A few months ago, Facebook launched the Community Accelerator programme; a six-month initiative aimed at providing communities with the mentorship, funding, and training required for their growth.
The company helps to build communities by supporting the leaders in charge of the communities to start, develop, and maintain meaningful communities that have positive impacts on people’s lives.
The program is open to communities that have existed for over a year, have a minimum of 5,000 members, and communities with leaders who are not below 18 years of age.
Now, Facebook has successfully carried out a selection process and has announced the appointment of 12 African leaders to join the Community Accelerator programme.
Being a part of Facebook Community Leadership initiative, the Community Accelerator is a channel through which Facebook invests in leaders who are developing communities around the world. The development of communities includes offering encouragement, bringing people together for a good course, and driving change in the society.
Facebook made it clear that selected community leaders will be awarded $30,000 in funding. Leaders will undergo training and learn from experts in the first three months of the programme. During the training period, leaders will be entrusted with the duty of creating customized blueprints focused on the growth of their respective communities.
In the following three months, all attention will be on implementing the plans made for community development in the training period. Funding and required support will be provided by Facebook during this stage.
The Community Accelerator programme is accessible by communities in Thailand, Germany, Indonesia, Philippines, Egypt, United Kingdom, South Africa, Brazil, Kenya, the United States, France, Australia, and Nigeria.
Community leaders chosen across South Africa, Kenya, and Nigeria to join the Facebook Accelerator programme include;
- Lauren Dallas, Future Females (South Africa)
- Esther Mwikalii, Metta NBO (Kenya)
- Eyitayo Ogunmola, Utiva (Nigeria)
- Tony Onuk, The Root Hub (Nigeria)
- Hauwa Ojeifo, She Writes Woman (Nigeria)
- Refilwe Nkomo, Visual Arts Network South Africa (South Africa)
- Tariro Bure, MINDS (South Africa)
- Dillion Phiri, Creative Nestlings (South Africa)
- Naadiya Moosajee, WomEng (South Africa)
- Rufaro Mudimu, Enke (South Africa)
- Abiodun Adereni, Helpmum (Nigeria)
- Bright Shiitemii, Mental360 (Kenya)