The Thabo Owen Mokwena Foundation (“the Foundation”) is a non-profit organization founded and established by Thabo Owen Mokwena.

The main objective of the foundation is to initiate and support economic development initiatives through the production of knowledge, expertise and innovation. It will also support education initiatives, humanity projects and self-development initiatives.

The foundation also support intellectual discourse through Trailblazers. This is a fora for exchanging ideas, views and opinion. It stimulates and encourages discourse on key topical issues of the economy, governance, environment, development, political economy and knowledge economy.

The aims and objectives of the Foundation are:

• Engineering economic development ideas and innovation
• Promoting economic development discourse
• Stimulating and harnessing skills and expertise
• Supporting education and schools
• Supporting entrepreneurs and self-development
• Supporting humanity projects    
• Developing and supporting a pool of African intellectuals
• Promoting advocacy through research and publication

The Foundation initiated “The Crown Jewels” project.

• Crown Jewels is an exposition of the wealth of our nation, comprising our talents, knowledge, land, mineral resources and other resources.  
• The primary and most significant Jewel in any society is the people. In particular talented leadership, intellectuals, and practitioners who are at the engine room of propelling the country forward.
• No matter how rich and well-endowed the nation is, if the country lacks the human capital and talents required to nurture its wealth, it is a doomed society.
• Oil riches, precious metals, arable land, fish in the sea, are all wealth that requires human capital to cultivate for the benefit of the nation.

The Crown Jewel Project is inspired by Adam Smith’s Wealth of Nations (1776).