Hello!
My name is Troy Riemer, and my company, Red Clay Creative, helps to design The Georgetowner every month. We thought it would be a great idea to highlight non-profits and organizations that are doing good, and The Georgetowner thought it would be a great idea too. An inspiring story can have a huge impact when consumed by the right people at the right time. Our goal is to share stories from leaders who do good and who have the power to make change in a positive way.
Here is an excerpt from a conversation I had with Sidiki Traore, the Founder and President of Distance Education for Africa.
What was a major problem you faced as a non-profit leader, and what emotions were associated with that challenge?
Lack of funding! It’s incredibly discouraging. We know that our work has so much impact and have provided over 48,000 scholarships to learners, reaching youth and adults in every country in Africa. Based on a survey last year, the data on the effectiveness is impressive: 59% started a new business, 81% improved confidence at work, 87% improved their skills for work, and 91% said the class was an effective use of their time.
Group Picture of graduating class in South Sudan 2022. Courtesy Distance Education for Africa.
What solution or process did you apply to overcome that challenge, and how did it feel when you accomplished that?
We’re working on telling the stories of the learners who have participated in our program and celebrating progress and success together in person. We’ve also published eight books and done dozens of conference presentations to spotlight student work and share best practices.
Why did it matter so much to solve that problem, and how did it affect you, your mission, and your network?
Our goals are to promote lasting economic impact and promote gender equity through education. We’re building the capacity of people across Africa to design, build, and scale businesses based on a foundation of high-quality educational content and effective business strategy. We’ve built a strong community of learners who share their stories on what works and support one another to be successful.
What is your and your organization’s top priority or goal for 2023?
This year we’re partnering with Africa’s Leading Ladies and the New Zealand Embassy to provide 25,000 scholarships to women entrepreneurs. This program includes online events, courses, mentors, and readings to support women designing, building, and scaling successful businesses across Africa.
What can people do to help your mission?
Share the program, join our community, or donate through our site at www.deafrica.org. Thank you to The Georgetowner for this opportunity to share our story. And thank you to Red Clay Creative for doing a fantastic job with the website and supporting our team and program!
