The Creative Exchange Program (CEP 2025) is a flagship capacity-building initiative of the Lady Dynamique Network (LDN) aimed at equipping emerging female African creatives with practical skills in design thinking, digital storytelling, and creative entrepreneurship. The 2025 cohort brought together 63 young female creatives across eight African countries – Nigeria, Malawi, Kenya, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Rwanda, Ghana, and Uganda, through a 12-day-long, fully virtual, collaborative learning experience.
The program was designed to support its female participants to leverage creative skills as tools for personal and professional advancement, aligning with global development priorities like gender equality.
Background of the program
Across Africa, creative industries continue to emerge as powerful drivers of economic growth, youth employment, cultural preservation, and social innovation. However, many young creatives lack access to structured training, mentorship, and community support. To address this gap, LDN launched the Creative Exchange Program (CEP) to:
- Provide practical, market-relevant skills for young female creatives.
- Strengthen the leadership potential of women in the creative economy.
- Foster a pan-African community of creative practice.
Planning for CEP 2025 included the following:
- Developing the CEP Learning Pack, containing 12 days of guided learning activities, reflection prompts, and creative challenges.
- Designing the overall program flow, structured into three core skills-based sessions and one reflection and integration session.
- Onboarding participants through an introductory video, community guidelines, and digital resources.
- Coordinating with expert facilitators and speakers across various creative fields.
- Conducting public announcements, application processing, and participant selection.
Structurally, all sessions were conducted virtually via Zoom, making participation accessible to young people across multiple African regions. The program unfolded through four intentional learning experiences designed to strengthen creativity, communication, and entrepreneurial confidence:
The first session, held on October 20, introduced participants to the principles of design thinking. They explored creative problem-solving, learned how to understand user needs, and practiced building human-centered solutions. By the end, participants had identified real challenges within their communities and developed innovative ideas to address them.
On October 23, the digital storytelling session guided participants through the power of narrative as a tool for influence and social impact. They learned how to communicate with clarity online, express vulnerability, and share meaningful personal stories. This session enabled participants to craft narratives that reflect their experiences and aspirations.
The third session, delivered on October 27, focused on creative entrepreneurship. Participants examined how creative ideas can evolve into sustainable ventures, explored various pathways to monetization, and learned the fundamentals of value creation and business strategy. This session helped them understand how creativity can drive long-term business development.
The final session, facilitated by Nympha Ozougwu, Founder and Director of Programs at Lady Dynamique Network, centered on shared learning. Participants discussed their growth throughout the program, exchanged insights from each session, and connected with one another across borders. This concluding space strengthened their sense of community and outlined the next steps in their individual and collective journeys.
Participant Engagement and Community Building
To ensure sustained engagement, the organization shared daily WhatsApp prompts aligned with the CEP Learning Pack. Participants were encouraged to:
- Complete daily storytelling and creativity exercises
- Collaborate with peers
- Share insights publicly by tagging LDN on Instagram
- Participate actively in discussions and peer-learning activities
This approach strengthened participant accountability and built a vibrant, supportive community throughout the program.
Creative Entry Challenge
At the end of the program, participants were invited to submit a Creative Entry – a storytelling or creative interpretation aligned with CEP themes. Entries were evaluated based on:
- Creativity
- Originality
- Alignment with program objectives
An outstanding participant, Oge Okonkwo won the $100 Creative Entry Award, and became the first creative ambassador at the Lady Dynamique Network. Click here to watch her winning story.
In terms of partnership development, the Creative Program for Women in Africa presents a scalable, cost-effective, and impact-driven model that can be expanded with donor support. External funding would make it possible to achieve the following:
- Inclusion of more countries and marginalized communities
- Development of a more robust digital learning platform
- Provision of micro-grants to support participant-led creative projects
- Strengthened mentorship, alumni networks, and capacity-building resources
- Expansion into hybrid or physical creative labs across Africa
Having directly contributed to youth empowerment, gender equality, and the development of sustainable creative economies, the Lady Dynamique Network remains committed to scaling this initiative and partnering with global donors, institutions, and creative organizations to broaden its reach and deepen its impact. The CEP will continue to serve as a powerful model for creative empowerment and a strong foundation for long-term community building for female creatives across Africa.