EduSpots has convened 100 community-based catalysts from 50 communities across 11 regions of Ghana for its National Training Academy, marking a decade of the organisation’s commitment to community-led education.

The gathering brings together catalysts leading the Gender Equity and Keeping Spots Safe initiatives for an intensive leadership and capacity-building programme.

The Academy focuses on strengthening leadership skills, peer learning, and collaboration, while enabling participants to co-design strategies for the year ahead.

It also serves as a platform for building stronger networks among catalysts working to promote inclusive, safe, and equitable learning spaces in their respective communities.

This year’s programme centres on two key themes: advancing gender equity and strengthening safeguarding practices. Under the Ignite Equity strand, participants are being prepared to lead 2026 gender equity clubs expected to reach nearly 1,000 learners nationwide, while also promoting female leadership within the EduSpots network.

The safeguarding component aims to deepen understanding of child rights and responsibilities and support the development of local strategies to ensure safe and inclusive learning environments.

Training sessions at the Academy cover a wide range of leadership and community development topics, including mentorship, positive behaviour management, asset-based community development, advocacy and human rights education, child protection reporting pathways, bullying, mental health, teamwork, and integrated action planning.

The programme also explores the intersection between gender equity and safeguarding, with an emphasis on intercultural leadership.

As part of the event, EduSpots will host a Graduation and Annual Awards Ceremony to recognise outstanding achievements across the network in 2025 and over the past ten years. Certificates and trophies will be presented to Catalysts and teams who have demonstrated exceptional impact in their communities.

Commenting on the initiative, EduSpots’ Safeguarding and Inclusion Manager, Zoe Ohene-Ampofo, said gender equity and safeguarding are ongoing processes that must be prioritised in educational settings. Khadija Seidu, a Catalyst from the Zangbalun Spot, noted that the Academy provides an opportunity to learn how to foster inclusive dialogue and address biases and systemic barriers.

The National Training Academy is being implemented by EduSpots with the participation of its Chief Executive Officer, Cat Davison, as a Young Leader in the UNESCO Intercultural Leadership Programme (2025–2026).

EduSpots also acknowledged the support of the Coles Medlock Foundation and the Evan Cornish Foundation for sponsoring the one-year Ignite Equity Programme.

EduSpots is a UK- and Ghana-based NGO that trains and equips local Catalysts to lead community education spaces known as “Spots” across Ghana, delivering programmes in early years education, digital literacy, gender equity, STEM, and sustainability for more than 10,000 learners nationwide.