Youth skills in focus – supporting young people through social entrepreneurship
Social Innovation Academy (SINA)
by Mary Mwangi, Programme Manager, Porticus
There are three things we know:
- People need jobs
- There are not enough jobs
- Small businesses create jobs
In 2013, a young volunteer saw first-hand how a cohort of bright and capable high school graduates at an orphanage in Uganda could neither find a job nor afford university – an example indicative of a wider issue as unemployment for out of school youth in the country stands at 41%*.
One year later, the Social Innovation Academy (SINA) was born.
“Rather than high school graduates or academics looking for jobs, we’re empowering leaders with a strong vision for their future,” says its founder, Etienne Salborn.
Founded on regenerative values and experiential learning, SINA is developing a new generation of young social entrepreneurs. The premise is that by discovering their purpose, they will find their own solutions and as a by-product, create jobs and uplift communities. SINA has transformed the tragic stories of orphans, child soldiers, refugees and impoverished young people into inspirational ones.
Beyond a business incubator, SINA represents a global movement towards a world that works for everyone. Its model is creating resilient and self-reliant communities establishing their own solutions instead of waiting for support from the outside. Social enterprises are independent of donations and often tackle challenges at their roots.
“The model of SINA gives you hope, guides you step by step,” says SINA graduate Joan Rukundo Nalubega. It channels potential into practical social entrepreneurship using the ‘freesponsibility’ model where scholars aren’t ‘taught’ what to do or how to do it, but are empowered to find their own solutions. During a three-month training programme they “unlearn and overcome limiting beliefs” and are given responsibilities at campus to build self-confidence and independence, with guidance in iterating ideas for social enterprises.
Scholars learn how to start, run and grow sustainable, successful enterprises. This practical knowledge, rooted in a coaching mindset and deep connection to passion and purpose, equips them to financially support themselves and others when they leave SINA.
Their opinions, ideas and ways of thinking are valued, sometimes for the first time in their lives, which increases their sense of motivation to succeed. Learned skills include mindfulness, active listening and non-violent communication – skills excluded from traditional school curricula. These skills increase their belief in their ability to turn ideas into action; this belief, in turn, translates into the creation of successful enterprises.
“From just making profits, I saw how I could also help make the lives of others easier,” says SINA alumnus, Rebecca Aime.
“In the first three months we see huge transformation. Scholars become more self-reliant. They start to overcome their limiting beliefs. To set goals for themselves and focus on new beginnings. They discover their purpose and find meaning in their own past, which often saw immense suffering” says Salborn.
At the end of the initial three months, scholars showing the most potential are invited back to further develop their ideas. The academy then functions similarly to a startup incubator, where scholars continuously refine their business ideas with mentors and facilitators.
“We do need hope, but what we need even more is action. One of my biggest learnings is that we all need to be proactive rather than just respond to situations. Once we start to act, hope follows,” says SINA graduate, Evode Hakizimana Havyarimana.
A mosquito repellent soap to beat malaria; fashion made from upcycled ‘waste’; structures (including the SINA campus) made from recyclables such as plastic bottles; eggshells to create affordable flooring; a platform for survivors of rape and sexual violence; sex education apps; technology to use biogas for lighting and cooking. This is a selection of SINA social enterprises that are deeply rooted in their communities and are often in response to local challenges or needs. “The best way to create value is by involving the people you’re creating the solution for,” says graduate Joan Rukundo Nalubega, founder of the soap-based mosquito repellent, Uganics, created in response to the unaffordability of imported products.
From Uganda to the world
To gain the critical mass to effect a real step change across the African continent – where the youth face roughly double the unemployment rate of adults, with significant variation by country (according to African Development Bank data) – SINA Global was formed in 2018. The SINA approach is replicable so others can adopt it and create their own organisations. The self-organised model has scaled into ten locations creating more than 70 enterprises and 500+ jobs across Uganda as well as in Zimbabwe, Kenya and the DRC, with plans for upcoming SINAs in Tanzania, Ghana and Cape Verde.
In the words of former scholar Emile Kwilyame, the mission is “enabling a whole generation of African youth to create a future for themselves.”
“We’re on the verge of a movement where young generations can create a prosperous future for themselves using their own solutions,” says Salborn. “From one physical space, we have a network – a community of communities to learn from and support each other and steer the model forward. This is just the beginning as more countries show an interest in replicating the model.”
Alumni remain invested in the model’s success and frequently return to mentor the next generation of social entrepreneurs. SINA's model is more than a beacon of hope; it's a tangible pathway to change. By transforming young minds into social entrepreneurs, it's crafting a new narrative for Africa's youth. Starting in Uganda, this growing movement stands as a testament to the belief that the solutions to challenges lie within us, waiting to be unleashed.
Argidius, part of Porticus, partners with business support organisations to help small and medium-sized businesses grow and generate employment and are proud SINA partners. For more information, please click here.
*according to the Uganda Bureau of Statistics in the Uganda National Labor Force survey 2021.
