Nik Kafka, founder and CEO of London-based nonprofit Teach A Man To Fish, has been named the recipient of the 2022 Charles Bronfman Prize.

Established in 2004 by siblings Ellen Bronfman Hauptman and Stephen Bronfman and their spouses in honor of their father, Charles R. Bronfman, the prize recognizes an individual under the age of 50 whose humanitarian work, informed by Jewish values, has made a significant contribution to addressing a critical need. The prize includes a $100,000 cash award.

Founded in 2006, Teach A Man To Fish works to address the lack of opportunity for young people trapped in a cycle of poverty, with a focus on low-income countries. Through its School Enterprise Challenge, the organization helps establish youth-led enterprises that are both educational and profitable, giving students the skills and mindset to achieve greater success in their studies, secure a decent job, set up their own business, and make an impact on their community. The program provides trained teachers, a suite of educational resources, and tailored support to help students undertake real-world tasks, and their school often benefits from the income generated by the business.

According to the International Labor Organization, at the beginning of 2020, approximately 68 million young people around the world were unemployed, and even among the employed, about 55 million were still living in extreme poverty, with the impact of COVID-19 exacerbating the crisis.

“Conventional education is not enough to meet this challenge. These young people need skills that are valued by employers that allow them to adapt to an ever-changing world,” said Kafka. “We believe that practical entrepreneurship education is key to tackling youth unemployment and poverty worldwide. The recognition that comes with this prize will be a huge help as we scale our efforts.”

(Photo credit: Charles Bronfman Prize)