About Us
Nka’Thuto Edu Propeller is a non-profit organisation established in April 2016, and officially registered in January 2017. We develop, upskill, and empower previously disadvantaged African youth through conducting various supportive programs focused on innovative fields such as the Sciences, Technology, Engineering, the Arts, Mathematics and Innovation (STEAMi).
Nka’Thuto EduPropeller uses problem based and knowledge application approaches, creating a platform for participants to develop valuable solutions to
societal problems identified by themselves. Through its programs the tech-based solutions are packaged into business cases, further developing into prototypes and for potential commercialisation.
Nka’Thuto fulfils its objectives through its programs namely; Ideas To Concept (I2C) Incubation, innovations clubs and urban crop management. Through
careful management of funds and partnerships the organisation has enjoyed great impact positioning it as a leading EdTech organisation that has
continuously attended to difficult to serve, under resourced high schools and youths situated in township and rural communitie
Partner schools
Technopreneurship Participants
Years of history
Our Story
Nka’Thuto EduPropeller was founded by Thandeka Mhlanga(MSc Physics Cumlaude, MM Innovation Studies) and Thulile Khanyile (PhD Candidate, MSc Molecular Biology), who met during their postgraduate studies at the CSIR.
As young scientists, they were frustrated by the gap between research and real-world impact — a gap driven by the separation of science and business from basic education level. They saw that brilliant research often went unused because it wasn’t linked to value creation, entrepreneurship, or innovation ecosystems.
Out of this frustration, they created Nka’Thuto EduPropeller: a platform where STEAM meets entrepreneurship, enabling young learners to ideate, build, and conceptualise solutions to Africa’s challenges.
Our Approach
Shifting a mindset from job seeking to job creation through STEAMi-based value creation. Embedded in research methodology skills as the basis for identifying, understanding, and solving problems, Nka’Thuto EduPropeller is an ecosystem that offers support in resources and skills towards the development of user-focused technology-based solutions, offering an innovative approach to application-based education and problem-solving-based learning.
Inclusive Innovation Platform Approach
What people are saying
NkaʼThuto gave me the tools to turn my ideas into real solutions and the confidence to make a difference. With their mentorship, I grew from a curious student into the founder of a health-tech startup and now serve on the Junior Advisory Board. NkaʼThuto didnʼt just teach me innovation — it taught me to be the change.
NkaʼThuto laid the foundation for that vision. It gave me the confidence, exposure, and mentorship I needed to believe in myself and to push forward. Today, Iʼm focused on using engineering to solve real-world challenges and give back by tutoring high school students in Maths and Science
NkaʼThuto played and still is playing a pivotal role, providing support and resources that transform my access to the tech world. This support has been instrumental in cultivating a passion for creation and invention.”