Education and Empowerment: Building Blocks for Gender Equality in Africa
In May 2024, a communication school classmate achieved a remarkable milestone by successfully defending her doctoral thesis. What struck me most was not just her academic achievement, but the extraordinary circumstances surrounding her journey. While pursuing her master’s degree, she navigated the challenges of pregnancy and academic pressure with grace and excellence, earning top grades and securing a research assistant position in the department.
As she pursued her doctoral studies, she balanced the demands of motherhood, managing a household, and academic rigor with remarkable poise. As a married African woman, her accomplishment shatters cultural and societal barriers.
Indeed, Africa is undergoing a transformative revolution. Women and girls are breaking barriers, challenging traditional norms, and shaping a new future, and the two key factors driving this change are education and empowerment. Despite this momentum, there remains a significant gap to bridge, as a staggering 65% of women in Sub-Saharan Africa remain outside the educational sphere, according to the Mastercard Foundation.
Asante Africa is a pioneering organization dedicated to advancing gender equality in Africa, among others. Since its founding, Asante Africa has been tirelessly working to empower women and girls, especially, in North Eastern Africa, providing them with access to quality education and equipping them with the skills, knowledge, and confidence necessary to unlock their full potential and become agents of change in their communities. Through its impactful programs and initiatives, Asante Africa is helping to bridge the gender gap and create a more inclusive and equitable society for all.
Some of the programs we have developed to address the persistent gender gaps in education and to promote gender equality include:
The Accelerated Learning Program, which provides access to quality education and 21st century learning tools for marginalized communities
The Youth Livelihood Program (YLP), which fosters leadership and entrepreneurial skills among youth
The Scholarship Program, which provides financial support to deserving students
The Wezesha Vijana Program, which empowers young people, especially girls, with life skills, mentorship, and health and hygiene knowledge
Asante Africa’s education and empowerment programs have made a great impact on the lives of nearly 400,000 women and girls across Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. Through these programs, we have empowered women and girls to become catalysts for change in their communities. One woman at a time, we are contributing to the global mission of achieving gender equality.
OUR IMPACT
Take Gift from Uganda, for example. Her stepfather’s sole expectation was for her to marry, forcing her to flee from home. However, Gift’s life took a transformative turn when she received a scholarship from Asante Africa. She is now thriving academically and has become a shining example of potential.
Jennifer has a similar story. Her father considered marrying her off for a dowry due to financial struggles caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. However, Mrs. Menelik, a beneficiary of the Wezesha Vijana Program, intervened and convinced him to change his mind. As a result, Jennifer received a scholarship from Asante Africa and is now pursuing her goals and creating a brighter future for herself.
Sub-Saharan Africa faces a significant gender gap in leadership, with only 27% of women holding legislative positions (unwomen.org). Asante Africa’s Youth Livelihood (YLP) Program is bridging this gap by empowering girls and women to take on leadership roles.
Asha from Tanzania is a shining example of this impact. Since encountering Asante Africa in 2013, Asha has developed essential leadership skills that have propelled her into various decision-making positions. During her time at the University, Asha served as a liaison between the university council and the students and was even nominated for a dairy cattle training program in Denmark. Asha’s success is a testament to the transformative power of Asante Africa’s YLP Program.
Asante Africa’s dedication to achieving gender equality in Africa is yielding remarkable results. Our efforts to educate and empower the next generation of youth, with a focus on women and girls, have garnered local and global recognition. For instance, Zaman, a Tanzanian and scholar at Asante Africa, recently won the 2023 Amal Clooney Women’s Empowerment Award by Prince’s Trust International, for her exceptional grassroot initiative in keeping girls in school, a testament to our unwavering commitment to creating a more equitable future for all. We are proud to be part of a movement that is shaping a brighter tomorrow for Africa’s youth, and we look forward to continuing our work towards a gender-equal continent where everyone has the opportunity to reach their full potential.
WRITTEN BY: Halisatu Aziz
