Rwanda, Kenya and Uganda are neighboring African nations known for their rich history, abundant natural resources and welcoming people. Despite these advantages, many citizens in these countries still lack a quality lifestyle. As of 2024, 9.2 million Ugandans are illiterate. Rwanda’s literacy rate stands at 83.1%, with goals to increase it to 84.5% by year-end, while Kenya maintains an 83% literacy rate. It is crucial that individuals in each country have equal access to education. The Educate! initiative has played a significant role in improving literacy rates in these nations, offering many citizens a chance to enhance their lives.

Educate!

Educate!, founded in 2009, aims to develop young leaders and entrepreneurs in Africa by designing impactful solutions for youth across the continent each year. The organization enhances vocational training in secondary schools across several countries, responding to research from the International Labour Organisation (ILO), which projects that about 90% of African youth will enter the informal economy as they age. This focus is critical given that 60% of Africa’s population is under 25, underscoring the need to fully develop this young talent to foster continental growth.

Educate! implements a standardized, core learning experience in secondary schools which encompasses the most essential skills youth need to transition to the working world. This involves combining tangible skills, training, expert mentorship and practical experience to teach hard skills, such as budgeting, planning, saving and market research. The program also ensures the inclusion of soft skills, such as communication, collaboration, critical thinking and creativity to ensure these budding secondary students can succeed going forward. In addition, it works outside of schools, by delivering live boot camps for youth who do not have access to an education, to ensure they get the same opportunity for future career expansion. This also has a segment focused particularly on young girls and marginalized communities.

Educate! Successes

Educate! reinforces its commitment to affecting genuine change by subjecting itself and its operations to randomized controlled trials and rigorous periodic performance evaluations. These evaluations have yielded the following results: Four years after participating in the program, participants can expect a 25% increase in university enrollment for women, 21% less likelihood of having a child (thus deriving more opportunities to focus on self-growth) and an 18% decrease in inter-partner violence for women. Toward the end of the four-year Educate! program, graduates can earn up to twice the income of their peers who have not participated in Educate! This is the first program in Africa that causally links soft skills to life improvements related to gender and living standards, making it one of the most effective firms for poverty alleviation.

Looking Ahead

Educate! has significantly impacted youth in Rwanda, Kenya and Uganda by providing essential vocational training and skills development. The program’s participants have experienced measurable improvements, including increased university enrollment rates and higher income levels compared to nonparticipants. Educate! also addresses gender-related issues, contributing to a decrease in inter-partner violence and reduced early pregnancies. These outcomes highlight the program’s role in enhancing educational and economic opportunities for young people in these countries.

– Disheta Anand

Disheta is based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates and focuses on Politics for The Borgen Project.

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