Education Global Access Program 2015 Annual Report

A Letter from the Executive Director

Dear friends,

Since I founded E-Gap in summer of 2013, our impact has grown exponentially. E-Gap now has programs benefiting over 5,000 people throughout Africa, Latin America, and in the United States. We have become a resource for educators living in conflict zones and areas of extreme poverty both for our curricula and our trainings. One of our greatest strengths is our comprehensive network of volunteers around the world who help bring our programs to hard to reach communities in areas of extreme poverty and conflict zones, so that we can be sure our programs are helping those who have the greatest need.

In 2015, E-Gap reached another milestone: 91% of all income went directly to our projects. This is far, far above average for nonprofits, and it's possible due to the over two dozen volunteers from around the world who generously give their time and energy to E-Gap projects, and our effort to use creative solutions that limit overhead costs. We are committed to staying efficient and transparent with our funding both now and in the future.

This year, E-Gap is focusing on developing our team and infrastructure to manage the rapidly growing impact of our programs. Over the past six months E-Gap has focused on developing our board of directors. We formed an Advisory Board to help us gain the funds we need to fully execute our programs. We put together a Youth Advisory Board that helps us stay connected with the passions and energies of young people working in education. And we developed a comprehensive financial plan to help ensure our internal stability and managed growth.

One thing that has become very clear over the past few years is our belief that teachers are the most critical element to student learning. In particular, our volunteers and board members have been deeply moved by the work we’ve done in conflict-affected areas throughout Africa and Latin America.

Looking ahead to the rest of 2016, you can expect more from us: more programs, more communication via e-mail and our social media channels, more transparency in our programs and financials, and even more passion from our volunteers and board members. We are proud of the impact we've had so far, and this is only the beginning.

Sincerely,

Shanyn Ronis

Founder, Executive Director

About E-Gap

The Education Global Access Program (E-Gap) is a US-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Since its founding in 2013, E-Gap’s programs have touched the lives of over 5,000 people across 3 continents. We are deeply committed to our mission, vision, and unique values:

Our mission is to develop programs and materials that sustainably enhance the impact of teachers serving vulnerable populations in conflict zones and other at risk-areas.

Our vision is to forge a global cadre of highly qualified and dedicated teachers who enable their vulnerable students to achieve full potential.

Our unique values include:

  • Uniquely focused on programs, materials and technologies designed to empower teachers
  • Expertise in education within conflict zones, emphasizing skills transfer
  • Engagement and participation in leadership roles by local constituents
  • Rigorous Monitoring and Evaluation Strategy
  • Industry leading percent of funds flow directly to programs

Our 2015 Impact

Supporting Teachers in Rural Ghana

  • Partners: ICEHA, Yevi Village School
  • Beneficiaries: 250
  • 2015 Program Cost: $2,500

This year, E-Gap was connected with the Yevi Village School through our partners at ICEHA. The school in the rural farming Yevi community of Ghana plays a central role in the daily lives of more than 250 families, And yet, the school operates with extremely limited resources. They lack books, pencils, paper, and the school building, itself, is in need of repair. E-Gap built on ICEHA's existing efforts to help improve the school by providing training and a stipend for a teacher, Madame Theresa, who teaches an average of over 60 kindergartners each day.

Supporting IDP's in Northern Nigeria

  • Beneficiaries: 2500 students and families; 65 volunteers
  • 2015 Program Cost: $2500
  • Partners: ICEHA, Project 3CER

E-Gap is a proud member a multinational coalition dedicated to improving lives of people living in Internally Displaced Person (IDP) Settlements in Northern Nigeria.

Together, this coalition provided over 3 tons of clothing, and educational supplies, periodic food donations, scholarships, and general support. E-Gap's primary contributions include strategic guidance, providing educational resources, and as part of our 3,000 Teachers Program, training for volunteers and educators.

One major initiative being carried out in the region is ICEHA's Healing Through Art Program (HTA), which uses art, music, and theater to help heal the emotional wounds of war. E-Gap is developing curriculum for HTA aimed at training the program's 65 volunteers how to diagnose and begin treating children afflicted with PTSD and other emotional disorders. The curriculum also teaches volunteers to work with parents, helping them create stronger support structures at home in order to help facilitate a more holistic healing process.

Participants in ICEHA's Healing Through Art Program

Entrepreneurship Classes & Teacher Training, Rural Ecuador

  • Beneficiaries: 25 students and teachers annually
  • 2015 Program Cost: $9,000
  • Partners: Manna Project International

One of E-Gap's earliest efforts was the development of a computer-based, student-led entrepreneurship program. This program is being carried out in partnership with the MannaProject in the community of Rumiloma Ecuador (www.MannaProject.org). This entrepreneurship program uses webquests to guide students through all the stages of designing and launching their own small businesses. The curriculum is integrated with the Microsoft Digital Literacy package, so students learn to use basic Windows applications in the context of the course. They learn and immediately apply vocabulary, conduct online research, create budgets in Excel, and conduct presentations using Powerpoint. The class culminates in a pitch presentation to potential investors in their small businesses.

E-Gap's team conducted a week-long training for the Manna Project volunteers who oversee this course on the ground. These volunteers are in many cases recent college graduates with limited or no prior teaching experience. Based on pre- and post-test results, these volunteers showed a 24% increase in learning outcomes related to subjects covered during the training, including: planning lessons, using webquests, handling classroom communication, and teaching English Language Learners.

Developing Resources for Teachers Around the World

  • Beneficiaries: 3000 (estimated)
  • Program 2016 Cost: $24,500
  • Partners: Kuepa.com, ICEHA, Real Solutions

E-Gap is first and foremost a resource for teachers who work in areas of extreme poverty and conflict zones. Most of our work is dedicated to the creation and distribution of curricula, customized teacher trainings, creating Monitoring and Evaluation strategies and materials for teachers and educational programs, and providing consulting services for schools looking to improve their impact. We place a major emphasis on developing relationships with nonprofits, school, and volunteers who help us get these resources to the rural, off-the-grid areas where they are needed most.

A screenshot from one of our GED Grammar videos

In 2015, working in partnership with Argentina-based Kuepa.com, E-Gap developed a 140-part video-based course designed to help students prepare for the GED test and earn their high school equivalency degrees. The program covers Language Arts, Grammar, Mathematical Reasoning, Geography, US History, Life Science, Earth and Space Science, Economics, and Civics and Government.

A screenshot from one of our GED Grammar Videos

Also in partnership with Kuepa.com, E-Gap developed an intensive, video-based Commercial Sales vocational training course designed to help students who may not be on the university track start their careers. The program covers Sales Management, Customer Service, Support Staff Roles, General Office Management, and Using Technology.

Both courses are being made available in the US, Mexico, Colombia, Argentina, and the Dominican Republic.

A screenshot of our Entrepreneurship Webquest

Our very first activity in 2015 was the launch of an Indiegogo campaign to create our Entrepreneurship Program (see above). While this program is currently being implemented in Ecuador, E-Gap also began taking steps to implement the program in Nigeria, Cameroon, and Rwanda in 2016. The entrepreneurship program includes 3 modules that introduce basic business vocabulary and concepts say as taxes, licensing, and inventory, then guide students through all the steps of creating a business plan and pitch presentation. As a part of this program, teachers receive training on basic pedagogy and on how to run a Webquest specifically. They receive a Teachers Manual, all grading rubrics, timelines, and ongoing support in program execution.

We are training 3,000 Teachers in conflict zones and areas of extreme poverty by 2017

Finally, our largest program of 2015 was launch of our 3,000 Teachers Program, which seeks to train 3,000 Teachers in Conflict Zones and Areas of Extreme Poverty by 2017. Building on our experience creating the GED and Commercial Sales Courses, this program uses short videos, assessments, and written materials to help guide educators through over 100 hours of coursework divided into 21 modules. Modules include things like how to develop a lesson plan, managing different kinds of classroom communication, working with students with disabilities, cultural differences relating to gender, and more. Production on this program began in late 2015. The first 4 modules will be available in spring of 2016.

2015 Milestone: Gifted Citizen Award

In fall of 2015, E-Gap's Executive Director received the high honor of being awarded the 2015 Gifted Citizen Award for her work in international education. The award is granted each year by Poder Civico A.C. to individuals whose social entrepreneurship projects possess the potential to create social impacts at the local, regional, and global levels.

The award comes with a $50,000 prize sponsored by Comex (www.Comex.com.mx), which is being used to fund production of the first 4 modules of our 3,000 Teachers Program. It was given out during the annual Ciudad de Las Ideas conference in Puebla, Mexico, where Ronis will be returning next year as a speaker. Each year, the festival is attended by more than 5,000 people.

Ronis being presented with a $50,000 Gifted Citizen award
Learn more or apply for the 2016 Gifted Citizen Award at http://www.ciudaddelasideas.com/giftedcitizen/

Financials

We are proud to announce that in 2015, 91% of E-Gap's income went directly to our programs.

Note: the Gifted Citizen Award Money is being received in 2016.
Photos credits: Many thanks to ICEHA (www.ICEHAGroup.org) for pictures and video footage for our programs in Africa, and to Gifted Citizen for providing pictures from the 2015 award ceremony. All other pictures are intellectual property of the Education Global Access Program (E-Gap)

Made with Adobe Slate

Make your words and images move.

Get Slate

Report Abuse

If you feel that this video content violates the Adobe Terms of Use, you may report this content by filling out this quick form.

To report a Copyright Violation, please follow Section 17 in the Terms of Use.