Mobilizing Education Resources
Training Community Education Teams
We work with communities to build lasting support for education. Our Community Education Teams (CETs), comprising Building Tomorrow Fellows, trained volunteers, and teachers, and local leaders, join forces to ensure every child learns.
BT Fellow John leads a CEV training in Kyegegwa District.
An innovative solution
On top of a learning crisis, Sub-Saharan Africa also faces a teaching shortage – with an estimated 15 million teachers needed across the continent to meet Sustainable Development Goal 4 by 2030 (UNESCO).
We’ve developed a unique community-powered implementation model that augments and supports teachers and schools.
Community-powered solutions
Community Education Teams
Community Education Teams (CETs) form a web of community support for education. CET members support each other in implementing Roots to Rise camps, enroll out-of-school children in school, support families in advocating for their children’s education, and generally strengthen rural community engagement.
Fellows in Kyegegwa District, Uganda, pause for a group photo after a successful CEV training.
Building a Community Education Team
1.
Building Tomorrow Fellows are talented recent university graduates competitively selected for the program. They participate in leadership training and program-specific trainings.2.
Once deployed to rural communities, Fellows build relationships with local leaders and school staff, and assess barriers to education.3.
Working with these leaders, Fellows train teachers and Community Education Volunteers (CEVs) in Roots to Rise, our signature literacy and numeracy program, and jointly help enroll out-of-school children in school.4.
Fellows support teachers and CEVs in running Roots to Rise camps in schools and communities, creating a strong network of education support.5.
CET members collaborate to make education a top priority in their community.Community Education Teams create lasting change
CEV Susan Naluyima of Mityana District Uganda observes learners participating in a literacy exercise.
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Naigaga Jalia (center) poses with students at Kakongoka Primary School in Iganga District, Uganda.
Naigaga Jalia, Teacher at Kakongoka Primary School in Iganga District, Eastern Uganda
“My BT Fellow, Ruth, doesn’t just visit and leave, she has become part of our school community. She helps me plan [R2R] lessons, shows me how to use simple, locally-made materials to teach, and she celebrates with me when we see breakthroughs. Having that support makes all the difference in my confidence as a teacher.”
CEV Kevine Nandaula teaches an R2R literacy camp in Nakaseke District, Uganda.
Kevine Nandaula, Community Education Volunteer in Nakaseke District, Central Uganda
“Working with [BT Fellow] Ivan feels like having a teaching partner who truly cares. He listens to our challenges and brings new solutions. Even though I’m not a [formally] trained teacher, he never makes me feel like I don’t know enough. He’s taught me that every child can learn – I just need to find the right way to reach them.”
Lead a Community Education Team
Would you like the chance to build and train Community Education Teams in East Africa? Consider applying for the BT Fellowship. Click below to learn more.
Learners work together during an R2R numeracy camp in Ngororero District, Rwanda.
More about our work
Our approach
Learner adds using sticks and bundles during a R2R numeracy camp.
Building Foundational Skills
Basic education is at the heart of what we do.
Learn more
A Community Education Volunteer assists a learner.
Strengthening Education Systems
Learn how we’re working at the systems-level to support education.
Learn how
Fellow Joseph Gitta demonstrates an R2R numeracy lesson.
Where we work
CETs ensure literacy and numeracy for all children across East Africa.
Learn where
Join us in supporting our Community Education Teams
CETs are delivering impactful learning programs in Uganda and Rwanda. A gift of $14 supports the cost of delivering foundational learning to one child.