Think Creative - Issue 7

Field Notes

m Education

Gateway to Education Creative has begun work in Yemen on Gateway to Education. The project will work toward safe and equitable access to quality education through the formal school system for boys and girls in host and IDP communities. READ II The 10,000 community literacy leaders serving the READ II project across Ethiopia were celebrated with an event in Addis Ababa. Libya Electoral Security Planning and Implementation (LESPI) The Libya Electoral Security Planning and Implementation (LESPI) program recently conducted two workshops with several elections commissions and government agencies to build their electoral security capacity. girls in the state of Borno built self-confidence and an ability to advocate for themselves through a series of Women, Peace and Security efforts. USAID/OTI-funded activities included soccer, basketball, book clubs and debate teams. Development Aprendo y Emprendo In Nicaragua, Aprendo y Emprendo recently expanded its capacity to teach digital communications skills in technical centers through a series of workshops for instructors and staff.

Preschoolers whose parents work at Ethiopia's READ II program now have a place of their own.

Ethiopia // Mimi’s Place

The term “mimi” means “little girl” in Ethiopia’s offi- cial language, Amharic. The word gained a whole new meaning in February when Creative’s early childhood education center, called Mimi’s Place, opened in the capital of Addis Ababa. Mimi’s Place is a unique benefit for Creative’s staff implementing the USAID READ II project, who can leave their children at the center during the work day. Using a methodology called the Creative Way, 11 students ranging from ages 3 to 6 learn essential social skills through six curriculum areas: literacy, mathematics, science, social studies, the arts and nutrition. This curriculum promotes learning in a creative, hands-on way through interactive activi- ties, games and learning assessments.

The first Mimi’s Place was established in Lusa- ka, Zambia, in 2016 in honor of Creative’s late co-founder, Mimi Tse, who championed access to quality education. Based on its now almost five-year success, Creative expanded this one-of-a-kind early childhood education center to Ethiopia. Head teacher Etsehiwot Teferi believes that Mimi’s Place is more than just a school. “Mimi’s Place is not only designed for kids,” Teferi says. “Through the teaching process, I also learn a lot from the kids’ smiles, creativity and courage to learn new things. For me, Mimi’s Place is not only a school or kids’ center, it is a home. I wish in the future for other Ethiopian kids to get the chance to pass through the Creative Way curriculum.” n

m Elections

6,742 TEACHERS TRAINED

m Political Transitions Nigeria/OTI More than 200 adolescent

Pakistan // Pakistan Reading Project

The USAID-funded Pakistan Reading Project is coming to a close after successfully improving the reading skills of over 1.3 million children in grades 1 and 2 since 2013. It was implemented by the International Rescue Committee (IRC) in partnership with Creative, World Learning and IRM. In the Sindh Province:

m Workforce

1,898 CLASSROOM LIBRARIES OPENED

3,421 SCHOOLS COVERED

3,443 TABLETS DISTRIBUTED

Photos by JimHuylebroek (top); Pakistan Reading Project (right)

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