Kangha

Many male Ravidassia members wear long hair in a turban and carry Sikh articles of faith such as the kada or bracelet, kangha or wooden comb and kirpan, the sheathed, single-edged knife.

Although the schools provide Jumpstart with facilities—classrooms, meeting halls, etc.—“only a fraction of our lessons happen in the classroom,” Kangha said.

“Students in sub-Saharan Africa leave school without the basic learning skills to escape the gravitational pull of mass poverty and to create opportunities for themselves in the job market,” said Cameroon-born Madelle Kangha, 24.

When it comes to ways forward, Kangha points out that young people who find themselves in real-world, hands-on learning spaces are more willing to take risks and pursue their dreams.

Kangha teamed up with her partner, Nigerian social entrepreneur Omotola Akinsola, to offer an alternative to the lackluster, insulated learning environments widely available.