Jumpstart Innovation and Learning in East Africa

Two cluster exchanges will take place in March 2011 among Africa Rising partners.  An exchange between two schools will allow teachers from Grace Academy, in operation for one year, to benefit from the extensive expertise of Millennium School in Mityana, Uganda.  The teachers will observe classroom lessons from teachers whose skills generate a 95% pass rate on national exams.  The visiting teachers will also receive feedback on their teaching skills from their host teachers.  Both schools will be enriched through the relationship through professional development.  The students will also enjoy the cultural exchange that will take place as teachers from the visiting school share songs, dances, and stories from their community and take the host stories back to their students. 

The second exchange, on March 3-5, will take place in Tanzania and gather six organizations working to preserve food, specifically fruits and vegetables.  The knowledge gained will be used to enhance community nutrition and create sources of income for households impacted by the six community organizations.  Three different countries will be represented, bringing together leaders from rural communities who are somewhat isolated and often do not get to benefit from the most advanced agricultural knowledge available in their countries.  This trend will be countered by the expert facilitation of the host organization that demonstrates the knoweldge gained through twenty years of agricultural technology experience.  The innovations shared will spark the thinking of each representative and prepare them for renewed work.