Akili Dada is a 2012 Google.org Grantee!

Posted on December 14, 2011 at 3:28 pm by akilidada 6 Comments

Press Release – San Francisco, CA

Akili Dada, a leadership incubator investing in the next generation of African women leaders, is proud to announce a $100,000 grant from Google.org in support of their 2012 programs.

Founded by University of San Francisco Assistant Professor Dr. Wanjiru Kamau-Rutenberg, Akili Dada is addressing women’s absence from decision-making and leadership roles across Africa.  Currently operating in Kenya, Akili Dada offers comprehensive scholarships, personalized mentoring, and rigorous leadership training to high-potential adolescent girls from impoverished families.

The generous grant from Google.org will enable Akili Dada to double the current number of young women in whom it invests.

Selected for their strong leadership potential and academic achievements, Akili Dada’s young scholars have also demonstrated a keen desire to address social inequities.  Akili Dada leverages this desire with a comprehensive set of interventions to produce highly educated, deeply experienced, and well-connected young African women leaders with an enduring commitment to justice and equality.

Akili Dada and its founder are the recipients of numerous awards, including the 2010 United Nations Alliance of Civilizations Marketplace of Ideas Competition, the 2011 Yamashita Prize from the Center for the Study of Social Change at the University of California at Berkeley, and the 2011 African International Achievers Award.

This $100,000 grant is part of over $100 million in total charitable giving by Google in 2011. Akili Dada is one of several dozen organizations receiving a total of $40 million in year-end grants from Google.org.

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6 Comments on "Akili Dada is a 2012 Google.org Grantee!"

  1. Wanjiku · December 14, 2011 at 3:59 pm · Reply

    This is truly wonderful news!!!!
    Absolutely thrilled and proud of you!!

  2. Winnie Mokaya · December 14, 2011 at 4:25 pm · Reply

    As a former recipient and proud college student. I am thrilled by the generosity of Google and the efforts of the wonderful AD fundraising team both in Kenya and in the US. A congratulations is in order:)

  3. will · December 15, 2011 at 5:07 am · Reply

    I’m so proud of you, wanjiru!

  4. Paulina Mayasari · December 16, 2011 at 2:35 am · Reply

    Great Wanjiru!.. Congratulations from Indonesia! WOW..superb!

  5. Devon Davey · December 16, 2011 at 5:39 am · Reply

    I am so happy to see this growth at Akili Dada and honored to have been apart of the planning of this vision that the team has accomplished! you all rock! besos y abrazos fuertes

  6. THERESIA WANGARI NGATA · February 13, 2012 at 6:21 am · Reply

    Your Passion to help the less fortunate is Impressive.
    I would request on Partnering with you. I am empowering youths to start income generating projects in order to have stable families in Kenya and also reduce being used by politicians to cause mayhem during and after General elections. Please visit my Facebook page THERESIA NGATA and see products we have made using Beads.

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