Empower Educators, Support Dyslexic Learners

Educating Educators

As part of our commitment to supporting marginalized communities, we conducted a series of workshops aimed at training educators from underserved regions, including rural and low-income areas. Specifically, 15 teachers from Kayole Emmanuel Academy and 25 teachers from public schools in Wamunyu, through a collaboration with Kenya Connect, participated in this training. Additionally, we successfully held the inaugural Africa Dyslexia Summit, which attracted over 50 participants, both in person and virtually.

These workshops were conducted in resource-constrained areas to ensure that educators working in low-income settings received essential training in understanding and supporting students with dyslexia and other invisible learning difficulties. Education holds a significant place in impoverished, marginalized, and slum communities; however, when children do not meet academic expectations, it often leads to disappointment and a sense of hopelessness for their future. The presence of trained teachers who can identify and support learners with learning challenges is vital to shifting these perceptions and opening new possibilities for affected children.

Challenges in these communities are particularly pronounced, as awareness of dyslexia remains limited. Consequently, students with learning difficulties are frequently mislabeled as "lazy" or "unmotivated." This training was designed to address these misconceptions by providing teachers with practical skills for early identification of dyslexia and effective instructional strategies to enhance literacy outcomes.

The training equipped educators with the skills necessary to identify learners with dyslexia and other learning challenges and provided them with practical tools to support these students in the classroom. This initiative aims to foster an inclusive and supportive educational environment, promoting better academic outcomes and personal development for students in marginalized communities.

Impact on Teachers and Learners

Trained teachers reported increased confidence in identifying and supporting dyslexic learners.

• They implemented new strategies to adapt their teaching, making reading and comprehension more accessible to all students.
• At Kayole Emmanuel Academy, teachers shared feedback on how these methods have reduced students’ frustration and improved their reading progress.

 Challenges and Lessons Learned

• The project highlighted the need for ongoing support to educators in marginalized communities, as they often have minimal access to resources.
• Many educators expressed a desire for more continuous training, demonstrating the importance of follow-up workshops to reinforce learning and provide new insights.

Future Plans

• Expand the training program to reach additional schools in underserved areas, ensuring more teachers are equipped to support dyslexic learners.
• Develop a mentorship program where experienced educators can support their peers, fostering a network of dyslexia awareness advocates.

Conclusion
We want to thank our supporter from GlobalGiving, this project has empowered educators to create more inclusive learning environments. By equipping teachers in marginalized communities with skills and understanding, we are helping transform classrooms to better support dyslexic learners, enabling them to thrive academically and personally.