Join us in celebrating the April Spot of the Month, Asemkow Spot, in recognition of their remarkable resilience and transformation!
In honour of their incredible success, John Nuvormawor, Peer Mentor, Catalysts Community, hosted an exclusive interview with the Asemkow Spot Team to learn more about their inspirational journey with EduSpots.
Asemkow is a fishing community on the western coast of Ghana, with the most prominent occupations being fishing, farming and petty trading. The community’s name translates to “worries gone.”
The Asemkow Spot was set up in 2018 by Mr Amoah and Mr Yeboah, who were Headmasters of the Asemkow M/A Basic School at the time.
Sharing their motivation for joining the Spot, some Catalysts mentioned their aim of bettering opportunities for learners, while others aimed to enhance their own skills. Felix Acheampong, Spot Lead, was also drawn by the network’s strong mentorship programme, which he feels supports the Catalysts’ leadership development as well as the Sparks’(learners).
The members of Asemkow Spot embody teamwork and persistence that is truly unmatched, as they “ensure that every Catalyst’s view is respected.” They “foster an environment where team members feel comfortable sharing ideas, asking questions, and helping each other,” illustrating the value of mutual respect.
Another EduSpots core value prominent in the Spot is play. Each club session is kicked off with a dance rehearsal from each of the Asemkow dance groups, inciting motivation and creativity in every Spot member. Through building an environment of safe and playful education, not only are the Sparks learning, but the Catalysts have also developed skills in practical science and team building. Felix mentioned that “EduSpots has taught me more skills as a teacher than a classroom ever taught me.” This reflects the impact of our network on entire communities as well as young learners.
The Asemkow team inspires the whole organisation by emerging as Spot of the Month, from almost leaving the network to coming back stronger, with more drive and innovation. Their success in recruiting and mentoring Catalysts, on top of a strong performance in the DigiLit Virtual Competition, makes them wholly deserving of this title.
In their final words of wisdom, the members of Asemkow Spot advise the Catalysts from other Spots to focus on team development rather than individualism and urge everyone to work hard, especially during challenging times.