The inaugural 12 Mastercard Foundation EdTech Fellows in Ethiopia
The EdTech Fellowship program is part of a partnership between Reach for Change and the Mastercard Foundation to provide the selected EdTech enterprises with critical business and financial support and insight into the science of learning, preparing them for scale, sustainability, and impact.
"We believe that the 12 EdTech Fellows have the potential to transform education and create opportunities for millions of young learners in Ethiopia. In partnership with the Mastercard Foundation, we are ready to support these Fellows in scaling their innovative and inclusive EdTech products and solutions to bridge the education gaps of young learners in Ethiopia. Through this collaboration, we are committed to addressing the diverse needs of children and youth and contributing to the country's social and economic development,"
The Mastercard Foundation EdTech Fellowship aims to support 36 innovative EdTech enterprises in the country over three years, with cohorts of 12 each year. By targeting solutions that promote inclusivity in learning opportunities for under-served communities, including girls, out-of-school learners, children and young people with disabilities, the program hopes to narrow education exclusion.
Part of the team of Reach for Change and the Mastercard Foundation
The 12 EdTech solutions joining the first cohort of the program are:
1. Ahaz Platforms PLC is committed to achieving educational equity through its main project, Ahazawi: a digital learning platform designed to overcome barriers to entry and improve access and teaching consistency.
2. Dynamo Center for Technology provides personalized online educational tools and solutions, reaching students in urban and rural areas with high-quality resources to bridge the educational gap.
3. Enechawet Games is creating interactive AR educational books and a user-friendly mobile app for children aged 4 to 12 in Ethiopia.
4. Fidel Tutorial provides personalized tutoring for all grades, both in-person and online. They focus on core subjects and national exams, using pre-assessments, online progress tracking, and a skilled team of tutors.
5. Globe Dock uses digital content, AI-powered learning, and data insights to provide personalized education. Their platform offers interactive tools and tailors learning experiences, empowering students to contribute to societal progress.
6. Koderlab Training Center addresses limited access to IT education in Ethiopia. They offer software and hardware training, online classes, and workshops to empower students with essential digital skills.
7. Kuraz Technologies is addressing unequal access and outdated methods in Ethiopian education with a comprehensive suite of EdTech platforms prioritizing affordability, accessibility, personalization, and inclusive support.
8. Muya Space provides TVET services for children, youth, and marginalized communities in Ethiopia. They offer an interactive online platform connecting learners with skilled artisans through video tutorials and live chat.
9. Muyalogy is bridging the skills gap in Ethiopia through a personalized curriculum, custom courses, and a user-friendly SaaS learning platform accessible online and offline, accommodating language and cultural differences.
10. Qalam Education Platform is transforming education in Ethiopia by tackling the high failure rates among Grade 12 students. The platform offers personalized online learning with tailored video lectures, quizzes, and study materials.
11. Softnet Solutions aims to improve Ethiopian schools through their Pi School System, focusing on reducing manual tasks to enhance education, especially for students with special needs.
12. Whiz Kid's Tsehai for Families (T4F) program supports holistic child development through online courses, TV/radio shows, and community outreach.
“Through our partnership with Reach for Change, we are working to increase access to quality and relevant learning for Ethiopia’s and Africa’s underserved learners through locally developed, technology-enabled solutions. In 2023, the solutions by the Mastercard Foundation EdTech Fellowship cohorts in South Africa, Nigeria and Kenya reached 2.6 million learners. We look forward to an even greater impact this year."
During the three-year Fellowship, the selected EdTech enterprises will receive a range of benefits, including one-on-one coaching from specialists, peer learning sessions, investor advisory, access to courses from Carnegie Mellon University faculty, and equity-free funding of USD$60,000 for each enterprise.
Photo with some of the participants in the Kick-Off event in Addis Ababa on June 10th
