Few moments in life are like those in which we celebrate the achievement of something monumental – a large goal being reached, a difficult project completed, a long term plan’s success. As 2024 came to a close, we had the opportunity to do just that, to celebrate the monumental graduation of Cohort Two of the Educational Changemaker program.
Joined by family, friends, mentors and leaders from the community, the event served as the culmination of two years of hard work and dedication from the nine women who participated in the program, where each gained pedagogical expertise as well as a deep understanding of what it means to be a leader and a pioneer of change. That is, after all, who they are: Changemakers, aspiring to leadership and innovation in education.
“The term “changemaker” means a lot to me. Before joining the program, I was already teaching, but I lacked the necessary skills. Now, I’ve gained proper teaching techniques, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to meet and work closely with the other changemakers”
Of the many people in attendance, some of the most notable were the teachers and family members who offered support and mentorship for the Changemakers in gaining practical teaching and leadership experience. Their words and proud reflections offered a valuable insight to the development of the Changemakers throughout their two year journey. Teachers noted their observations of the Changemakers’ growth as they learned vital skills of lesson planning and classroom management while pursuing higher education. One family member commented that the Educational Changemaker program has helped her daughter to gain important knowledge, and is now better able to confidently lead and ignite meaningful development in her community.
“Seeing my daughter acquire new and valuable knowledge makes me very happy. I’m proud to see her continue to study and improve herself. I have faith that she will continue to grow.”
The heart of the Educational Changemaker program has always been the value of empowering gender diversity in community leadership positions. In pursuit of this core value, the Educational Program features two distinct endeavors for its participants: higher education and applicable real-world experience. During the week, Changmakers met together daily to participate in soft-skill development workshops where they learned how to be more effective communicators, leaders and innovators. This training was supplemented by their collaboration with teacher mentors in local primary schools as well as conversations with prominent women in leadership from whom they could gain invaluable insights as to how they too can be drivers of change in their communities. In their remaining time during the week and on the weekend, each Changemaker diligently worked toward their Master’s Degrees, adding onto their experiential training an academic expertise from which they will be able to rely upon as they grow and flourish. There is no question that the Changemakers have put countless hours into refining their understanding of what it means to be a Changemaker, and their hard work and dedication have shown that they are prepared for their next steps ahead. They are prepared to act as champions of change in their communities and for their country. We are so excited to see how they will continue to grow, develop, and bring positive change to the world around them!
“I feel proud of what is being done and to see lives change after they graduate from the program. Female Changemakers bring their knowledge and skills to contribute and improve across the education sector in their community. Be the change you want to see in the world.”
