Every Spot in the EduSpots network has a unique origin — together, these stories of aspiration, resilience, and creativity form a vibrant tapestry of community-led change.

A core belief in EduSpots is that everyone has the capacity to shape their communities through education, building from Giroux’s philosophy that ‘all citizens, old and young, are equally entitled, if not equally empowered, to shape the society in which they live’. We have always been aware of the power of storytelling in this creative process, believing that to a large extent stories reflect, intersect with, and even form realities.

The very first Spot was established in 2015 in Abofour, in Ghana’s Ashanti Region. It was created by a local team of teachers, led by the Addae family, grounded in principles of community ownership, volunteer leadership, strong school partnerships, and a shared commitment to educational equity.

This Spot emerged in response to a neighbouring library housed within a private school, where donated books and resources were rarely accessible to learners, teachers, or the broader community. The lack of open access and active local leadership sparked a new vision — one where educational spaces are truly shared, inclusive, and driven by the communities they serve.

The group also sought to rethink the role of foreign students, who had previously been taking on responsibilities: instead of leading on the ground, they engaged remotely, learning about Ghana’s rich history, education system, and colonial history. Their role is to support—raising funds and awareness in solidarity with local Spot teams, aligning efforts with community-led goals and a shared commitment to social justice.

The concept of a ‘Spot’ draws inspiration from the familiar Ghanaian idea of a drinking spot — communal spaces found in every town, each with its own name, character, and beats! Similarly, EduSpots enables  communities to create their own learning hubs — shaped by local identity, driven by local assets, and grounded in community aspirations.

In 2017, Gloria Addae launched the first EduLit Club (now DigiLit), pioneering a distinctive model that blends formal and informal education with a strong emphasis on student leadership. Her work laid the foundation for the learner-centred, community-driven approach that defines our educational philosophy today.

From that single initiative, the ‘Spot’ model began to grow organically. With the involvement of students, teachers, and partners from across Ghana and beyond, a grassroots movement took shape — evolving into the vibrant network across 12 regions of Ghana and Kenya that EduSpots is today.

EduSpots’ current model and programmes have been co-created with over 500 voluntary local Catalysts. More than 50% of our staff and peer mentors have emerged from these Catalyst pathways, ensuring deep-rooted community leadership across the network. A Catalyst Committee plays a central oversight role, working closely with the Ghana and global NGO boards and the senior leadership team to shape strategy and direction.

In 2025, our Global and Ghana boards are chaired by Professor Gloria Agyemang, former Executive Dean of the School of Business and Management at Royal Holloway, University of London, and Dr Richard Amoah, Head of Research and Stakeholder Engagement at Education Sub-Saharan Africa.

We are also proud to be supported by our Ghana Patron, Professor Elsie Effah Kaufmann, who regularly engages with our Catalysts and actively champions our mission to reimagine future-ready education through community-led innovation.

Every community Spot has its own narrative of its creation, and you can read more about all the Spots here. You can also get the strongest sense of our volunteers and their activity through following us on Twitter and Facebook where we share live updates directly from community volunteers and registered volunteers can engage with our activities via our multiple WhatsApp platforms. Click here to read more about our vision and strategy.

Here are a few stories we’ve collected relating to our origin, with our EduSpots @ 10 Stories publication coming soon! 

“It started with just few individuals who shared in the Eduspots dream. But now, the Abofour team has a wider network of volunteers. I am highly impressed with the level of sustainability and growth even after some volunteers who were pioneers are presently not in the community but its activities are still ongoing. I’m very fascinated with the Eduspots’ approach which is community leadership. We are involved in all the activities of the designated groups and strive to partake in every challenge.” (Gloria, 1st volunteer in Abofour)

“ In Akumadan, EduSpots began with passionate individuals who identified gaps in educational opportunities and seek to address them. EduSpots believes in teamwork, and these individuals from the EduSpots team in Akumadan came together through our local initiatives, pooling their resources, expertise, and connections to make a change through EduSpots. As the initiative gains traction, it attracts more members and supporters from the community and beyond, fostering a network of educators, volunteers, and stakeholders dedicated to its mission. Over time, through collaborative efforts and community engagement, EduSpots has expanded its programs, and becomes a vital hub for lifelong learning, empowerment, and social enrichment within the communities and beyond.” (Carlos Adu Boahen, 1st Project Leader, Akumadan)

“When I grew up, it was a little village, about 500 people. I suffered a lot in terms of teaching materials like books, so when I grow up, and said that I have to do something to do something to help those small villages. As a driver, I’m often taking tourists. Any tip I get I cut into two and get some books to send them to the villages. Books are so expensive and some community areas they don’t have them. This was before we started EduSpots. I was so happy for the amazing idea to help the rural communities. Since I’ve joined the team, there are many that can testify in the rural communities, that lives are changing.“ (Francis Yeboah, co-founding Director of EduSpots Ghana)

Founding members 

We would like to say a particular thank you for the role the following people took in the early stages of EduSpots’ foundation: Francis Yeboah, Paul Wilson, Sarah Wilson, Joseph Addae, Gloria Addae, Janet Addae, Vida Addae, Elizabeth Cody, Suzie Sturgeon, Steve Marshall-Taylor, Dennis Wellings, Oliver Champness, Ed Warren, Seth Follen, Ali Hudspeth, Ella Dobson, Thomas Linsdell and Helen Denyer.

You can also watch this TedTalk with CEO/Founder, Cat Davison, who worked with the team to develop the organisation alongside full-time classroom teaching for the first 8 years before being appointed as CEO after an open recruitment process in 2024: