I feel burdened by the expectations of being an activist and a leader that people put upon me (Martine Irakoze)
This episode is part of an occasional series from The Teaching Matters Podcast where current and previous contributors to the Teaching Matters blog discuss their writing process as well as the social and academic relevance of their work. These discussions give insight into how contributors construct ideas and meaning around teaching and learning.
In this episode, Joanna Holtan, Director of the Mastercard Scholars Foundation Program at the University of Edinburgh talks to Martine Irakoze, a Mastercard Scholar at the University of Edinburgh in International Relations & International Law. Joanna and Martine mention another Teaching Matter’s contributor, Brindley J Fortuin who you can hear in conversation with Joanna in a previous episode. Read Martine’s Teaching Matters post Leadership Revisited.
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Martine Irakoze
Martine Irakoze is a Burundian Mastercard Scholar at the University of Edinburgh in International Relations & International Law. She is passionate about African youth development, entrepreneurship, gender equality, and racial justice. In 2019, Martine cofounded Linda, a social enterprise that tackles sexual reproductive health issues among teenagers in Kenya. After the summit, she was inspired to bring together African youth diaspora in Edinburgh and founded the first-ever Model African Union Society in the UK. As a One Young World Leading Ambassador, Martine also runs One Young World Edinburgh chapter which is a platform to lead on uncomfortable conversations such as orphanage voluntourism. Lastly, Martine is one of the founders and directors of BlackED Movement, which is an initiative to end the existing racist culture at the University.
Johanna Holtan
Johanna Holtan is the Program Director for the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program. Johanna has spent nearly 20 years designing and building programmes and businesses for social good across a variety of sectors including higher education, active transport, sport & culture, international development and social enterprise. In addition to being one of the co-founders of the award-winning CycleHack, Johanna has created and curated four TEDx events, two creative and cultural festivals including the Festival of Creative Learning, and the global phenomenon Penny in Yo’ Pants.
The Scholars Program at the University of Edinburgh provides full scholarships and leadership programming to students from Africa with high leadership potential but few educational opportunities. As Director of Scholars Program, Johanna leads on programme direction, development, innovation, and impact.
Twitter: @joholtan
