Celebrating Impact

Dear Lead For Ghana Community,

A warm welcome to this week’s edition of Briefings From Lead For Ghana. Here’s what to expect:

1. Beneficiary Spotlight - Mahama Adams: Mapping Out The Future
2. Fellow Spotlight - Cultivating Success at Sombo Senior High School
3. Alumni Spotlight - Sheila Bawa: Pioneering Change In Education

Beneficiary Spotlight: Mahama Adams - Mapping Out The Future

Mahama Adams is a promising young student from the University of Business and Integrated Development Studies, who is currently pursuing a degree in Geospatial Science. Mahama's journey into the realm of geography and mapping began in senior high school, inspired by his geography teacher. His passion for understanding the world through maps has led him to aspire to become a Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Analyst, aiming to make a significant community impact, particularly in areas like Lamashegu where he grew up.

In 2018, Mahama's academic and personal growth was notably influenced by the Lead For Ghana Fellows at Lamashegu M/A Junior High School. As a final-year student, he recalls how different the Fellows were from what he experienced in previous years in school. The Fellows dedicated significant time to help students grasp complex concepts, boosting not only their academic performance but also their self-confidence.?

"They really took their time with us, ensuring we understood before they moved on to the next topic. They encouraged participation from every student, which built in us a lot of self-confidence.”

Mahama was particularly excited about Fridays during his final year at Lamashegu. This was because the Fellows dedicated time to help the students improve their English language skills through spelling, reading, and writing exercises. Mahama remembers becoming more and more confident in taking the BECE due to these Friday exercises among other interventions executed by the Fellows.

Mahama attributes much of his educational advancement to the supportive environment created by the Fellows. Their commitment to teaching and personal attention allowed him to excel in his studies and reinforced his ambition to pursue higher education.?

"The Fellows taught us the value of education. They inspired us to see beyond our immediate environment and aspire for greater achievements."

As Mahama progresses in his university studies, he reflects on how the skills and encouragement he received from the Fellows have been pivotal. From enhancing his spelling and speech to indirectly fostering a profound understanding of geospatial science, the Fellows' influence is evident in his pursuit of a career that combines his love for geography with practical applications that benefit communities. The presence of the Fellows in his community away from the comfort of their homes revealed to Mahama how important it is to give back to his community, whether through education or not.?

The Lead For Ghana fellowship continues to prove transformative through the power of dedicated teaching and mentorship provided by our Fellows. As he aims to become a GIS analyst, Mahama is determined to contribute to his community in Lamashegu and beyond, using his skills to provide insightful data through mapping that can lead to better planning and development outcomes.

Join us in cheering on Mahama Adams as he continues to map out his path to success, inspired by the foundational experiences provided by his Lead For Ghana mentors. His journey underscores the profound impact that thoughtful and dedicated teaching can have on our students' futures.

Fellow Spotlight: Cultivating Success at Sombo Senior High School

In the heart of Sombo Senior High School, a new initiative is blossoming, quite literally, with the introduction of a comprehensive school farm project launched on Monday, 22nd July 2024. Spearheaded by our dedicated Lead For Ghana fellows, along with colleague teachers and enthusiastic students, this project aims to transform both land and lives. The experiential project is an add-on to the preexisting Senior High School farm contest sponsored by the Government of Ghana and the Kosmos Innovation Center.

Objective

Our ambitious objective was to establish a 3-acre farm—2 acres dedicated to maize and 1 acre to beans. In the wake of growing food inflation in Ghana and a seeming lack of interest by the youth in agriculture, This initiative is not just about cultivating crops but also cultivating minds, teaching students valuable agricultural skills, and addressing food security by improving the nutritional offerings available on campus and in their communities.

Action

The project began with the meticulous preparation of the land, followed by the strategic planting of hybrid maize seeds with a maturity period of about 110 days behind the girls’ dormitory and beans on an adjacent plot. We employed precise methods such as using pegs and lines for even spacing, ensuring optimal growth conditions. The plan also includes the application of fertilizer 14 days post-planting, as recommended by agricultural experts.

Results

The immediate outcomes have been profoundly positive. Over 50 first and second-year students engaged in the project, gaining hands-on experience that goes beyond the typical classroom setting. They’ve learned the intricacies of land preparation, planting techniques, and the importance of weed control—all essential for sustainable agriculture.

Impact

Beyond the educational benefits, this project has fostered a collaborative spirit among students and teachers, enhancing teamwork and communication while embedding a deeper appreciation for agriculture. It’s projected that the harvest will not only supplement the school’s meal program but also offer an additional meal option, thereby enhancing the students' diet and nutritional intake.

The Sombo Senior High School farm project stands as a beacon of innovation and practical education, aligning with the government’s vision and the Kosmos Innovation Center's goals. It demonstrates the profound impact that thoughtful, hands-on educational projects can have on students, teachers, and the wider community, setting a sustainable model for others to follow.

Alumni Spotlight: Sheila Bawa - Pioneering Change In Education

Sheila Bawa, whose journey with Lead For Ghana has been nothing short of transformational, not only for her but also for the communities she has served, is our alumna of the week. Sheila's commitment to educational equity was sparked by her own challenging experiences in school, where she encountered inadequate infrastructure and learning conditions. From sitting in classrooms without roofs to physically supporting the building of school facilities as a child, Sheila's early educational journey was fraught with hardships.

Sheila's motivation to join Lead For Ghana was deeply personal, stemming from her own challenging experiences in educational environments that lacked basic necessities like proper roofing and even writing surfaces forcing students to lay on the bare floor to write. Her schooling began in challenging settings where infrastructure was so poor that students like her had to physically contribute to building classrooms. These hardships were not limited to her government school experiences but were also prevalent in private schooling due to the small community setting of Sandema.

Her personal struggles with inadequate educational facilities became the catalyst for her commitment to educational equity. Witnessing the devastation of school facilities by the 2005 floods, which also displaced many community members into her school, further underscored the urgent need for substantial improvements in educational infrastructure and support systems.

Sheila was introduced to Lead For Ghana via WhatsApp through a friend. At the time, she was seeking a meaningful place to undertake her national service—a place where she could make a real impact rather than endure a year of menial tasks. Lead For Ghana appealed to her because of its focus on education and its structured approach to tracking the impact of its Fellows. This structure would allow her not only to contribute to educational development but also to measure the effectiveness of her efforts. Also, because organizations like Mastercard and CAMFED had supported Sheila's educational journey, she saw the fellowship as her opportunity to pay it forward. She was driven to use her experience to enhance educational access and quality for communities in need.

Throughout her fellowship at Dakpema M/A Junior High School, Sheila focused heavily on enhancing reading and writing skills, knowing the confidence it could build in her students. She implemented a reading club and emphasized writing skills during the school day. Sheila’s approach was holistic; she knew that building confidence was crucial, especially when many students struggled with English and she could not speak Dagbani, the local language creating a huge communication barrier.

Sheila was also big on influencing school culture. Her focus was on incorporating opportunities for exposure for her students, as well as a shift in attitude toward school attendance both with students and teachers. She would invite different resource persons spanning different topics to speak to her students, bringing new inspiring perspectives. She would also be the first to show up to school, even when access was limited at the time of the day, in hopes that students and other teachers would emulate this and keep the culture long after her fellowship ended. An initiative that proved successful and was commended by the headteacher of her school.

One of the most significant challenges she tackled at Dakpema M/A Junior High School was the inappropriate behavior of male teachers toward female students. Her proactive stance led to the dismissal or reassignment of those found culpable, thus ensuring the school became a safer place for students. This action not only protected the students but also fostered an environment where they could thrive without fear. She had created a safe space for her students to speak to her about their struggles, putting her in a better position to support them with relevant solutions.

After her fellowship, Sheila took a role in recruitment at Lead For Ghana’s headquarters, where her field experience heavily influences her work. She understands the non-negotiable needs of the schools we serve and therefore knows exactly what to look out for in prospective candidates.

The recent recruitment cycle has increased Sheila’s confidence in Lead For Ghana’s vision of providing access to quality education for all Ghanaian children by 2050. The sheer passion, amazing ideas, ambition for education, and understanding the “why” of candidates wanting to join the fellowship give her hope for the country and the continent as a whole.?

Sheila’s message to those who did not make it into this year’s fellowship is one of perseverance and hope. Reflecting on her interactions with applicants over the years, she encouraged those not selected to stay connected and seize any available opportunities to prepare for future openings such as the support calls. Her advice underlines the competitive nature of the fellowship and the importance of persistence. She also encourages the youth to not wait for opportunities like the Lead For Ghana Fellowship to start making an impact:

“If you come across any volunteering opportunities, take them. Don't just wait for a big platform to do all the things you want to do. Start small. Start somewhere. It can be a community initiative, anything. Just do something on your own so that it can give you that advantage.”

As Sheila looks to the future, she sees herself continuing to work in development, ideally expanding her impact beyond Ghana. Her dream includes leading Lead For Ghana initiatives in other African countries, where she can immerse herself in different cultures while advancing educational reforms.

Education News In Africa

Ghana: University staff unions threaten strike over unpaid allowances on August 9

The Senior Staff Association-Universities of Ghana (SSA-UoG), the Federation of Senior Staff Association of Ghana (FUSSAG), and the Teachers and Educational Workers Union of Trade Union Congress (TEWU-TUC) have announced their intention to embark on industrial action on August 9, 2024, if their demands regarding unpaid allowances are not met by the government. (Source: Graphic Online)

Ghana: Ghana’s Mohammed Haroon named Finalist for Africa Education Medal 2024

Ghana’s Mohammed Haroon, a teacher and former politician, has been named among the ten finalists for the Africa Education Medal 2024. Founded by T4 Education and HP, the Africa Education Medal is Africa’s most prestigious education accolade. The Africa Education Medal recognizes the tireless work of those who are transforming education across the continent celebrating the stories of those who have lit the spark of change so others will be inspired to take up the torch. It is given to an outstanding individual who has demonstrated impact, leadership, and advocacy in the field of education. (Source: Modern Ghana)

Kenya: Infinix Teams Up with UNESCO and Google to Inspire Today’s Youth with AI and Robotics Education through the Largest CogLabs Workshop Ever

Infinix, a trendy tech brand crafted for young consumers, conducted the largest CogLabs workshop to date with more than 200 students at the University of Nairobi. Themed “Get in Now”, Infinix partnered with UNESCO and Google to inspire today’s youth with AI and robotics education through the CogLabs initiative. This project aims to equip the next generation of thinkers and makers in Africa with accessible, hands-on experiences in robotics, machine learning, and AI education. (Source: Punch NG)

Announcement

Institute Training Begins!

A huge congratulations to our incredible incoming cohort of Fellows! It’s been both a challenging and exciting journey from the online applications up until this point. We truly hope that you find all of it worth it because you’ve come out winners!

What comes next is our Institute Training where we take you through 6 weeks of intensive training to prepare you for your 2-year fellowship journey. The training will take two forms; the virtual institute from 12th to 29th August, and the residential institute from 3rd September to 18th September. Come prepared to learn, connect, and have a wonderful time!

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