At LabXchange, we celebrate the tremendous potential of Africa's youth and the endless dedication of their educators. By 2030, young Africans are expected to make up 42 percent of the world’s youth. With such a large, dynamic population, support for youth development is more critical than ever. Our teacher ambassadors are key to unlocking their potential.
Building on the success of our first pan-Africa cohort of teacher ambassadors, our second cohort kicked off on June 1, 2024. Led by master teachers Imah Mwaba and Karien van Schoor, the majority of the cohort’s 13 ambassadors are based in South Africa. They were joined by teachers from Kenya, Uganda, Lesotho, and the Kingdom of Eswatini.
“My passion lies in mentoring students and peers, aiding them in attaining academic success and steering their research endeavors and extensive essays. Witnessing the success and growth of my mentees to their utmost capabilities brings me immense joy.”
—Imah Mwaba, Master Teacher, South Africa
“I hope to make complex scientific concepts accessible and engaging, fostering a deeper understanding and appreciation in students for the sciences.”
—Karien van Schoor, Master Teacher, South Africa
As with all teacher ambassador cohorts, the rigorous three-month program focused on hands-on teacher training. Ambassadors learned to design pedagogically aligned lessons in biology, chemistry, physics, and other STEM subjects, enriched with engaging virtual learning experiences on the LabXchange platform. They also developed strategies for sharing LabXchange with other educators in their classrooms and communities.
LabXchange is committed to supporting educators and learners in Africa and beyond. We congratulate the 2024 Africa cohort, and look forward to new collaborations and endeavors that strengthen STEM teaching across the continent.
Explore a selection of the ambassador-created pathways produced by this cohort:
“I chose to become an educator in STEM because I wanted to share my curiosity and passion for understanding how the world works. STEM has always been a source of fascination for me, and I wanted to inspire the same excitement in others. Guiding students through discoveries, helping them see the beauty in science, and empowering them to tackle challenges with creativity and confidence felt like the perfect way to make a meaningful impact.”
—Mickaele Jenkins, Teacher Ambassador, South Africa
Interested in learning more about LabXchange’s educator programming? Would you like to serve as a teacher ambassador? Visit our Educator Community page or join our educator discussion groups on Facebook and LinkedIn.
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