Blog – The inani Effect
Who would have thought that kanthari change-makers could turn problems into products within only one week? It all started during the COVID years when we designed the INANI program. Inani is a Zulu word meaning “value.” It is also an acronym standing for Independent, Natural, Alternative, Nutritious, and Inventive. The idea emerged from a global […]
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An impact journey – Mary Mutua
Mary Mutua, founder of Twajali and a kanthari alumna (2023), grew up partly in the slums of Nairobi and chose not just to escape limited opportunities, but to challenge the systems behind them. After a career in hotel management, she founded a hospitality training initiative for youth from informal settlements and later reimagined it during […]
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Sometimes we are simply on the wrong floor
This week, I received a long email from my mother, who travelled through three countries, just to catch a glimpse of a famous painting by Titian. My mother is 87 years old and, of course, the painting was not the only goal of this adventure. It was also proof, for herself and for everyone around […]
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kanthari – Courage to Speak
The auditorium is completely silent. Only the soft hum of the spotlights and the never-ending complaints of the crows outside break the stillness. Then the music begins. At first, barely audible. Slowly, the powerful crescendo of an organ fills the hall: Also sprach Zarathustra. Since 2009, every kanthari participant had to endure this musical piece […]
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Mind the Bumps: Entering Founder Territory
One of the most fascinating transformations we witness every year is watching participants slowly take off their “student hat” and replace it with the much heavier helmet of a future founder. Students around the world are given strict policies. They become remarkably skilled at bending rules, tweaking regulations, and turning loophole-hunting into an Olympic sport. […]
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