OMLA, the future of Africa?
The following blog post was sent to us by Lawrence Afere, from Nigeria. Lawrence, an energetic organic farmer, environmentalist, and catalyst, graduated from kanthari in 2012.
2012 was a special year. A year with ups and downs, crises, and many success stories. Most kantharis from his generation have realized ground-breaking initiatives. Lawrence and his organization Springboard have already trained more than 5000 youth; he not only gave them a new perspective in organic agriculture but also towards a better and more sustainable future in general.
He is an impressive role model who demonstrates how someone, with little means but hard work, can achieve enormous impact.
Here is what Lawrence wrote us about his latest Vision:
“According to UN projections, the population of Africa is projected to increase to around 2.5 billion in 2050, and possibly 4.5 billion in 2100, from 1.27 billion in 2019. Africa will face all key sustainability challenges, social as well as environmental, in the decades to come. The most vulnerable people are likely to suffer the brunt of negative future impacts (food, water, and resource constraints, conflicts, climate change impacts, migration flows, etc.).
What gives us hope is that Africa has the youngest population of any continent on planet earth, with an amazing amount of entrepreneurial energy and optimism for the future; harnessing this energy is key in changing the present trajectory of Africa to a humane, flourishing, and more sustainable direction.
This realization of the need to raise a new generation of young African Leaders led my fellow change makers and I to be involved in a bigger Pan-African project called One Million Leaders Africa (OMLA).
OMLA, a project originated in Africa and lead by Africans, is set out to equip a million young leaders across the continent with leadership skills for a better future, with increased sustainability, social innovation, and social entrepreneurship by the year 2030.
As a grassroots movement whose foundational values are integrity, transparency, and honesty; OMLA kicked off with the approach of reaching out to young minds who are passionate about impacting other young people and in the process make positive changes in their immediate environments.
In August 2019, we had our first virtual summit with over 200 young leaders from Africa.
So, how do we plan to raise 1 million African leaders in 10 years?
OMLA has made a clarion call seeking support from all who believe in the vision. Boosters, as these supporters are called, are the first set of people (from all walks of life) who make financial commitments between $1- $100 to support the actualization of this vision. Beyond committing their funds, boosters also help broadcast the vision especially to young Africans so that they can benefit from it.
During the second quarter of 2021, the pilot phase of OMLA will start with a boot camp training of 60 OMLA fellows in Rwanda or Mauritius. These fellows will be selected through a merit-based application from all 54 African countries. After the boot camp, using the OMLA customized leadership curriculum, OMLA fellows return to their countries to each train 100 OMLA stars in secondary schools and tertiary institutions. These OMLA stars will in turn train OMLA starlets (in schools, religious centers and communities). This model will run for 10 years.
What will make a significant difference in the OMLA model is the alumni network. The OMLA fellows, stars and starlets are introduced to a vibrant alumni community where they can network to transform Africa. The alumni will have access to life transforming opportunities in different categories such as scholarships, job placements, internships, grants, exchange programs and additional training. For example, after participating in the OMLA program, fellows who intend to start their own social enterprises will be highly recommended to the kanthari course in India.
I strongly believe that OMLA will raise ethical leaders who will guide Africa to a better and more sustainable future.”