What began as a simple high school project has, over the past two decades, grown into a transformative force for education, health, and community development. Julie-Anne and three friends launched the African Education Program (AEP) with nothing more than books, computers, and a desire to make a meaningful connection with disadvantaged youth in Kafue, Zambia. Over the years, their work has been shaped by the voices and challenges of young people and the community, gradually evolving into an organization that now unlocks potential of African youth and adults by building community-led organizations focused on quality education, health, and community development.

In this episode, Aml speaks with Julie-Ann Savarit-Cosenza, Co-Founder and Executive Director of AEP, about the organization’s transformation over the years, including the creation of their flagship Learning and Leadership Center, which provides a safe space for young people to learn, lead, and thrive. The conversation dives into AEP’s mission to nurture changemakers, the partnerships that have strengthened their impact, and the ways they measure social transformation of the program, from education and reproductive health outcomes to economic empowerment for women and inclusion for children with disabilities. 

In this episode, we shine a spotlight on an upcoming event transforming how African educators connect, collaborate, and champion education rooted in African realities- The AfricanISE Virtual Conference. Created to fill the gap for a dedicated space centering African voices and issues in education, this gathering aims to inspire a renewed sense of urgency and purpose among educators across the continent.

Senyo speaks with Kwame Sarfo-Mensah, founder of Identity Talk Consulting, whose work rests on three pillars: culturally responsive teaching, identity-affirming education, and anti-bias, anti-racist practices to develop K-12 teachers into identity-affirming educators. Kwame shares his journey from classroom teacher to global consultant, and the ideas behind his newest book, Learn to Relearn: Supporting Identity in Culturally Affirming Classroom", which challenges educators to dismantle systemic biases and embrace inclusive, decolonized teaching practices. He also offers insights into the five strands shaping the conference’s agenda, promising conversations that will equip educators to reimagine learning for African contexts.

Date 📅: Saturday, 6th September, 2025

Register here: https://lnkd.in/dFkW4Tff

In this episode, Senyo speaks with Lawrence Boakye Dankwah, Head of Education Programs at EduSpots, an organization reshaping education through a community-led model that centers local leadership and ownership. EduSpots began with the simple idea of “reading spots” and has since evolved into a dynamic network of over 50 community owned learning spaces, known as “Spots,” spread across Ghana and beyond. At the heart of EduSpots’ approach is a belief in the power of communities to drive their own change when equipped with the right tools and trust.

Lawrence unpacks how EduSpots decentralizes education from the traditional classroom model, creating spaces where learning is co-created by the community. He shares insights into flagship initiatives like the Ignite Programme, and the Catalyse Leadership Programme- all designed to cultivate local agency and innovation. He also reflects on the organization’s growing impact and the challenges and opportunities involved in scaling a truly community-owned model.

“If you educate a woman, you educate a whole nation.” - Dr. James Kwegyir Aggrey

Girls’ education remains one of the most powerful tools for transforming societies across Africa. Educated girls are more likely to become empowered women who uplift their families, communities, and nations. Yet, barriers such as poverty, gender norms, and disability continue to limit access for many girls across the continent. From rural villages to urban centers, grassroots organizations and advocates are working tirelessly to break these barriers and ensure that no girl is left behind.

In this episode, Aml speaks with Elizabeth Patterson, a social entrepreneur and educator who founded the Girls Education Initiative of Ghana (GEIG). With a mission rooted in equity and empowerment, GEIG has spent over a decade providing academic and financial support to girls, especially those with special needs or disabilities in the Greater Accra and Ashanti regions. Elizabeth and her team share GEIG’s inspiring founding story, the evolution of their community-centered approach, and heartwarming impact stories that showcase the power of inclusive education.

While many African classrooms continue to center instruction around textbooks and rigid curriculums, we continue to ask: Are we truly equipping our learners with the skills, mindset, and adaptability needed to thrive in a rapidly changing, tech-driven world? As the demands of the 21st century evolve, so too must our approach to learning. This episode explores the urgent need to move beyond rote learning and reimagine education through the lenses of context, identity, and innovation.

In this episode, Kwame speaks with Eugenia Tachie-Menson, a literacy trailblazer and Country Director at the Young Educators Foundation (YEF), whose mission is to nurture Ghanaian learners through literacy, critical thinking, and 21st-century skills. Drawing from nearly two decades of experience, Eugenia offers profound insights on the disconnect between traditional schooling and real-world preparation. She discusses the limitations of book-based learning, the importance of context-specific knowledge, and how everyday experiences contribute to a broader definition of education. The conversation also dives into how technology can serve as a bridge to inclusion and relevance, and what it truly means to be a future-ready learner in Africa today.

In this episode, Kwame speaks with Dr. Vida Awinime Bugri, a dedicated researcher and passionate advocate for gender equity in STEM education. With teaching experience in France and a strong commitment to social justice, she has seen firsthand the systemic challenges women face in STEM fields. This insight inspired her to establish Eduvision, an NGO focused on empowering, mentoring, and training women in STEM across Ghana.

In this conversation, Vida discusses her research on ‘The Impact of STEM Higher Education in the Economic Development of Ghana,’ revealing key findings that shed light on the critical role of STEM education in Ghana’s economic growth. Furthermore, she offers insights into the current state of STEM inclusivity in Africa, highlighting challenges and opportunities for improvement, and shares her compelling vision for transforming STEM education, emphasizing the importance of accessibility, diversity, and innovation.

Could the solutions to learning crisis already exist within education systems?

In this episode, Aml speaks with Jessica Bergmann, an Education Research Specialist at UNICEF Innocenti, on the Data Must Speak positive deviance research. For the past 3 years, Jessica has been supporting this initiative, which empowers school actors as change agents and aims to harness existing data and local solutions to improve learning outcomes.

The DMS positive deviance research is being implemented in 15 countries thanks to a coalition of donors: the Global Partnership for Education Knowledge and Innovation Exchange (GPE KIX), a joint endeavour with the International Development Research Centre, Canada, Hewlett Foundation, Jacobs Foundation, Norad, Schools2030 Initiative (Aga Khan Foundation) and UNICEF internal resources.

This episode highlights the key elements of the DMS research, the outcomes, and how co-creation is implemented across diverse countries and classrooms.

Education research in Africa has long been a crucial aspect of shaping the continent’s future. However, the dominance of Western-led research initiatives has often led to a lack of locally relevant evidence to inform policies and practices. 

In this episode, Senyo speaks with Dr. Lucy Wakiaga, Associate Research Scientist at African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC). Dr. Wakiaga shares her insights on the importance of locally led research in enhancing education outcomes in Africa, emphasizing the need for African researchers to drive change. She discusses the Enhancing Education Research in Africa (EERA) project, an innovative initiative that takes an 8-part intervention approach to strengthen education research systems in Africa. By identifying and addressing the specific needs of African researchers, EERA project aims to create a robust ecosystem that supports locally led research, increases funding, and fosters intra-African collaborations. 

The conversation highlights the ultimate goal of improving learning outcomes for African children by generating robust evidence that informs policies and practices.

Data is the backbone of informed decision-making in education; and in today's data-driven world, it is more crucial than ever for educators to stay ahead of the curve and leverage data to drive student success. 

Building on this imperative, the Association for the Development of Education in Africa (ADEA) launched the Tackling Education and Skills Data Challenge in Africa project, a 5-year initiative aimed at supporting 30 African countries to produce and use quality data on education and skills for informed decision-making. Through this project, the Association seeks to strengthen capacity within the education system, enhancing the production and utilization of quality data across policy, planning, program implementation, monitoring, and evaluation. 

In this episode, Senyo speaks with Inyan Udo-Umoren, Project Manager for the Tackling Education and Skills Data Challenge Project in Africa, as they delve into the significance of data-driven decision-making in education, particularly in response to crises and informing policy and planning. Inyan shares insights in education systems and expertise in education data systems, highlighting challenges, opportunities and best practices in harnessing data to improve education outcomes in Africa.

The strategic integration of Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (AI) in education have shown promising results globally. But what are the implications, opportunities, and challenges of these emerging fields in African educational contexts, and how can AI be harnessed in the continent’s education system?

In this episode, Kwame explores these questions with Emmanuel Mawuli Kanati, a renowned Data Specialist and Researcher. Emmanuel shares his insights on the pioneering research applications driving change in African education. The conversation delves into the opportunities and challenges of harnessing AI and Data Science to enhance learning outcomes, personalized education, and strengthen administrative systems across the continent.