Written by Hammed Kayode Alabi, 2018 CYFI Best Fellow of the Year
During the fellowship, we were trained on project design and management, sustainability strategies… With the knowledge gotten and a grant support from the U.S mission, our Teaching Edge Project raised 40 teachers trainers in Agege Community
I have been looking for platforms to cascade change and in 2018 I was opportuned to be among the 20 young social innovators in Nigeria to join the Carrington Youth Fellowship Initiative (CYFI). The initiative is a program of the U.S Consulate in Lagos. I had the opportunity of working with four amazing young Nigerians leading social change in Nigeria and worked together on an education for sustainable development project.
Out of over 19,000 school teachers across states in Nigeria, only about 0.03 % met standard requirements
We carried out a need assessment and found out that out of over 19,000 school teachers across states in Nigeria, only about 0.03 % met standards in analyzing children learning outcomes, utilizing effective pedagogies, and major competencies in the use of learning technologies (ESSPIN Composite Survey, 2014). There are also 17,000 private schools in Lagos with only 5105 approved (PM News, 2018). With majority being low income private school that lack the skills to facilitate learning and improve performance due to low remuneration and attraction of low quality teachers. Hence, the Teaching Edge Project was birthed to equip and empower teachers in low income communities with skills, tools, and systems of support needed for them to apply contemporary pedagogies, advance student learning outcomes and as a result improve the quality of education in Nigeria Schools.
The Teaching Edge Project was birthed to equip and empower teachers in low income communities with skills, tools, and systems
We started activation with the Agege community and noticed they had a lot of private schools. There was a cry to up-skill teachers for educational transformation. As teachers need to be up-skilled to deliver on contemporary learning.
During the fellowship, we were trained on project design and management, sustainability strategies, proposal and grant writing, budgeting, media engagement, pitching, impact monitoring and evaluation. With the knowledge gotten and a grant support of $5000 from the U.S mission, our Teaching Edge Project raised 40 teachers trainers in Agege Community selected from 10 schools through a 3 days activity based workshop who retrained 200 other teachers in their various schools with an indirect impact on over 1300 students. Teachers went through topics such as design thinking for educators, classroom psychology, adapting technology for teaching and learning, preparing students for the future of works, facilitation techniques in the classroom etc. Our exit survey showed that 55% of the teachers trained now frequently use technology as compared to 35% that sometime use technology before the training. Also 75% always allow their students to solve complex problems to enable them have a creative mindset as compared to 57% that rarely allow their students to solve complex problems before the training.
With the knowledge gotten and a grant support from the U.S mission, our Teaching Edge Project raised 40 teachers trainers in Agege Community selected from 10 schools and indirectly impact over 1300 students
We also created the first learning management system for teachers in Nigeria where teachers can access 21st century educational courses, resources and tools to improve learning performance in Nigerian schools.
Personally the fellowship changed my orientation about carrying out social development projects. It showed me the power of conducting need assessment. Do not give your beneficiary what they do not want. I have been able to apply the knowledge gotten from the fellowship to my work as a non-profit leader and social innovator. It also availed me the access to network of young people and mentors whom I can always call for support. It also showed me the power of funding and how it can drive change when young people have access to it.
Our exit survey showed that 55% of the teachers trained now frequently use technology as compared to 35% that sometime use technology before the training.
Today, I can design project in the development space from start to finish. I don’t think there is a platform that would give me the opportunity to design and implement a project for a whole year. Also, I had the privilege on working on a problem in the educational sector and it really prepared me for the future as I look forward in playing a key role in educational policy formulation and participating in the fellowship was a good place to start. I also leveraged the platform to access several media platforms like Ynaija, Bella Naija, Educeleb etc. It also taught me the power of collaboration, because it is only through it we can make lasting impact. We partnered with a lot of NGO’s and community organizations. I also learned better mobilization and evaluation techniques. I also won the U.S Consul General’s Award as the 2018 best fellow of the year for my exceptional contribution, commitment, passion and creativity during the fellowship.
Sometime, platforms can change our lives and I must confess one of the best things that happened to me was joining the fellowship and working with young social innovators.
Connect with Hammed Kayode Alabi on Linkedin
