Model Schools: Leveling UP

May 27, 2025

Taking the Model Schools Program to 12 New Schools!

Background:

We created the Model Schools Program to provide significant, effective, and long-lasting support to government-run primary schools. For the past six years, we have piloted this program at four schools and implemented a wide array of initiatives. We have learned from this and have a plan that we are confident will have an even greater impact (with significantly greater cost efficiency).

Leveling UP Strategy:

We will take the lessons learned over the past six years of piloting and expand to 12 new schools in two neighboring Wards. Here’s our new 4-step approach:

  1. Start with Leadership Development, including Ward and District Educational Officers so that there are levels of accountability and incentives.
  2. Quickly focus on agriculture and food. Nearly every school has land and most parents are farmers. By simply providing seeds, knowledge and other low-cost inputs, success is quick and almost certain.
  3. Follow with support for Teacher Professional Development using our Tenda Teachers program.
  4. Lastly, we will support school infrastructure in accordance with the greatest needs in each school. As an incentive, leaders will know that the amount of PZ support will be linked to their leadership performance in the first three steps.

Model Schools 2.0 Goals:

  1. Students will eat at school daily. They will be nourished and better able to focus on school.
  2. With improved leadership, teacher and student attendance will improve, and learning will improve.
  3. Schools will run better. (Teachers are motivated and held accountable. Budgets are created and followed. Projects are managed effectively.)
  4. Teachers will have improved attitudes toward teaching, an expanded toolkit of teaching strategies, and a determination to have a positive impact on their students.
  5. Students will have better critical thinking skills, more confidence, and a determination to learn.

We are ready to Level UP:

  • We know what to do.
  • The Project Zawadi team is ready.
  • We have a strategic partnership with the government backing our efforts.
  • We just need YOU to lend your support to Level UP!

Can you sponsor a school?

We are looking for School Sponsors for each of the 12 new Model School partner sites. To date (May 26, 2025), we have 5 sites sponsored. School Sponsors will provide $10,000 per year for 6 years. Your leadership will provide the backbone of support needed to permanently improve the education that thousands of students will receive into the future. School Sponsors will receive special recognition at their sites. There are other sponsorships available at lower levels of commitment. Please email Brian Singer for more information at bsinger@projectzawadi.org.

Are you ready to Level Up with us? Please donate or pledge before the end of the fiscal year: June 30,2025. We aim to raise $150,000 and we are well on our way.

Donating is easy: 

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