Airtel Ghana, the Smartphone Network, has teamed up with the Exploratory, an initiative of the Africa Women Advocacy Project and Novan Education to empower Science, Mathematics and ICT teachers from the Ablekuma Circuit schools in Accra as part of its Evolve with STEM CSR initiative.

Through the Evolve with STEM initiative, the Changemaker company seeks to mentor young people, reinvigorate STEM clubs and build capacity of teachers involved in STEM within beneficiary schools.

Overall, twenty teachers from four schools within the Ablekuma Circuit were taken through a 2-day intensive capacity building workshop covering new approaches to teaching Science, Mathematics and ICT. They were also exposed to experiential learning modules and best practices in running Science Clubs in their schools.

Speaking about the workshop, Richard Ahiagble, Head of Corporate Communications at Airtel indicated this was a strategic step taken by company to first empower teachers who will in turn empower pupils in their schools.

He said, “when we launched the Evolve with STEM initiative, we committed to regular mentoring sessions to transform mindsets of pupils, build capacity of teachers and revitalize Science Clubs in beneficiary schools. Through this workshop and many other interventions, we are investing into the lives of the pupils within the Ablekuma 02 Circuit by empowering their teachers to contribute to the overall improvement in the teaching and learning of these subjects.

"At Airtel, we believe in the power of potential, that everyone has an inherent ability to be the best they can be. We understand that for the Evolve with STEM initiative to be truly impactful, we need to involve the teachers and all stakeholders. That is why we are taking a holistic approach that includes building capacity of the hard working teachers who are shaping the lives and minds of these pupils. Together we are making a measurable impact in the lives of young people through the Evolve with STEM initiative,” he added.

Airtel’s Evolve with STEM initiative, launched in December last year and spearheaded by the Managing Director of the Company and reigning CIMG Marketing Woman of the year, Lucy Quist has so far impacted more than 500 pupils from the Mataheko Cluster of Schools.

Josephine Marie Godwyll, Project Manager of The Exploratory explained that, “The main focus of the workshop was to equip these very hardworking teachers with practical skills in the area of Science, Mathematics and ICT that will enable them make their classrooms and Science Clubs activities more experimental and hands-on in line with global best practice. The Exploratory and Novan Education are proud to be associated with the Evolve with STEM initiative.”

Evolve with STEM is under the auspices of the CIMG and supported by the Exploratory, an initiative of the African Women Advocacy Project and other organisations.

The initiative, since its launch has received great support and endorsement from key stakeholders including the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation.

Airtel Ghana is renowned for its contribution to education in Ghana having received several awards in CSR including Best CSR Company for Education at the Ghana CSR Excellence Awards 2015.