KAMPALA, Uganda – Tuesday July 29th, 2025 – Maendeleo Foundation and pan-African non-profit organisation,Paradigm Initiative today announced a strategic partnership to launch the acclaimed LIFE (Life Skills, ICT, Financial Literacy, and Entrepreneurship) Legacy programme in Uganda. This collaboration will equip underserved Ugandan youth with critical digital literacy, entrepreneurship, and life skills, helping bridge the digital divide and foster economic empowerment.
Currently being implemented in 11 African countries, LIFE Legacy is Paradigm Initiative’s flagship digital inclusion programme that has successfully trained thousands of young people in countries including Cameroon, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal, South Sudan, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Through this new partnership, Maendeleo Foundation joins as the implementing partner in Uganda, leveraging its extensive local networks and deep-rooted expertise in youth skilling to ensure the programme reaches and empowers underserved communities across the country..
The programme’s comprehensive curriculum will provide participants with in-demand ICT skills, financial literacy training, crucial life skills, and the entrepreneurial knowledge needed to launch and sustain their own businesses or secure meaningful employment in the digital economy.
“What excites me most about the LIFE Legacy programme is its commitment to post-training engagement; supporting trainees to become trainers themselves and facilitating access to entrepreneurship, internships, apprenticeships, and employment. This will significantly deepen the impact of our youth training programmes and help us build a strong pipeline of young leaders equipped for the digital economy. I was also honoured to learn that I’m the first female founder the initiative is partnering with in East Africa,” said Asia Kamukama at Maendeleo Foundation.” This partnership with Paradigm Initiative is a game-changer for the youth we serve. The LIFE Legacy programme provides a proven, holistic model that goes beyond simple computer training. By bringing this initiative to Uganda, we are not just teaching skills; we are unlocking potential and empowering a new generation of Ugandan innovators and entrepreneurs to thrive in the digital age. We are thrilled to get started.”
The collaboration combines Paradigm Initiative’s curriculum and pan-African experience with Maendeleo Foundation’s on-the-ground expertise in delivering impactful community-based programs across Uganda. Both organisations are united by the mission to create a future where every young African is equipped with the tools to succeed in the digital era.
“The LIFE Legacy programme is designed to empower youth in underserved communities with skills that create real opportunities,” said Miriam Beatrice Wanjiru, Programmes Officer for East Africa at Paradigm Initiative. “By partnering with Maendeleo Foundation, we are confident that our impact in Uganda and across East Africa will deepen, reaching more young people and providing them with the tools to thrive in today’s digital world.”
The first training cohort in Uganda is expected to launch in the coming days. Interested youth, potential corporate partners, and community leaders can find more information by visiting the Maendeleo Foundation website at https://maendeleofoundation.org/.
About Maendeleo Foundation: The Maendeleo Foundation is a non-governmental organisation based in Kampala, Uganda, dedicated to promoting digital literacy and creating economic opportunities for underserved youth and communities across the country. Through a network of training centers and outreach programs, the Foundation provides practical skills training to bridge the digital divide and foster sustainable development.
About Paradigm Initiative: Paradigm Initiative (PIN) connects under-served young Africans with digital opportunities and ensures digital rights for all. The organisation has worked in communities across Nigeria since 2007 and across Africa since 2017, building experience, community trust, and an organisational culture that positions it as a leading non-governmental organisation in ICT for Development and digital rights on the continent.
PIN promotes a rights-respecting continent through its team in subregional offices in Cameroon, Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. The organisation’s interventions are spread across more than 27 African countries. Paradigm Initiative pushes for an Internet that is open, accessible, and affordable to all.
The organisation’s programmes include LIFE Legacy, a digital readiness workshop for youth, and a Life at Schools Club Programme. PIN has also built online platforms such as Ayeta and Ripoti that educate and serve as safe spaces for reporting digital rights violations.
Media Contact:
Mutegeki Cliff Agaba
Programs Manager – Maendeleo Foundation
cliff@maendeleofoundation.org
Communications Team – Paradigm Initiative
media@paradigmhq.org