We are delighted to announce that the winner of the June Spot of the Month for 2025 is Zangabalun Spot! Their proactive approach to uniting the community was remarkable, especially through engaging parents in Spot activities.

Zangabalun is a community in the Kumbungu District of the Northern region, with a population of predominantly farmers. The Spot was established in 2021/22 as a community-based Spot by Iddrisu Abdul-Malik, Spot Lead, with support from Mr Abdallah Bidogu and Mr Abdul-Rahaman.  

They were driven by the desire to improve literacy rates and increase student engagement within the community. One specific factor they were targeting was improving education around teenage pregnancy to discourage learners from dropping out of school.

The Zangabalun team soon discovered the enormous potential of how much the Spot could affect the Spark’s lives. The BECE scores for English Language improved dramatically over just one year, and have continued to grow ever since. 

The confidence of the Sparks has also flourished within the Spot, not only in English but also in Science and Technology. The enrolment rates in local high schools have also increased, and with the help of the Empowerment Programme, teenage pregnancies have fallen to next to nothing. 

These results are both rewarding and inspirational to the Zangabalun Catalysts, and it is clear that both collective and individual motivations have fuelled their continuous hard work.  

Iddrisu, who learned the value of education from his teacher, and as a result inspired by him to “give back to society” to encourage future young learners to do the same. Juanita, the Spot’s newest Catalyst, states that as an EcoStem member, she is driven by the need to “develop the Spark’s potential and achieve great things” as well as to “better understand the world.”

Teamwork remains the reason that the Zangabalun Catalysts are so successful. They adopt a “participatory approach” to each Spot session and activity, relying on the variety of opinions and experiences to stay creative. On top of this, the Catalysts strive to create an “open and inclusive environment where everyone is welcome and feels safe to contribute their ideas.” 

Iddrisu shares that dividing responsibility and clear communication are what unite the team together and allow them to stay aligned in their goals. This is such a core value at the heart of EduSpots, as without a team and community to hold us up, it is much harder to remain focused on creating impact.

As a result of winning Spot of the Month, the Zangabalun Catalysts have reaffirmed their efforts in creating positive change, and it is so gratifying for them to have their hard work be recognised. Iddrisu remarked, “It will encourage us to keep doing what we are doing, inspire the next generation of leaders and continue to contribute to the community!”

As a final reflection on their huge achievement this month, the Catalysts expressed how much the EduSpot strands have nurtured the Sparks’ passion for learning alongside play, notably in the DigiLit and EcoSTEM branches.

The Catalysts themselves have grown in terms of “leadership, problem-solving and being more open.” They urge the rest of the network to remain consistent and dedicated to their team, and to continue to be grateful for their own achievements. We can all learn a lot from this Spot’s unfailing positivity and perseverance!