Written by Barry Rawlings, Founder & Managing Director of EDU Africa, this reflective piece traces the organization’s journey of growth, change, and learning over the past two decades. It highlights key milestones, evolving values, and EDU Africa’s commitment to transformative, Africa-centered educational experiences.
As I contemplate the concept of change, I can’t help but reflect on the past. 2025 marks 20 years since I became involved with the organization – a journey I started in 2005 alongside other “wet behind the ears” twenty-something-year-olds. Although we were lacking in experience, we were filled with zeal, and I, in particular, had experienced firsthand the transformative power of studying abroad. With that motivation, we set out on our mission.
I have heard it said that “one often accomplishes less in a day than one hopes, but over 10 years can accomplish more than one could ever have imagined”. This has been true for our organization. My 27-year-old self could not have dared to write so bold or thrilling a script. Today, we proudly operate four regional offices and multiple learning hubs, serving thousands of learners across 16 countries each year!
Speaking of learning journeys is more than a concept applied to participants, it is a path resulting in change that we walk ourselves. It is deeply entrenched in one of our core values, Learning: we are all learners and I am proud of how we continue to evolve.
Key milestones in our journey over the past few years include:
A Symbolic Name Change
In 2017, we transitioned from the name Edutours Africa to EDU Africa, emphasizing our commitment to learning and our pedagogical approach as educators rather than tour operators.
Committing to African Stories
We are dedicated to authentically sharing African narratives, which includes our intentionality in establishing regional offices and employing locally trained facilitators.
Recognizing the Impact of the Past
We strive to understand our local contexts and acknowledge the effects of colonial legacies. This practice has fostered an appreciation of diversity within our staff profiles, the stories we tell, our programs, and those who represent us internationally.
Centrality of Academics
In 2020, we appointed an Academic Director whose role is to shape the learning environment, ensuring academic integrity and quality across various facets of our work.
Developing a Pedagogical Approach and Assessment Tool
We developed a set of measurable transformation goals that are tracked and implemented across our programs.
Investing in Quality Facilitation
Recognizing that truly transformative learning requires skilled facilitators, we designed and implemented a comprehensive suite of facilitator training modules along with an implementation toolkit.
Growing Mental Health Awareness
A deepening awareness of the psychological health of participants resulted in the enhancement of in-house training, pre-travel equipping, and the rollout of the “being well abroad” protocols.
Self-reflexivity and Subsequent Knowledge Sharing
Having set out to be thought leaders in the field, we have reflected upon experiences on the ground, analyzed feedback, and examined the drivers of transformation. We have published our insights and presented our findings at conferences.
Looking Ahead
While we take pride in these accomplishments, we remain committed to continuous growth. The world’s working population outside of Africa has peaked, while half of Africa’s population is under 20. By 2050, more than one in four people globally will be African (UN Economic Commission for Africa, 2024). As the world increasingly turns its focus to Africa, new generations will need an authentic understanding of what this dynamic continent has to offer and how to engage meaningfully with its diverse peoples and cultures.
I am more convinced than ever that Africa provides the ideal setting for study abroad experiences and holds deep global relevance. As you engage with us, know that we, too, are growing, curious, and on a transformative learning journey.
