Trevor Noah Foundation Education Changemakers Program Cohort 3 For East & Central Africa

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Applications are open for Trevor Noah Foundation Education Changemakers Program Cohort 3. The Trevor Noah Foundation, in partnership with the Regional Leadership Center East Africa at Kenyatta University and supported by the Oak Foundation, has opened applications for the third cohort of the Education Changemakers Program (ECM). The initiative targets emerging education leaders across East and Central Africa and aims to strengthen leadership capacity, innovation, and system-wide improvements in education.

The Education Changemakers Program is a leadership development initiative designed to empower young professionals working in education systems across the region. It builds on the legacy of the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) and continues to support locally driven solutions that improve learning outcomes and youth opportunities.

The program focuses on strengthening educators, school leaders, and education innovators through structured training, mentorship, and funding support.

Key Objectives:

Develop leadership capacity in education sectors
Strengthen school systems and learning outcomes
Support locally led innovation in education
Expand access to education and livelihood pathways

Trevor Noah Foundation Education Changemakers Program Structure

The Education Changemakers Program is delivered in two phases designed to combine intensive training with practical implementation support.

Phase 1: Leadership Training

Four-week in-person training in Nairobi, Kenya
Leadership development and systems thinking
Exposure to education innovation and case studies
Site visits and experiential learning sessions
Networking with regional education leaders

Phase 2: Implementation Support

Six months of post-training mentorship
Coaching and ongoing technical support
Access to small grants for school-based initiatives
Support for implementing education improvement projects
Integration into a pan-African alumni network

Eligibility Criteria for Trevor Noah Foundation Education Changemakers Program

The program targets young leaders actively working in education across East and Central Africa.

Eligible Countries:
Burundi, Central African Republic, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda.

Applicants Must:

Be aged 18–35
Work in or with primary or secondary education
Demonstrate commitment to improving education outcomes
Be fluent in English
Not be alumni of YALI RLC or Mandela Washington Fellowship
Commit to full participation in both phases of the program

Inclusive and Accessible

The program strongly encourages applications from:

Rural and economically disadvantaged youth
Young women
Youth with disabilities
Refugees and displaced persons
Individuals working with learners with disabilities or adolescent girls and young women
LGBTQI+ advocates and other minority groups

No fees are required to apply or participate.