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KnowledgeRise Africa Initiative is a bold, African led movement advancing education, menstrual dignity, and youth leadership across underserved communities. We exist to break barriers, restore confidence, and open doors for Africa’s next generation.
We are committed to a continent where no girl misses school because of period poverty, where knowledge becomes a pathway to freedom, and where young people are equipped to flourish, lead, and transform their world with courage and purpose.
Through community-driven programs, we champion dignity, opportunity, and lifelong learning, empowering youth to rise above limitations and shape a future defined by possibility, innovation, and hope.
Mengisen Terevael Massawe known as Menny Terry is the Founder of KnowledgeRise Africa Initiative. He holds a Master of Divinity in Organizational Leadership from the International Theological Seminary in the United States, graduating Magna Cum Laude, and a bachelor’s degree in accountancy, with professional experience in the finance industry. His background in leadership, ethics, and financial management shapes his practical, community driven approach to development.
Across Africa, he witnessed the realities of period poverty, girls’ school absenteeism, youth unemployment, and the daily struggles facing vulnerable families. He felt a strong need to build long term, African led solutions instead of short-term interventions. This inspired him to establish KnowledgeRise Africa Initiative, focusing on four core areas: Education, Menstrual Dignity & Health, Youth Empowerment, and Economic Strengthening.
Despite opportunities abroad, he chose to return to Africa because he believes deeply that Africa’s problems will be solved by Africans. His work centers on dignity, local leadership, and unlocking the potential already present in African communities.
Across Africa today, more than 34 million children are out of school, 1 in 10 girls miss classes every month due to period poverty, and youth unemployment reaches up to 60% in several countries. Families face rising economic pressure, limited access to basic services, and shrinking opportunities for young people.
Having lived in five different African countries, Mengisen Terevael Massawe—also known as Menny Terry—has seen how communities carry both the weight of these challenges and the strength to overcome them.
He has met girls missing 4–5 school days every month due to lack of menstrual products, with many eventually dropping out entirely, pushing them deeper into poverty. He has seen youth unable to access skills training and families surviving without stable support systems. These realities made one thing clear: Africa needs long term, African led, community driven solutions.
This urgency led to the creation of Kushamiri Africa Foundation, built around four critical pillars: Education, Menstrual Dignity & Health, Youth Empowerment, and Economic Strengthening. Our mission is to help communities break cycles of vulnerability and unlock the potential within every child, girl, and young person.
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Before Kushamiri found me, I had no one. I had lost my parents to war, and every day was a struggle to survive. Today, I’m back in school, I get regular meals, and I’ve learned that God hasn’t forgotten me. KnowledgeRise Africa Initiative gave me a second chance to dream again.
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Working with KnowledgeRise Africa Initiative has transformed our school. Their support keeps girls in class who would otherwise be forced into early marriages. They’re not just changing lives—they’re changing communities.
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What sets KnowledgeRise Africa Initiative apart is their deep compassion and unwavering faith. They care for the whole child—body, mind, and spirit. Being part of their work has strengthened my own walk with Christ and given me purpose.
