Samoan STEM Teachers Level Up with Open Educational Resources.
Recently, 40-plus educators gathered at the Ministry of Education and Culture in Malifa, Samoa, for a national workshop on Open Educational Resources (OER).
Hosted by the National University of Samoa with support from the Commonwealth of Learning (COL) @COL4D and funding from New Zealand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade @MFATNZ, the training empowered STEM teachers to create curriculum-aligned lesson plans using AI tools and digital platforms.
Highlights included:
• Hands-on sessions with the COL OER Generator Tool
• Group work in Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Math and Computing
• Draft lesson plans + sustainability strategies
• 82 per cent said they gained real skills in OER and AI
• 93 per cent praised the workshop’s structure & delivery
Participants were selected by the Ministry of Education and Culture to ensure inclusive representation from across the country. The final group included 29 STEM teachers from 23 government schools, four teachers from private and mission schools and seven Subject Organisers from the Ministry.
Mentors then set up a communication group to keep the momentum going. The workshop wrapped with powerful presentations and a certificate ceremony, marking a new chapter for STEM in Samoa.
#COL4D #MFATNZ #OERWorkshop #STEMinSamoa #CommonwealthOfLearning #OpenEducation #TeachingWithAI #COLPacificPartnership #SamoaSTEM #OERDevelopment #TeacherTraining #NationalUniversitySamoa
... See MoreSee Less
Get started or keep learning with one of our SCARF Courses.
Today we are sharing the course, Creating Gender-Sensitive, Climate-Responsive Livelihoods to Build Self-Reliant, Resilient Local Economies.
Explore how inclusive, sustainable livelihood strategies can strengthen local economies and empower communities.
Start learning today:
🔗 opentextbooks.colvee.org/genderclimatesustainablelivelihoods/
🔗https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLVn1a3RD1XlVSzM8LLNqHBlgrZBqaxr92
... See MoreSee Less
Stitching a brighter future: Rafia Bibi's journey of economic empowerment in Pakistan.
Rafia Bibi's life has been a testament to determination in the quiet village of Dagar Awaan, nestled within Pakistan’s Bhakkar district. As the only sister to three brothers and the daughter of a daily wager, Rafia’s dreams are often overshadowed by the harsh realities of her family’s financial struggles. After completing her fifth grade, her education ended abruptly, not due to a lack of will but because her family could not afford to send her to school any longer.
But Rafia never let go of her aspirations. At 27, she still hoped for a better future, even as she helped her family make ends meet. Rafia sought a new path when Bedari Pakistan’s Sakhi Saheli Centre offered a one-month stitching course. The Commonwealth of Learning’s (COL) Empowering Women and Girls (EWG) project community partner, Bedari @BedariPakistan, is a Pakistani NGO that works with women and children to promote and protect their human rights.
Under the skilled guidance of her trainer, Ms Ghulshan Rafia, along with other determined women, learned the art of stitching. “Learning to stitch opened new possibilities for me. It was not just about sewing clothes; it was about sewing a better future for myself and my family,” Rafia recalled with a smile.
As part of the training plan with Bedari, Rafia also participated in financial literacy training, which proved to be a crucial step in her entrepreneurial journey. She developed a business plan and had the opportunity to meet with bank representatives who could provide her and her peers with easy loans to start their own businesses.
With her newfound skills, Rafia and another trainee, driven by their shared vision, decided to establish their stitching centre. This centre has become a beacon of opportunity in the village, where women and girls come together to gain skills, build confidence, and support each other.
Rafia manages the day-to-day operations with pride, while Ms Ghulshan continues to provide advanced training to the participants. “I want to create a space where women in our village can learn, grow, and support each other. This centre is just the beginning of something much bigger,” Rafia said, her eyes shining with hope.
Now, Rafia dreams of registering her centre and ensuring its impact continues to grow. Her journey, along with the other women trained at the Sakhi Saheli Centre, is a powerful reminder that even the most modest beginnings can lead to extraordinary transformations with the right skills, support, and a little courage.
Through her perseverance, Rafia Bibi has stitched together fabrics and created hope, opportunity, and empowerment for herself and countless others in her village.
Their centres have provided them with financial independence and sparked positive changes in their villages. These centres have done more than boost incomes; they have created a ripple effect of opportunity and growth. By teaching others to stitch, they are fostering economic stability in their communities. Their success illustrates how skill training can transform lives and turn local businesses into beacons of hope and prosperity.
The EWG project in Pakistan is a multi-year project and is made possible with the financial support of Global Affairs Canada @GAC_Corporate.
#COL4D #BEDARIpk #WomensEmpowerment #EconomicIndependence #SkillsTraining #PakistanWomen #StitchingJourney #CommunityImpact #FinancialLiteracy #EmpoweringGirls #RuralDevelopment
... See MoreSee Less
