Jacobs Foundation - Developing leadership in African associations
Klaus J. Jacobs, a famous businessman who set up the Jacobs Foundation, has had a keen interest in the Scout Movement for many years and has supported some of its projects. He is a member of the World Scout Foundation and is convinced that the Movement can help young people play an active role in building their own futures and in training young leaders capable of taking part in the development and social, cultural and economic progress of their country.
This is why, in 2004, the German-born patron agreed to finance the first phase of a pilot project to strengthen youth leadership in Africa, amounting to one million dollars over three years. As a result, the Africa Scout Region was able to launch its project entitled, “Training Young Leaders to Ensure the Future of Africa”, in six countries: Burundi, Ethiopia, Gambia, Mauritius, Niger and South Africa. The objective is an ambitious one, but if it is achieved the project will be extended between now and 2007 to Angola, Rwanda and the Seychelles, and then to Cameroon, Mozambique and Tanzania.
The results of the first phase must be satisfactory for this to happen. The Jacobs Foundation has appointed an external organisation, the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC), to proceed with a scientific evaluation. The conclusions of the report, which are expected by the end of 2006, will determine the Foundation's decision as to whether or not it will proceed with financing the whole project over a 10-year period.
The HSRC will evaluate the level attained by the participants on the training programme and determine if their knowledge and leadership skills have improved. So far, the Jacobs Foundation report has already provided a summary of the significant progress recorded in the six pilot countries.
Télécharger la version PDF de cette page
