Latest from LéO Africa Institute

Meet the YELP Fellow changing Tanzania’s academic landscape

‘’Providing free access to reliable and qualified mobile and web learning resources for students; knowledge and information supporting parents and teachers to enable children to learn while at home during and post- COVID-19’’

As the world continues to recover and bounce back from the adversities brought by the COVID-19 pandemic, Tanzanian YELP Fellow Fatma Kauga is using this time to change the academic landscape in her home country through Shule Direct a voluntary, non-profit Non-Governmental Organization (NGO); that works with qualified teachers to create and provide local, relevant, digital learning resources for learners across Tanzania. They create multimedia content, web, and mobile solutions that provide learners the opportunity to learn anytime and anywhere.

Since the organization started operations in 2013, until January 2020, their learning platforms have supported 1,907,186 learners and 36,592 registered teachers through the Shule Direct Web and Mobile Applications; Over 70,000 SMS subscribers and at least 80 Secondary Schools across Tanzania are installed with their Offline Learning Management System.

Following the devastating impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, Shule Direct has responded by providing students with free digitized notes and interactive revision quizzes for 13 Secondary school subjects following the Tanzania National Curriculum for Secondary Schools; past papers; a discussion platform to allow for peer-to-peer learning and networking.

How YELP Class of 2017 valedictorian is transforming Uganda's Agricultural sector

Agri Planet Uganda, a youth-led organization co-founded by YELP Class of 2017 valedictorian Cleofash Alinaitwe was established to transform agricultural practices and enable rural economies to thrive.

Initially, Agri Planet Uganda used to mobilize farmers for training on at its resource center. However, following the COVID-19 pandemic, it became increasingly difficult for this to happen. The organization has now pivoted its training model to keep relevant during and after the pandemic.

The organization is using "Agri edutainment" to convey informative and entertaining agricultural training messages to farmers. Through a partnership with a local FM radio and television station, Agri Planet now broadcasts its trainings to the Midwestern region of Uganda.

Agri Planet Uganda is also establishing an Agri-Leadership and Entrepreneurship Academy (ALEA) which will be an integrated educational institution that develops next generational Agricultural leaders and entrepreneurs.

Interview with Beverly Mutindi Chogo

Amr Ainebyoona caught up with Beverly Mutindi Chogo in an interview where the Kenyan Young and Emerging Leader's Project (YELP) fellow from the Class of 2018 spoke about life after the fellowship and lessons learned during the coronavirus pandemic. Read the full interview here.

Conversation: Industries and Ideas for the World Beyond Covid-19

On Saturday, May 30, the Institute held the second of our four-part series of conversations in which we are asking our network of fellows and associates across Africa to imagine a new, progressive post-COVID world for our respective communities and countries.

The panel to discuss the topic included: Daniel Bwambale, a Ugandan advocate and public affairs commentator, and Liz Muange, the Investment and Value Chain Lead for the Sustainable Urban Economic Development Programme, a UKAid funded 5-year £70 million programme. Liz is also a 2017 Young and Emerging Leaders Project fellow of the LéO Africa Institute from Kenya. The moderator was Arnold Kwizera, a Rwandan journalist with CNBC Africa.

In case you missed it, watch the full conversation here.

These conversations are part of the “COVID-19 Reset” Project. To learn more about the project and register for our next conversation "Between Chaos and Hope: Leadership in a Pandemic" slated for Thursday June 18, visit here.

Editor's Note