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Our aim is to advance women's economic participation, advancement, and empowerment
through assistance and the promotion of entrepreneurship. We picture a thriving and
inclusive Africa where women-run businesses are empowered to create and expand
impactful and sustainable enterprises, ultimately boosting Africa's GDP and economic
growth.
Africa boasts the highest number of female entrepreneurs globally, with women
representing 58% of the self-employed population on the continent. Despite this, female
entrepreneurs in sub-Saharan Africa still earn less than their male counterparts and face
challenges in accessing funding, hindering the growth of women-owned small and
medium enterprises (SMEs). There exists a $42 billion gender funding disparity across
Africa, resulting in a yearly loss of about $92 million for the continent.

Ezamazwe Education Centre for Innovation serves as an Education Accelerator hub focused on
enriching education through offering top-notch learning experiences for all, with a particular
emphasis on individuals from low-income backgrounds. Alongside our after-school initiative that
emphasizes enhancing STEM subjects, literacy support, and mental well-being for children, we
organize yearly career expos. These events provide essential direction to more than 2500 rural
students, offering vital insights for their career paths post-matriculation. Furthermore, we provide a
business start-up initiative to foster and bolster entrepreneurial growth to promoted sustainable
Local Economic Development in local municipalities.

The Female Founders Hub, a collaboration between the Ezamazwe Education Centre for
Innovation and Arizona State University's Thunderbird School of Global Management, is in line
with our goal of providing quality education for all and promoting equality. It demonstrates our
commitment to advancing gender equity and economic prosperity, aligning with our overarching
mission to eliminate poverty. The initiative's objective is to introduce a Digital Skills Training
program for 60 young women in the rural Limpopo Province, specifically within the Greater
Tzaneen Municipality, with a goal of training 240 entrepreneurs annually.

The Female Founders Hub Growth Accelerator program is a top-tier enterprise development
program designed to assist early-stage and high-growth-oriented small and medium-sized
enterprises led by women. It provides growth strategy training, corporate advisory services,
mentorship, networking opportunities, and access to financial resources. The program aims to
empower women with the skills and guidance necessary to take advantage of funding
opportunities and expand their businesses, offering tailored business development support,
mentoring, and skills enhancement.

This initiative will empower 60 young women entrepreneurs in the Limpopo Province, with
groups based in Lenyenye Township (10 participants), NkowaNkowa (10 participants), Maake (10
participants), Polokwane (10 participants), Kgapane (10 participants), and Tzaneen (10
participants). Participants will participate in two in-person training sessions and weekly two-hour
Zoom sessions over 13 weeks.