I am sitting at the side of the stage, listening to the speeches and debates, and must say, I am surprised by how much I am enjoying the atmosphere. Well, perhaps what I enjoy most is the thought: It’s done! Finally! The event that made us sweat, steam, laugh, and sometimes suffer; the event that
Blog – SPREAD THE SPICE – by sabriye Tenberken Read More »
From Dry Financial Figures to Spicy Workshops and a Cheese Factory on the Roof of the World When it comes to this year’s group, it is almost impossible to avoid superlatives. Rarely have we had a group so lively and yet so divided. Rarely have participants been so willing to step into the washing machine
Blog – The Price of Growth, the Value of Purpose Read More »
I was eleven when I realized I was no longer really a child. Not because someone told me so, but because I found myself asking: “Who is going to take care of us now?” My name is Primrose Julius, and I come from Headlands, a rural community in Zimbabwe. Headlands is beautiful, with farms, mountains,
Blog – When Poverty Decides Who Gets to Grow Old Read More »
Every year, kanthari participants step out of the classroom and into the real world for our annual Exposure Trip. The purpose is simple: to collect best practices. Participants visit inspiring organisations, meet changemakers, ask questions, observe closely, and explore what makes an initiative effective, sustainable, and rooted in the needs of its community. This year
Blog – What if school were different? Lessons from the kanthari Exposure Trip Read More »
By six in the evening, my mother should have been resting. She had already spent the day standing in front of children, repeating instructions, marking books and raising her voice above the noise of a classroom. But at home in Kagadi, her working day was not over. I remember our small table. Exercise books would
Blog – The Classroom I Tried to Escape – Ian Brian Mugabi – Uganda Read More »
For the past week, I have not been sleeping well. The ‘wave dreams’ I used to have during my university years, and again when Paul and I first lived in Tibet, have returned. I think the dreams have returned partly because of the terrible news from the Nepal–Tibet border region, an area we know well
Blog – After the Flood – the Courage to Clear a Path Read More »
This blog post is written by Mary Mutua from Kenya. She is a 2023 kanthari graduate and the founder of twajali. An NGO that seeks to address the problem of marginalized youth in slums and semi-urban areas in Kenya being highly susceptible to crime, drug abuse, and prostitution while searching for livelihood opportunities. Using hospitality
Blog – What if training moves beyond the classroom? – Mary Mutua – Kenya Read More »
This week we start with Act 2. And for all who don’t know what Act 2 is all about, we are working intensely on the participants’ venture profiles: 1 catalyst with 4 to 5 participants. One of my mentees is George from Kenya, a father of a son with cerebral palsy. In his first dream
Blog – From Applause to Freedom: George’s ‘Swap the Parents’ approach for Real Inclusion Read More »
This week, shortly before an election debate, I overheard one of our participants, who is generally not afraid to speak up, telling one of the catalysts that he was not ready to get involved in politics. That made me think about what it really means to be political. The word politics comes from the ancient
Blog – Can we afford not to be political? Read More »
Tuesday 17-07-2026 marked one year at kanthari. After twelve months of learning, debates, simulations, and countless discussions, I’ve reached a remarkable conclusion. I know fewer things for sure than when I arrived. But that is progress as it comes in mysterious forms. The biggest learning for me, the change in the unit through which I
Blog – A year of Unlearning Read More »