The National Training Academy, scheduled for 17th–20th December 2025 in Akumadan, will bring together 100 Catalysts from 50 communities to mark 10 years of EduSpots’ commitment to igniting community-led education.
This annual gathering unites Catalysts leading the Ignite Equity and Keeping Spots Safe strands for an intensive leadership development programme. It offers a crucial moment in the year for Catalysts to deepen their skills, exchange insights, co-design strategies for the coming year, and strengthen relationships with peers who share a passion for advancing gender equity and safeguarding within their communities.
This academy aims to bring Ignite Equity and Safeguarding Leads together to co-create the knowledge, practical skills, and confidence to shape and lead the 2026 gender equity strand in their communities, while promoting stronger female leadership across the network.
Safeguarding is a significant focus, aiming for Catalysts to shape their own local strategies for strengthening understanding of child rights and responsibilities, and ensuring learning spaces are safe and inclusive. They will also consider wider strategies for advancing social inclusion and equity, strengthening their skills in intercultural leadership.
The group will also explore how gender equity and safeguarding intersect, whilst creating opportunities for peer learning, sharing success stories and cultivating collaboration across the Catalyst community.
Ignite Equity and Keeping Spots Safe Training
The academy will explore a wide range of leadership and programme delivery areas, including: mentorship, analysing challenges & asset-based approaches, campaigns & advocacy, inclusive communities, rights education, promoting wider female leadership, teamwork, positive behaviour management, integrated action planning, child rights & reporting pathways, bullying & mental health, intercultural understanding & leadership, and more.
Graduation & Annual Awards Celebration
The conference will also feature a special celebration to recognise achievements across the network in 2025 and across the last decade of igniting community-led education.
Catalysts and teams who have led meaningful change in their communities will be awarded certificates and trophies, and participants will have space to connect, reflect, and build lasting relationships.
Commenting on the Academy, Zoe Ohene-Ampofo, Safeguarding and Inclusion Manager, commented:
“Gender equity and safeguarding are processes, and we are currently doing our part in ensuring that these are prioritised in our educational settings.”
A community-based changemaker, Khadija Seidu, Zangbalun Spot, shared her anticipation for the time ahead together:
“My expectation for the national conference is to learn a better way of creating an inclusive environment for open dialogue and share learning about biases and systemic barriers”
This Academy is implemented by EduSpots but supported through the participation of our CEO, Cat Davison, as a Young Leader in the Youth for Peace: UNESCO InterculturalLeadership Programme (2025–2026).
EduSpots is also grateful for the support of the Coles Medlock Foundation and Evan Cornish Foundation for their sponsorship of the full one-year Ignite Equity Programme.
For more information or to explore ways to support this year’s conference, please contact us at info@eduspots.org
EduSpots, a UK and Ghanaian NGO, works to connect, train and equip local Catalysts to ignite community-driven change through education spaces named Spots across 12 regions of Ghana.
Catalysts lead clubs across early years education, digital literacy, gender equity, STEM and sustainability education, with a focus on creating play-based, inclusive and co-creative learning environments that have a ripple effect across the wider school and community settings involving 10,000 learners of all ages. For more information, visit www.eduspots.org
Stay connected with us on social media for upcoming updates on the academy, agenda, and related events.