Educate!

09/04/2026

Mentorship is critical to improving outcomes for youth, especially young women, in regions where access to quality education and formal employment are limited.

In Uganda, our mentors and trainers support young people both in and out of schools by providing continuous coaching to better prepare them for the labor market.

Through Educate!’s Youth Entrepreneurship Training (YET), prospective mentors build the leadership and entrepreneurship skills to launch businesses, develop the growth mindset to pursue employment or further education, and gain the practical facilitation skills to mentor fellow youth.

YET’s hands-on sessions also help young mentors create safe learning environments and deliver gender-responsive training — supporting them to pass on the practical and transferrable skills that expand opportunity.

➡ ️ Swipe to see some reflections from young people who attended the recent YET training — pictured alongside Educate! staff.

02/04/2026

“I am proud because I learned to believe in myself. Even though I am young, I can succeed,” says Nangobi.

In Eastern Uganda, Nangobi studied hard in school; however, she faced financial barriers that caused her to leave school before the end of secondary. But that didn’t stop her.

When she joined Educate!’s livelihood bootcamp, Nangobi began to build confidence in her abilities. Through hands-on training in market research, budgeting, and customer service — and mentorship from a local trainer — she began to see a path forward.

Realizing that there were only two cooks in her area, she identified a gap in the market and decided to fill it. With a small investment, she launched a food stall, serving lunch and dinner to passersby.

Today, her business serves a steady stream of customers. On her best days, Nangobi can make UGX 60,000 (~$17 USD). For the first time, she is no longer fully dependent on her parents and covers her own basic needs.

👉🏿 Read Nangobi’s story and learn how skills and self-belief can turn small beginnings into lasting opportunity:

Nangobi left school early when her family could no longer afford school fees. For a while, her days revolved around chores and farming. When she joined Educate!’s livelihood bootcamp, one lesson stayed with her: progress starts small — and grows with persistence. Today, her food stall serves reg...

25/03/2026

Is secondary education building the skills youth need for success later in life?

This weekend at the CIES - Comparative & International Education Society 2026 Conference in San Francisco, Educate!'s Global Director of Research, Measurement & Evaluation, Meghan Mahoney, will join partners from BRAC, Innovations for Poverty Action and Z**i Afrique Foundation to explore an urgent question: what does it take to design education systems that respond to changing economies and the realities young people face today?

In this session, Meghan will share insights from Educate!’s work alongside governments to embed practical skills into secondary education systems across East Africa — including lessons from impact evaluations and efforts to identify early indicators that help predict long-term success for youth.

📍 𝗦𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻: Is Secondary Education Building the Skills Youth Need for Success Later in Life?
📅 𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗲: Sunday, March 29
📌 𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲: 4:30 to 5:45pm PT

If you’re attending , we’d love to connect and continue the conversation!

19/03/2026

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝘁 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗲 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴-𝘁𝗼-𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗵𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗰𝗿𝗼𝘀𝘀 𝗔𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮?

A new Global Partnership for Education blog, co-authored by Educate!’s Boris Bulayev, Diana Mwai, and Missy Mwendwa, highlights two complementary approaches:

• 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗴𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗾𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝗳𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗼𝗿 𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀
• 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗵𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗼𝘆𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝘀𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹

By embedding practical, employment-focused skills within national education systems, impact can be sustained beyond time-bound efforts and external funding.

At the same time, for the millions of young people who cannot access secondary school, inclusive and accessible pathways can help youth build market-relevant skills and start a business — ensuring no one is left behind.

Together, these approaches require strategic investment so all young people are prepared to enter the workforce with the skills and confidence to build their future.

🔗 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗹 𝗯𝗹𝗼𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 👇🏿

Educate! works with governments, teachers and youth to transform education systems and equip young people with the skills they need for the future of work. Achieving impact at this scale requires collective action, and leaders across GPE, policy makers, civil society and investors are essential to m...

26/02/2026

"𝗗𝗼 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝘀𝗵 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗮 𝗹𝗼𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗺𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗮 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀. 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲, 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝗞𝗘𝗦 𝟭𝟱𝟬 (𝗨𝗦𝗗 $𝟭), 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗲𝗻𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝘁𝗼 𝗱𝗼 𝗶𝘁!" 𝘀𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝗦𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗼𝗻.

With mentorship from Mathilda, an Educate! trainer, Sharon learned how to save small amounts consistently and manage her profits. At a livelihood bootcamp designed for youth who are unable to access secondary education, Sharon also built problem-solving skills and the confidence to act.

She connected with other young women in her community and they encouraged each other to save as a group. Over time, Sharon saved 13,000 KES (USD $85) from her small business, “Chochote Shop.”

By reinvesting those savings, Sharon expanded her stock — adding household items and second-hand children’s clothes. The changes attracted more customers and increased her sales.

With her growing profits, Sharon is also supporting others. She launched a local effort to provide sanitary pads to teenage girls, ensuring they do not miss school due to lack of access to these essential menstrual products.

20/02/2026

In Tanzania, educators are advancing the revised Business Studies syllabus to help students build practical skills for employment and entrepreneurship — as steps toward becoming job creators through hands-on learning and real-world experience.

Currently, the 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗠𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿’𝘀 𝗢𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗲 – 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗔𝗱𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗟𝗼𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗚𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 (@𝗣𝗠𝗢-𝗥𝗔𝗟𝗚), the 𝗠𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗘𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗦𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗧𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗻𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘆 (𝗠𝗼𝗘𝗦𝗧), the Tanzania Institute of Education (TIE), and the 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗘𝘅𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗹 𝗼𝗳 𝗧𝗮𝗻𝘇𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗮 (𝗡𝗘𝗖𝗧𝗔) — with support from Educate! — are orienting over 𝟮𝟯𝟬 𝗪𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗘𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗢𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗲𝗿𝘀 across Dar es Salaam, Pwani, Morogoro, and Dodoma.

Ward Education Officers play a critical role in strengthening teaching and learning. Through regular school visits, they monitor implementation of national education policies and provide guidance to Head Teachers and subject teachers. This helps improve teaching quality and enhance project-based learning — ensuring the curriculum translates into practical action in classrooms and beyond.

The training is strengthening their ability to:
✅ oversee implementation of competency-based learning
✅ support the integration of digital tools in line with national standards
✅ monitor the delivery of practical, project-based learning aligned with national assessments

“𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽𝗲𝗱 𝗺𝗲 𝗰𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗹𝘆 𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝘀𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗲𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗕𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗦𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝘀𝘂𝗯𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗺𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗯𝗲𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗽𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗽𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗷𝗼𝗯 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀,” said Mr. Mseni Omary, Principal Ward Education Officer, Dodoma.

12/02/2026

𝗕𝘆 𝟮𝟬𝟯𝟬, 𝟱𝟬% 𝗼𝗳 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱’𝘀 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗰𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗘𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗦𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗻 𝗔𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮.

This future is already unfolding, and it raises a simple, urgent question: 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸, 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗱𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗼𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆?

For more than a decade, ! has worked alongside governments, teachers, and young people to create pathways that bridge the gap between education and economic opportunity — helping young people build skills, confidence, and agency as they strengthen their livelihoods.

In Uganda, Educate!’s work integrating an 𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗼𝘆𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁-𝗳𝗼𝗰𝘂𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝘀𝘂𝗯𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁 into secondary schools shows that youth experience:

𝟮𝘅 the income of their peers
𝟰𝟰% increase in business ownership
𝟱𝟬% increase in employment

Tracy’s story brings these numbers to life. Her journey began as a student in Uganda, where she built the confidence and practical skills to turn ideas into income — and learning into leadership.

📖Read Tracy’s full story: https://www.experienceeducate.org/all-blog/from-learner-to-leader-how-tracy-turned-skills-into-opportunity

➡️Watch Tracy’s journey from Learner to Leader.

03/02/2026

Educate! is excited by the launch of the 𝗚𝗹𝗼𝗯𝗮𝗹 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗘𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻'𝘀 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝟮𝟬𝟯𝟬 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝘆 — an ambitious five-year strategic plan to support partner countries to deliver quality education and learning for every young person.

GPE aims to strengthen the education system — from the classroom learning to national policy — so learning equips young people with the skills they need to realize their full potential.

With a focus on effectiveness and sustainability, the vision will advance critical partnerships and government-led reforms so that meaningful change is not only scaled but lasts for generations.

A fully funded GPE can unlock $10 billion to improve education for almost 𝟳𝟱𝟬 𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗻 𝗮𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱!

Educate! is grateful to be a GPE partner and eager to explore how we can continue strengthening learning and improving life outcomes for young people across East Africa.

➡️ Take a look at GPE’s bold plan: https://www.globalpartnership.org/blog/gpe-2030-transforming-education-systems-changing-world

➡️ Check out our shared work with GPE: https://www.gpekix.org/blog/tackling-data-disconnect-how-effective-data-use-can-strengthen-education-systems-globally

GPE launches GPE 2030, the partnership’s strategic plan for the next 5 years, to respond to partner countries’ ambition to deliver a quality education for every child; and ensure that learning equips young people with the skills they need to realize their full potential and contribute meaningful...

30/01/2026

Last week, Educate!, in partnership with 𝗧𝗮𝗻𝘇𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗮 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗶𝘁𝘂𝘁𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗘𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 (𝗧𝗜𝗘) and the 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁’𝘀 𝗢𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗲 – 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗔𝗱𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗟𝗼𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗚𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝗧𝗮𝗻𝘇𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗮 (𝗧𝗔𝗠𝗜𝗦𝗘𝗠𝗜), supported a one-day digital skills training for Information and Communication Technology (ICT) teachers.

ICT teachers across Tanzania strengthened their practical 𝗱𝗶𝗴𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝘀𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗔𝗜 𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘆 through hands-on work with smartphones and computers, exploring how AI can act as a thought partner across lesson planning, delivery, and reflection

Teachers learned how digital tools and AI can be used to:
✅strengthen lesson planning through effective prompts
✅ simplify explanations and provide feedback to students
✅ support teacher reflection before, during, and after lessons

ICT teachers were also trained to assist teachers with the 𝗣𝗥𝗲𝗠𝗦 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺, 𝗧𝗮𝗻𝘇𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗮’𝘀 𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘀𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺, including accessing the official assessment tools, and uploading final project scores.

To support sustainability, the ICT teachers will serve as digital champions — equipped not only to use digital tools and AI, but to coach colleagues and embed digital learning within their schools.

With Tanzania launching its digital education strategy last week, the teacher training aligns closely, offering a concrete example of how digital tools and AI can advance competency-based implementation in line with national goals.

This work is part of the 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 (𝗟𝗜𝗧) 𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗧𝗮𝗻𝘇𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗮, which focuses on strengthening teaching and learning so young people develop the 21st-century skills needed for work, lifelong learning, and adult life.

https://iafrica.com/tanzania-unveils-strategy-to-expand-digital-learning-across-education-system/

24/01/2026

On , we’re celebrating the power of youth in shaping education, especially Educate!’s Youth Mentors.

Mentorship is a key component of Educate!’s model. In Uganda, our core experience is delivered directly in secondary schools by Youth Mentors.

These young leaders drive the development of critical skills through hands-on learning and support — helping students realize their potential and build real businesses.

More than mentors, they’re role models who’ve been in their students’ shoes. Many of them participated in Educate!’s in-school model and now run their own businesses, offering firsthand insight into how the skills they teach translate into real-world gains. And because they’re close in age to the students, they’re uniquely relatable.

🎥 Hear from Isaac, one such mentor, and students in Uganda about what makes a good mentor.

15/01/2026

With just 10,000 KES (USD $78) from her savings, Cherile took a bold step toward building her future, starting a small business making cushions, pillows, and curtains in Homabay town’s open-air market. Her passion for interior decoration quickly attracted a loyal customer base, and within a year, she had expanded to a rented space.

Cherile honed her business planning, management, and saving skills through Educate!’s livelihood bootcamp. There, she also discovered the power of collaboration, working alongside 24 other women to exchange ideas and save collectively to grow her start-up capital.

Today, Cherile fulfills 5–7 orders a week and earns 20,000–30,000 KES (USD $155–$235) each month. Her growing income not only supports her family but has also enabled her to build a new home for her mother.

From a housewife with a dream to a thriving entrepreneur, Cherile now inspires others in her community. She has already mentored another woman to launch a wholesale vegetable business and hopes to open her own shop, creating even more opportunities for women to achieve financial independence.

06/01/2026

𝗘𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗲! 𝗶𝘀 𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗔𝗜 𝗮𝘀 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 — aligned with our purpose to prepare youth in Africa with the skills to succeed in today’s economy.

Our approach to AI is grounded in our Cultural Tenets. We run short learning loops and share what we learn (𝘈𝘭𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘓𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨), experiment quickly (𝘚𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘶𝘱 𝘔𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘴𝘦𝘵), co-create across teams and perspectives (𝘖𝘯𝘦-𝘛𝘦𝘢𝘮 𝘔𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘝𝘪𝘦𝘸𝘴), look for ways that AI can offer solutions to existing problems (𝘌𝘹𝘤𝘦𝘦𝘥 𝘌𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴), and tie every use case to improved youth outcomes (𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘵𝘩-𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘴𝘵, 𝘐𝘮𝘱𝘢𝘤𝘵 𝘖𝘣𝘴𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘥).

To better harness the power of AI in their daily work, some of our team members recently participated in the 𝗔𝗜 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗡𝗼𝗻𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝗦𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗻𝘁, an initiative started by 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗙𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗬𝗼𝗿𝗸 (𝗙𝗖𝗡𝗬).

The AI for Nonprofits Sprint has trained over 5,000 non-profit staff and 30,000 individuals across 140 organizations globally. The program helps teams effectively integrate AI tools like ChatGPT and Claude for tasks such as document analysis, grant writing, and data management, boosting productivity, and learning.

This sprint expanded our perspective on new AI possibilities and opportunities, and it emphasized the value of learning alongside others in the space through idea exchange and collaboration.

👉🏾 Hear directly from the team about how they are leveraging AI to support their work.

The world is changing quickly, and we’re excited to experiment with new tools to maximize our impact on young people!