In our tenth year, EduSpots’ 50 community-owned Spots across Ghana and Kenya reached more learners, trained more leaders, and earned international recognition, all driven by the 362 active Catalysts. Here are some of the highlights from our 2025 Annual Report.
A Landmark Year of Growth
2025 marked an important milestone in EduSpots’ journey, demonstrating the impact of communities coming together to shape their own educational opportunities.
While the network remained at 50 community-owned Spots, activity and engagement within these spaces increased significantly. Monthly Challenge submissions rose by 72.2%, club sessions increased by 49.4%, and the number of children visiting their local Spots grew by 68.5%. More than 212,000 books were borrowed during the year, a 30% increase on 2024, while the network reached an average of 8,828 Spot users.
Behind these figures were 362 active Catalysts: community volunteers who facilitate clubs, organise learning challenges, mentor learners and help keep their local Spots open. On average, Spots were open five days and two evenings each week, providing welcoming spaces for learning, connection and community activity.
As Nimatu Abdul-Rahman, Chairperson of the new Catalysts Committee, reflected in her welcome to the report: “Sustainable change grows when communities are trusted, Catalysts are centred, partnerships are strengthened.”
International Recognition
EduSpots’ model received significant international recognition in 2025, including three major awards:
The Theirworld Education Innovation Award brought a £40,000 grant and coaching, recognising EduSpots among the most innovative education initiatives globally. The UNESCO Youth for Peace grant of $10,000 supported the development of EduCitizens, a global citizenship education network, while Cat Davison was selected as one of 20 leaders in UNESCO’s Intercultural Leadership Programme. The Mastercard Foundation EdTech Fellowship, worth $60,000 plus mentorship through MEST Africa, is helping EduSpots develop its digital tools and the EduSpots App.
Another significant milestone came in February, when Professor Elsie Effah Kaufmann, the celebrated Ghanaian academic and television personality, became EduSpots’ Patron.
The Education Hub: Four Strands, over 2,600 Active Learners
At the heart of EduSpots’ learning model is the Education Hub: four interconnected programme strands, shaped by Catalysts to reflect the needs, interests and aspirations of their communities.
EduKidz brings early childhood learning through play to 33 Spots, reaching over 800 learners facilitated by 50 Catalysts. Across 10 months, 63.5% of learners improved by at least one ASER reading level, and 29.5% jumped two or more levels, evidence of significant literacy gains in some of Ghana’s most underserved communities.
DigiLit integrates literacy with digital skills across 20 Spots, reaching over 600 learners. ImpactEd’s validated measures showed a 13% increase in Sparks’ confidence in using digital technologies and a 6.1% increase in attitudes towards reading for pleasure.
EcoSTEM connects learners to real-world environmental challenges through STEM in 18 Spots. One exciting development in 2025 was the introduction of Scratch coding, enabling learners to explore creative approaches to technology. At Yamfo Spot, for example, learners developed an animation telling the story of their Spot’s origin.
Ignite Equity is the network’s largest strand, active in 29 Spots and reaching over 800 learners. Through monthly challenges on themes from gender stereotypes to career exploration, 94% of surveyed learners agreed that the club led to positive changes in their lives. Some Spots also developed community-based social enterprises, producing items including liquid soap, reusable sanitary pads, pastries and sobolo. These initiatives are helping generate income to support menstrual hygiene and wider community needs.
Growing Leaders: The Catalyse Programme
Now in its second year, the Catalyse Leadership Programme brought together 50 Catalysts from all 50 Spot communities for a mix of in-person and online training. Across nine workshops, participants explored topics ranging from safeguarding and online safety to grant writing, project design and community leadership. By the end of the programme, 49 Catalysts had earned certificates, with 13 receiving distinction.
ImpactEd’s evaluation also highlighted measurable progress among matched participants, including a 7% increase in leadership skills, a 5.6% improvement in digital confidence and a 14% rise in environmental action.
The programme’s wider contribution was reflected in the growing strength of the Spot network. The number of Highly Active Spots increased from five in Q1 to 16 in Q3, while the number of Spots identified as needing additional support fell from 19 to 6.
Each Catalyst also received 3,000 Cedis to lead a community project responding to local needs. Wise Kofi Afadzinu from Abutia Spot used his to restore an abandoned water system, providing affordable clean water while generating income to sustain Spot activities.
EduBytes and Digital Skills
Launched in October 2025, the EduBytes programme offers voluntary certified monthly training for Catalysts, building practical digital competencies. In its first months, 99 Catalysts completed courses in Canva, Google Docs and the Professional Growth Lab.
Alongside EduBytes, in-person digital skills training reached over 1,000 Catalysts and local teachers across all 50 Spots. Sessions covered video editing, Microsoft Office tools, AI basics, Google Drive, professional email writing, online collaboration tools, and online safety.
“Frankly speaking, there were lots of things I didn’t know and couldn’t do. Never knew that a cover letter is written by oneself and didn’t even know how to write it,” said Lynda, an EduBytes participant.
The National Conference
To mark 10 years of community-led education, EduSpots held its biggest National Training Academy, bringing together 100 Catalysts from 50 communities in 11 regions of Ghana. Alongside opportunities for shared learning and collaboration, the Academy included dedicated sessions on EduSpots’ Keeping Spots Safe systems, reporting processes, and different forms of safeguarding concerns.
100% of Catalysts surveyed after the training strongly agreed that they are more confident in taking steps to safeguard learners in their communities.
Evidence of Impact
An independent study by Expectation State examined EduSpots’ work across 10 communities and 110 participants, finding that 65% of Ignite programme participants had moved into leadership roles, and confirming that EduSpots is changing teaching methodology, nurturing active citizens and delivering value for money. The evaluation noted EduSpots’ potential for replicability in other contexts.
A Community Milestone: Zangbalun Spot
In November 2025, the new solar-powered Zangbalun Spot was commissioned, a celebration led by the Catalyst team and joined by community members, traditional and religious leaders, education officials and learners from nearby Spots. The space was made possible through wide community support, including the Chief’s donation of land, PTA contributions, and grants from Ashworth Charitable Trust, Baillie Gifford, Morel Trust, William Leech Trust and others.
“This library is a symbol. A symbol of what happens when a community rises. A symbol of what happens when partners care. A symbol of what happens when we put our children first.” – Abdul-Malik Iddrisu, Zangbalun Spot Founder
Memorable Moments
Beyond the data, 2025 was also a year of unforgettable moments. Emmanuel Adjei’s Bike2MyRoots, a 10,000km cycle from Munich to Accra over 103 days, raising awareness and funds for education; a UK Conference at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, bringing together supporters and educators; and our CEO’s TEDx Talk at Academic City University, sharing EduSpots’ vision with a wider audience.
Looking Ahead
In 2026, EduSpots is working towards doubling its network from 50 to 100 community-owned Spots through the Ignite Programme, reaching an additional 10,000 learners. The Sustain Phase is investing in long-term sustainability of existing Spots through strengthened community leadership, governance and local fundraising. And EduSpots Unlocked, launched in September 2026, is opening the EduSpots approach to a wider audience through communities of practice, online courses and shared resources including CECOP (Climate Education Community of Practice), EduCitizens and the EduChamps community.
The EduSpots App, co-created with Catalyst Digital Champions, now has over 550 Catalysts and 3,600 Sparks registered and is becoming central to how the network operates.
Be Part of the Change
There are many ways to join the community shaping #OurCollectiveFuture, from monthly giving through the Possibility Circle to corporate partnerships and school partnerships. The Future Fund, launched in August 2026, aims to raise £300,000 by the end of 2027 to expand from 50 to 100 Spots and strengthen long-term sustainability.
Read the full 2025 Annual Report on Issuu
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