QUALITY CLASSROOM- 2008 SCHOOL YEAR

the project at a glance

This low cost, high impact project will ensure over 3,000 children in the Hintalo Wejirat district of Northern Ethiopia attend a school that is committed to quality and innovation. With access to effective instruction and diverse, interactive learning aids, education can empower children with the confidence and skill to reach their full potential.

Minimum Investment - $35.17 (one school club)
Maximum Investment - $18,703.00 (fully funded project)

need:

Quality and innovation is at the heart of all educational systems. It influences what children learn, how well they learn and the benefits they draw from their education.

imagine1day has chosen to focus on education because we know that it addresses the roots of development goals; with education comes environmental protection, improved health and disease prevention, increased equality and participation in democratic social, economic and political processes. In order for education to deliver its full potential we need to ensure that we address the QUALITY of education children receive. Achieving universal participation also depends fundamentally upon the QUALITY of education available.

As imagine1day and the Ethiopian government strive to expand access to education, it also faces the challenge of ensuring quality. The commitment is strong; the strategy is in place; the implementation needs your help.

imagine1day has a plan to deliver the quality education children deserve.

1. sports materials

   goals

   With your donation, imagine1day will provide sport materials to five schools in the Hintalo Woreda. In addition to encouraging a fun, enjoyable school atmosphere, sports materials promote physical activity to develop motor skills and increase primary school enrollment, performance, retention and completion. Sports in schools can help strengthen gender equity, health awareness and increase parent and community involvement in the education of their children. Game on!

   how dollars are spent

   100% of your donation is used to purchase the sports materials. imagine1day have selected durable, culturally appropriate items that schools themselves have requested. Volleyballs, handballs, and soccerballs will be provided with the corresponding posts and nets to get them started. Pumps, whistles and jumping ropes complete the 25 item kit.

   implementation

   imagine1day's Regional Program Coordinator will purchase and deliver each sports kit upon project completion. Teachers will be empowered to allocate sufficient class time to sports and PTAs will be encouraged to develop extra-curricular sports activities.

2. reading corners

   goals

   With your donation, imagine1day will create custom Reading Corners in existing primary schools in the Hintalo Woreda that lack library facilities with reference and reading books. With a mandate to establish a strong reading culture early in life, Reading Corners can directly impact the quality of education and learning as well as increase the likeliness of children continuing in tertiary levels.

   how dollars are spent

   Every dollar donated will be used to establish custom Reading Corners in each school selected. Four lockable shelves stocked with a total of 160 books will provide supplementary reading in Math, Science, History and English as well as reference materials and culturally relevant fiction. In addition, each Reading Corner will be supplied with registration records to enable children to sign out books to read at home.

   implementation

   imagine1day's Regional Program Coordinator will work directly with students, teachers and principals to determine exact needs and priorities. Once determined, purchase, delivery and orientation will be completed by the imagine1day team.

3. science kits and science teacher training

   goals

   Your generous donation will allow imagine1day to provide schools with valuable Science Kits and Science Teacher Training. Quality, interactive materials and instruction that help to demystify science directly impact children's awareness of health, nutrition, and ecology in their day to day lives. Early science education also encourages the benefits of higher education.

   how dollars are spent

   Donations are used to purchase science kits from government approved suppliers. Kits are comprised of experimentation tools that include everything from test tubes and beakers to lenses and litmus tests. Cost for training covers three days of training by professionals in each biology, chemistry and physics including manuals for each school.

   implementation

   Science Kits are sourced and delivered by imagine1day who then arranges formal instruction for three teachers from each of the selected schools. Special attention is given to active learning techniques and the integration of science in life skills and school clubs.

4. creative child writing

   goals

   With your support, imagine1day will create an innovative Creative Writing Program. Improving writing skills in both local languages and English will have a direct link to the improvement of quality education delivery. It will encourage critical learning, self-awareness and self-expression; in turn motivating children to continue with higher education. We all know the pen is mightier than the sword.

   how dollars are spent

   This creative, low cost initiative will see 100% of donations dedicated to the simple provision of much needed pens, pencils and stationary for writing. In addition funds are allocated to in-school and inter-school competitions where tomorrow's top writers win special writing materials and books to complement their talents.

   implementation

   Special orientation will be given by imagine1day staff to all of the selected school's language teachers, principals and leaders of writing clubs. Each school will submit their one year project proposal for competitions and will be given appropriate materials and student prizes. Support, monitoring and evaluation of the program will be done by imagine1day to ensure the success of initiative.

5. school clubs

   goals

   With your donation, imagine1day will form and strengthen School Clubs for schools in the Hintalo Woreda in an effort to empower students and enrich the learning progress. The aim of the School Clubs program is to help students explore new areas of interest while gaining new skills and more importantly, having fun!

   Additional benefits include the integration of club activities with official curriculum and life skills for increased educational achievement. 14 different types of school clubs exist ranging from environmental protection, music, sports, civics, gender, HIV and English.

   how dollars are spent

   Your donation will infuse a School Club Program with the necessary supplies and stationary to establish five clubs per school. Funds are also allocated to an educational workshop that will consist of three days of training for a total of four school club members and two teachers at each school. A School Club Leaders Manual is provided as is a fund for rewarding club performance.

   implementation

   At the beginning of the project, an assessment is completed to determine the needs of each particular school. Based on this assessment training workshops will be planned by imagine1day staff. Once clubs have been chosen, appropriate supplies, stationary, manuals and funds for rewards will be provided.

6. life skills

   goals

   With your help, imagine1day wants to ensure children in primary schools in the Hintalo Woreda receive an education that is designed to integrate classroom curriculum with practical life skills experience. Life Skills education contributes to the promotion of personal and social development, the prevention of health and social problems, and the protection of human rights including gender equality. Together we can enhance basic education as well as lifelong learning.

   how dollars are spent

   imagine1day invests your money in the training of three teachers from each school. The three day workshop performed by the Regional Education Office and the Mekele Teachers College shows teachers how to incorporate science, biology and mathematics lessons into the everyday lives of children. Investments also help pay for workshop stationary and manuals for each school.

7. active learning teacher training

   goals

   With your donation, imagine1day will improve the Active Learning methodologies. With a student-centred approach that incorporates innovative educational materials and teaching aids, schools can truly address quality of education across all initiative areas. Through active participation students gain confidence and critical thinking skills that result in increased performance and attendance.

   how dollars are spent

   Your investment directly trains 3 teachers from each target school in student-centered approaches to learning. A five day workshop will be delivered by professionals from the Regional Education Office addressing the preparation of teaching aids from local materials and the encouragement of student participation. Costs include relevant stationary and manuals for each school.

   implementation

   Training will be coordinated by imagine1day staff and will vary depending on the specific needs of the each school.

project timeline

Start Date: October 1, 2008
Completion Date: December 31, 2008

Upon project completion, investors will receive multi-media reports detailing exactly how their dollars were spent and the impact their investment is having.