Small Wins, Big Impact
Dear Lead For Ghana Community,
Welcome to this week’s edition of Briefings From Lead For Ghana brought to you by Mars. Here’s what to expect:
Exciting times at Lead For Ghana!
Fellow Spotlight: Edwin Oppong - Resilience & Dedication
Alumni Spotlight: Godiva Ladzekpo - Efforts and Impact
Exciting times at Lead For Ghana!
We’re thrilled to welcome two incredible new team members who will help strengthen our mission for educational equity in Ghana and beyond.
Dr. Sabine Huber joins us as the Executive Director for Human Capacity Development, bringing a wealth of experience and passion for empowering people and driving meaningful change. Kwame Yeboah-Diaka joins our Media and Marketing Department as an Associate, ready to amplify our stories and impact.
Below, they share their insights on why they chose to join Lead For Ghana and their hopes for the future of education in Ghana. Take a moment to explore their profiles and join us in giving them a warm welcome to the team!
Sabine Huber - Executive Director, Human Capacity Development
Sabine Huber is a passionate advocate for education as the cornerstone of societal progress. She also possess a wealth of experience in people development from her previous jobs. She holds a Master of Science in Management and a Doctorate in Marketing, bringing a wealth of knowledge to her role in shaping human capacity development.
Sabine joined Lead For Ghana because she believes that providing equal access and opportunities for all children is essential to setting the next generation up for success. She admires Lead For Ghana’s sustainable approach to advancing the education sector and strengthening the leaders of tomorrow all with the goal of moving Ghana forward. Being part of this transformative movement is a source of pride and purpose for her.
Her hope for the future is a world where balance prevails, and kindness becomes a guiding principle for humanity.
Kwame Yeboah-Diaka - Associate, Marketing and Media
Kwame Yeboah-Diaka is a creative storyteller passionate about using media to amplify the power of education. He holds a BSc in Management Studies from Central University, Ghana, and is an alumnus of Ghana Christian International High School.
Kwame joined Lead For Ghana driven by a belief in education’s ability to transform lives and shape the future of Ghana. He saw an opportunity to channel his creative skills into a mission that empowers children, highlights impactful stories, and inspires communities to rally behind educational equity.
His hope for the future is a Ghana where every child, regardless of background, has access to an excellent education and the tools to reach their full potential. Kwame envisions a nation that embraces creativity, inclusivity, and innovation where young people are equipped not just with knowledge but with the skills to think critically, express themselves, and become problem solvers for the future.
Fellow Spotlight: Edwin Oppong - Resilience & Dedication
Edwin Oppong, a dedicated Fellow in Axim Girls Senior High School in the Western Region of Ghana
Finding Purpose Through Teaching
"I saw Lead For Ghana as an opportunity to amplify the impact I was making in my local community."
Edwin is a dedicated physics fellow teaching at Axim Girls Senior High School in the Western Region of Ghana. He is a graduate of the prestigious Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) with a degree in Physics. He has dreams of becoming a research scientist in the field of medical physics. But before that, he chose to embark on a journey of service and education.
In 2023, while completing his national service at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Edwin came across Lead For Ghana through LinkedIn. Having previously volunteered with a local NGO focused on education, he felt a pull toward expanding his reach beyond his hometown. He was already impacting lives and saw Lead For Ghana as the perfect platform to do even more.
Overcoming Challenges in a New Environment
Transitioning into his fellowship wasn’t easy. He spent 13 hours in a car to get to Axim, the longest distance he ever traveled. Upon arrival, he faced another unexpected hurdle: accommodation. He had to stay with a stranger for four days before finding a place of his own.
The classroom posed its own set of challenges. For example, his students had almost zero interest in physics. They found the subject difficult and felt neglected due to a lack of active teachers. Edwin knew he had to rebuild their confidence before he could even begin teaching.
Innovative Teaching Strategies
Edwin employed several strategies to turn things around:
Mixed Ability Groupings: He paired students with different strengths, so they could learn from and support each other.
Extra Tutorial Sessions: Recognizing the limited classroom contact hours, Edwin organized free after-school tutorials for students who needed additional help.
Early Practical Sessions: Most Senior High Schools only start practicals in the final year (grade 12). He introduced practical sessions as early as form two (grade 11), ensuring his students gained hands-on experience early on. By the time they reach form three (grade 12), they were already confident in their practical skills.
Witnessing Transformation
The results were remarkable. When he first tested his students, most of them scored zero. It was disheartening. But now, he has students scoring 10 out of 10, and a majority crossing the average mark. It’s a huge improvement.
Beyond academics, Edwin serves as the Robotics and STEM Coordinator at Axim Girls, leading the school to victory in the 2024 National STEM Innovation Competition. They also became regional digital technology champions, and now he wants to take it further by helping his students build an automated water level monitoring system as his capstone project.
Words of Wisdom
To future fellows, Edwin offers some advice:
"Be adaptable. The environment won’t be what you’re used to. Engage students beyond academics and collaborate with existing teachers. Most importantly, enjoy the journey. The impact might not be immediate, but every small step counts."
Alumni Spotlight: Godiva Ladzekpo - Efforts and Impact
Godiva Ladzekpo, a member of the Lead For Ghana Leadership Network and the 2021 Cohort of the Lead For Ghana Fellowship
Discovering the Path
For Godiva Ladzekpo, the road to Lead For Ghana began with a conversation and an email. While studying Sociology and Kiswahili at the University of Ghana, a friend’s advice and a timely university email introduced her to the fellowship.
"He told me not to let the government place me anywhere for National Service but to find something meaningful myself. That’s when I came across Lead For Ghana."
The application process was rigorous, designed to select the most committed individuals. It wasn’t for the faint-hearted. You had to fill out detailed forms, answer a lot of questions, and even send in a teaching video. But having experience facilitating with Lead Afrique International, I felt prepared.
The Fellowship Experience
Placed at Adieyie MA JHS in Tarkwa, Godiva taught English and Religious and Moral Education (RME). The reality of teaching in a rural school was different from what she had imagined. She thought Tarkwa would be this remote place with barely any infrastructure. But the school had almost everything the children needed. The real challenge lay elsewhere in the mindset toward education.
Godiva commuted daily from her aunt’s house in town. The experience was tough but transformative.
"Lead For Ghana pushes your limits. You learn that giving up isn’t an option. If a child isn’t improving, you have to adapt, find new ways to teach, and never stop trying."
Small Wins, Big Impact
In a world that often measures success by grand gestures, Godiva found power in the little victories.
"There was a lot of pressure to do big projects, like building libraries. But I realized that change often lies in the everyday moments. For me, the real achievement was seeing my students go from struggling to speak English to forming full sentences."
Her time with Lead For Ghana also instilled a sense of discipline and time consciousness that she carries with her today. At our training at Ensign College of Public health, punctuality and planning were key. It taught me to follow through, no matter the circumstances.
Beyond the Fellowship
Today, Godiva continues to volunteer with Lead Afrique International, organizing camps that focus on self-discipline, emotional intelligence, and learning strategies. One of her recent projects involved teaching children how to learn, understanding that everyone has different learning styles. Schools don’t often teach you how to learn, and we aimed to fill that gap.
Looking ahead, she dreams of pursuing a master’s degree focused on children and youth development. Maybe one day, she wishes to work with organizations like UNICEF or the UN. Eventually, she wants to start a school that aligns with her vision for education.
Words of Wisdom
For those considering the fellowship, Godiva offers a heartfelt advice:
"It’s not easy, but nothing worth doing is. Even if you don’t see the impact immediately, know that every effort counts. Focus on the small wins. One day, a student will come back and say, ‘you changed my life,' and you’ll realize it was all worth it."
To her fellow alumni,
"Don’t compare your journey to anyone else’s. We hold ourselves to such high standards, but progress is progress, no matter the pace. Keep pushing. Your time will come."
Education News In Africa
Ghana: Africa must shape its education system to solve local problems – Vice President of Ghana - Naana Opoku-Agyemang
Vice President Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang has urged African countries to develop education policies that tackle their own challenges instead of adopting foreign models. Speaking at a meeting on March 14 2025 with representatives from the Association for the Development of Education in Africa (ADEA) and the African Development Bank (AfDB), she said education reforms should be designed with long-term goals in mind and reflect Africa’s unique realities. (Source: Graphic Online)
Ghana: National Education Forum: Stakeholders call for investment in basic school infrastructure
Stakeholders at the National Education Forum have called on the Government to prioritise investments in basic education infrastructure to enhance access.The investment should include innovative financing models to bridge the rural-urban gap in basic education access and quality and ensure all children of basic school-going age have the opportunity to enrol at a complete basic school. This was in a communique read by Professor George K.T. Oduro, Chairman of the National Education Forum Planning Committee, at the end of the Forum on Thursday. (Source: Modern Ghana)
Africa: From Classrooms to Boardrooms: How STEM Education is Reshaping Africa’s Tech Landscape
Investment in STEM education is central to Africa’s digital transformation, fostering a skilled workforce, attracting global tech companies, and driving local innovation. With Africa’s population projected by the United Nations to nearly double to 2.5 billion over the next quarter-century—making up at least one-third of the world’s young people aged 15 to 24—there is an urgent need to invest in the continent’s youth.This demographic shift aligns with the African Union’s Digital Transformation Strategy, which aims to achieve universal internet access by 2030 and emphasises Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education. (Source: Fe News)
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