Twelve Facebook Leaders from Nigeria, South Africa and Kenya Selected as part of the Facebook Community Accelerator Programme
Awarding up to $3 million, selected community leaders will receive up to $30,000 in funding
JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, July 14, 2020/ -- As part of its focus in bringing people together and building
communities, Facebook (www.Facebook.com) today announced the 12 African community leaders who have been selected to join Facebook's Community Accelerator (https://bit.ly/2Wj59Hp), a six-month programme that aims to equip communities with the training, mentorship, and funding they need to grow.
As part of the global Facebook Community Leadership initiative launched
in 2018, the Community Accelerator programme invests in leaders who are
building communities around the world; including bringing people
together, offering encouragement, and driving change. Following the call for applications in March 2020, 77 community leaders from around the
world were chosen, with 12 selected from Sub-Saharan Africa.
Awarding up to $3 million, selected community leaders will receive up to $30,000 in funding. In the first three months of the programme, these
leaders will learn from experts and coaches, whilst developing
customized curriculums focused on growing their own communities. The
following three months will then be focused on iterating and executing
their plans, with funding and continued support from their network, as
well as from a dedicated programme team. The Community Accelerator will
then culminate in an event with community leaders to showcase their
communities and progress to external funders and partners.
Commenting, Kezia Anim-Addo, Head of Communications for Sub-Saharan Africa said: “We’re delighted to be welcoming 12 African community leaders to Facebook’s
first Community Accelerator. We’ve seen time and again the power of
communities in bringing people closer together and feeling more
connected. We know community leaders can do amazing things when they
have adequate support from others, tools to get the job done, funding to grow and belief in themselves. The Facebook Community Accelerator will
enable these great communities to make an even greater positive impact
in the world, and we hope that through the support of the programme
these communities will have extraordinary impact, even in extraordinary
times.”
Community leaders selected from across Nigeria, Kenya and South Africa as part of the Facebook Community Accelerator include:
Hauwa Ojeifo, She Writes Woman (Nigeria) (https://bit.ly/3ft1azJ) - In 2016, Hauwa created "Safe Place Nigeria" to provide a stigma and
judgment-free space for young people to talk about mental health related issues. It has become a community for young people to learn, feel
connected, get support and feel a sense of belongingBright Shiitemii, Mental360 (Kenya) (https://bit.ly/2C8czX9) - Mental 360 was started in 2016 to give youth a safe platform to learn about mental health and illness and to access affordable holistic
solutions. It is a non-partisan non-discriminatory space where youth can grow their emotional wellness, grow their network and get peer supportLauren Dallas, Future Females (South Africa) (https://bit.ly/3fy2em0) - founded in 2017 with a mission to increase the number of female
entrepreneurs and support their success. They have become the go-to
destination for aspiring and early stage female entrepreneurs to receive the inspiration, education and support needed to build profitable
businesses onlineTony Onuk, The Root Hub (Nigeria) (https://bit.ly/3gTri79) - Roothub was started in 2014 to provide a safe space for youths to
build their ideas, grow their businesses, and access supportEsther Mwikalii, Metta NBO (Kenya) (https://bit.ly/3et39CA) - founded in 2015 as an entrepreneurs’ network with the goal of
bringing together founders, policy makers and investors to collaborate Refilwe Nkomo, Visual Arts Network South Africa (South Africa) (https://bit.ly/2ZpLFmi) - established in 2007 as a support point and development agency for
contemporary art practice in South Africa. It aspires to be a dynamic
and resilient network-based organisation contributing to growth,
innovation and opportunities in the artsEyitayo Ogunmola, Utiva (Nigeria) (https://bit.ly/308rxnZ) - Utiva is a decentralized ecosystem that helps Nigerians access
technology skills and trainings regardless of their location and
internet barrierNaadiya Moosajee, WomEng (South Africa) (https://bit.ly/3iUJmj7) - a social enterprise aimed at attracting, developing and nurturing the next generation of women engineering leadersAbiodun Adereni, Helpmum (Nigeria) (https://bit.ly/2CwGjwQ) - started in 2017, HelpMum tackles maternal and infant mortality in
remote rural areas in Nigeria, and provides Clean Birth Kits for
hygienic delivery to pregnant women, immunization reminders and health
information to nursing mothersdillion phiri, Creative Nestlings (South Africa) (https://bit.ly/391o2UA) - Launched in February 2011, dillion s. phiri founded Creative
Nestlings to connect young African creatives to each other, to
opportunities and to resources, democratizing how young African
creatives connect, get paid, learn and growRufaro Mudimu, Enke (South Africa) (https://bit.ly/2Olj3Eq) - "enke", meaning 'ink' in SeTswana, started in 2009 to bridge
socioeconomic inequality by bringing young people together and equipping them with the skills and experiences to improve their lives. "enke"
connects, equips and inspires young people to make their mark, authoring a positive future for themselves and their communitiesTariro Bure, MINDS (South Africa) (https://bit.ly/2B0t8DY) - MINDS was founded in 2010 as a platform rooted in cultural heritage
and knowledge systems for youth to reclaim their African identities and
transform the continent. It has become a movement of youth and crucial
stakeholders which aspires to shape policy, foster economic development, and enhance evolution of African institutions
Find out more about the Facebook Community Accelerator program and selected participants at https://bit.ly/2CAu1TT.
The Facebook Community Leadership Program is a global initiative that invests in people building communities. It now includes:
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