The 7th Edition of the Sustaining Impact Summit (SIS) took place on August 28–29, 2025, and what an extraordinary two-day journey it was! From the energy in the virtual room on Day 1 to the impactful masterclasses hosted simultaneously across eight African countries (plus a vibrant virtual session), this year’s summit marked a defining moment in our mission to drive sustainable development and amplify African solutions for African challenges.
A Truly Pan-African Experience
With over 600 registrations and over 200 participants from across the continent, the summit was a melting pot of bold ideas, inclusive conversations, and practical knowledge-sharing. The theme, “African Resourcefulness – Leading Sustainable Solutions from Self to Society”, resonated powerfully with leaders, entrepreneurs, and institutions committed to long-term, systemic transformation.
Day 1: Insightful Conversations, Dynamic Panels & Collective Action
The virtual opening day featured keynote addresses, panel discussions and fireside chats from some of Africa’s most inspiring voices. Speakers shared insights on sustainability, local leadership, youth innovation and funding for social impact.
Some powerful quotes from our speakers:
– “There’s always gonna be problems…how are you resilient to work through that? Understanding your what, why, how, where, and when is crucial when establishing or starting a social enterprise – be it NGO or other sectors. This will help you understand your drive and will keep you running without giving up.” – Debbi Brock
– “There are more challenges than quick wins…so we’re in there for the long run”. Social entrepreneurs need to be engaged and involved in the decision that affects them and this can span to policies that affects social entrepreneurs.” – Sophie Bacq
– “Do with what you have and one day someone would see your work for what it is, but that won’t happen when you keep waiting on opportunities or funding” – Michael Mcpherson
– “Relying on external funding as asocial enterprise is not sustainable as this would make the susceptible financial constraints which in turn affect their contribution and impact in the community they serve.” – Adeyemi Adelekan
Day 2: Masterclasses Across Africa & The Impact Prize
Day 2 shifted the momentum into action. In-person masterclasses were held simultaneously in Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa, Zambia, Namibia, Tunisia, Côte d’Ivoire, and Ethiopia — with a virtual masterclass for broader access, including participants in Kenya who joined online due to logistical challenges. These sessions were packed with hands-on learning, community exchange, and design thinking tools for sustainable impact.
In a special highlight, the Sustaining Impact Prize 2025 reached its final stage. After an extensive application and review process, the top 5 finalists presented live to our panel of judges. Ultimately, three winners were selected and celebrated during the final session. Omoyemi Oladiran of El Plethora Vocational Academy took home the first prize, while Oguguamobi Oyesiji of Mobi design and Christian Mwijage of EcoAct Tanzania took home the second and third prize respectively. Along with their cash awards, they earned a one-year subscription to People and Planet, mentorship opportunities, and other valuable benefits. Their projects — spanning climate-smart agriculture, circular fashion, waste-to-wealth innovation, and youth empowerment — truly embodied the spirit of sustainability and impact that the summit seeks to foster.
See some of the photos shared from the masterclasses held in 8 African Countries:
A Word From Our Convener
Dr. Adeyemi, Director and Convener of the Summit, shared this heartfelt message:
> “This summit is more than a gathering — it’s a movement. Seeing people from different parts of Africa connect, learn, and build together gives me so much hope. Thank you to every speaker, facilitator, partner, and attendee who made this 7th edition a success. We’re just getting started — and we look forward to an even bigger 8th edition in 2026!”
Media Recognition & Partnership Spotlight
Our heartfelt thanks go to all our partners and collaborators — some of whom have supported us for years, and others who joined us this year for the first time. A special thank you to all of our masterclass organizers this year. The feedback from each venue highlights the long-term impact of the engagements, while the photos and videos emerging from the sessions are vibrant and inspiring. They beautifully capture the energy, creativity, and resourcefulness that defined the summit. We are deeply grateful for your commitment and look forward to building on this momentum together in future editions.
What’s Next?
We are still riding the wave of excitement and gratitude, and we’re working behind the scenes to share official event photos, participant highlights, and testimonials. Feedback from attendees has been overwhelmingly positive, with many commending the summit’s structure, relevance, and accessibility.
What They Said | Voices from the Summit
One of the most rewarding parts of the 7th Edition of the Sustaining Impact Summit was hearing directly from YOU — our amazing attendees.
From inspiring sessions to meaningful connections, your feedback has been deeply encouraging and energizing. Here’s what some of you had to say about the experience:
“Totally felt resourceful all of a sudden” – Beverly Joy Achieng’ Okoth
“I have changed my mindset to work with what I have. My resourcefulness’s not just tied to financial strength, but from my knowledge and skill. I have something to offer. Secondly, I have learnt to understand the problem fully in order to provide a solution.” – Doris Mercy Wanjiku Ng’ethe
“I’m absolutely satisfied with my overall experience at the summit! The interactive sessions, stimulating discussions, and productive connections made it an extremely enriching experience. I’d most definitely advise it to friends and colleagues for future summits. The focus of the summit on African resourcefulness, I loved the practical lessons and motivational anecdotes. The opportunity to network and gain from like-minded individuals was invaluable. I would certainly encourage others to join future summits, citing the potential for personal growth, professional growth, and connections. The experience has had a lasting impact, and I’m looking forward to putting the learnings and strategies gained to effect positive changes.” – Princess Esther Taiwo
Thank you for sharing your thoughts with us. Your voices help shape the future of this summit and the ASEW community at large. Let’s keep building together!
Stay tuned for more content from the summit, including: Recap videos, Masterclass highlights, Finalists spotlight and Behind-the-scenes moments.
We extend our deepest thanks to:
– Our participants who showed up with energy and curiosity
– Our incredible speakers and facilitators who gave so generously
– Our partners and sponsors whose support made all this possible
Together, we are building a more sustainable, inclusive, and impactful Africa — and this is only the beginning.
Visit our website www.aseorkshop.com to stay updated with future events and programs.
See you at SIS 8.0 next year!