EduSpots, a UK and Ghanaian registered NGO, has launched its digitalisation process in Elmina, distributing over 100 tablets and laptops to volunteers named ‘Catalysts’ from 30 under-served communities across 15 regions of Ghana.

 The organisation is working to train, equip and connect over 300 local Catalysts to ignite educational opportunities for over 10,000 learners through a network of 50 community-led education spaces (libraries) named ‘Spots’.

As part of a Digital Launch Day held at its training centre in Elmina, which also involves wider digital skills and online safety training for selected Catalysts and local students, the organization led a panel event on the theme of ‘Digital skills for a more equitable future: harnessing the power of digital tools to address educational inequity in under-served communities’.

The launch follows the ‘Drive for Digitalisation’ viral campaign Wanderlust Ghana led in support of EduSpots in July 2023. The Wanderlust Ghana team drove 10,000km from Accra to London, partly to raise awareness of digital inequity, raising $20,000 for EduSpots in support of the procurement of digital devices.

As part of the occasion, the digital equipment with their accompanying safety boxes and wifi kits, were distributed to the attending Catalysts for use at their community-based ‘Spots’, thanks to Wanderlust Ghana and the Fonthill Foundation.

Richard Anim, from Wanderlust Ghana, stated: “The emergence of the fourth Industrial Revolution means that students across the globe must be empowered with the skills to make them fit for purpose for the future of work.

EduSpots is also launching its new app, funded by the Gower Street Trust, which will provide a tool for Catalysts to lead their Spots effectively, with systems for learner and volunteer registration, book and resource borrowing, logging Spot activities and accessing training resources and feedback.

The launch is being celebrated with the wider volunteer network and public with an online session via Eventbrite on digital tools in the classroom with IT teacher, Eric Asomani Asante, Varkey Foundation 2023 Global Teacher Prize Top 10 Finalist.

Aduko Savera, an EduLit club member at Kalpohin Spot, Tamale also stated: “I believe if students have the opportunity to use these kinds of devices in our Spot, learning will be much easier and fun and many students will be dropping to the library.”

Seidu Yahya, Catalyst at Ejura Spot also commented: “Having access to technology will improve the problem-solving abilities of our learners and create independent thinkers who explore community challenges and develop the solutions for them.”

EduSpots’ Founder, Cat Davison, emphasised: “We are all so excited to see the impact of these digital tools within the communities, and hope to use this trial effectively to implement a longer term digitisation process across our network. We would encourage any organisation or individual interested in supporting this process to reach out.”

This event is part of EduSpots’ wider 5-day Catalyse Leadership Academy, a core part of EduSpots’ Catalyse Leadership Programme funded by the EA Foundation, through which 30 Catalysts from 30 Spots are moving through a 9-month process of leadership training, grant funding, and developing sustainable plans to advance their Spots.