Gaborone-based NGO, Raising Education Within Africa (REWA) has been named country winner in the Pan-African Awards for Entrepreneurship. REWA has been honoured for its entrepreneurial approach to education. The organisation, which works with children from different backgrounds providing them with quality, exciting and innovative education won a prize of $1,000 in the fifth edition of the awards run by UK charity, Teach A Man To Fish.
The aim of the competition was to identify and celebrate the achievements of social entrepreneurs who understand the role education can play within their communities. "With this competition, we were looking for programmes which are innovative, sustainable and create real impact - and we have found them. By awarding them, we hope to encourage others to imitate winner's approach and work towards more and better education in Africa," says Nik Kafka, managing director of Teach A Man To Fish.
With over 350 entries from Africa, REWA did exceptionally well to be named a country winner in the competition. The NGOs managing director, Priyanka Handa Ram said its unique and entrepreneurial approach to education meant that it caught the judges' attention despite a very tough competition. In January 2012, REWA opened its first Education Centre in Gaborone. The centre provides the Kip McGrath Tutoring and Remedial Programme in Maths and English for students between ages 4 - 18.
"We offer one-to-one remedial intervention for students with learning difficulties," says Ram. In addition, REWA runs the YoungDrive Academy, an entrepreneurship programme for learners. During the programme, students run a business project while being coached and inspired by more experienced young entrepreneurs.
Ram says the organisation works as a consultancy providing teacher training, curriculum development and strategic planning for schools and education organisations in Botswana. "Over a period of two years, REWA has developed into an organisation that delivers a variety of professional and educational services to parents, students, schools, colleges and other educational providers. This award means a lot to us and we would like to thank Teach A Man to Fish and the community of Botswana for recognising our hard-work," Ram says.
The Clothing Bank from South Africa, founded in 2010 to empower unemployed mothers in Cape Town, walked away with the first prize. The bank provides a two-year holistic training programme that supports women to set up their own small retail trading business. It got $10,000 for winning the top prize.
Source: Mmegi Online
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