Blogs and Articles
Our collection of blogs
Closing the Gap: Key Messages from the Nairobi Education Symposium 2026
The Nairobi Education Symposium 2026, part of Brookings' Global Symposium Series, gathered researchers, practitioners, policymakers, funders, and youth from across Africa and beyond. Over a full day of plenary sessions, five Deep Dive Workshops, and two rounds of Learning Circles, a clear message emerged: while education systems in the region have strong policy frameworks and an expanding evidence base, real progress hinges on bridging the gap between stated values and everyday practices.
Dr. Joyce Kinyanjui and Dr. Charles Gachoki
7 Aug 2026
From Accounting Graduate to Grants Management Intern
I joined Mizizi Elimu Afrika as a Grants Intern in May 2026 with a Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting) and a solid grounding in financial reporting, budgeting, auditing and internal controls. What I wanted most was to see how those principles work in practice inside an organization committed to improving learning outcomes for children across Africa. My internship has given me exactly that. Each week connects what I studied to what actually moves resources and has deepened my appreciation of how finance supports the work of getting children learning.
Hillary Musanyi
5 Aug 2026
Burning Question: Should Kenya Really Phase Out Boarding Schools?
A dormitory fire in Utumishi Girls, sixteen young lives lost. A Senate motion tabled within weeks. Suddenly, an institution that has shaped generations of Kenyan leaders is on air, in Parliament, and in every WhatsApp group in the country. The instinct, in the aftermath of tragedy, is to reach for the biggest possible fix and tear the whole system down and start over. But before Kenya rushes to phase out boarding schools altogether, it's worth asking a harder question: are we solving the actual problem, or just removing the building the problem happened in?
Jacqueline Waititu
3 Aug 2026
Young People Must Be Seen as Partners in Shaping the Future of Work
Young people have the potential to transform their communities, but unlocking that potential requires more than creating jobs. It demands investment in foundational learning, digital skills and volunteerism, as well as stronger partnerships that support young people’s transition into the world of work.
Collins Orono
22 Jul 2026
Reflections from the 9th Evidence to Action Conference in Accra
Conferences often leave us with notebooks full of ideas, business cards from new acquaintances and presentation slides that are rarely revisited. The 9th Evidence to Action Conference at the University of Ghana in June left me with something different, a question that has stayed with me since returning home. When does evidence become action?
Walter Odondi
22 Jul 2026
Beyond the Classroom: What My Ecosystem Internship Taught Me
When I joined Mizizi Elimu Afrika as an Ecosystem Intern, I expected to gain practical experience that would complement what I had learned in the classroom. What I found was a much broader learning opportunity, one that introduced me to ecosystem building, government engagement, stakeholder coordination, and programme support within an organization working to improve educational outcomes.
Darius Mulamba
21 Jul 2026
What Happens When Young People Are Trusted with Real Problems?
I joined Mizizi Elimu Afrika in May 2026 as an intern in the Knowledge, Data, AI and Impact Unit within the Research Department. On paper, my degree is in Project Planning and Management. In practice, my first major assignment was helping to build the project-management architecture for the Gemini AI Efficacy Study, a Google DeepMind-funded initiative piloting AI-guided learning in 15 junior schools in Nairobi County.
Ivyne Apondi
17 Jul 2026
Mizizi Elimu in the News
Media coverage, mentions, and news stories
Education stakeholders call for value based learning integration to nurture responsible citizens
KTN News
2 Apr 2026
Zizi Afrique Rebrands to Mizizi Elimu Afrika, Launches Vision 2040 Education Strategy
Education stakeholders convened in Nairobi on March 10, 2026, for the launch of Vision 2040: Strong Foundations for Lasting Change and the rebranding of Zizi Afrique Foundation to Mizizi Elimu Afrika.
23 Mar 2026
New education initiative aims to strengthen literacy and numeracy across Africa
Education stakeholders gathered in Nairobi on March 10, 2026, for the unveiling of Vision 2040: Strong Foundations for Lasting Change and the rebranding of Zizi Afrique Foundation to Mizizi Elimu Afrika.
23 Mar 2026
Educating the African child in the midst of polycrisis
The African continent has seen children’s education journeys disrupted by various challenges, including social, political, and economic conflicts, as well as the effects of climate change among other factors in the growing list of polycrises.
23 Mar 2026
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Mizizi Elimu Afrika - brand reveal animation
Mizizi Elimu Afrika - brand reveal animation
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