The Leadership and Entrepreneurship Incubator (LEI) Program was introduced in 2010 to unleash the true potential of the East African youth and transform the communities from the inside out. The program focuses on active community engagement as part of the “Pay It Forward” initiative, where the impact extends beyond the participants, to strengthen and empower the communities around them.
The LEI Outcome Report is the latest from Asante Africa’s efforts at compiling pertinent data in support of creating and sustaining programs that are truly effective and relevant to African youth.
What were we trying to achieve with the Outcome Report?
We initiated the outcome study in 2016 to provide an initial assessment of knowledge application by LEI participants and evaluate the outcomes of the LEI learnings on their achievements and quality of life. The data analysis was organized into: Personal Development, Job Readiness, Entrepreneurship, Community Engagement and Quality of Life.
How did we do it?
Besides our LEI participants, we interviewed a non-participant peer control group. Overall, a sample of 354 individuals (182 participants and 172 control group) plus a second independent sample poll of 65 LEI alumni participants, were interviewed using a survey including both quantitative and qualitative questions. These 65 alumnae had a direct impact of 21,500 with an additional reach of 108,000; family, peers, friends.
What was the purpose of this?
The intended purpose of this study was to determine how and at what level participants are utilizing the skills provided through participation in the LEI program.
What did we learn?
Data collected for the outcome report tells us unequivocally that students need more than just classroom lessons or training. They need intensive training, workshops, after-school clubs, access to local coaching and various skill-building opportunities.
Key Findings:
(LEI -1 are participants of the LEI program for one year, and LEI-1+ are participants for more than one year).
- Youth that were only given training had a 10% rate of success beyond school. Students taught with hands on application had a 55% success rate and students who learned with training, application, practice and then teaching it to others had a 90% success rate.
- Preparation for the future — LEI program participants are actively planning their future. 40% of the LEI-1+ participants stated they had a university-level or higher education.
- Job Readiness and Prospects –Most of our LEI participants are seeking out and doing internships that will propel them into formal employment. Approximately 70% of LEI participants have done either a paid or unpaid internship; 3x improvement for paid internships completed by LEI alumni compared to the peer control group. Amongst the group of employed LEI & control participants, the LEI participants have higher job satisfaction.
- Entrepreneurship — LEI participants are experimenting by creating enterprises at a young age. They are taking action toward implementing their business plans, to become job creators for tomorrow. About 25% of the LEI participants have some form of current self-employment, a 2x improvement compared to the peer group.
- Community Engagement — A higher number of LEI participants are actively engaged in their communities; 60% for LEI-1 and 70% for LEI-1+ compared to 52% for the control group. Within each population, their time commitment is comparable.
- Pay-it-Forward (PIF) — The program encourages alumni to share their LEI knowledge with the wider community. A poll conducted over 65 LEI participants who have attended the Annual Summit in the last few years shows sustained efforts to transfer learned skills to the community. 53 students and 12 teachers from Kenya and Tanzania have directly impacted over 20,000 lives in the last 4 years by forming after school clubs/CBOs to conduct trainings in various areas of youth skills development, namely, personal development, leadership, job readiness and entrepreneurship.
- Quality of Life — LEI participants are assessing their quality of life more critically, especially amongst the LEI-1+ group. They are exhibiting a higher tendency to pay for others and have more influence within their families.
The report’s data is proof not just of LEI’s success, but its ability to put us one step closer towards our vision of impacting 1 million youth by 2020.
To read or download the LEI Outcome Report, click here.
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