Education South Africa Project #63659

Imagine Scholar Idea Festival & Alumni Ventures

by Imagine Scholar South Africa

Project Report | Nov 7, 2024
Progress Report on IS Ventures & Idea Festival

By Megan Nellis | Program Director

We’re thrilled to share the latest updates on our Venture Fund projects and preparations for the upcoming Ideas Festival.

Maternal Health Program Update
Carol has welcomed her second cohort into the maternal health program, now supporting a total of 20 mothers. Most have already given birth, and the success of the program is evident in the deep sense of community it has fostered. Experienced moms are returning to mentor the new group, often bringing their babies to share in this supportive environment. In addition to group sessions, there are study days where mothers come individually to focus on academics, helping them stay on track with school. The program has been remarkably successful, with healthy pregnancies and births and a continued connection among the mothers as they support each other’s growth and well-being.

Imagine Scholar Ideas Festival Preparations
The Ideas Festival is set for December and will bring together over 100 participants, including 8-10 alumni who have applied for seed funding to launch their own social or venture projects. This festival has multiple goals: it’s a space for knowledge-sharing, where participants bring insights from the world to inspire others. It’s also a hands-on workshop to develop ideas and secure funding, fully embodying the Imagine Scholar mission of making a lasting impact. The Ideas Festival is our keystone event, dedicated to catalyzing change and fostering a community of future leaders.

Thank you for your continued support in making these transformative programs possible!

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Aug 20, 2024
Progress Report on IS Ventures & Idea Festival

By Megan Nellis | Programs Director

We are thrilled to share an update on our Imagine Scholar Venture Fund projects and preparations for the Idea Festivals.

Carol and Angel have successfully launched their maternal health education program. Their target for the year is 30 mothers, and their first cohort of nine has already achieved great success. The funding provided allows the mothers to transport to and from the program site once a week, where they receive nutritional and physical education, learn about the birthing process and breathing techniques, develop their mental health toolkit, and discuss parenting. They also have access to private healthcare clinic visits to address individual health concerns and monitor their baby's development. Four of the mothers have already given birth. Carol, the program leader, has offered home visits to check on the mothers' well-being. Two mothers chose to continue attending the weekly sessions after recovering from birth, aiming to support the other soon-to-be moms—a notable success that reflects the culture and community they have built.

We were able to support Allan's chess program with additional chess boards, allowing more students to join his mentorship program. Allan, a full-time teacher, mentors 47 students in chess during his break and lunchtime daily. He also facilitated a chess camp for 75 high school students. Allan is currently planning a local chess tournament in the community to expand the influence of chess.

The Imagine Scholar Ideas Festival is planned for December 2024. The event will accommodate up to 100 young leaders from the area, who will collaboratively generate ideas and workshop ventures at all stages. The event aims to help leaders develop their creative confidence while networking to forge impactful partnerships that will yield enterprises and social development projects.

We are deeply grateful for your support in making all of the above possible!

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