Facebook announces 12 African community leaders to Join its Community Accelerator Programme

Social media Company, Facebook has announced 12 African community leaders who have been selected to join its  Community Accelerator Programme.

Facebook’s Community Accelerator programme invests in leaders who are building communities around the world.

The six-month programme aims to equip community leaders with the training, mentorship and funding they need to grow.

In the first three months of the programme, the selected leaders will learn from experts and coaches, as well as developing customized curriculums to grow their own communities.

However, the other three months will be for iterating and executing their plans with funding and continued support from their network and a dedicated programme team.

The Community Accelerator will then end with an event where community leaders will showcase their communities and progress to external funders and partners.

Facebook will award up to $3 million in the programme and selected community leaders will receive up to $30,000 in funding.

Community leaders who were  selected from countries such as;  Nigeria, Kenya and South Africa are as follows:

• Hauwa Ojeifo, She Writes Woman (Nigeria) founded in 2016, “Safe Place Nigeria” provides a stigma and judgment-free space for young people to talk about mental health-related issues.

• Bright Shiitemii, Mental360 (Kenya) was started in 2016 to give youth a safe platform to learn about mental health and illness and to access affordable holistic solutions.

• Lauren Dallas, Future Females (South Africa) was founded in 2017 with a mission to increase the number of female entrepreneurs and support their success.

• Tony Onuk, The Root Hub (Nigeria) was started in 2014 to provide a safe space for youths to build their ideas, grow their businesses, and access support.

• Esther Mwikalii, Metta NBO (Kenya)  was founded in 2015 as an entrepreneurs’ network with the goal of bringing together founders, policymakers and investors to collaborate

• Refilwe Nkomo, Visual Arts Network South Africa was established in 2007 as a support point and development agency for contemporary art practice in South Africa.

• Eyitayo Ogunmola, Utiva (Nigeria) is a decentralized ecosystem that helps Nigerians access technology skills and trainings regardless of their location and internet barrier

• Naadiya Moosajee, WomEng (South Africa) is a social enterprise aimed at attracting, developing and nurturing the next generation of women engineering leaders

• Abiodun Adereni, Helpmum (Nigeria) which was started in 2017, 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 mothers.

• Dillion Phiri, Creative Nestlings (South Africa) launched in February 2011, to connect young African creatives to each other, to opportunities and to resources, democratizing how young African creatives connect, get paid, learn and grow

• Rufaro Mudimu, Enke (South Africa) started in 2009 to bridge socioeconomic inequality by bringing young people together and equipping them with the skills and experiences to improve their lives.

• Tariro Bure, MINDS (South Africa) 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.

The Community accelerator programme is part of the global Facebook Community Leadership initiative launched in 2018.