Mission
Akilah empowers young women in East Africa to transform their lives by equipping them with the skills, knowledge, and confidence to find meaningful employment and launch ventures in the fastest growing sectors of the economy.
Vision
Develop a model of transformational business education and career development for young women that will be replicated through a network of campuses across Africa.
Opened in January 2010, Akilah offers a 2-year Business Diploma with a focus in Hospitality Management (current) or Entrepreneurship (Sept 2012). The unique Akilah model emphasizes leadership, communication and entrepreneurial skills. Akilah works closely with the local private sector to develop market-relevant curricula and to ensure job placement for graduates.
In addition to a rigorous academic schedule, all students are required to:
-take 4 Leadership & Ethics courses & Public Speaking
-complete Community Service through the Social Change Projects
-complete a minimum of 240 hours of internship
The first Akilah class will graduate in August 2012.
The recent launch of campus Social Enterprises ensure Akilah’s financial sustainability and offer experiential business learning opportunities for students.
Over the next ten years, Akilah plans to develop a network of campuses in Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania. Each campus will embody the holistic educational values of the Akilah model, and offer academic programs that are developed in response to the needs of the local industry.
"1994 will forever remain imprinted in my memory. We need to educate our new generation about what happened even as we forge ahead with nation building. Yes, I must say that it is difficult, but somehow one must gather the strength to carry on with the mission I seek for a better life ahead."