In the next 10 to 15 years, we envision a future where our learners become key drivers of localized innovation and entrepreneurship, contributing to the socio-economic development of their communities. The ultimate goal is to create a thriving model that not only addresses the immediate challenges of youth unemployment but also builds a resilient and inclusive economy in West Africa .
Our "Highdigenous" model has been recognized by the World Economic Forum (WEF) as a "School of the Future", and by UNESCO as one of the most innovative and resilient learning institutions in West Africa.
At Kabakoo, we embrace the growth mindset as a cornerstone of our learning philosophy. This mindset, which emphasizes the development of skills through dedication and continuous learning, is crucial in West Africa's dynamic socio-economic landscape. In a region where young people navigate numerous uncertainties, it becomes vital to equip them with the tools to make sense of their everyday lives and adapt to challenges.
While technical skills like web design are optional, mindset work is mandatory for all learners. This focus on mindset development enables our students to experience a profound shift, enabling them to take control of their own lives and futures.
We equip the youth we serve with the skills to navigate uncertain job markets and create their own opportunities. By fostering adaptability and resilience, this mindset enables individuals to thrive in a rapidly changing world and drive innovation within their communities. We've observed a 23% increase in growth mindset among our learners, significantly enhancing their readiness for thriving in informally dominated economies.
Our approach offers learners distinct advantages :
●Embracing challenges as growth opportunities in the local context
●Building resilience to overcome obstacles common in the Sahel region
● Fostering a culture of lifelong learning, essential for adapting to West Africa's evolving job market
● Enhancing problem-solving skills to address community-specific issues
● Boosting performance in diverse situations, from entrepreneurship to community development
.jpg)
.jpg)
At Kabakoo, collaborative project-based experiences rooted in the realities of learners are the cornerstone of the learning process.
Learners choose the projects they want to work on. This experiential and collaborative approach allows to make good use of everyone's passion and thus improves not only the project outcomes but also the individual learning objectives.
The socio-cultural anchoring of the collaborative projects leads the participants to regularly go outside their own walls. This enables the learners to deal with the different faultlines on the ground such as languages barriers and territorial segregation, and depending on the projects, to accumulate local indigenous knowledges gathered on the ground.
At Kabakoo, we offer fundamental modules designed to transform our learners by instilling essential skills and mindsets. Based on the latest social science research, these modules catalyze profound change, preparing our learners to excel in today's complex world and become agents of transformation in their communities:
Learn to Learn
The cornerstone of our growth mindset approach, fostering effective learning strategies and belief in personal growth through effort.
Visualize to Succeed
Developing visualization techniques to enhance goal-setting, problem-solving, and creative thinking.
Value Creation
Identifying opportunities and developing entrepreneurial skills to create value in various contexts.
Storytelling
Mastering the art of crafting compelling narratives for effective communication, while reframing personal stories through a growth mindset lens.
By completing these modules, learners develop a continuous learning mindset, equipping them to foster innovation, entrepreneurship, and community-driven solutions while navigating challenges with resilience and creativity—a key asset for sustainability in the era of digital technology and rapid advancements.
Kabakoo means to wonder. Everyone is a wonderer. At Kabakoo, there are no teachers but coaches. Peer learning is paramount at Kabakoo. Because learning at its best is a social act that must take into account our strengths and differences. The peers are involved in learning not only through collaboration on different projects but also through new technologies allowing exchanges with remote peers.
Being a learner at Kabakoo is being part of an active community dedicated for a better Africa.
A global network of professionals and entrepreneurs act as coaches and experts-facilitators. They guide and mentor learners, both online and offline. They are a valuable input source to make sure our curriculum is relevant and also for our learners who choose to become entrepreneurs.
Learners can also rely on our AI mentor, which provides personalized guidance and support to enhance the learning experience. This AI-powered tool, capable of communicating in Bambara—the most widely spoken local language in Mali—adapts to each learner's needs. It offers tailored advice, resources, and challenges to complement our human mentors' expertise.
.jpg)
Our blended and project-based learning environment leads youths to acquire critical competencies for success in a fast-moving world. They learn how to explore the world around them, know themselves, communicate effectively, create, connect and share their work with others, and reflect their thinking. Developing these seven habits help them land top jobs or create jobs as entrepreneurs.
