Joel Baraka is a Project Manager at CG Schmidt, a proud UW–Madison alumnus, a 2022 TED Fellow, and a member of IB Magazine’s 40 Under 40 Class of 2024. He is also the co-founder of My Home Stars, a social enterprise working to make quality education more accessible to children in underserved communities in Uganda.
During his time as a student at UW–Madison, Joel was an African Studies Program affiliate, earning credits through the program while also actively participating in community events, where he shared his educational game,Your African Quest, which we co-created with Anson Liow. His engagement with the program extended his academic experience beyond the classroom and connected his work with broader campus and community audiences.
After earning his bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Wisconsin–Madison in 2022, Joel chose to remain in the Madison area, beginning his professional career with CG Schmidt, a general contracting firm committed to creating exceptional facilities that improve people’s lives.
Beyond his full-time work in construction and project management, Joel continues to lead My Home Stars alongside a team of educators developing curriculum-aligned, game-based learning tools for teachers and children in refugee communities in Uganda. Through this work, he hopes to reimagine classrooms as vibrant spaces for learning, creativity, and discovery, particularly for young children.
At the intersection of engineering, entrepreneurship, and social impact, Joel is passionate about encouraging young people to think boldly about their futures and use their skills to create meaningful change.
Joel and his co-founder, Anson Liow, are currently preparing to release Wings for My People, a children’s book inspired by the dreams and experiences of children growing up in refugee communities in Uganda. The book is scheduled for release later this year.
Learn more about Joel through his TED profile or explore My Home Stars on YouTube.