Eric Glustrom

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2009

Eric Glustrom

Educate!

Kampala, Uganda, Uganda

Education & Youth Leadership

The Bold Idea:

The Bold Idea: Empower high school students in Uganda to become the next generation of socially responsible leaders through a two-year leadership curriculum and long-term mentoring that equips students to create social enterprises.

At the root of the most pressing challenges facing Africa—from poverty, to ethnic conflict, and environmental degradation—is a need for socially responsible leadership. However, the vast majority of schools in Africa use a rote memorization-based curriculum. This leaves students with a dilemma upon graduation: they find themselves powerless to lead change.

Educate! disrupts the rote memorization-based education system in Uganda by equipping high school students to create social enterprises through a two-year socially responsible leadership curriculum, long-term mentoring, and an alumni network. Educate! incorporates the creation of a social enterprise (and corresponding socially responsible leadership curriculum and mentoring-based teaching method) into the curriculum of high schools. This allows them to reach a much larger number of students, and build the capacity of the school system from within. The resulting impact is that students graduate with the experience to become the next generation of socially responsible leaders.

Biography:

In 2002 when Eric Glustrom was seventeen, he traveled to Kyangwali Refugee Settlement, Uganda, to make a film about the lives of refugees. There he met Benson Olivier, an eighteen year-old refugee from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. One evening, Eric asked Benson what he could do to help the people of Kyangwali. Benson asked for an education so he could solve the challenges faced by his community and homeland. From Benson’s insightful words, Educate! was born with a mission to educate and empower the next generation of socially responsible leaders in Africa. Eric graduated from Amherst College in 2007.

Moment of Obligation: What experiences led to the desire to start your own organization?
I was seventeen when I met Benson Olivier, a refugee from the Democratic Republic of Congo of eighteen years, in Kyangwali Refugee Settlement, Uganda. Sitting in his home, a small mud hut, he told me how he lost his parents, fled to Kyangwali, and worked to overcome numerous challenges. I asked him what I could do to help. He asked for only an education so he could solve the challenges faced by his community and homeland. From his insightful words, an organization was born with a mission to educate and empower the next generation of socially responsible leaders in Africa.

Gall to Think Big: What has given you the ability to dream big and take on deeply entrenched social and difficult problems? (Such as experiences, skills, events, etc.)
My gall to think big comes from my belief in the need to transform the education system such that students of all backgrounds gain the experience to lead change. As Educate! expands we are proving out our model on a systemic scale and building proof that students of diverse socioeconomic, religious, and ethnic backgrounds can lead measurable change. In doing so, we provide tangible evidence that the form of education Educate! models is truly the investment in the next generation that provides the greatest returns for society.

New and Untested: What's innovative about your new idea for social change?
Rather than building a single highly powerful school or developing a leadership or social entrepreneurship program outside of the formal education system, Educate! boosts the capacity of existing schools to equip their students to lead change. Educate! takes the most effective components (namely the curriculum, mentoring, and alumni networks) of top schools and programs around the world and brings them to existing high schools across Uganda. Within these schools Educate! is able to accomplish a similar mission to a leadership academy or social entrepreneurship program, however, we incorporate the creation of a social enterprise, social change curriculum, and long-term mentoring into the education system itself. Educate!’s approach allows the organization to reach a much larger number of students and build the capacity of the school system from the bottom up. Educate! introduces a practical component of student-run social enterprises. Students’ experience with social entrepreneurship equips them to identify opportunities to address community challenges in effective, innovative, and sustainable ways and lays the foundation for students to become the next generation of socially responsible leaders. Finally Educate! works to transform the education system itself. Teach for America Corps members witness educational inequality and are assisted by an alumni network to work to end the achievement gap. Rather than teaching the standard curriculum, Educate! Mentors teach Educate!’s innovative social change curriculum while empowering Scholars through close mentoring. Like TFA Corps members, Mentors, upon completing their two-year commitment, are assisted by an alumni network to become socially responsible leaders and build on Educate!’s model to transform the rote memorization based education system to a system which empowers students to lead social change.

Seeing Possibilities: What are the most important qualities to be a successful social entrepreneur?
Willingness to learn: It is absolutely crucial to learn from colleagues, advisors, and stakeholders. Building a culture that encourages collaboration, openness to suggestions, and drive to learn from the work and experience of other people and organizations is key. Don't give up: Determination goes a long ways, especially if it is paired with a faith in the importance of your work. Just saying "yes," when others say no or don't understand, will carry the work forward in the direction of your vision. A clear vision of change: A strong vision provides motivation, inspires others, and sets the long-term direction of the work. When we come across bumps in the road that threaten the work in the short or medium term, going back to a clear vision can help overcome any challenge by reminding us of why we are doing what we're doing and where we are going.

Which musical artists/albums get you going and keep you inspired?
Lauryn Hill, Elton John, Dispatch, lots of Disney Songs, and of course Mariah Carey (especially Always be my Baby and My All).

What books do you recommend (pleasure, work and anything in between)?

• How to Change the World
• Be Bold
• Blessed
  
• Unrest 
• Small is Beautiful
• Natural Capitalism 
• A Long Walk to Freedom (autobiography of Nelson Mandela)

Which websites do you visit often (work and/or personal)?

• socialedge.org

What advice or quote do you keep close to your heart as a social change leader?

How I wish for you to have the contentment of a satisfied inner voice through decisions well made, connections made with other people, keeping a clear conscience, and challenges faced and met.