Distance Education for Africa (DeAfrica) won an Award from UPCEA, the Leading Association for Professional and Continuing and Online
Education in the US. UPCEA is based in Washington DC.

On behalf of (DeAfrica), we are deeply honored and grateful to have been chosen as the recipient of the 2021 UPCEA South Region Programs for Special Populations Award. This award is testimony to the significance that the role of the Africa Scholarship Cohort (ASC) plays in the lives of students all over Africa, by empowering them with world-class skills to secure a bright future for themselves, their families and their communities.

Together with the University of Virginia (UVA) and Coursera, we have offered over 33,000 scholarships reaching learners in every country in Africa. We’ve published four books, transformed people’s lives, and promoted gender equity. Our 5-part Business Case Study book series captures how each scholarship has had exciting and life-changing experiences.

This program was designed using the Community of Inquiry Framework with Coursera courses as the cognitive presence, a vibrant WhatsApp community for social presence, and 100 regional mentors for teaching presence.

Students and professionals from all walks of life, from refugees in North Kenya, the Nakivale refugee settlement in Uganda to prisoners in Botswana have participated in our programs.

With this award, we look forward to expanding that access and having even greater impact. Thank you very much.

Sidiki Traore, President and Founder of Distance Education for Africa (DeAfrica)