A Heart for Africa

“I was motivated to make some change, so much so I could barely sleep,” says Walada, founder of the Africa Forward Initiative. Bryce Richter

Hezouwe Walada ’23 had his sights set on being a cardiologist, but he made an important pit stop soon after he graduated from UW–Madison: to lift up the entrepreneurial spirit and improve the lives of the less fortunate in Africa.

Born in Togo, Walada is the executive director and founder of the Africa Forward Initiative (AFI), which is devoted to giving Africans the resources they need to lead better lives, whether they’re founders of a start-up or villagers seeking help to build a new well.

“Food insecurity, lack of access to clean water, educating the youth with proper schools — these are all issues we seek to address,” says Walada.

AFI projects work by giving African entrepreneurs microloans, sometimes as low as $80, to help them with the next phase of their business. These applicants come from a large swath of African countries, from Togo to the Ivory Coast to Sierra Leone.

A low interest rate ensures the entrepreneur isn’t burdened with heavy fees, but it also serves a dual purpose: interest payments fund, for example, youth projects related to farming or wells in underserved communities.

Another widespread community solution, School for All, provides vulnerable children with school supplies and assists struggling families with the cost of education fees.

“I knew I wanted to be a doctor to help fix some issues in Africa, but I had to go deeper than that,” says Walada, who credits the UW’s Odyssey Project for supporting him during his freshman year at the university.

Long before he set foot on U.S. soil, Walada saw firsthand how he could make a difference. When his village in Togo was decimated by a bout of malaria, he was driven to work in the health care system. “I was motivated to make some change, so much so I could barely sleep,” he recalls.

During his time at the UW, he was inspired by many mentors. “I’m fulfilled to have so many people help me at school and give me the opportunity to do what I do now,” Walada says.

Up next for Walada is a summer trip to the African countries where the Africa Forward Initiative operates. He also intends to take his MCAT at some point in 2026.

“I want to work with the heart,” says Walada of his cardiovascular ambitions, “because I’ve always been fascinated by how this small engine in our body is so important to all our functions.”

Published in the Summer 2025 issue