Studio Samuel

What Studio Samuel does

Studio Samuel (legally Studio Samuel Foundation, Inc.) is a US-registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit (EIN 45-5248421) and a licensed Ethiopian Civil Society Organization that delivers education, life skills, vocational training, and health support to adolescent girls and young women in Ethiopia. Founded in 2015 by Tamara Horton, the organization operates a multi-component girls' education ecosystem anchored by a training center in Addis Ababa that houses the trademarked 'Training for Tomorrow' life skills program (ages 9-18), the Studio Samuel College of Design & Technology (TVET-accredited, ages 18-24), a Computer Lab, a Sewing Lab, and an on-site mini-clinic. Programs are delivered free to beneficiaries through community-based centers and school partnerships, with a stated 25,000+ girls reached and a 2035 goal of 1 million.

The organization's underlying technology centers on the Yewer Abeba ('Monthly Flower') menstrual education app — launched November 2025 in partnership with MakeADifference.tech and Hamline University — which provides offline-capable, no-data-collection menstrual health education in Amharic, Tigrinya, Afaan Oromo, and English on Android. In 2025, Studio Samuel also integrated the FidelPortal AI education platform to support Ethiopia national exam preparation. Students in the Sewing Lab produce reusable menstrual kits (under $15 each) for peer distribution.

Studio Samuel's business model is donation-based: all programs are free to beneficiaries, with revenue derived from individual donors, monthly $18 girl sponsorships, and corporate/foundation support. A US-based board that self-funds operational costs directs resources to local Ethiopian leadership. Distribution is community-based through the Addis Ababa center and school partnerships nationwide, with a global digital layer via the Yewer Abeba app on Google Play and the studiosamuel.org donation website. The microlending program for caregivers (201 women reached by 2021) addresses upstream economic causes of school dropout.

Name

Studio Samuel

Legal name

Studio Samuel Foundation, Inc.

Website

https://studiosamuel.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Studio Samuel is a US-registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating in Ethiopia that delivers free education, vocational training, menstrual health programs, and digital literacy to over 25,000 adolescent girls and young women through community-based centers, school partnerships, and the Yewer Abeba mobile app.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Girls' Education and Empowerment Nonprofit

NAICS

Educational Support Services (61171), Computer Training (61142)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Universal Design for Learning (UDL) & Inclusive Classroom Support Platforms (EDAFAKAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Academic Enrichment Camps (General Studies) (EDAMALAB), Homework Accountability & Homework Club Programs (EDANADAI)

Keywords

• Girls education programs
• Vocational training
• Menstrual health education
• Life skills training
• Nonprofit education services

Headquarters

HQ city

Addis Ababa

HQ country

Ethiopia

HQ region

Africa

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Studio Samuel operates as a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit in the US and licensed CSO in Ethiopia. Revenue comes from individual donors, monthly giving programs ($18/month commitment mentioned), and dedicated supporters funding menstrual kit distributions. EIN 45-5248421.
2. Donor-Funded Program Delivery: All programs including education, menstrual kits, and vocational training are delivered free to beneficiaries, funded entirely through donations. Menstrual kit cost is less than $15USD/kit covered by supporters.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Studio Samuel is a nonprofit organization that provides free education access, life skills, and employable/vocational skills training to adolescent girls and young women in Ethiopia. It runs after-school programs, a TVET college, menstrual health education (including a free mobile app), and caregiver microlending, funded through donations.

Product overview

Studio Samuel Girls Academy operates a multi-component girls' education ecosystem in Ethiopia comprising Training for Tomorrow (ages 9-18), a trademarked life skills program with Learning Lab, Computer Lab, Sewing Lab, Martial Arts, and Health Education modules; the Yewer Abeba multilingual menstrual education app (Amharic, Tigrinya, Afaan Oromo, English) designed for offline use with no data collection; the Studio Samuel College of Design + Technology (TVET) vocational college (ages 18-24) offering Design and Technology tracks; and a Menstrual Kit Program where students create and distribute reusable menstrual kits. The organization also partners with FidelPortal for AI-powered academic exam preparation and provides micro-lending to caregivers. Together these programs address barriers to girls' education including menstrual health, economic hardship, and limited access to academic resources.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Training for Tomorrow Signature trademarked one-year life skills program for girls ages 9-18 (12-18), held after school, on weekends, and during summer break. Curriculum covers self-advocacy, goal setting, reproductive health, financial literacy, mentoring, self-defense, and leadership to keep girls in school.
• Yewer Abeba Menstrual health education mobile app meaning 'Monthly Flower' in Amharic, available in Amharic, Tigrinya, Afaan Oromo, and English. Works offline after download, collects no personal data, and is completely free. Designed by girls for girls to break taboos and provide trusted menstrual health information.
• Studio Samuel College of Design + Technology (TVET) Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) college for young women ages 18-24. Offers six-month vocational training programs in Design (Sewing & Fashion Design) and Technology tracks. Graduates receive government-issued certification and job placement assistance.
• Menstrual Kit Program Peer-to-peer training and education workshop where students ages 9-18 learn basic sewing to create reusable menstrual kits costing less than $15 USD each and lasting 2-3 years. Kits are distributed free to peers along with menstrual health presentations delivered by students.
• Computer Lab Digital literacy and technology training facility providing girls hands-on training in computer literacy, research skills, productivity tools, and digital skills for national exam preparation and remote income opportunities.
• Sewing Lab Vocational training facility teaching garment construction, pattern making, design, and quality control. Students learn sewing skills that can lead to income generation while creating reusable menstrual kits for peer distribution.
• MicroLending Program Small business training and microlending program for caregivers (24+ years old) of Studio Samuel students, launched to address unemployment that kept girls out of school. Reached 201 women as of 2021.

Quantifiable outcome

• 94% of students show improved grades within 6 months of enrollment
• +7 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core, supporting and flagship.

• FidelPortalcoreTechnology or IntegrationAI education platform partnership designed to support students in preparing for Ethiopia's national exams. FidelPortal provides digital academic resources integrated with Studio Samuel's community-based nonformal education model to bridge the gap in academic access for girls.
• MakeADifference.techcoreTechnology or IntegrationTechnology partner that powered development of the Yewer Abeba menstrual education app. Provided technical development and support for the mobile platform.
• Hamline University Global Health ProgramsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerUndergraduates from Hamline University, guided by Professor Kathryn Geurts, helped build the initial framework and early research approach for the Yewer Abeba app alongside Studio Samuel students and medical team.
• Bureau of Education (Ethiopia)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity leaders from the Bureau of Education participated in Menstrual Hygiene Day events, presented certificates to Youth Ambassadors, and support integration of menstrual health education.
• Bureau of Women's and Children's Affairs (Ethiopia)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment bureau joining Menstrual Hygiene Day celebrations and presenting recognition to Menstrual Education Youth Ambassadors for commitment to peer education.
• Menstrual Hygiene Day MovementcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerStudio Samuel is a proud member of the Menstrual Hygiene Day movement, celebrating its tenth anniversary. Partnership aligns with UN SDGs for quality education, gender equality, and partnerships for the goals.
• Girls Opportunity Alliance Network (Obama Foundation)flagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerSelected as panelist alongside WASH United, P&G, and Nosotros: Women Connecting to share menstrual health work. Part of a three-part series about menstrual health resources and education.
• WASH UnitedflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerInternational WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) organization that partnered with Studio Samuel on Menstrual Hygiene Day virtual session panel.
• Julian LennonflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerSSGA Global Ambassador and singer-songwriter whose connection to the Lucy fossil's name (inspired by 'Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds') linked science, music, and Ethiopia's identity. Participated in Women's History Month career exploration series connecting students with Professor Donald Johanson.
• The Midtown GroupsupportingOthersCEO Helen Stefan-Moreau serves as Chair of Studio Samuel Board while leading The Midtown Group, providing governance and leadership support.
• P&GsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerConsumer goods company partnered with Studio Samuel on Menstrual Hygiene Day virtual session panel about menstrual health resources.
• Nosotros: Women ConnectingsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerWomen-focused organization partnered with Studio Samuel on Menstrual Hygiene Day panel sharing menstrual health education work.

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• CAMFED (Campaign for Female Education): Africa-focused nonprofit supporting girls' education and economic empowerment through secondary and post-secondary scholarships, mentoring, and young women's leadership networks. Operates across multiple sub-Saharan African countries with a comparable community-led, wraparound model targeting marginalized adolescent girls.
• Days for Girls: Global nonprofit focused on menstrual health equity through reusable menstrual kit distribution and education programs, with chapters in dozens of countries including across Africa. Highly comparable to Studio Samuel's Yewer Abeba app and Menstrual Kit Program in both mission (breaking period poverty) and delivery model (girls making kits for peers).
• Girl Rising: Education and storytelling nonprofit using media, curricula, and advocacy to advance girls' education globally. Comparable mission and beneficiary focus, with a similar blend of direct programming and high-profile partnerships that drive donor acquisition.
• She's the First: US-headquartered nonprofit funding and mentoring girls' education in low-income countries, with strong emphasis on storytelling, leadership development, and partnership with grassroots organizations. Comparable in size, donor-driven model, and direct-service-plus-advocacy approach to girls' secondary education.

Broad incumbents

• WaterAid: Large international WASH nonprofit with growing menstrual hygiene programming in Ethiopia and other East African countries. Overlaps with Studio Samuel's menstrual health and school-retention work but with broader water/sanitation mandate and significantly larger scale.
• Room to Read: Large established international education nonprofit operating literacy and girls' education programs across Asia and Africa. Significant overlap in girls' education and life skills programming but at materially larger scale and broader geographic footprint than Studio Samuel.
• Plan International (Because I Am a Girl): Major international NGO running the Because I Am a Girl campaign and broad girls' rights, education, and protection programs across more than 75 countries. Highly overlapping mission on girls' education and empowerment but at vastly larger scale and broader programmatic scope.
• Malala Fund: High-profile global girls' education fund advocating for policy change and funding local activists and organizations across multiple countries. Operates at a meaningfully larger scale and brand recognition than Studio Samuel, but shares the core mission of removing barriers to girls' secondary education.

Emerging players

• WASH United: International WASH advocacy organization and co-creator of Menstrual Hygiene Day. Already a Studio Samuel partner; comparable in mission on menstrual health normalization and education, with stronger global advocacy and policy reach.

Regional players

• Educate Girls: India-based nonprofit that enrolls out-of-school girls and improves learning outcomes for girls in rural Rajasthan and other Indian states. Highly comparable operating model (community mobilization, school partnerships, measurable learning outcomes) but focused on India rather than East Africa.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/studiosamuel
• YouTubeyoutube.com/studiosamuel
• Facebookfacebook.com/StudioSamuel
• Instagraminstagram.com/studiosamuel
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/studio-samuel-foundation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Studio Samuel