Umbalabala International
Umbalabala International is an innovative EdTech startup dedicated to enhancing the quality of K-12 education. They focus on gamifying learning experiences, particularly in Mathematics, Literacy, and Coding, using creative solutions that incorporate recycled materials. In their first three years, Umbalabala has positively impacted over 10,000 children, many of whom lack access to formal education. Their flagship product, the Umbalabala Education Toolkit, is a collection of novel methods and tools designed to simplify learning, teaching, and assessment, particularly for the Foundation Phase of education. This toolkit employs effective pedagogical strategies to improve literacy skills among South Africa’s most vulnerable populations. Umbalabala takes pride in their accomplishments, having received over 12 international awards for their educational innovations. The founder and CEO is Mbuso Ngcongo and he participated in the program 2022.