EduSpots launches its two year Catalyse Leadership Programme with support from the EA foundation! 

This April, EduSpots launches its new Catalyse Leadership Programme, enabling 60 voluntary community actors (‘Catalysts’) selected from their network of over 300 Catalysts to advance their leadership, entrepreneurship and wider professional skills whilst catalysing change in their own communities. 

This two year programme has been fully funded by the EA Foundation, a UK-based foundation established to improve lives of disadvantaged communities around the world, with a particular focus on improving access to education and basic services, relieving poverty, and promoting environmentally sustainable practices. 

EduSpots’ Catalysts at the Ignite Regional training Academy at our Training Centre at Elmina Spot

Catalyse Leadership Academy 

The programme launches with a five day residential training Academy at EduSpots’ Training Centre in Elmina in April, where 30 selected Catalysts will join a range of collaborative workshops with expert practitioners that will enable them to drive further sustainable impact at their community-led education spaces named ‘Spots’. 

These spaces, situated across 15 regions of Ghana, collectively provide over 10,000 learners each year with a safe space to study, with access to resources, a range of clubs and mentorship from a team of trained local mentors. 

EcoSTEM club members in Sakasaka, guided by Catalyst, Haruna.

As part of the programme, Catalysts can apply to receive flexible grant funding and resources, enabling them to execute Catalyse Projects at their Spots, designed to drive a wider quality and scale of educational impact in their communities. In this process, they will work alongside experienced staff mentors, most of whom have gained experience as Catalysts. 

To strengthen their skills, knowledge and mindset further across the full year period, Catalysts will engage in a structured leadership programme delivered via WhatsApp and monthly online workshops with experienced practitioners, based around key themes chosen by the network of Catalysts, such as digital learning, safeguarding, community engagement and fundraising. 

Previous Catalyst, Nimatu, now Peer Mentor, leading a sod-cutting event in Savelugu as they prepare for a new Spot opening.

As part of a digital skills day at the Catalyst Academy, participants will receive tablets to be used by their community, and engage in training on how to use EduSpots’ new app, alongside other learning applications, as part of a trial process through EduSpots’ wider ongoing digitalisation process.

A tablet being used for research by EduLit club members in Kalpohin, Northern Ghana.

Commenting on the launch of the programme, EduSpots’ Education & Research Manager, and previous Catalyst in Dichemso, Lawrence Dankwah, said: “I envision the Catalyse Programme creating a ripple effect that not only consolidates our current impact but also inspires and empowers communities beyond our existing network to join us in working towards our collective future!”

John Bosco (image below, left), a participant on the programme from Atsata Bame, Volta Region, commented: “I feel excited because this programme will go a long way to reshape my leadership skills in my community and this will help me to become an agent of change in my community and beyond.”

For the first cycle in 2024, Catalysts have been selected to attend from the following communities: Agbledomi, Ahenkro, Akumadan, Ameyaw, Ampatano, Atanve, Atsata Bame, Banda, Bono Manso, Dichemso, Donkorkrom, Dulugu, Ejisu Besease, Ejura, Ekoso, Elmina, Funkoe, Kalpohin, Metsrikasa, New Ebu, Nkonya, Posmonu, Sakasaka, Sanzule, Savelugu, Sefwi Asanteman, Takuve, Wodome Akatsi, Yamfo, Zangbalun.  

To read more about the Catalyse Leadership Programme, and all of EduSpots’ programmes, visit www.eduspots.org. 

Catalysts at the CLEd (Community Leadership in Education) Academy in April 2022)

About EduSpots: EduSpots is a grassroots movement that connects, trains, and equips over 250 volunteers to create and sustain educational opportunities for over 10,000 learners in underserved communities through 50 community-led spaces named ‘Spots.’ In 2023, EduSpots was selected as a finalist for the Their World Education Innovation Scale-Up Awards, and their Founder was a 2021 Global Teacher Prize Finalist. 

To support EduSpots’ work, email the Founder, Cat Davison, at info@eduspots.org. 

Stay updated on the book drive and fundraiser by following EduSpots on social media:

Posted on by Cat Davison

One thought on EduSpots launches its two year Catalyse Leadership Programme with support from the EA foundation! 

  1. Nice to hear this workshop and training leaders who are also change makers to effect change in their communities

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