 30 Under 30 Social Entrepreneurs, joining a cadre of top global innovators and entrepreneurs who are “impatient to change the world”.

9. University X: Educate! is Going Global!

Co-founder Eric Glustrom is expanding Educate!’s mission to the U.S. by launching University X. This U.S. adaptations of Educate aims to prove the impact of our model in diverse contexts (Uganda and the U.S.), thus providing a strong foundation to create a truly global solution.

8. System Change Has Begun…

Working with the Ugandan government, we changed the structure of the national entrepreneurship curriculum exam, which is the driver of the education system. Students will now be tested on what they’re actually doing, rather than memorizing, signaling a new shift in the government’s approach to learning.

7. The Experts Are Talking.

During a recent conference on youth development, a researcher from Results for Development Institute, one of the nation’s premier international development think tanks, was sharing her insights on youth development, and then gave an example of an organization doing things right. The organization she described was… Educate!!

6. The Educate! Scholars in Eastern Uganda Have Been Buzzing With Activity.  

Our Scholars from eastern Uganda have been exceptionally busy this year:

• Silaj uses soccer in his community to encourage participants to stay in school.
• Sarah Nambozo began the Hope Youth Saving Scheme, an initiative to inform members of her community about the importance of saving.
• Juma Mugambe was concerned about the amount of plastic bags littering his village so he started a paper bag making business to reduce waste.
• Isaac Ngolobe was concerned about the lack of access to affordable clean water so he organized a meeting with water distributors in his community to encourage the creation of a reservoir with a tap system.

5. Countless Partners and Investors Committed to our Work

 

Numerous foundations and individual investors partnered with us to move our mission forward and help us raise almost $1,000,000!

Thank you to Halloran Philanthropies, Segal Family Foundation, Forward Foundation, Cubit Family Foundation, Project Redwood, Red Empress Foundation, Global Fund for Children, The Youth Employment Network, International Labor Organization, The Tomberg Family Philanthropies and others. Thank you as well to the countless individual investors who have made our vision a reality in 2012.

4. Our Scholars (Because they really are THAT amazing!)

Our 1,300 graduates have started more than 600 team enterprises, that involve an average of three people each, ranging from an initiative to plant over 10,000 trees, a fair trade social enterprise that exports products to three countries and employs 66 women affected by HIV/AIDS, the creation of two schools, and even a project which brought electricity to an entire village, among many others.

3. Educate! Awarded the Ashoka Fellowship

The Fellowship is composed of a global community of leading social entrepreneurs, tailored programming and mentorship, and financial support that will help Educate! take important steps towards developing the next generation of leaders and entrepreneurs.

2. Curriculum Launched to Over 25,000 Across Uganda!

The Ugandan government has incorporated Educate!’s leadership and entrepreneurship curriculum into the national education system, guiding thousands of secondary school students annually in every corner of the country.

1. YOU!

Our success thus far is a direct result of your generosity and support. Thank you for being an Educate! champion. We look forward to working with you to accomplish even more in 2013.

Educate! November Scholar of the Month: Monica Etap

As an Educate! Scholar, Monica Etap prides herself on her determination, self-confidence and her desire to serve as a role model for other young women.

She began school at the age of 7. Since then she has progressed greatly in her education.  With the help of the Educate! Experience, Monica knows that her journey in gaining a meaningful education is only beginning!

Although some people have discouraged her in pursuing an education, Monica focuses on the positive and reminds herself that “patience pays.” She is going to use what she has learned from Educate! to work towards a career as an accountant.

Educate! October Scholar of the Month: Dilish Ejang

Dilish Ejang is no stranger to hardship; both of her parents passed away a few years ago and she did not have the money to pay for school fees. Consequently she was forced to take a break from her education.

While many would be discouraged by such hardship, Dilish deepened her appreciation for education and her determination to succeed in school.

The Educate! Experience has allowed Dilish to focus on learning and gaining a valuable education. Rather than be disheartened by her misfortunes, they have helped her to find joy in her daily life.  She aims to one day become a contributing member of her community, and Educate! hopes to see her accomplish her dreams!