FAWE Africa

Yesterday, FAWE joined the Mastercard Foundation in celebrating Community Week 2026 across five of the Foundation’s eight locations: Kenya, Ethiopia, Ghana, Uganda, and Rwanda. 🌍✨

Held under the theme *“Creating Impact Together,”* the celebration highlighted the power of partnerships in driving meaningful and lasting change for young people across Africa.

FAWE resonated strongly with the remarks shared by Mastercard Foundation President and CEO, Ms. Sewit Ahderom, on the importance of work being grounded in partnerships and the understanding that impactful programs are not only built through strategy on paper, but through strong relationships and shared purpose.

For over 12 years, FAWE and the Mastercard Foundation have partnered to expand opportunities for young women and men across Africa through education, skills development, leadership, and pathways to dignified and fulfilling work. We remain proud of this partnership and the transformational impact it continues to create.

In Ethiopia, FAWE was represented by Deputy Executive Director Ms. Teresa Omondi-Adeitan and FAWE Ethiopia National Chapter Coordinator Ms. Selamawit Admassu. FAWE representatives also joined the celebrations in Rwanda, Ghana, and Uganda, reflecting the strength of our continental partnership and shared commitment to Africa’s young people.


FAWE Uganda FAWE Ethiopia Chapter FAWE Rwanda Fawe Ghana

Over two impactful days in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, FAWE concluded the End-Term Evaluation Validation and Reflection Workshop for the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program & Higher Education Access Program (HEAP), bringing together stakeholders from Uganda, Rwanda, and Ethiopia. 🌍📚

The workshop provided an important platform to validate findings, reflect on lessons learned, and develop country-specific action plans to strengthen future programming and scale impactful interventions.

A key highlight of the engagement was the screening of a documentary showcasing stories of transformation, resilience, and impact from program participants across the three countries. The documentary brought to life the human stories behind the program’s achievements and reinforced the power of education in transforming lives and communities. ✨

As FAWE Deputy Executive Director, Ms. Teresa Omondi-Adeitan, noted: “Evaluation is not an endpoint. It is a bridge to better implementation, stronger accountability, and more meaningful impact for the young women and men we serve across Africa.”

One of the most powerful moments of the workshop was hearing directly from alumni whose testimonies reminded participants that behind every statistic is a transformed life, expanded opportunity, and renewed hope for the future.

FAWE Uganda FAWE Ethiopia Chapter FAWE Rwanda Mastercard Foundation

This week in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, communication professionals from the 10 countries implementing the FAWE/Mastercard Foundation Phase II Program have come together for the Communications Bootcamp 2026 under the theme: *“Amplify to Influence.”* 🌍📚

The Bootcamp is strengthening strategic communication, storytelling, media engagement, and continental coordination to enhance the visibility and impact of the program across Africa. The engagement is also placing strong emphasis on positioning alumni as ambassadors of impact, advocacy, and sustainability.

Designed as a highly practical and interactive training, the Bootcamp is focused on:
🔹 Producing tangible outputs from every session
🔹 Peer learning and exchange across countries
🔹 Strengthening implementation-focused communication approaches
🔹 Building compelling stories that influence change

During one of the sessions, FAWE Deputy Executive Director, Ms. Teresa Omondi-Adeitan, emphasized the importance of communication in driving program success, noting that: *“Communication is a very critical component to the success of the program.”* ✨

We were privileged to host two guest speakers from the Mastercard Foundation:
✨ Ms. Joy Doreen Biira, Head, Program Communications, SETC, who emphasized the importance of leveraging media to amplify program visibility, while also highlighting the need for safeguarding, particularly for persons with disabilities.
✨ Mr. Teshome Fantahun Hassen, Lead, Health Communications – Human Capital Development, who facilitated an engaging session on crafting impactful stories that resonate and inspire action.

The Bootcamp continues to provide a valuable platform for collaboration, shared learning, and strengthening communication approaches that amplify scholar and alumni voices while positioning transformative education pathways at both national and continental levels.

Gearing up for Day 3! 🚀

“Ten years later, the stories of transformation continue to speak for themselves.” ✨

Recap – The FAWE/Mastercard Foundation Phase I Program End Term Evaluation (ETE) Validation Meeting in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, brought together key stakeholders from Uganda, Rwanda, and Ethiopia to reflect on a decade of impact, learning, and transformation.

Implemented over the past 10 years, the FAWE/Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program and the Higher Education Access Program (HEAP) have supported young women and men from underserved communities to access secondary and higher education, while equipping them with the skills, confidence, and opportunities needed to thrive beyond the classroom.

During the opening session, FAWE Deputy Executive Director, Ms. Teresa Omondi-Adeitan, reflected on the importance of learning and continuous improvement, noting:
“My first FAWE Africa graduation ceremony was a defining moment. During the ceremony, a scholar shared her extraordinary journey of crossing the Nyungwe Forest in Rwanda to collect her award letter. While she described it as a triumph, I knew FAWE could do better. We listened, we learnt, and we changed the process. This evaluation gives us another opportunity to transform practice and deliver even stronger, more responsive programming.”

The validation meeting has brought together program alumni, representatives from Ministries of Education in Ethiopia, Rwanda and Uganda, partner universities, TVET institutions, partner high schools, implementing FAWE chapters (FAWE Rwanda Fawe Uganda and FAWE Ethiopia Chapter), and the FAWE Regional Secretariat for collective reflection and dialogue on the program journey and its outcomes.

One of the most powerful highlights of the day was the active participation of alumni, whose voices, experiences, and reflections reaffirmed the importance of co-creation and meaningful participant engagement in program implementation and learning.

Stay tuned for Day 2 highlights. 🌍📚✨

Forum For African Women Educationalists- Kenya Chapter

📌 From evidence to policy: FAWE Kenya drives national dialogue on the Tuseme approach.

Yesterday in Nairobi, FAWE Kenya convened the GPE KIX Tuseme Project National Policy Dialogue and Dissemination Meeting at Hyatt Regency Hotel.

The objective was clear: to translate evidence from the Tuseme model into concrete policy action for sustainable, scalable change in Kenya’s education system.
Key participants included:
- Ministry of Education
- State Department for Gender and Affirmative Action
- State Department for Children’s Services
- GPE KIX Africa 19 Hub
- Education in crisis programme partners
- Tuseme club learners and teachers
Outcomes:
✅ Shared key results, lessons, and evidence from the Tuseme project
✅ Identified policy entry points at national and county levels
✅ Developed actionable recommendations
✅ Secured commitment from the Ministry of Education to integrate Tuseme approaches into education policies and frameworks
✅ Agreed to engage the Teachers Service Commission on teacher transfer challenges
Most importantly, Tuseme club learners shaped the conversation with powerful testimonies:
“Speaking is not disobedience.”
“I am not just a learner, I am a champion.”

Forum For African Women Educationalists- Kenya Chapter

IDRC / CRDI

📍Busitema University, Uganda

According to Professor Paul Waako, Vice Chancellor of Busitema University, the Higher Education Access Certificate (HEAC) is “by far the biggest innovation in higher education in Uganda.”

Today, this innovation is being examined where it matters most, on the ground. A high-level delegation from Zimbabwe is at Busitema University to learn directly from one of the institutions that piloted HEAC, engaging with faculty, systems, and students whose lives have been transformed through this pathway.

Led by Professor Fanuel Tagwira, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development, and joined by Professor Kuzvinetsa Dzvimbo, CEO of the Zimbabwe Council for Higher Education (ZIMCHE), the delegation is advancing a clear agenda: to translate proven African solutions into national systems that expand access at scale.

Reinforcing Zimbabwe’s national vision of “leaving no one and no place behind,” Professor Tagwira emphasized that HEAC directly responds to this commitment:

“We must carry the burden of the children who cannot afford education.”

The engagement is further strengthened by the presence of Mr. Ochira John Lakony, Assistant Commissioner for University Education, Ministry of Education and Sports Uganda, alongside FAWE leadership—Dr. Martha Muhwezi, Executive Director, FAWE Africa; Teresa Omondi - Adeitan, Deputy Executive Director and Head of Programmes; Lydia MADYIRAPANZE, Executive Director, FAWE Zimbabwe; and Mrs. Susan Opok Tumusiime, Executive Director, Forum For African Women Educationalists (FAWE) Uganda Chapter. Representatives from five Zimbabwean universities are also part of the delegation.

This is where policy meets practice.
This is where systems are tested and refined.
And this is how Africa builds inclusive, scalable pathways into higher education, by learning from what works, and making it work across contexts.

FAWE Uganda Fawezi Mastercard Foundation

🌍 Learning from each other to transform higher education in Africa.

This week, a high-level delegation from Zimbabwe’s Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, led by Permanent Secretary Prof. Fanuel Tagwira, is in Uganda to benchmark the Higher Education Access Certificate (HEAC) programme.

Developed and piloted by FAWE Uganda, HEAC is a proven bridging pathway that helps academically talented students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds access university. Since its accreditation, it has opened doors for hundreds of learners, with a strong focus on gender equity – 80% of bursaries go to young women – as well as inclusion for refugees and persons with disabilities.

🤝 The delegation includes FAWE Africa Executive Director, Dr. Martha Muhwezi; FAWE Africa, Teresa Omondi - Adeitan, Deputy Executive Director and FAWE Zimbabwe.

This visit is a powerful example of South-South collaboration in action. When countries and FAWE chapters learn from each other, more vulnerable learners gain a fair chance to succeed.

👉 Read the full story: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/zimbabwe-benchmarks-uganda-s-higher-education-access-programme-5447192
Fawezi

Zimbabwe benchmarks Uganda’s higher education access programme Uganda bridging certificate programme draws African policy interest

📢 CELEBRATING PROGRESS! We are proud to share this recognition of 's advancing literacy levels. 📚👏

This commendation highlights the power of collective action and investment in quality education. At FAWE, we believe that literacy is the foundation for empowering girls and women, unlocking their potential to lead and transform their communities. 🇺🇬✨

Watch the full story of this achievement 👇

https://youtu.be/A_Nlw4O3l5E?si=_U3xg92qT3_qFXka
Fawezi FAWE Uganda

Uganda commended for literacy levels The National Council for Higher Education has reported a notable increase in the number of universities offering Higher Education Certificate Programs. This ...

📍Kampala, Uganda

A high-level delegation from Zimbabwe is in Uganda to learn from one of Africa’s most promising higher education innovations — the Higher Education Access Certificate (HEAC).

Led by Professor Fanuel Tagwira, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development, and joined by Professor Kuzvinetsa Dzvimbo, Chief Executive Officer of the Zimbabwe Council for Higher Education (ZIMCHE), the delegation is engaging with Professor Mary J. N. Okwakol, Executive Director of the National Council for Higher Education (NCHE Uganda), and her team.

At the heart of this visit is a clear objective:

To understand how Uganda has designed, institutionalized, and scaled a “fourth pathway” into higher education, enabling capable young people who would otherwise be excluded to access and succeed in university, particularly in STEM fields.

Across Africa, the challenge is not a lack of talent, it is systems that are not flexible enough to accommodate it. HEAC stands as a homegrown African solution, built through policy alignment, university partnerships, and targeted academic support.

As Professor Fanuel Tagwira noted in his remarks,

“No qualified student should be left behind due to structural challenges.”

This benchmarking visit, under the FAWE and Mastercard Foundation Phase II Programme, is about turning that innovation into a continental opportunity. By learning from Uganda’s experience in curriculum design, accreditation, institutional integration, and student support, Zimbabwe is laying the groundwork for a similar, context-driven model.

Highlighting the broader shift needed in higher education, Professor Kuzvinetsa Dzvimbo emphasized,

“Advances such as AI are already challenging the core assumptions of our universities and how we prepare students for the future.”

This is about opening doors, structured pathways, for thousands of young people who would otherwise remain locked out of higher education and opportunity.

Also present are the FAWE Africa delegation led by Dr. Martha Muhwezi, Executive Director, FAWE Africa, alongside Teresa Omondi-Adeitan, Deputy Executive Director, FAWE Africa; FAWE Zimbabwe (Fawezi) led by Executive Director Lydia MADYIRAPANZE; and the For African Women Educationalists (FAWE) Uganda (FAWE Uganda) Chapter leadership, including the Chairperson Ms. Margaret Atom Mugenyi and the Executive Director, Mrs. Susan Opok Tumusiime, alongside representatives from five Zimbabwean universities and key technical teams.

Mastercard Foundation

FAWE Newsletter ISSUE 2026|4|01 - https://mailchi.mp/fawe.org/21549010?e=7509ab67a9