Beyond Books: A Holistic Approach to Educational Support
Education Africa works with people in diaspora communities to identify areas of critical education needs and mobilizes resources and develop projects with their members. This process is initiated by individuals within the diaspora communities and the project is developed under the auspices of Education Africa to ensure that guidelines related to 501(c)3 status are followed. Projects must fall within the mission of Education Africa.
Education Africa provides information about the role it plays in design and scope of involvement in projects by presenting live media interviews, lectures, and sharing information through other social media. These presentations focus on the important role Africans in diaspora can play in improving education and livelihood in their countries. It also highlights current efforts and projects being undertaken by other Africans in diaspora.
Education Africa uses various social media outlets such as discussion forums, blogs and social networking sites for various activities including promoting the mission of Education Africa as well as soliciting funds to support its project activities. Education Africa also chronicles its efforts and activities on the organization’s website to engender interest. One feature that is incorporated into the website is an educational essay/reports written by those who have completed projects as well as project implementers.
By offering educational events as well as using publications and website, Education Africa engages diaspora community about the importance of involvement in the education of children and youth in their indigenous countries or communities.
Program Areas
Program Area 1: Teaching/Learning Resources
Education Africa works with diaspora communities to collect new or used learning and teaching resources, sort and send them to places in Sub-Sharan Africa. Print materials including books, teaching guides, study guides as well as basic technology such as laptops, iPads, and laboratory equipment are chronically lacking in most schools across Sub-Saharan Africa. Individuals or a community that identifies this as an area for project will work under the auspices of Education Africa to advertise them and solicit money on their behalf. Education Africa operates and focuses its resources locally and globally to communities who meet the criteria that has been set forth by its board of directors regardless of their geographical location.
Program Area 2: Infrastructure Support
Education Africa partners with diaspora individuals, community organizations, and corporations to support improvement of existing structure, construction of new buildings. The identification of such project is initiated only by individuals living in the diaspora. In order to achieve this end, Education Africa solicits funds on behalf oof the project from individuals, corporations, and other organizations who share similar mission. Fund raising activities include direct solicitation, mails, grant writing, and use of social media outlets. Solicitations for improvement and construction are not accepted.
Program Area 3: Limited Tuition Support
Education Africa works with individuals living in the diaspora to identify marginalized and disadvantaged children and youth for limited financial support, strictly funding tuition for primary and secondary education. This process requires partnering with an authentic and a reputable nongovernmental organization that will oversee the management of the funds. The tuition program is initiated and funded on a case by case basis. Solicitations for financial support are not accepted.
Program Area 4: Teaching/Learning Ambassador Program
Education Africa seeks out opportunities for members of diaspora community who have expertise in teaching/learning through the ambassador program by involving them in fulfilling the goal of supporting teacher quality and quality education by utilizing a variety of means. These include volunteering to travel to the region to teach or train, establishing teacher-to-teacher virtual sharing booth, or electronic transfer of critical knowledge/skills between experts. Through these activities the issue of teacher quality and retention is highlighted and brought to the attention of diverse audiences. An example of this program is a group or an individual travels to an area school and provide a two week training to teachers or actually teaching a subject of area of expertise.