EduSpots, a UK and Ghanaian registered NGO, has embarked on its digitalization journey in Elmina by distributing over 100 tablets and laptops to volunteers known as ‘Catalysts’ from 30 underserved communities across 15 regions of Ghana.
The organization’s goal is to train, equip, and connect more than 300 local Catalysts to create educational opportunities for over 10,000 learners through a network of 50 community-led education spaces known as ‘Spots’.
During a Digital Launch Day event held at its training center in Elmina, EduSpots provided digital skills and online safety training to selected Catalysts and local students. The organization also hosted a panel discussion on the theme of ‘Digital skills for a more equitable future: harnessing the power of digital tools to address educational inequity in underserved communities’.
The digital equipment, including tablets, laptops, safety boxes, and wifi kits, were distributed to the attending Catalysts for use at their community-based ‘Spots’. This generous donation was made possible through the support of Wanderlust Ghana and the Fonthill Foundation.
Richard Anim from Wanderlust Ghana emphasized the importance of empowering students with the necessary skills for the future of work in the era of the fourth Industrial Revolution.
Additionally, EduSpots will be launching a new app funded by the Gower Street Trust, which will provide Catalysts with tools to effectively manage their ‘Spots’, including systems for learner and volunteer registration, resource borrowing, activity logging, and access to training resources.
The digital launch event will be celebrated with the wider volunteer network and the public through an online session on digital tools in the classroom, featuring IT teacher Eric Asomani Asante, a Varkey Foundation 2023 Global Teacher Prize Top 10 Finalist.
Aduko Savera, an EduLit club member at Kalpohin Spot in Tamale, expressed her excitement about the impact of digital devices on learning, highlighting how it can make learning easier and more enjoyable for students.
Seidu Yahya, a Catalyst at Ejura Spot, believes that access to technology will enhance the problem-solving skills of learners and foster the development of independent thinkers who can address community challenges effectively.
Founder of EduSpots, Cat Davison, shared her enthusiasm for the potential impact of digital tools within the communities and called for support from organizations and individuals interested in contributing to the digitization process.
This digital launch event is part of EduSpots’ broader 5-day Catalyse Leadership Academy, established as part of the Catalyse Leadership Programme funded by the EA Foundation. Through this program, 30 Catalysts from 30 Spots are undergoing a 9-month process of leadership training, grant funding, and developing sustainable plans to advance their educational spaces.
