How to Reach 45,000 Young People

What if everyone thought as if they were an entrepreneur? Some believe it’s the only way we will find ourselves capable of driving change without relying on government, NGOS, and other similar institutions. We recently shared an article from the Harvard Business Review in which Saras Sarasvathy, a professor at UVA’s Darden School of Business, talks of an “entrepreneurial revolution” akin to the scientific revolution. One in which we all have the tools, skills, and almost second sense to approach any problem with an entrepreneurial lens. Can you imagine a world where every young person felt equipped with the skills to drive change in their communities?

Educate!, co-founded by 2009 Echoing Green Fellow, Eric Glustrom, is helping high school students in Uganda to become the country’s next generation of socially responsible leaders.

With a two-year leadership curriculum, long-term mentoring, and an alumni program, Educate! equips students with the fundamentals of creating their own social enterprises to address poverty, disease, and environmental degradation.

As of last week, Educate!’s curriculum has been incorporated into the national education system of Uganda and will reach 45,000 young people in 1,000 schools across the country. So, in addition to math, science, and geography, students will learn how to understand the root cause of problems in their communities—and gain the hands-on skills to start a venture to solve them.

Educate!’s curriculum is the first of its kind in the world. We can’t wait to learn more about the many more “firsts” it will drive for Uganda and Africa.