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    Edupreneur Talks

     

    Solving the educational challenges in Ghana

    Edupreneur Talks

    A podcast series turning up the volume on the EdTech innovators, solving some of the most pressing educational challenges in Ghana.

    Together with the Jacobs Foundation, we'll introduce you to 10 brave edupreneurs from Ghana, part of our joint Scaling Readiness Program.

    We’ll dive deeper into their entrepreneurial journeys and the insights they’ve gathered along the way. From offering access to digital devices even in the remotest areas, through creating engaging digital STEM content, to encouraging a love for reading - listen to uncover how these amazing leaders are making sure all children in Ghana can reach their full potential.

     
     

    Episode O | Intro

    Welcome

    Meet your podcast host Andrews Akoto-Addo. Andy is Program & Communication officer at Reach for Change Ghana, and his daily work is to spread the word about local social entrepreneurs and to help them develop further. In this intro, Andy shares insights into some of the most pressing educational challenges in Ghana and how together with the Jacobs Foundation we came up with the idea for the podcast. Stick and stay, welcome to the Edupreneur Talks!

    2 minutes English
    Welcome

    Despite significant progress in recent decades, the Ghanaian educational system continues to face several challenges. There’s a shortage of well-trained teachers. Many children study in overcrowded classrooms and lack access to school materials, while over half a million children are not even enrolled in primary school. Children from rural communities, and children with disabilities, are most vulnerable.

    Local social entrepreneurs in Ghana are coming up with innovative ideas on how to solve these problems. With the support of the Jacobs Foundation, we created a Scaling Readiness Program, to help the ones with the most promising EdTech solutions scale their impact.

    In the Edupreneur Talks, we’ll dive deeper into their entrepreneurial journeys and the insights they’ve gathered along the way.

    Episode 1 | Young at Heart

    Accessible digital education

    In our first Edupreneur Talks episode Andy talks with Martin Bruce, co-founder of Young at Heart - an ed-tech social enterprise that provides children in primary schools with digital devices and education software that helps them learn in an engaging and practical way.

    24 minutes English
    Accessible digital education

    Josephine Marie Godwyll and Martin Bruce observed that children in rural areas in Ghana have restricted access to effective teaching and learning experiences and lack digital skills. Their ed-tech social enterprise Young At Heart Ghana provides children in primary schools with digital devices and education software that helps them learn in an engaging and practical way.

    Their solar powered charging cart brings various digital devices in communities where there's no electricity. Their educational platform and gamified app uses African folklore stories to engage children in practical STEAM lessons and tasks, and has already been used by over 10,000 students.

    Josephine and Martin envision a world where no child is left behind in this continuously evolving tech world because they are in a remote location.

    Episode 2 | Perbi Cubs

    Bridging the reading gap

    In the second episode of Edupreneur Talks, Andy talks to Naa Anyele Perbi, co-founder of Perbi Cubs - a learning community using a combination of library services, in-school programs and a digital platform with exciting content, quizzes and rewards that motivate kids to read more.

    23 minutes English
    Bridging the reading gap

    Many children in Ghana perform poorly in school due to their inability to read. This denies them the opportunity to make meaning of their world, and negatively affects their future.

    In a bid to spark a love for reading within their kids, Anyele and her husband Dr Yaw Perbi founded Perbi Cubs - a learning community using a combination of library services, in-school programs and a digital platform. The platform offers children between age 7 and 12 access to + 10 000 e-books, along with various exciting quizzes and rewards that motivate kids to read more. In addition, Perbi Cubs does webinars and videos with motivational people to help broaden kids' viewpoint. All content is curated around the school curriculum to help children learn in an easier way, read more for pleasure and perform better in all subjects.

    In this episode, Anyele talks about their entrepreneurial journey - from a family affair to a growing EdTech company, reflects on the importance of reading for pleasure, and shares tips on how to move children from struggling to proficient readers.

    Episode 3 | Booksie

    Nurturing a love for reading

    In the third episode of Edupreneur Talks guest host Diane talks to Edem Torkonoo - Reader in Chief at Booksie - a pan-African online children's bookshop and book club for 3-12-year-olds based in Accra.

    27 minutes English
    Nurturing a love for reading

    Booksie is a love letter to African children on the continent and in the diaspora. Edem Torkonoo, like many Ghanaian bookworms growing up in the 90s, spent her days reading The BabySitters’ Club, Nancy Drew, Sweet Valley and more. Though it is much easier for Edem, as an adult, to find picture and chapter books with African characters who share African experiences, the unfortunate news is, these books are all siloed for children.

    Edem created Booksie’s virtual bookshop to make it extremely easy for children to find beautifully illustrated books that African publishers and authors were creating. She also provides storytime lessons, reading camps, and book clubs. This encourages reading for pleasure, and offers children mirrors to see characters who look and sound like them.

    In this episode, Edem shares insights about her entrepreneurial journey and reflects on the relevance of their work and how they are nurturing children with a love for reading. She also reflects on their overarching goal of building a robust learning-to-read program in Africa.

    Episode 4 | GEIG

    Inclusive education for all girls

    In the fourth episode of Edupreneur Talks, Andy talks to Elizabeth Patterson - founder of Girls Education Initiative of Ghana (GEIG) - which offers academic and financial support to girls and young women to ensure they have a fair chance to access higher education and reach their full potential, in spite of their families' financial stance or their learning differences or disabilities.

    22 minutes English
    Inclusive education for all girls

    Though being a victim of a car accident that left her with physical and cognitive limitations, Elizabeth managed to complete high school and continued her education at the University. Her journey inspired her to ensure that other people in her situation can also have equal access to education.

    She founded the Girls Education Initiative of Ghana (GEIG) to offer academic and financial support for underprivileged girls, including applicants with special needs to reach their full potential. They offer access to contemporary learning materials and organize school literacy clubs to improve digital literacy, reading proficiency, and motivation among girls.

    In this episode, Elizabeth talks about how GEIG provides inclusive and quality education for underserved populations in Ghana, reflects on the cultural and systemic challenges confronting girl-child education, and shares GEIG’s ambition to build a model school to meet the educational needs of underprivileged communities.

    Episode 5 | Speech Forces

    Developing critical thinkers

    In the fifth episode of Edupreneur Talks, guest host Diane talks to Eric Asamoah Awuah, Founder and Executive Director of Speech Forces, whose mission is to develop critical thinking and expressive skills among children and youth.

    30 minutes English
    Developing critical thinkers

    Being a debate enthusiast, Eric started Speech Forces as a volunteer group to help bridge the gaps in critical thinking and public speaking among high school students in Ghana. Together with the Speech Forces team, they have built the organisation into the preferred platform to develop young people into critical thinkers and skilful public speakers.

    Eric talks about his entrepreneurial journey and reflects on the relevance of Speech Forces’ work in developing Ghanaian children to speak with clarity and confidence, and shares their passion for changing social and cultural norms which deter young people from public discourse and becoming active citizens.

    Episode 6 | QKnow Edtech

    Developing virtual classrooms

    In the sixth episode of Edupreneur Talks, Andy talks to Senyo Mawuli-Jiagge, Co-founder and CEO of QKnow Edtech, whose mission is to provide inclusive, practical and interactive teaching and learning experience for students, teachers, and schools through technology.

    31 minutes English
    Developing virtual classrooms

    There are notable gaps in Ghana’s education system. However, the co-founder of QKnow Ghana - Senyo Mawuli Jiagge, observed an even more significant challenge which is the inadequacy of valuable educational materials that broadens students’ horizons and effectively track their performance while in school.

    Through QKnow, Senyo and his team aim to improve the delivery of quality education for all stakeholders in the educational sector. Thus, the Edtech company has developed software that provides quality educational content in notes, articles, quizzes, videos, and learning boxes while tracking their academic performances over some time.

    QKnow’s products are embedded with the core innovation attributes that ensure clear communication of the improvement of students. The products are designed to be compatible with every student’s learning mode. Currently, QKnow’s products are used by 400+ students across several schools in the Greater Accra Region. By 2023, QKnow intends to expand into the Western, Central, Volta and Ashanti regions. To hit an annual revenue of a million dollars in the next 3 years.

    Episode 7 | STEMBees

    Closing the gender gap in tech

    In the seventh episode of Edupreneur Talks, Andy talks to Linda Ansong - co-founder and Executive Director of STEMBees, whose mission is to empower more young African women to pursue a career in STEM.

    33 minutes English
    Closing the gender gap in tech

    After being one of the few women in their undergraduate STEM courses, Linda Ansong, Angela Koranteng and Lady-Omega Hammond had firsthand experience of the challenges minorities face when pursuing STEM careers. They were also aware of the advantages and opportunities STEM education provided them. So they decided to work together to close the gender gap in science and tech and founded STEMBees.

    STEMBees offers workshops, after-school programs, annual camp meetings and community libraries within robotics, coding, 3D design and printing, electronics, and STEM for girls between the ages of 7 and 12. All activities are rolled out with the support of teachers who serve as the focal points in the STEM clubs they establish across second-cycle schools in Ghana.

    In this episode, Linda talks about how STEMBees is inspiring and supporting girls in underserved communities to pursue their education and build their careers in STEM and reflects on the progress of eradicating poverty through education.

    Episode 8 | Child Dream Foundation

    Holistic education for impact

    In the eighth episode of Edupreneur Talks, Andy talks to Simeon Martey - Founding Director of Child Dream Foundation (CDF), whose mission is to identify and develop children in deprived communities to become active learners and explore careers in STEM.

    28 minutes English
    Holistic education for impact

    With a passion for holistic child development, Simeon started the Child Dream Foundation (CDF) as a mentorship club to inspire learning and support the holistic educational development of children in the Northern region of Ghana.

    With footprints in the Volta, Oti and the Northern regions of Ghana, CDF is enhancing the reading proficiency of children in deprived communities through modern pedagogy and providing them with professional support to develop careers in STEM.

    In this episode, Simeon talks about how CDF provides supplemental learning for holistic child development, reflects on the progress of the Foundation in delivering its services in deprived communities, and shares their passion to establish a world-class educational center called the “Child Dream Village”.

    Episode 9 | River of Blessing Academy

    Bridging the bilingual gap in STEM

    In the ninth episode of Edupreneur Talks, Andy and guest host Diane talk to Abba Hughes - Founder and proprietress of River of Blessing Academy (RoBA), whose mission is to transform the teaching and learning of STEM into a more practical, attractive and exciting education pathway for children.

    29 minutes English
    Bridging the bilingual gap in STEM

    Starting as a Montessori in her parent’s house, Abba Hughes is bridging the gap in bilingual STEM education for a holistic educational experience for children. As the only bilingual STEM education provider in the Eastern region, RoBA uploads videos of their training and student’s STEM-related work to their YouTube channel to keep parents and stakeholders informed of their work.

    In this episode, Abba talks about her entrepreneurial journey, reflects on the progress of RoBA in delivering its unique services in a relatively competitive education landscape, and shares their passion for developing a model school that deploys next-generation inventors, innovators, scientists, engineers, tech entrepreneurs, and many more!

    Episode 10 | Think Education

    Expanding access to education

    In the tenth and final episode of Edupreneur Talks, Andy talks to Nana Ama Boa-Amponsem - Founder of Think Education, whose mission is to contribute to the creation of educational systems that improve teaching and learning outcomes.

    30 minutes English
    Expanding access to education

    After graduating from Ashesi University, Nana Ama volunteered with education-focused non-profits and worked with low to middle-income private schools where she witnessed first-hand the systemic challenges these schools face in delivering quality education.

    In 2019, she founded Think Education to support low-cost private schools in Tamale, the Northern region of Ghana to set up robust administrative and operational systems for quality education delivery. She engages school founders and managers to address their pain points and co-design context-specific solutions such as school management and operational systems for their continuous development.

    In this episode, Nana Ama talks about her entrepreneurial journey, reflects on the progress of Think Education in bridging the structural gaps in education delivery, and shares her commitment to creating an equitable and supportive learning environment in underserved communities.

     
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