Our Story

Education For Life

Nomizo

How it began

In 2009, Jonathan Starr left a lucrative finance career, moved to Somaliland, an unrecognized country that had broken away from Somalia, and opened a new school with a 9th grade class. When that class graduated they received the 1st scholarships from Somalia or Somaliland to US universities in 3 decades, including a former nomad headed to MIT. After a dozen years, hundreds of students matriculating to prestigious institutions globally, including 7 Ivy League universities, and the launching of several new schools.  Jonathan left that work to focus on US education.  See his “60 Minutes” segment here:

The Motivation Behind Nomizo Is Simple

 “If the most underprivileged students in the world can reach pinnacles of success then our wealthy country is nowhere near its educational potential”

~ Jonathan Starr

We Can Do More

Nomizo Learning Labs was created by people who know what’s possible in education and refuse to accept the status quo. We look at the essence of what leads students to be successful in life, and build programs to get all students there, regardless of differences in backgrounds, starting abilities, interests, and talents.

Sleepy tired bored schoolboy pupil student sleeping at the desk in school during the lesson class.
Nomizo

The Story Behind the Method

Nomizo’s founder was an average high school student because he wasn’t inspired by the curriculum. It wasn’t that Jonathan lacked interest in learning, but traditional schooling just didn’t provide the challenges his brain sought. Fortunately, Jonathan received deep intellectual stimulation outside of his K-12 schooling, and in facing these strategic and analytical challenges he also developed the rigor and discipline he’d need for life. Jonathan would go on to graduate college Phi Beta Kappa, manage his own investment firm before reaching 30, and do something most people thought was impossible; he built and ran a school in Somaliland, Africa.

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A Nomizo Perspective

Parents so often think of traditional K-12 schooling as an end in itself, rather than a tool for life success.  ‘A’ Students” are generally the ones who focus in class, diligently do all their homework, prepare for exams well in advance, and write with exquisite grammar. These are great skills that transition well to the rest of life, where focus, diligence, preparation, and written communication are indeed important. But school isn’t the only way to develop academic skills, as Jonathan and others have so clearly proved. What’s more, traditional schooling does not focus on many critical skills for life success. You can ace school and still not be ready for the world.

 

Connect With Us!

If you are interested in learning more about our program then come see it for yourself. Please fill out a form and we’ll set up a visit.

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