In Focus / Education

Africa needs great educators, committed people who are passionate about helping children and young people to learn and fulfill their potential, equipping them to make a positive difference in the world. At Lionesses of Africa, we are celebrating women entrepreneurs who are creating leading-edge technologies and new approaches to education in order to make a real difference to the lives of new generations of children and young people across the African continent.

We are featuring and paying tribute to some of these truly inspirational women Edupreneurs whose commitment to changing the educational landscape of the African continent, is creating a new, brighter and more exciting future, full of possibilities, for Africa’s children and young people. Through their highly innovative companies and ground-breaking new products and approaches, they are making a significant difference to the way that Africa’s education challenges are being addressed, and in the process giving hope and inspiration to tomorrow’s African leaders.

The names of many of these incredible women Edupreneurs may be unfamiliar to you, but their groundbreaking work and the results they achieve, speak volumes. As a result, they are winning awards and fans alike in the countries and communities they serve. Each one has made a significant commitment to finding real and lasting solutions to key educational challenges. Here are just some of those women who inspire us at Lionesses of Africa, not simply because of the incredible work they do each and every day to transform the educational landscape of the continent, but also because they are a source of inspiration to so many other aspirant women Edupreneurs, as they make a difference in the lives of so many.

Featured

Avashna Ramnarain, a South African edupreneur creating innovative learning experiences for children

Startup Story

Avashna Ramnarain, visionary founder and CEO of Mindful Masterminds in South Africa, is dedicated to transforming children's lives through innovative learning experiences, initiatives, and resources. She is a seasoned, award-winning marketing expert with over 15 years former corporate, Africa Marketing experience at one of the continent’s largest PC and Printing manufacturers where she earned recognition for initiatives in the education sector. She belonged to their leadership team, Sustainability team, as well as the Women Impact Network for Africa. With her esteemed career in Technology Marketing and a foundation in Psychology & Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Avashna initiated an undertaking to redefine the approach to enhance mental and emotional resilience in children.

Bertha Kgokong, a serial techpreneur from South Africa developing software applications and platforms

Startup Story

Skhokho is a software development company based in South Africa and launched by tech entrepreneur Bertha Kgokong. Bertha is a self taught developer who graduated with an Engineering degree in 2003 and has spent over 15 years in corporate. Her entrepreneurial journey started in 2017, where she founded Tati Software. Since then she has created numerous software applications, and also runs an online tech learning platform called Skolo https://skolo.online - where she provides free programming lessons on Youtube, and some paid courses on her website skolo.online.

Bathabile Mpofu, a South African entrepreneur passionate about science education

Startup Story

Many young learners in South Africa never get the chance to perform science experiments as part of their studies, and this means that few go on to study science as a possible future career. Entrepreneur Bathabile Mpofu, founder of Nkazimulo Applied Sciences, is on a mission to change that.

Sarah Morrow, a South African edupreneur creating an accessible, affordable preschool experience

Startup Story

In South Africa, for many parents finding a preschool for their children to attend that is both accessible and affordable can be a hugely challenging experience, often with little reward. But one passionate, impact driven woman entrepreneur is changing that reality. Sarah Morrow, founder of Little Leaders Preschool is making quality, affordable preschool education available to parents and their children from all walks of life.

Tshegofatso Dludla, a South African techpreneur bringing maths and science to life for children

Startup Story

In a world where technology is changing so many aspects of our daily lives, it is so important that children get the opportunity to grasp and embrace maths and science at an early age. Tshegofatso Dludla, founder of RoboSTEAM Train in South Africa, is making a huge difference to the lives of underprivileged children in the country by making robotics and coding fun and accessible.

Jackee Batanda, a creative entrepreneur educating through the power of writing

Startup Story

Great writing is an art form and in Uganda, entrepreneur Jackee Batanda, founder of SuccessSpark Brand Ltd, is harnessing the power of words to educate and inform. She understands how storytelling can reach audiences and customers in a unique and personal way.

Meg Faure, a South African entrepreneur and author reimagining early childhood education

Startup Story

Any parent with young children knows just how critical it is to encourage early emotional development as the basis for a strong learning journey. In South Africa, well-known author and entrepreneur, Meg Faure, founder of Play Sense, has created a unique business focusing on unique play-based learning programmes for 2-4 year olds.

Zamaswazi Mfusi, a South African entrepreneur creating beautiful, indigenous content to engage and inspire young children

When children are young and their thirst for learning is strong, it’s important that they are exposed to great content that entertains, stretches their minds and enhances their knowledge. For entrepreneur Zamaswazi Mfisi, ensuring children can experience world-class content that reflects their own culture and languages is what drives her passion and her business, Indilang.

Kirsty Savides, a South African entrepreneur turning her passion for music into a great learning tool for children

Children instinctively love music, but one South African entrepreneur is harnessing the power of music to give children’s brains a full workout. Wriggle and Rhyme, the brainchild of Kirsty Savides, is a business teaching children to embrace music and movement as part of their development.

Deborah Sawyerr, a Nigerian entrepreneur on a mission to educate kids on money literacy

You are never too young to learn about money as a child, and never to old to learn how to manage your money better and create your future wealth as a woman, according to Sawyerrs’ House founder, Deborah Sawyerr. She is passionate about increasing money literacy amongst both children and adult women alike.

Josephine Marie Godwyll, a social entrepreneur bringing the world of learning to young Ghanaian children through digital platforms

Young children have the ability to learn quickly and absorb new information and skills that can change their lives, as long as they get access to exciting learning experiences. In Ghana’s rural communities, this was a key challenge. But one woman entrepreneur, Jospephine Marie Godwyll, is changing that through her high impact social enterprise, Young At Heart Ghana. Today, she is bringing digital learning experiences that are truly game-changing to young people’s minds and futures.

Rianke Chapman, a South African edupreneur on a mission to help young people realize their educational goals in life

Acquiring maths learning at an early age equips young people with the critical thinking and problem solving skills that will help them in all aspects of their lives. For edupreneur Rianke Chapman, founder of Tutor For The Future, this educational need on the part of South Africa’s young people provided the inspiration to start a business providing the specialist educational support needed to fill a real gap.

Fulufhelo Ramulifho - The startup story of a South African edupreneur creating high school learner conversations about careers

The critical period of time for young people to open their minds to possibilities and to prepare for their futures is during their schoolyears - but, they need the right kind of support to help them on their journeys. Careers For A Powerful You is the brainchild of South African edupreneur Fulufhelo Ramulifho, a business focused on providing high quality career guidance, coaching and mentoring to help a new generation of young people to fulfil their potential.

Angela Franklin - The startup story of the bookseller of Senegal with a passion to promote the writers of the Diaspora

Many bookstores claim to be so much more, but in the case of Angela Franklin’s business, Chez Alpha Books, this is certainly the case. She has taken the concept of a bookselling business and elevated it into a truly multi-faceted learning and resource centre for those with a love of the English language and a need to access learning materials and language training resources in English.

Faraja Nyalandu - The startup story of a Tanzanian edupreneur producing accessible, localized digital learning for secondary students

Africa’s education challenges and the lack of access to quality learning resources for children and young people in Tanzania specifically, led one woman entrepreneur to take an innovative approach to finding a solution. Faraja Nyalandu is creating world-class digital learning content and making it available to students on mobile phones and through online learning portals.

Lydie Hakizimana – The startup story of a textbook entrepreneur with an incredible vision for improving children’s literacy in Rwanda

If there is one woman that is living proof of the power of women entrepreneurs to make a real difference in the world, it is Lydie Hakizimana co-founder of Drakkar Limited in Rwanda.

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