The African Union (AU) Continental Education Strategy (CESA) views information and communication technology (ICT) as an important tool for empowering graduates and contributing to socio-economic development. ICT increases employment rates in society, opens up opportunities for entrepreneurs, and provides flexibility in the education sector, meeting students’ financial needs.
At the Innovating Education Expo held in 2018 and 2019, five young women in Africa were awarded for their efforts to achieve “Aspiration 6” of Agenda 2063. The awards were won by emphasizing the need for Africa’s development to be people-centered and recognizing the potential of women and youth.
Additionally, two individuals were awarded first place among eleven innovators at the 2019 Expo. This situation illustrates that empowering girls and young women in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) can play a significant role in providing solutions to social challenges and that young women have the potential to create change in their communities.
The development of young women in these areas has also contributed to the work of AU/CIEFFA, facilitating steps towards accelerating gender equality and justice.
Featured Innovators:
- Susannah Farr (South Africa): CEO of the Gold Youth Development Agency (GYDA). She trains young people to create positive change in work and education. She stands out as the best innovator at the Expo. GYDA aims to shape a development-oriented education model using the positive influence of young people over their peers. The organization addresses educational outcomes in challenging conditions and seeks solutions for job creation in areas with no job opportunities. The evidence-based youth peer education model has reached over 55,000 young people in 123 communities across four countries.
- Anne Nyaboke Wakesho (Kenya): From eLimu Kenya. She offers educational content through a reading app called “Hadithi Hadithi” for out-of-school youth. Young people in refugee camps are also included in this project. She won the second prize in 2019.
- Amina Umuhoza (Rwanda): She founded an online platform called Dukataze. By supporting the empowerment of girls, she provides education and career guidance. The platform aims to equip individuals with the right skills to enhance their mental, social, and economic empowerment. Dukataze also aims to reduce unwanted pregnancies prevalent in society.
- Angèle Messa (Cameroon): She developed the Educlik platform. This platform offers alternative educational methods for children in difficult circumstances. Educational content is disseminated through the internet, USSD, and SMS, and as of August 2019, over 3,000 young people are currently benefiting from this program.
- Anita Antwiwaa (Ghana): She provides training in Space Technology and helps young women pursue careers in STEM. She successfully launched the GhanaSat-1 satellite, which is programmed to take photos of the Earth and monitor Ghana’s coastal areas.
This year, 380 innovative ventures have applied to participate in the Africa Innovating Education Expo. The selected 11 innovators will have the opportunity to present their projects to an expert jury. The awards range from $5,000 to $50,000.