Meet the class of 2021-22 Skoll Scholars

Inspirational social entrepreneurs join the Oxford MBA class of 2021-22

A Sudanese engineer changing lives by creating affordable and high utility prosthetics and a female fashion entrepreneur empowering women in the Indian garment industry are among four social entrepreneurs to win a fully-funded scholarship for the Oxford MBA at Saïd Business School, University of Oxford, provided by the Skoll Centre for Social Entrepreneurship.

All four have been awarded a Skoll Scholarship – a competitive scholarship for MBA applicants who want to pursue careers in social or environmental change. The Scholarship provides full funding for tuition and college costs for the Oxford MBA, plus an allowance for living expenses. They will join a class of 320 students starting their MBAs in Oxford this October.

Hailing from Zimbabwe, Sudan, India and the USA, the latest Scholars are already making impressive headway in tackling significant social and environmental issues.

This year’s Skoll Scholars are:

Taku Machirori (Zimbabwe)

Taku Machirori is an Analytics Strategist and the Co-founder and Executive Director of emerginationafrica.org. He considers himself to be an unabashed optimist with a passion for global leadership and entrepreneurship.

Ashraf Mizo (Sudan)

Ashraf Mizo is passionate about creating social change through design and technology. His background in engineering and social entrepreneurship put him in the path of founding Nayla, a startup working on maximising eco-social opportunities for amputees in Sudan and other developing countries.

Claire Mongeau (Kenya/USA)

Claire Mongeau is a social entrepreneur working to improve knowledge and opportunity through accessible technology. As CEO and Co-founder of Kenyan startup M-Shule, she has helped learners of all ages gain skills they need to succeed through AI and SMS.

Asha Vettoor (India)

Asha Scaria Vettoor is an entrepreneur with a passion for women's social justice and fairtrade fashion. Her sustainable fashion brand, Swara - Voice of Women, brings both of these passions together by providing women across rural India an income, by employing them in making environmentally sustainable apparel.

Dr Peter Drobac, Director of the Skoll Centre, comments: ‘In a moment of crisis, the world needs social entrepreneurs more than ever. For nearly two decades, Skoll Scholars have been driving positive social and environmental impact around the globe. We are thrilled to welcome, Asha, Claire, Taku and Ashraf - four outstanding changemakers - to Oxford Saïd and the Skoll Centre.’

Applications for the 19th Skoll Scholarship (2022/2023) will be open in July 2021 where the Skoll Centre seeks four more changemakers to become Skoll Scholars. Head to the How to Apply page to find out more.