Ashoka Africa

🌟 Celebrating the Young African Climate Changemakers Challenge Winners! 🌟 From the initial call for applications to the final celebration in Johannesburg, this journey has been nothing short of inspiring. 🚀 These 10 incredible projects from South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia rose to the top during a rigorous review process, which looked for: ✨ Changemaker qualities ✨ Innovation ✨ Sustainability ✨ Connection to community Each winner is not only shaping the future of climate action but also showing the power of young people to lead change. With the support of the Anglo American Foundation, these changemakers are receiving $1000 to accelerate their impactful work! 📸 Swipe through to celebrate each winning project and the changemakers behind them. Let’s give them the applause they deserve for their innovation, resilience, and commitment to building a better world! 👏 Congratulations to all the winners—we can’t wait to see how you continue to lead change. Winners profiles here - https://buff.ly/3ZpLB3W #AshokaChangemakers #Ashoka #YACCChallenge

✨ Changemaking in Action: Highlights from 'An Evening with Changemakers' ✨ Last week, Ashoka Southern Africa hosted an unforgettable celebration of resilience, innovation, and connection. Here’s what made the evening so special: 🌍 The announcement of our newest Southern Africa Ashoka Fellows, changemakers redefining systems and driving impactful change. 🌟 Prizegiving for the 10 winning projects of the #YACCChallenge, showcasing the brilliance of young African climate leaders. 🤝 Opportunities to learn, network, and celebrate with changemakers from all walks of life. This evening wouldn’t have been possible without our amazing partners, the #Ashoka Southern Africa team, our passionate guests, and the event suppliers who brought it all together. Learn more about our Fellows and YACC winners: https://buff.ly/3D5kIL1 #AshokaChangemakers #Ashoka #YACCChallenge

Honouring Deola Durodola, a Changemaking Champion! From the Pitchathon judge’s seat to the Young Changemakers Festival stage to the election panel for Ashoka Young Changemakers, Deola has been a steadfast strategic partner for the CTEACH program in 2024. As the Executive Director of United Way Greater Nigeria, her commitment to empowering Changemakers and fostering impactful collaborations has been instrumental in driving our mission forward. Thank you, Deola, for your unwavering support, insightful contributions, and inspiring leadership throughout the year. Together, we’re making Changemaking unstoppable! #Changemakers #AshokaAfricaAppreciation24 #EveryoneAChangemaker

🌟 Youth Innovators Changing the Game 🌟 At the #YACConference, our Young African Climate Changemakers Challenge winners had the privilege of learning from a dynamic panel of seasoned social entrepreneurs: 🔹 Nolo Mokoena - Co-Founder & Director, Crtve Development 🔹 Mukundi Lambani - Founder, Ambani Africa 🔹 Busi Mkhumbuzi Pooe - Ashoka Fellow & CEO, ThinkShift This session, moderated by Ashoka Youth Years Coordinator Mtha Nazo explored topics like: 💡 Dreaming big 💡 Embracing failure 💡 Intentional changemaking Thank you to our inspiring panellists for walking us through your journey and empowering the next generation of changemakers. The road less traveled is a road worth taking! #Ashoka #YACConference #YACCChallenge

📢 Event Highlights: Young African Changemakers Conference 2024 🌍✨ In Johannesburg, South Africa, we hosted the Young African Climate Changemakers Challenge winners for a transformative day of storytelling, knowledge-sharing, and capacity building. Hearing these incredible young leaders share their changemaker journeys left us inspired and motivated. At Ashoka, we believe in the power of "Everyone a Changemaker"—and these young winners showed us exactly why investing in the leaders of today and tomorrow matters more than ever. A big congratulations to all our winners and a special thank you to the Anglo American Foundation for supporting this impactful initiative. Together, we’re building a more sustainable and equitable future. More about the winning projects here - https://lnkd.in/e23v6kiA #YACConference #Ashoka #YACCChallenge

🌍 Celebrating the Young Changemakers 🌱 The winners of the Young African Climate Changemakers (YACC) Challenge 2024 are taking bold steps to shape a green & fair world—and their impact is just beginning! These ten youth-led projects from #SouthAfrica, #Zimbabwe, and #Namibia are tackling some of the most pressing challenges of our time with creativity and determination. 🖇️ https://lnkd.in/e23v6kiA Whether it's mobile agritech gardens bringing food security to underserved communities, biodegradable sanitary pads tackling menstrual health and environmental sustainability, or harnessing Indigenous knowledge to fight climate change; these young leaders are demonstrating the power of youth to reshape our world. At the Anglo American Foundation, we are proud to support Ashoka Africa initiatives like YACC, which spotlight youth not as the leaders of tomorrow but as the innovators of today, driving systems change and reshaping their communities. Shingi said, "Young people aren’t just the future—they’re the game-changers of today. The YACC is a powerful platform for young leaders across Southern Africa to channel their energy, ideas, and innovation into real action for our planet." Congratulations to these remarkable changemakers for their leadership, resilience, and unwavering commitment to making a difference. You inspire us all! 🚀 #YACC2024 #YouthChangemakers #ClimateAction #Innovation #GreenAndFairFuture

This year, the Ashoka West Africa programs shone brighter, thanks to the incredible contributions of our Ashoka Young Changemakers: Amara Nwuneli, Ayomide Akran, David Onilude and Magnus Imam 🎤 Amara and Ayomide took center stage as the vibrant MCs of the Young Changemakers Festival, inspiring everyone with their energy and passion. 💡 David and Magnus shared their wisdom on an impactful panel, encouraging young people to embrace their Changemaking potential and drive meaningful change in their communities. Together, they exemplify the power of young leaders in shaping a better future for all. Thank you for being pivotal to our 2024 journey! #Changemakers #AshokaAfricaAppreciation24 #EveryoneAChangemaker

We are thrilled to announce a transformative partnership with Mtoto News to amplify the voices of Africa's youngest changemakers. Launched on #WorldChildrensDay, this collaboration aims to empower young leaders to create lasting social impact. Together, we will expand the Ashoka Young Changemakers Program across Africa, providing mentorship, resources, and a global network to help young innovators scale their initiatives. This partnership underscores our shared vision of a world where every child has the tools, confidence, and support to lead meaningful change in their communities. #YoungChangemakers #WorldChildrensDay #SocialImpact #YouthLeadership #Ashoka

🌟 Thank You, Changemaker Champions! 🌟 We are incredibly grateful to our Venture funding partners for their invaluable support in electing 41 new Ashoka Fellows across Africa in 2024—a leap from 20 in 2023! 🎉 Your investment in social entrepreneurs creates impact NOW, empowering Fellows with the tools to transform systems for a better future. Here's how their contributions make a difference: 💡 Search & Selection: Finding high-impact solutions by Africans for Africans. 💰 3-Year Stipend: Enabling Fellows to focus on scaling their innovations. 🤝 Lifetime Support: Non-financial mentorship and access to the Ashoka network. Together, we’re fueling systems-changing solutions that ripple across communities. Thank you for being a vital part of this movement. 🌍 Boehringer Ingelheim, Making More Health, Woka Foundation, Mott Foundation, Fit For Life Foundation, Lenovo, Sage Foundation, valued members of the Ashoka Support Network and more. Some of you are anonymous but your support is much real! Our ambition is to elect more Fellows each year, and we’re raising $8.6M to support stipends for 50 new Fellows in Africa. Every dollar you invest is multiplied thanks to: 1️⃣ The Ashoka network effect, mobilizing additional funding. 2️⃣ Mackenzie Scott’s generous match for Fellows in the Global South. Join us in amplifying this impact—every contribution counts! #Ashoka #SystemsChange #Africa #SocEnt ✨ Learn more or contribute: https://buff.ly/4f7Jaca

🌍 Exciting News from the DRC! 🌍 Last week, Ashoka Support Network (ASN) Global and @Ashoka Africa came together to spotlight the newest #AshokaFellows in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). During this inspiring one-hour session, we introduced two of the seven groundbreaking Fellows selected in 2024. These changemakers shared their incredible journeys and innovative projects that are already making a profound impact on the ground. It was also a valuable opportunity to dive into the emerging social innovation ecosystem in the DRC, gain insights into Ashoka’s expansion in the country, and explore ways to collaborate for an even greater impact. A special thank you to Fellow Héritier KITUMAINI, innovating in driving financial inclusion, and Nicole MENEMENE, who is transforming plastic waste recycling by harnessing the power of social media. We’re grateful to all #ASN members for their engagement and to the many participants who expressed interest in supporting these transformative solutions. A special shoutout to ISAAC BUGERI and Stephanie Schmidt for their leadership in the DRC. 🔗 Find out more about these inspiring leaders: https://buff.ly/3D0OQaw 💡 Interested in scaling these innovations? Contact Stephanie Schmidt #SocialInnovation #AshokaFellows #DRC #Collaboration #SocialEntrepreneurship #Innovation #Impact