In a remarkable stride towards cultivating the next generation of social entrepreneurs, the inaugural EDHE Train-the-Trainer workshop took place on May 8th and 9th, setting the stage for transformative educational innovation. The event, a collaboration between the Entrepreneurship Development in Higher Education (EDHE) programme and Ashoka Africa, brought together leading voices in social entrepreneurship to empower educators and inspire students across South Africa.
Ashoka, the brainchild of Bill Drayton, who introduced the world to the concept of social entrepreneurship four decades ago, partnered with EDHE for this landmark workshop. Since its inception in 1980, Ashoka has dedicated itself to nurturing social entrepreneurs globally, and this event was no exception.
Held over two days, the workshop was a vibrant, interactive affair led by Mr Vipin Thekk, Senior Director at Ashoka and founder of the Changemaker Communities initiative all the way from Washington DC. He was joined by a stellar Ashoka team including Ms Dadisai Taderera, Co-Director and Venture and Fellowship Lead for Ashoka Southern Africa, Ms Angelou Ezeilo, Co-President of Ashoka Africa based in Nigeria, Ms Stephanie Schmidt, Partnership Director, Ashoka Africa based in South Africa, and Ms Nombulelo Mbokazi, Partnership Manager for Youth Programmes based in South Africa, each bringing a wealth of experience and passion to the workshop.
Opening remarks highlighted the collaborative nature of the initiative. Mr Edwell Gumbo (right), Director: Entrepreneurship at Universities South Africa, emphasised the importance of student, staff, and entrepreneurship development. Mr Shiba Diketane, representing the Department of Higher Education and Training, the main funder of the for the EDHE Programme, highlighted the critical role of student and staff development in transforming higher education, underlining their partnership with EDHE as a cornerstone of this effort.
Ms Zana Boshoff, Project Manager at Universities South Africa, painted a picture of EDHE’s ongoing battle against high graduate unemployment and its mission to boost student economic participation. “By sharing best practices and fostering collaboration among the 26 universities, we can achieve far greater impact than working in isolation,” she asserted. Established in 2016, EDHE tackles graduate unemployment by fostering entrepreneurship through national and institutional structures. Our ultimate goal is a standardised entrepreneurship policy across all 26 South African universities. The 2024 theme, “Educators4Entrepreneurship,” reflects this focus, with the Train the Trainer workshop marking a significant step towards this goal.
At the heart of the workshop was Mr Vipin Thekk’s (right) presentation on the “Everyone is A Changemaker” (EACH) initiative. He emphasised the vital role educators play in fostering a world full of changemakers—individuals who envision new realities and work collectively to bring them to life. “Change,” Mr Thekk noted, “is a constant in human life, and transformative change happens outside our comfort zones.” Mr Thekk highlighted the urgency of preparing students for a rapidly evolving world where comfort zones must be abandoned in favour of innovation and adaptation.
Mr Thekk then challenged participants to consider, “How do we approach entrepreneurship and innovation with empathy and a focus on creating value for others?” The answer, he proposed, lies in a mindset shift. Social entrepreneurs, he explained, go beyond simply providing solutions; they empower individuals to become part of the solution themselves.
He posed a thought-provoking question to the attendees: “How do you pursue entrepreneurship or innovation from a place of love, empathy, and value creation?” His answer was clear: cultivating a changemaker mindset is essential, transforming individuals from passive participants to active creators in their communities.
Underscoring the importance of nurturing young changemakers, Mr Thekk introduced, Ms Mtha Nazo (left), a young changemaker and intern at Ashoka Southern Africa, shared her inspirational journey. Ms Nazo’s story exemplified the power of encouragement and community. Her journey began at 16 when she addressed community issues through radio, and her entrepreneurial spirit continues to thrive today. Encouraged by community support, she applied for the Allan Gray Orbis Foundation’s entrepreneurship program in high school, emerging as one of 27 successful applicants out of 196. Her story underscored the principles of problem-solving and filling gaps she encountered in her community.
Another young changemaker in the audience, Elijah, echoed this sentiment, highlighting the crucial role of mentors like Ms Elizabeth Masoleng, an EDHE Coordinator, who provided invaluable support and guidance. “Entrepreneurship isn’t just about theory,” he said. “Students need real-world exposure and mentorship from experienced entrepreneurs.”
As day 1 of the workshop drew to a close, Mr Thekk’s declaration resonated with all present: “This is a changemaker era!” His words captured the spirit of the event, fueling a collective enthusiasm and commitment to fostering a future where everyone is a changemaker.
The group sessions were facilitated by (not in order) Zamabhaca Budu, Network Mobilizer, The DG Murray Trust, Ancha Bulunga Pre-Service and Alumni Programme Manager at the Jakes Gerwel Fellowship; Algeatha Carolus, Coordinator, The University of Cape Town; Anita Hiralaal, Teacher Educator, Durban University of Technology; Londiwe Kunene, Teacher Coach, Jakes Gerwel Fellowship; Moses Madziba, Leadership Development Coach, Teach the Nation; Elizabeth Masoleng, Enterprise Development Associate, Tshwane University of Technology, Center for Entrepreneurship Development; Professor Matshediso ‘Tshidi’ Mohapeloa, Associate Professor, Durban University of Technology; Steve Mollo, Network Mobiliser for Parent Power Initiative, DG Murray Trust; Moekoetsi Nchoba, Head of Brand and Advocacy, E-3, South Africa; Stanford Ndlovu, Teacher Coach, Gerwel Fellowship; Dr Patricia Opondo, Senior Lecturer and Entrepreneurship Champion, University of KwaZulu Natal; Vuyelwa Poni, Transformational Leadership and Consciousness Circles Leader, LEAP Institute; Karen Snyman, Specialist Student Entrepreneurship at Nelson Mandela University; Susan Steinman, Founder, Workplace Dignity Institute and Ashoka Fellow and Tebogo Suping, Executive Director, Activate! Change Drivers
The EDHE Train-the-Trainer workshop, in partnership with Ashoka Africa, marks the dawn of a new chapter in South African education—one that promises to equip educators and students alike with the tools to drive social innovation and entrepreneurship across the nation.
Co-written by Written by: Mamodiehi Gwala and Khutso Molek