Given the deplorable failure of leadership across the African continent, the South Africa-based African Leadership Academy has a clear mission: Transform Africa into a peaceful and prosperous continent by developing and supporting its future leaders.

Billed to open in September 2008, the secondary school has started recruiting its first class of 100 young leaders from across the continent and the world. Admission is strictly based on merit; each student will be selected according to African Leadership Academy’s five selection criteria: academic achievement, leadership potential, entrepreneurial spirit, passion for Africa, and commitment to service. Below are three of the 100 future African leaders:

Belinda Sheillah Munemo, Zimbabwe: Built an agricultural business to create sustainable income for an orphaned family.

Belinda noticed a struggling child-headed household in her neighborhood. Rather than simply tossing a few coins, she helped 13 year-old Anna start a small egg-laying business and vegetable garden to generate income. Belinda taught the young orphan how to manage the profits so that she could pay for school fees and provide basic commodities for herself and two younger sisters. As the business grew, Belinda empowered Anna to take responsibility for the chickens and make the operation sustainable.

Tabitha Tongoi, Kenya: Established “A Book for Change” to provide books to Kenyan schoolchildren.

When Tabitha Tongoi first learned from a Ministry of Education report that the lack of textbooks is a key obstacle to education in marginalized communities across Kenya, she sprung into action. A few weeks later, Tabitha had launched Project ABC (“A Book for Change”) at Kenya High School. Her aims were threefold: to sensitize the school community about issues affecting disadvantaged youth in Kenya; to provide a platform for Kenya High School students to donate old textbooks; and to raise sponsorship for talented but disadvantaged students at her school.

Mehdi Oulmakki, Morocco: Martial arts champion who uses theatre to create social change.

16 year-old Mehdi Oulmakki joined the Aquarium Acting Troupe, which travels across Morocco to educate women in remote areas about their rights and to provide information about opportunities for education, economic independence, and ultimately, empowerment. “Theatre is a great medium to combat existing stereotypes in a way that is non-confrontational, which almost everyone in the community can understand and associate with,” he says, which is why he believes Aquarium succeeds where other initiatives might fail.

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On web: African Leadership Academy.