? ? What started as a reading club under a mango tree grew into the founding of Ejura Spot and a leadership role as EduSpots’ Middle Regional Coordinator.
This is the inspiring journey of Yahya Seidu.
“To me, EduSpots is a movement with immense benefits, where each member contributes in diverse ways towards a shared vision: a world where communities unite to create the sustainable change they wish to see through education.
After completing senior high school, I worked as a pupil teacher in a private school. I taught Information Communication and Technology (ICT) and Asante Twi to junior high school students. Within two weeks of teaching, I observed a significant gap in the literacy skills of most learners, which affected their performance across all subjects, including mathematics.
To address this issue, I established the EPASS Writers and Debaters Club to enhance students’ literacy, confidence, and public speaking skills. Within two months of running the club, I witnessed considerable improvement among committed members, as well as growing interest.
Despite this success, our major challenges were the lack of learning materials and a dedicated space for meetings. We met under a mango tree and borrowed books from the Ejura Municipal Assembly Library for our sessions. These setbacks, however, did not deter us from pursuing our goals. We also received encouraging support from parents and some community members who would often stop by to cheer us on.
One day, during one of our sessions, a friend introduced me to an online post about EduSpots offering a grant for educators leading impactful projects in their communities. I applied and was selected.
During that period, EduSpots was also running an online course, which I enrolled in. The module on “Perspective” particularly caught my attention and sparked my desire to learn more.
This experience motivated me to participate in subsequent EduSpots programmes, including the Community Leadership in Education (CLEd). It exposed me to new learning approaches and equipped me with valuable skills to improve my classroom delivery.
This journey deepened my commitment to personal and professional growth, and I embraced every opportunity to develop my skills and contribute to community development. Therefore, when the opportunity to serve as a Peer Mentor arose, I did not hesitate.
After serving in this role on two occasions, I transitioned into a part-time staff role as Regional Coordinator, supporting Spots in the Middle Region to strengthen their systems. I now serve as a full-time Regional Coordinator for the Middle Region.
Today, as I reflect on this journey, I feel proud of every step taken, the opportunities I have been given, and how I have leveraged them for continuous growth.”
? ? Today, we are all giving Seidu an EduSpots ‘Wow!” clap today, as we celebrate his journey.
