Embarking on New Initiatives across the African Continent

Day of AI’s Rwanda Program Begins

Kicking off on July 22, Dr. Randi Williams – who helms Day of AI’s research efforts – will lead a “Day of AI Rwanda” training for 150 teacher trainers from every district in the nation. The focus of the four-day training will be equipping educators to integrate AI lessons into their primary and secondary information and communication technology (ICT) instruction, while preparing them to effectively use AI tools in their classrooms to support teaching and learning.

This groundbreaking initiative is spearheaded by Rwanda Minister of Education Joseph Nsengimana and his team, as well as the Rwanda Education Board (REB). The government of Rwanda has already launched AI training initiatives in universities, and this new program extends that effort by empowering Rwanda’s youth and grade school educators.

“By integrating AI into our education system, we’re not only preparing students for the labor market but also contributing to Rwanda’s development goals. This initiative ensures AI is used ethically and effectively, fostering a culture of innovation.”

– Minister Joseph Nsengimana on Rwanda’s University AI training program

Day of AI’s work in Rwanda has been made possible thanks to the generous support of the Ibrahim El Hefni Technical Training Foundation, which funds education initiatives to support quality education for children around the world.

“The MIT RAISE Initiative is excited by a large-scale expansion into Africa with Day of AI’s program designed to reach every teacher and student in Rwanda. We most appreciate the commitment and vision of Minister Nsengimana, who brought this program to fruition, and we see this as just the beginning of our collaboration in Rwanda.”

– Julia Reynolds-Cuéllar, MIT RAISE’s Global Alliances Lead

Day of AI Team Addresses the Mandela Fellows

The Day of AI team also met today (July 15) with members of the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders at Bridgewater State. The Mandela Fellowship is the flagship program of the Young African Leaders Initiative, bringing nearly 7,200 emerging leaders from across sub-Saharan Africa to the U.S. since 2014.

The program honors Nelson Mandela’s legacy by equipping the next generation of African changemakers with the tools, knowledge, and connections to drive impact in their communities. The Fellowship hosts ascendant African leaders for six weeks of leadership training and networking, with a goal to strengthen democratic institutions, economic growth, peace, and security in Africa. The 2025 cohort includes 25 Fellows from 20 countries, with Day of AI addressing the group today on AI education and digital literacy, all part of a shared commitment to empower future leaders across borders (see attached graphic for a geographic overview of the cohort’s members).

“Day of AI and MIT RAISE’s effort to empower all students with the tools of AI literacy is a truly global one, and this month’s activities in Rwanda as well as our session with the Mandela Fellows align perfectly with that vision. We’re very grateful to the Technical Training Foundation for giving us the fuel to make an impact in Rwanda. We also thank Jay Ash, Jibril Solomon, and the Mandela Fellows for including us in today’s session.”

– Dr. Randi Williams, Day of AI

This comes at the same time RAISE is working with the Association for the Development of Education in Africa (ADEA) to develop a shared capacity-building workshop across multiple African countries.