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The Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship has shortlisted SINA (Social Innovation Academy) and its founder, Etienne Salborn, as finalists in the Collective Social Innovation category of the 2026 Social Innovation Awards. The Foundation received more than 400 nominations this year. The winners will be announced at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in January 2026. […]

Organization: SINA (Social Innovation Academy)Location: Uganda; frequent travel to refugee settlements & SINA communitiesContract: Full-time, 12-month renewable | Start: ASAP | Deadline: Rolling pdf version here About SINASINA empowers marginalized and refugee youth to become social entrepreneurs in regenerative, self-organized communities guided by “freesponsibility” (freedom held together with responsibility) and the SINA Framework. More than […]

At SINA, we have long seen the power of personal transformation. Young people from deeply challenging backgrounds grow into confident changemakers, ready to lead their own lives, communities and social enterprises. Many come from difficult and traumatic backgrounds, and even as empowerment blossomed on the outside, many were still silently struggling inside. Occasional breakdowns, depressions, […]

When conflict erupts, dreams are often the first casualties. Since February 16, 2025, the city of Bukavu in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has been under the control of the M23 militia. The resulting collapse of essential services, ongoing insecurity, and economic stranglehold has turned daily life into a constant struggle for survival. […]

If you’re interested in decentralization, entrepreneurship, scaling systems without scaling control, or just want to hear how we plan to enable 100,000 social enterprises in the next decade through SINA, this conversation will offer new insights. Richard Medcalf of xquadrant spoke with Etienne Salborn about the journey from a simple sponsorship program in Uganda to […]

We are excited to have seen the official start with the pioneer scholars in two new SINA Communities:– Dikko Innovation Academy in Katsina, Nigeria– Hope Innovation Academy in Kathmandu, NepalIt is remarkable to see these two SINA Communities in two new geographies: The first SINA Community in mainland West Africa and the first community beyond […]

SINA (Social Innovation Academy) is honored to be featured in the book A Modern Guide to Refugee Education – Comparative Perspectives and Innovative Practices by Elgar Modern Guides. Chapter 19. is titled: “The Social Innovation Academy: A Freesponsible Approach to Refugee Empowerment“ The book explores international opportunities and challenges in refugee education, presenting transformative approaches […]

We’re thrilled to share that the Episode 2 of The Founders Atlas is featuring Joan Nalubega, the founder of Uganics and Etienne Salborn the founder of SINA. The podcast goes deep into the relationship of the two, which started 18 years ago in the Kankobe Orphanage and how Joan started Uganics, its impact as well as […]

During his visit to Uganda, Patrick Knodel from the ChanceMaker Foundation had the chance to immerse himself in the world of SINA – from visiting the SINA Community in the Nakivale Refugee Settlement to powerful stories of transformation. His reflections beautifully capture how young people who once faced seemingly impossible odds are now building social […]

2024 marks ten years of SINA communities transforming challenges into opportunities. What began in Uganda has become a growing movement across Africa: youth-led, self-organized communities where those from marginalized backgrounds—often refugees—become social entrepreneurs and changemaker-makers. In our 2024 report, you’ll see how the lives of our beneficiaries (scholars) are deeply transformed and how their over […]