Methodology: The evaluation utilised Outcome Harvesting (OH), a method for identifying and analysing intervention outcomes. This approach allowed for a comprehensive understanding of the changes brought about by EduSpots’ activities and their alignment with the intended objectives. The evaluation team adopted a purposive sampling approach to select locations and respondents across 50 sites in Ghana. They sampled 211 respondents for the study, including 100 learners, 24 Catalysts, 10 EduSpots staff, 10 Head Teachers/Teachers, 10 Community Leaders, and 57 Community Members.

A few key findings: 

• Progress against goals: The study found that through the inspiring work of over 400 local Catalysts, EduSpots is making significant progress against all its short-term and long-term aims: “Through its innovative Dream Spot Model, EduSpots has achieved significant short-term and long-term outcomes, making substantial progress towards its ultimate vision of communities working together to create the future they want to see through education.”
• Nurturing active and empathetic citizens: The study recognises the extent to which we have been able to ‘nurture learners and Catalysts to become active, empathetic citizens’ with the evaluation finding that ‘65% of participants involved in the Ignite Programme were now taking on leadership roles in their communities or schools’.
• Pedagogical transformation: The study provides evidence to confirm that we are playing a role in transforming the wider educational landscape in schools and communities that we work within, with the report confirming that: “The shift towards more learner-centred, inclusive, and practical teaching methods has transformed school-based pedagogy, making education more relevant and engaging for students.” (Expectation State, February 2024)
• Value for money: The study confirmed our strong processes and systems, also highlighted that ‘the programme offers significant value for money, leveraging volunteer engagement and capacity building to maximise impact.” 
• Replicability: The study suggests that EduSpots’ model was replicable and has potential for use in diverse contexts: “The model’s ability to be replicated and the general benefits derived by the community indicate its potential to make a lasting impact in diverse contexts, positioning EduSpots as a promoter of educational equity and community.” 

It is important to highlight that EduSpots’ work is built from the passion, ideas and commitment of a remarkable group of local Catalysts with big dreams for the futures of their communities. As the study confirms: ‘EduSpots has realised its vision of community-driven change by empowering local changemakers. The programme has built an effective network of young people and community members who initiate positive changes. This approach has created a new generation of leaders who can sustain and expand EduSpots’ work.” 

Key areas for development highlighted: 

• Spot community engagement: The study confirmed a need for further structured engagement with communities and partnerships at the local Spot level, which is currently a key organisational priority for EduSpots, having recently transition from a part-time regional coordinator team, into 4 full-time regional coordinators who are working on this area as a matter of priority. We have also extended the focus of community engagement within our upcoming Catalyse Leadership Academy.
• Catalyst mentoring and support: The study suggested that we could continue to strengthen our approach to Catalyst mentorship and the structures of support that are provided; this work is also in motion with the recent additional recruitment of a Head of Programmes (Spots and Leadership Development), with a specific focus on developing these development structures, supported also by an EduSpots app which is fast developing in its functionality.
• Resource development: Expectation State suggested that we developed further resources to explain the specific steps of the Spot model, with different guidance given to school-based and community-based Spots, another piece of work that is already in progress, with Expectation State suggesting a ‘ sustainability planning toolkit that Spots can use to assess their current resources, identify potential partners, and set long-term financial goals.’
• Additional suggestions: The study also made some great suggestions such as developing a database for local partner NGOs, continuing to analyse closely how our model fits with the national curriculum, and expanding our partnerships, which we have already put into motion, with the ideas throughout this evaluation being carefully analysed and considered by the team.

Join an engagement session! 

A big thank you! 

The EduSpots team would like to thank all the community members, Catalysts, learners, parents, headteachers and EduSpots staff and peer mentors who supported this study, particularly the 10 Project Leaders who coordinated the work so readily; we are excited to discuss the findings with you, to further build #OurCollectiveFuture together.

A final thank you to both the Expectation State team for their support, and to the Gower Street Trust and the EA Foundation for funding this important piece of work, and to everyone who has supported our network on this journey!