Blogs | Develop Africa

What Dolly Parton Taught Us About Investing in Children — A Reflection from Johnson City

Technology & Education Aug 27, 2026

This week, East Tennessee lost one of its own. Dolly Parton passed away on August 25, 2026, at 80, after a brief battle with cancer — surrounded by loved ones in Nashville, less than two hours from our office here in Johnson City. For those of us… Read More

From One Child to Thousands: Lessons from Building Develop Africa

News May 05, 2026

Why This Conversation Matters For nearly two decades, I’ve worked on one core problem: how to expand access to education and opportunity for children who would otherwise go without it. That work started small. No big strategy. No long-term blueprint… Read More

Two Powerful Ways Your Church Can Transform Lives Through Child Sponsorship

Children in Africa Feb 26, 2026

Churches are uniquely positioned to make a lasting, generational impact. When a congregation unites around a clear mission, something powerful happens. Compassion becomes action. Prayer becomes provision. Faith becomes visible. At Develop Africa, we… Read More

Africa’s Education in the Light of the Fourth Industrial Revolution

Technology & Education Jan 24, 2026

Education is a solid foundation for a country's development across various industries. Tragically, for African states, education has not been the pillar for transformation. Because of this, the regions have consistently remained at the tail end of… Read More

What We Learned After Tracking 10 Students’ Progress in Sierra Leone

Technology & Education Jan 03, 2026

Introduction According to a report by Irish Aid and UNICEF, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education (UNICEF Report, 2019), more than half of 15-year-olds (57%) in Sierra Leone are illiterate, and half of primary school graduates are unable… Read More

COVID Lessons: Education Centers Should be Armed to fight Against All Infectious Ailments

Disease & Disaster Dec 19, 2025

Health education is not a new issue in Africa. Most curricula cover the essential everyday health, tantamount to common problems. But the biggest lesson over the past few years is how public awareness of illnesses and diseases crosses over to real… Read More

Tools for Tomorrow: Advancing Educational Equity Through Access to School Supplies

Children in Africa Dec 15, 2025

Millions of students across underserved communities attend school each day without access to basic learning materials such as pencils, notebooks, and backpacks. While education is widely recognized as the foundation of opportunity and economic… Read More

Community-Led Development: What’s Holding It Back and How We Fix It

Economic Topics & Microfinance Dec 13, 2025

Introduction Community-led development is important for empowering local communities, enabling them to actively participate in shaping their future. However, numerous barriers often impede the progress of such initiatives. In this article, we… Read More

Do NGOs / INGOs strengthen or weaken government systems in developing nations?

Technology & Education Dec 12, 2025

A tricky question and one with no easy answers. Non-governmental organizations and their international counterparts have played significant roles in bridging the gaps in areas where governments have been lax. If you think about poverty eradication… Read More

Bridging the Educational Gap: The Vital Role of Extra Classes in Sierra Leone

Technology & Education Oct 30, 2025

Introduction Education is the cornerstone of development, yet in many regions, systemic challenges hinder students from reaching their full potential. In Sierra Leone, where the education system faces structural weaknesses, extra classes have become… Read More