kanthari

Welcome to kanthari

You know the CHANGE society needs

we give you the tools…

kanthari - THE place for impact leadership


CELEBRATING 16 YEARS OF CREATING IMPACTFUL SOCIAL CHANGE

Who we are

We are a team of professional enthusiast catalysts who give it their all, to practically equip change makers with all tools and skills required to start their own impact-making organizations.

What we do

Through an immersive, hands-on, and intensive training program, participants acquire all the techniques, tools, methods, and skills they need to start up and run effective, relevant social and/or environmental projects/ initiatives/organizations.Furthermore, To understand what the kanthari course is all about, click one of the options below:

What we've done

Since 2009, kanthari has empowered 303 social change makers from 57 countries.
These trail blazers have gone on to launch over 200 impactful organizations, collectively improving the lives of 50,000+ people every day – especially those positioned on the margins of society.

Their initiatives address some of the world’s most pressing challenges, creating sustainable solutions in diverse fields such as:
🌱 Environmental protection
💧 Water and waste management
☮️ Peacebuilding
♀️ Women’s empowerment
♿ Disability inclusion
📚 Alternative education and learning
…and many more.

kanthari is more than a training program—it’s a global movement of grassroots innovators building a world that works for all.

303

changemakers

57

Countries

200 +

Organisations

50,000 +

Daily Beneficiaries

Meet the 2025 kantharis

On the 16th of May 2025, the on-campus part of the 2025 kanthari batch started with 24 change makers who come from 14 countries:

Cameroon (2), Democratic Republic of the Congo (1), Ghana (1), India (4), Indonesia (1), Kenya (2), Liberia (1), Malawi (1), Nepal (1), Nigeria (2), Tanzania (1), Uganda (2), Zambia (1), Zimbabwe (4)

Again, this year we have a very diverse group. Does this make you curious? 

hover over the pictures to learn more about the kanthari participants from 2025

Adelaide Bih

Cameroon

Healthcare access and affordability for conflict victims and low-income persons

Alfred Ngulo

Tanzania
Malaria prevention and treatment

Alick Mandandi

Zambia
Hypertension and diabetes management among retired men in rural communities

Archford Kiwiti

Zimbabwe

Stigma, discrimination, and lack of opportunity for people with disabilities

Banita Khamal

Nepal
building awareness and support for young people with Parkinson’s Disease and their caregivers

Buthelezi Kagwa

Malawi

poverty, and malnutrition from relying on recycled seed and effects of climate change

David Olendo

Kenya

Environmental impact of ghost fishing nets and negative effects on the livelihoods of coastal communities

Elie Mastaki

DR Congo

Conflict, displacement, and extreme poverty fueled by political manipulation, land disputes, and ethnic tensions

 

Emmanuel Adebayo

Nigeria

Environmental pollution from textile waste and lack of access to educational materials for underprivileged children

Esther Oke

Nigeria 

Lack of access to technical, vocational, and entrepreneurship skills for young girls in public/low-cost schools

Faith Siele

Kenya

Economic disempowerment among women, particularly in marginalized communities like the Maasai, exacerbated by drought

Gilbert Tafara Rupere

Zimbabwe

Environmental degradation (water crisis), unemployment, and limited educational/economic alternatives in rural communities

Justus Muhwezi

Uganda

intertwined problems of hunger, malnutrition, and high rates of school dropouts

Manish Kumar

India

Learning gaps, lack of social/emotional development, and limited community engagement in education in rural areas

Memory Siyapiya

Zimbabwe

Youth unemployment, poverty, drug abuse, and crime among orphans, vulnerable, and disadvantaged young people

 

Mitchell Browne

Liberia

cycle of poverty, illiteracy, and marginalization among vulnerable and forest-dependent communities

Moris Muhindo

Uganda

Hunger, malnutrition, and school dropouts due to poverty and land shortage in his community

Nyasha Munetsi

Zimbabwe

Gender Based Violence (GBV) and teenage pregnancies

Pranali Chikte

India

transportation challenges, pollution, and lack of healthy, affordable mobility options

 

Putri Ika Novita Wati

Indonesia

Low income and challenging living conditions for farmers in Indonesia

 

Rita Bih Fon

Cameroon

Distress and challenges faced by internally displaced teenage mothers due to armed conflict

Samuel Arkorful

Ghana
Poverty, limited opportunities, and forced migration/exploitation of youth, especially young women, in Northern Ghana

Somnath

India

Challenges faced by visually impaired individuals in achieving independence in daily life, travel, and self-care

Tittu Yadeendar Y

India

Discrimination, poor education quality, and lack of empowerment among tribal and general youth/children

kanthari QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER

Want to know what we’ve been up to?
Every few months, we publish a newsletter with highlights, stories, and exciting updates from the kanthari community.
Sign up and get it straight to your inbox!

kanthari BLOG

The Story Behind the kanthari Blog
When the pandemic hit in 2020, we launched the kanthari blog. At first, we posted daily updates, sharing how our graduates were being affected by—and responding to—the challenges of the new reality.

Thanks to your support, we could assist many who faced existential hardships. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for standing with us.

The blog hasn’t stopped—these days, we still publish blog posts to spotlight inspiring change makers and their journeys.
Explore the latest blog posts through the links below:

Contribute

HOW CAN YOU HELP:  MAKE A DONATION and/or spread the word.
Your donation makes it possible for people who are positioned at the margins of society to participate in the kanthari training course. There, they learn everything they need to start a project themselves in their home country to bring about the urgently needed change in their community.
Therefore, your contribution has (had) an exponential effect over many years and reaches countless people in need around the globe. 
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR CONTRIBUTION:

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Are you a kanthari?

Have you overcome any kind of adversity or social ill, and because of that always wanted to start your own organization that aims to address a specific social problem, then the 12-month kanthari course
(7 months on-campus training + 5 months of mentorship) will serve as the final stop before you launch your organisation / venture / CSO or social enterprise.

Application Criteria

To apply, you must fulfil the following criteria:
– Be over 22 years of age (no upper age limit)
– Have you overcome adversity that drives you to make a difference in your community? 
– Demonstrate passion and dedication to contribute to a better tomorrow.
– Speak and understand basic English and have basic computer skills

Apply today

If you are selected, a scholarship will be provided through kanthari.
The next kanthari course starts in April.
Don’t miss this opportunity and apply today itself!

Precious_Hearts_Haven_zim_2023

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