If January felt like a 74-day marathon, you aren’t alone. For us at ASEW, we spent the first month of the year behind the scenes, listening to your feedback, looking at the African social impact landscape, and asking ourselves one tough question: How can we help our community move from passion projects to sustainable powerhouses?
Weāve all seen the “New Year, New Me” posts fade away by February 1st. But for social innovators and founders, the stakes are too high for the momentum to drop. Thatās why weāve spent this time refining our approach.
The result is a 2026 roadmap that is leaner, smarter, and more integrated than ever before. We aren’t just running workshops this year; we are building a resilient ecosystem.
Whatās New: The Shift from “Workshops” to “Roadmaps”
In 2025, we celebrated incredible wins like Benjamin Olorunfemiās journey from a personal crisis to national healthcare impact. But we also noticed a pattern: talent is everywhere, but the structure to sustain that talent is whatās often missing.
To bridge this gap, weāve made some key adjustments for 2026:
1. The 3-Month Impact Builders Journey: Weāve officially retired the “one-off” workshop model. We realized that deep change doesnāt happen in a three-hour session. This year, we are focusing on a unified, 3-month journey. Itās designed to take you from a raw idea to a market-ready social enterprise with the support you need at every stage. Applications are officially open, and we are looking for the next cohort of leaders ready to move from “surviving” to “sustaining.” Join the waitlist here!
2. AI-mpact- How to Leverage Ai to create and sustain impact: In May, weāre hostingĀ Ai-mpact, a seminar focused on leveraging artificial intelligence to create and sustain impact. Weāll show you how to use these tools to work smarter, scale your mission, and stay ahead of the curve. Stay tuned for more details. This session is happening in May, stay tuned.
3. The Career Corner: Impact Beyond Entrepreneurship: We have come to realize that not everyone in our community wants to be a founder. Some of the most significant changes on the continent are being led by “intrapreneurs”; skilled professionals working within top-tier organizations. Our new Career Corner is a dedicated space to connect these professionals with roles that actually matter. Now, guess what? In March, weāre hosting a deep-dive session on navigating todayās job market. Weāll explore the high-demand skills you need to land a role and how to turn your current expertise into an irresistible offer. If youāre looking to build a career in the social sector, this is for you!
Your February Action Plan: Opportunities Now Open
We believe that the best way to predict the future is to create it. If youāre ready to stop building in isolation and start building for impact at scale, here is how you can get involved right now:
The MentorME Program (Applications Open): One hour with a mentor can save you six months of trial and error. We aren’t exaggerating. Whether you are navigating a tricky partnership or refining your revenue model, our mentors are ready to provide the clarity you canāt find in a textbook. š Click here to apply for MentorME
Bi-Monthly Business Model for Impact Q&A: Building in the dark is expensive. Join our first virtual Q&A session of the year. Weāll be deconstructing what makes a social enterprise sustainable: how to create value, reach the right people, and ensure your mission pays for itself. š Register for the Q&A Session here
Join the Team: We are Hiring! We are looking for an IT Administrator (Web & Digital Systems) to help us build the digital infrastructure for impact across the continent. If youāre a tech whiz who wants their work to mean something more, we want to see your CV. š View the Job Description here. To apply, send cvs and applications via mail to recruitment@aseworkshop.com.
Building for the Long Haul
The “New Year” excitement has settled, and now the real work begins. Whether you are applying for a job, seeking a mentor, or joining our Q&A sessions, remember that the most successful leaders in our community are the ones who show up consistently.
2026 is the year we stop building solo and start building for impact. We are honored to be part of your journey.
What is the one big goal youāre tackling this February? Weād love to hear from you. Reach out to us at info@aseworkshop.com or connect with us on our socialsāletās make this year count.