In July 2024, seven educators and school leaders representing seven learning communities from Tanzania, Kenya, and the United States of America gathered on the campus of Secondary Education for Girls Advancement (SEGA) in Morogoro, Tanzania for a week of exploring the elements of a Ustawi Global model school. This inaugural event of the international education non-profit Ustawi Global elevated the learning journeys of each participating community while introducing strategies for deepening practices of connections, learning, and communities coming alive.
Ustawi is the Kiswahili word for collectively flourishing, first used by our organization in an impactful community survey, adapting the work of Fundación Paraguaya to support communities in Kajiado County in Southern Kenya. Several members of the Ustawi Survey team of Egerton University students had previously been invited to co-create the one-room Dukers Community Learning Centre in Embolioi with the President’s Award/Duke of Edinburgh Award in 2018. They returned with the Afribuk Society in 2019 to provide reading resources to the community, expand the school with the President’s Award in 2020, and conduct the Ustawi Survey in 2021, 2022 & 2023.
Ustawi Global empowers individuals and communities worldwide by bringing together young people, educators, and community partners, providing integrated learning experiences focused on regenerative well-being, authentic relationships, and entrepreneurial skills. Our vision is to co-create a harmonious world in which all living systems can flourish.
The inaugural event in Morogoro was an opportunity for seven communities to learn together about the strengths and challenges of each location, and to explore becoming Ustawi Global model learning communities. An Ustawi Global learning community is one in which connections between young people and adults come alive, integrated learning experiences bring learning alive and entrepreneurial skills can support communities coming alive through a deep understanding of the strengths and challenges of the community.
At the conclusion of the event, each participant was asked “What does your community need to grow into your potential?” Each of the responses captures the essence of what it would mean to become a Ustawi Global model learning community and what support is needed.
BEADS Tembea Academy Kajiado, KEN: Support to expand to a CBC-focused 7-12 school and become a regional teachers college through an expanded network of students, teachers, friends, and donors.
Center for Sustainable Living & Learning Henryville, USA: Developing the first team of guides in advance of the first cohort of learners.
Ebenezer Secondary School Morogoro, TZ Develop entrepreneurial vocational programs in mechanics, agriculture, and computer programming with community partners.
Escuela Agricola Organica Financiermente Autosufficiente Cerrito, PAR: Develop integrated learning experiences linked to the 16 financially self-sufficient enterprises.
Living School Lismore, New South Wales, AUS: Support to integrate more of the Learning on Land experiences into Monday-Thursday days in town and more of the key learning area experiences into the Learning on Land experiences on Fridays.
Ndabibi Environmental Conservation Centre Naivasha, KEN: Develop training experiences to meet emerging needs of affordable biogas production, forest restoration, timber production, medicinal herbs, pollination, and natural repellents. Developing an entrepreneurial plan for a lodge housing 20 international visitors with a chef and housekeeper.
Nurturing Minds USA: Utilizing these experiences to contribute to the next five-year strategic plan. Support developing advocacy for no corporal punishment working with other organizations, including the home communities for the girls.
Nyamazu Go Children Centre Arusha, TZ: Help to develop educators, spaces, and gardens to meet the needs of 150 young people from families in Arusha neighborhoods.
Salt Lake Elementary School Honolulu Public Schools, Hawaii, USA: Support to grow the learning community through connections to others. Continue to come with good intentions and leave with inspiration.
Secondary Education for Girls Advancement Morogoro, TZ: Develop integrated learning experiences linked to entrepreneurial programs.
Ustawi Global anticipates hosting future events on a bi-annual basis.
