Our Story
Who We Are
Crescence Foundation, formerly known as Association Crescence, was founded in 2018 with a simple yet powerful mission: to provide a brighter future for orphaned and street children in Cameroon. Our journey began with a focus on addressing the most pressing needs of these vulnerable children – nutrition, health, and education. We started by providing daily meals, regular health check-ups, and access to quality education for children in orphanages and on the streets of Yaoundé.In addition to these core initiatives, we also recognized the transformative power of the arts and cultural expression. We developed socio-cultural productions, such as the musical "Ashouka" and the children's book series "Estou discovers Africa," to inspire, educate, and promote cultural pride among our beneficiaries and the wider community.
As we witnessed the positive impact of our work and the growing needs of the children we serve, we decided to expand our mission to tackle the root causes of poverty and inequality. In 2023, we embarked on a new chapter as Crescence Foundation, broadening our scope to leverage cutting-edge technological innovations and insights from cognitive and behavioral sciences to address Cameroon's most pressing development challenges.While remaining committed to our original mission of supporting orphaned and street children, we now also focus on creating sustainable, systemic change in areas such as education, health, child protection, and infrastructure. By harnessing the power of technology and research-backed approaches, we aim to drive long-term, transformative impact and empower communities to break the cycle of poverty.
Meet our founder
A lifetime dedicated to sustainable development through technology
Led by our founder Estelle Zanga, we leverage a team of experts, with diverse backgrounds in technology, cognitive sciences, behavioral economics, and international development, work closely with various organisations to identify opportunities, develop tailored strategies, and implement cutting-edge solutions.
About Estelle Zanga
Estelle Zanga, the President of the Crescence Foundation, is an accomplished leader with a unique perspective on harnessing technological innovations and cognitive and behavioral sciences to address Africa's development challenges. With a background in marketing, strategy consulting, and entrepreneurship, Estelle possesses a rare combination of skills that enable her to drive meaningful change.
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Estelle's passion for creating positive social impact began at age 14, when she started engaging with non-profit associations focused on alleviating poverty and empowering women in Cameroon. She studied marketing at the Université Catholique d'Afrique Centrale, focusing on social and institutional applications, and gained further insights through her mother's inspiring journey from a vegetable seller to a company leader.
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Recognized for her talents and dedication, Estelle has won several awards, fellowships and competitions thanks to her problem solving competences. She studied behavioral economics and digital transformation in Germany on a scholarship.
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As a strategy consultant at McKinsey & Company, Estelle advised top companies across Europe, Asia, and Africa on digital transformation, artificial intelligence, and sustainable development. She co-founded Safeware, a textile factory that produced over 4 million masks during the COVID-19 pandemic, supporting communities throughout Cameroon.
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Fluent in seven languages, Estelle bridges cultures and fosters understanding. With her strategic vision, technical expertise, and commitment to social impact, she is poised to lead the Crescence Foundation in pursuing a brighter, more equitable future for Africans through the innovative application of technology and cognitive science.