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Youth unemployment fuels hopelessness and instability across Africa, leaving millions without opportunities—on a continent now hosting the highest number of displaced people ever recorded. With the youth population set to double by 2050, the stakes are rising. SINA was created to break this cycle—turning adversity into agency by empowering young people to build their own sustainable solutions.
“I'm living my dream instead of dreaming my life!” — Joseph Bwinika, SINA alumnus from Nakivale Refugee Settlement, Uganda
Each of the 23 SINA communities brings together 50–100 youth who co-live and co-manage all aspects of their environment—from finances and logistics to conflict transformation. Through “freesponsibility” (freedom + responsibility), youth unlearn limiting beliefs, discover purpose, and gain practical skills by taking on real-world roles such as facilitators, mentors, and administrators. Authority is distributed through Holacracy, enabling decisions to be self-organized, inclusive, and adaptive. Learning emerges from hands-on challenges that address local issues, supported by personalized mentoring and peer feedback. Participants don’t graduate with certificates—they transition when their purpose-driven social enterprises become financially self-sustainable. All SINAs form a vibrant community ecosystem, collectively evolving the SINA Framework through best practices.
SINA spreads like a mycelial network—quietly, organically, yet powerfully multiplying. Local teams first experience transformation from within, then replicate the framework in their own communities. Each new SINA adapts naturally to its local context, spreading from one community to the next. This living system now includes 23 communities across Africa, with expansions into Nepal and upcoming in Syria. Its authenticity and grassroots impact have drawn global attention and earned international recognition, including awards from UNHCR, Ockenden, Haier, and the Pan-African Award for Entrepreneurship in Education. These accolades foster trust and visibility, accelerating adoption by partners such as refugee camps in Uganda, the Government of Nigeria and established vocational centers.
SINA is open to everyone passionate about creating change. You can visit a SINA community, join as a scholar, mentor, or partner, or start your own SINA by experiencing the framework firsthand. Replication begins with transformation—come immerse yourself in a SINA community and grow from within. Learn more and get in touch at www.socialinnovationacademy.org
