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!
quarterly newsletter 1 – 2025
News from kanthari, enjoy the read… Catch some uplifting news...
Read Morequarterly newsletter 3 – 2024
News from kanthari, enjoy the read… Autumn is starting and...
Read Morekanthari 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:
empowering youth to heal the Wounds of Niger Delta
After Jethro’s dad lost his lucrative city job, the entire...
Read MoreTurning Trauma into Triumph: Solange’s Mission to End Rape in Rural Cameroon
Solange grew up in Munyenge village in the Southwest region...
Read MoreFrom Darkness to Dialogue: Building Resilience and Community with Talk Mental Health ID
Building Resilience and Community with Talk Mental Health ID During her childhood,...
Read MoreContribute
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:

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!