A global mentoring and learning initiative to connect emerging talent, knowledge and leadership between Africa and the international community
The KENZ Foundation has announced the launch of Africa Link, an international mentoring, learning and networking initiative designed to support emerging talent at a key stage in their academic and professional development. The programme connects students, young professionals, academics, experts and leaders with international experience to foster new forms of exchange, guidance and leadership that have a real impact.
Africa Link is conceived as a global community in which experience, knowledge and opportunities flow across generations, sectors and geographies. Its aim is to better prepare the next generation for the professional world, strengthening their confidence, skills and ability to build meaningful careers.
In a context characterised by mobility, fragmentation and the need to build bridges between diverse realities, the initiative highlights Africa’s role as a pluralistic, dynamic region of global significance. Africa Link seeks to raise the profile of talent that moves between different cultures and contexts, whilst recognising the contribution of diaspora communities to the circulation of knowledge, the building of networks and the generation of social and professional impact.
“Africa Link was founded with the aim of creating spaces where talented individuals not only gain access to opportunities, but where they can also connect, find guidance and build careers with purpose and impact”, said Jihane Kettani, Chair of the KENZ Foundation. “We want to contribute to a conversation open to all potential stakeholders, seeking connections between cultures and building bridges between Africa and the wider world, whilst fostering the exchange of perspectives, knowledge and collaboration. Africa Link is a global programme, open to both experts and emerging talent from different parts of the world who share this vision and wish to be part of it”.
An approach centred on people, career paths and knowledge transfer
Africa Link goes beyond a mere skills programme. What sets it apart is its focus on people, their career paths and the transfer of knowledge across generations. Through masterclasses, mentoring sessions, workshops, projects, simulations, case studies and opportunities for dialogue, the initiative fosters a flexible community that adapts to different profiles and levels of involvement.
The programme is structured around several areas of learning and development:
- Career readiness: CV and professional profile building, interview preparation, first steps in a career, personal branding, communication and digital presence.
- Leadership and self-development: confidence, identifying strengths, decision-making and tools for thriving in professional environments.
- Practical learning: workshops, themed sessions, projects, simulations and case studies.
- Global perspective: understanding career paths in different contexts, cultures and markets, with Africa as a central focus.
- Community as an opportunity: access to a trusted network where connections, exchanges and shared experiences form part of the programme’s value.
- Selected opportunities: information and access to work placements, scholarships, international mobility programmes and partner initiatives, where available.
In this initial phase, the KENZ Foundation will focus its efforts on building an active community of participants and collaborators, as well as organising events designed to foster dialogue and strengthen the programme’s ecosystem. Morocco and Spain will be key locations in this process, given their role as hubs connecting Africa, Europe and international talent.
Africa Link thus forms part of the ecosystem of initiatives driven by the KENZ Foundation to strengthen education, employability and understanding between countries and continents. Since its launch in 2023, the foundation has developed programmes with an impact across Europe, Africa, the Americas and the Middle East, with the aim of connecting young people from different backgrounds with real opportunities for learning, professional development and international exposure.
A foundation focused on young talent and international impact
Since its creation in 2022, the KENZ Foundation has been working to promote understanding between diverse cultures and realities through higher education, employability and communication as a strategic tool for impact. Its work centres on scholarships and international opportunities, access to first jobs, leadership training, the transfer of knowledge in communication, support for refugee students and new narratives about Africa.
Notable initiatives include the scholarships run in partnership with the Instituto Cervantes in Casablanca, the scholarships of excellence for the Master’s in Communication Management and Strategic Branding in collaboration with MARCO and USP CEU, as well as partnerships with organisations such as UniPad and Corporate Excellence. The foundation also promotes work placement programmes and links with companies to facilitate young people’s entry into the international labour market.
In the field of training and leadership, the KENZ Foundation has developed the RISE UP Leadership programme in partnership with IEI, aimed at university students in Tanzania and benefiting more than 30 students from 10 universities. Furthermore, through the Country Brand Academy, the foundation has introduced strategic communication, branding and country narratives to more than 130 young people at institutions such as the Complutense University of Madrid and ESIC.
The foundation also takes part in initiatives to support refugee students in collaboration with the Fundació Solidaritat UB and as part of its commitments to the UNHCR, as well as in voluntary activities linked to the UB Refugi programme. At the same time, it has launched projects such as Africa in the Classrooms, which facilitates the involvement of African and European professionals in Spanish universities to promote a more diverse, up-to-date and accurate view of the African continent.