This week, EduSpots has announced the first members of its new Catalyst Committee. 

The Catalyst Committee will play a formal advisory role in organizational decision-making, strengthening the already strong relationships between staff and Catalysts, and providing staff and trustees with a formal structure through which to ask for Catalyst input, ideas and leadership. 

The Committee also aims to give the network clear Catalyst figureheads, who can represent the organization at key events and during media opportunities. 

Catalyst Voice in EduSpots 

Catalyst voice has always been central to the participatory way in which EduSpots works, with Catalysts constantly feeding into the development of EduSpots Spot model and organisational ways of working from the outset. 

Staff members constantly engage Catalysts through 1-1 calls, WhatsApp chats, group discussions, focus groups, surveys, in person meetings and more, with Catalysts often leading sections of training, events, and online sessions. 

Catalysts have driven programme decision-making; as one example, the Ignite Girls strand was set up at the call of Catalysts, with a small working group of Catalysts determining the programme’s themes and structure.

Today, a previous Ignite Equity Catalyst, Zainab Yussif, is leading the strand, supported by a current Catalyst, Rafiatu Acheworon Bawa; the strand is now called ‘Ignite Equity’ because of Catalysts calling for both girls and boys to be brought together to address gender-based challenges.

Indeed, EduSpots’ central staff members themselves are 60% drawn from the Catalyst network, including 8 Peer Mentors who work alongside staff to support Catalyst engagement and programme development, providing a supported pathway into the staff team for some Catalysts. 

The Catalyst Committee Members 

Congratulations to the following Catalysts, who were selected through an interview process and Catalyst election, with the leadership roles determined by the Catalyst team. 

• Chairperson – Adu Boahden Carlos, Akumadan Spot, Catalyst since 2017
• Deputy Chairperson – Nimatu, Savelugu Spot, Catalyst since 2018
• Secretary – Daniel Manso, Dadwen, Catalyst since 2023
• Committee member – Abdul-Malik, Zangbalun Spot, Catalyst since 2022
• Committee member – Gloria Addae, Abofour Spot, Catalyst since 2015
• Committee member – Stephen Tawiah, Soko Spot, Catalyst since 2024

In selecting the committee, the team were keen to have a mix of new and longstanding Catalysts, as well as a mix of regions and school and community-based Spots represented.

Adu Boahen Carlos commented: “I’m excited to join the Catalyst Committee, where I can contribute my skills and experience to drive meaningful change and innovation. I’m eager to bring my expertise and enthusiasm to the catalyst committee, where I can collaborate with like-minded individuals to achieve our shared goals and vision.”

The Role of the Committee

In its first year, the Committee will hold a key focus on the group working with the CEO and wider staff team to determine the most strategic ways of working of the committee, ensuring its future effectiveness, also working effectively alongside the trustee boards and wider advisory group that draws various technical specialists together in support of our work. 

The Committee will meet at least once a quarter, with further meetings held at key points as necessary. Agendas will be shared with the network in advance of the meeting, with all Catalysts having the chance to speak to the committee members to share their views on key topics, with minutes transparently shared with the whole network following the meetings. 

We intend for the committee to hold at least one in-person meeting each year, likely coinciding with the national conference, which they would help to plan. 

Thank you to everyone who applied to join the Committee; we wish Adu, Nimatu, Daniel, Abdul-Malik, Gloria and Stephen, all the best as they take up this new responsibility for the network, to ensure our onwards journey towards #OurCollectiveFuture.