“There are many people like me, who aspire every day to give a new impulse to our education system”

Adja Mariam Mahre Soro is an entrepreneur in the education field. She runs two companies: Studio KÄ, an animation studio and Voyelles a publishing house, both of which produce educational content highlighting Africa’s cultural heritage for the youth.

She was recently selected as the 2020 Laureate of the Women In Africa (WIA) program on behalf of Côte d’Ivoire, a prize rewarding high-potential African women entrepreneurs who are building the Africa of tomorrow.

In a few words, she shares with us her experience as an entrepreneur in the educational sector as well as advice for those who would like to take the leap.

What is Studio KÄ ?

Studio KÄ is an independent Ivorian animation studio created in 2019. It is specialized in the production of animated educational content for television and soon cinema for children. Studio KÄ uses sound educational concepts to bring children a wide range of positive messages about Africa and its cultural diversity. We want to make our productions supports the cultural awakening of children and their healthy development.

What advice would you give to those who would also like to start an activity in the field of education?  

If I were to give advice to anyone who would like to get involved in the field of education, I would say that, first of all, it is necessary to make a clear analysis of the existing situation: this requires listening to the need, understanding the underlying causes and their impact;

Secondly, you have to be deeply committed to your project: for it is from this commitment that you will draw your resilience;

Finally, it is important to surround yourself with reliable partners: by building a network of people, companies, institutions sharing the same engagement for the education of our children.

What are the main challenges you have encountered?

My main challenges have been :

• Establishing the reputation of my company in a fairly closed sector;
• Succeeding in setting up a business model capable of ensuring the sustainability of the activity;
• Staying creative in a field where concepts are easily copied.

“It is important to surround yourself with reliable partners: by building a network of people, companies, institutions sharing the same engagement for the education of our children.”

What do you know today about this entrepreneurial adventure that you wish you had known when you first started ?

When I started my entrepreneurial adventure in the field of education, I quickly understood that I would have to be resilient. What I would have liked to know, however, was that I was not alone. In fact, there are many people like me, who aspire every day to give a new impulse to our education system, by giving our culture an essential place in it. Knowing this a little earlier would have enabled me to reach out to these people from the very beginning and to be enriched by their experience and advice. It would have saved me time!

Take a look at the great animation Studio KÄ produced to to raise awareness on barrier gestures against covid-19.

---

Studio KÄ is a company in the investment portfolio of the Education Impact Fund (EIF). This fund, created by I&P and the Jacobs Foundation, is specialized in financing and supporting Small and Medium Enterprises and Start-Ups in the Education sector in Côte d’Ivoire. It is monitored locally through the Impact Finance component of the TRECC Programme, whose mission is to improve the quality of education in Côte d’Ivoire.

---