With the aim of building entrepreneurship, the hands-on program will serve close to 400 participants across 28 African Countries
Bloomington, IN – [September 4th, 2024] – In an exciting new partnership, The Mill, a leading startup accelerator based in Bloomington, Indiana, has partnered with Distance Education for Africa (De-Africa) to launch the first-ever Pan-African entrepreneurship course. This hands-on program aims to build entrepreneurship skills among 389 participants in 28 countries across Africa, helping to foster innovation, business ownership, and community development.
The course, titled “Empower Your Future with Entrepreneurial Skills,” will run from September 4, 2024, to November 20, 2024, and is designed with a dynamic curriculum which provides participants with practical tools, resources, and strategies for launching and scaling their own businesses. Featuring real-world learning experiences and cutting-edge technology already implemented by The Mill’s Head of Accelerator Programming, Andy Lehman.
This initiative is the result of a collaboration between De-Africa Founder Sidiki Traore, The Mill, and Alan Blankstein, Founder of Solution Tree, the HOPE Foundation, and the National Center for Education and Innovation. This program marks a pivotal step forward in De-Africa’s mission to empower individuals through accessible, innovative education. The course will offer participants across diverse regions—from Rwanda and Nigeria to South Africa and Tunisia—an opportunity to gain invaluable entrepreneurial skills, regardless of their prior experience.
“I am eager to embark on this new entrepreneurship course to further develop my abilities and contribute to my community’s growth,” shared Winniefred Mulungi from Kigali, Rwanda, one of the first participants enrolled in the program.
Alan Blankstein, who has supported entrepreneurship and educational development across Africa for decades, emphasized the course’s potential to inspire change: “Africa should be owned by Africans, not by multinationals or a new wave of 21st-century colonizers. This course is a critical step in equipping African entrepreneurs with the skills they need to own and shape their economic futures.”
Participants will benefit from mentorship, expert insights, and the chance to network with fellow entrepreneurs across the continent. The course will also leverage a long-standing partnership between De-Africa and the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business, further enhancing its academic rigor.
The free course will last 12 weeks, from September 4 – November 20, 2024, and will be held on Wednesday’s beginning at 11:00 am EST. The 90-minute ZOOM sessions will be conducted virtually from the Mill in Bloomington, Indiana, and will include participants from 28 African countries, including:Benin, Botswana, Burundi, Burkina Faso, Cameroun, Chad, Cote d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Lesotho, Mali, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Nigeria, Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, South Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Tunisia, Uganda, Zimbabwe.
For more information about the program, or to register, please visit: https://www.deafrica.org/an-entrepreneurship-course-empower-your-future-with-entrepreneurial-skills/
About De-Africa
Distance Education for Africa (De-Africa) is dedicated to providing accessible and high-quality educational opportunities to students across the African continent. Founded by Sidiki Traore, De-Africa has educated over 60,000 students through its network, empowering learners to improve their lives and communities through education.
About The Mill:
Located in Bloomington, The Mill is the cornerstone of southern Indiana’s startup ecosystem and its largest coworking space. It is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit center for entrepreneurship in Bloomington, funded by membership, event space fees, and generous donations from corporate sponsors and angel investors from south-central Indiana.
Media Contact:
Janie Mackenzie
Vice President of Public Relations
Ascendant Group
267.969.9442
