Articles & Interviews

Which personal achievement would you most like to be remembered for? Writing the character of Mama Ndege, our animated green bird with a funny voice who’s encouraged millions of kids across Africa to “use their ubongo” (ubongo means brain in Kiswahili). Which life lesson would you like to share? We’re all just figuring things out […]

Which personal achievement would you most like to be remembered for? Bringing back the joy of learning for many children. Which life lesson would you like to share? I would share two life lessons that are related. First, grab chances and run with them, and second, don’t be afraid of trying something out. Who is […]

Dybuster was born out of a project you completed for your Master’s degree in Computer Science at the ETH Zürich. How does a computer scientist become interested in learning difficulties in children? I was searching for a project to do for my Master’s Degree in 2005 and I approached Markus Gross, who was my Professor […]

You have lived all over the world and you now are in Tanzania. Where did the idea for Ubongo come from and how did you get started? When I studied at University in Dar es Salaam, I became really interested in education. It became clear to me that even the brightest students in the country […]

CEO Laura Brown talked to us about PEAS, secondary education in Africa and adapting to COVID lockdowns. PEAS is a success story within a larger story of marginalized communities. How do you balance the feeling of success against the backdrop of continuing adversity?  When PEAS was founded 12 years ago, 1 in 3 children went […]

Professor Carolina de Weerth has been working with first graders through the Jacobs Foundation TRECC program in Côte d’Ivoire to determine whether an inexpensive probiotic food supplement can be linked to better cognitive functioning.

The definition of success is when cities recognize the importance of early childhood education and make it a regular part of their programs. This is precisely what has happened with primano, the early childhood education program in the city of Bern. Ten years ago, the Jacobs Foundation played a major role in initiating this program, and it has provided substantial support throughout the development phase.

To achieve a high level of educational returns and provide fair opportunities for every child, there needs to be a fundamental change in the thinking of policymakers, business leaders and the broader public. This is where the newly launched Ready! campaign comes in.