About the Project
This project is one of the 2020 WISE Awards winners.
This project is one of the 2020 WISE Awards finalists.
The Call for Applications for the 2021 WISE Awards is now open.
Apply by December 20, 2020.
Our vision is a world in which schools are vibrant places for all children to gain the skills and strength of character they need to thrive and succeed. Stawisha Leadership Institute offers innovative training and coaching to empower schools and educators in marginalized communities to transform students’ opportunities. With a focus on instructional leadership, classroom culture and learner engagement, Dignitas’ program is designed to transform School Leaders’ and Teacher Leaders’ mindsets, tools and techniques.
Context and Issue
60% of Nairobi’s population lives in marginalized, informal settlements where 80% of children cannot access government schooling. These children enroll in informal community schools which are typically under-resourced, lack professional leadership, and skilled teachers that enable the delivery of quality education. In addition, the recent launch of a new national curriculum, coupled with government findings that only 30% of teachers can demonstrate basic pedagogical knowledge, there is a national education crisis that results in many children leaving school without the skills they need to thrive and succeed. This gives rise to a myriad of challenges including a youth unemployment rate of 26%, double the global average.
Solution and Impact
Our vision is a world in which schools are vibrant places for all children to gain the skills and strength of character they need to thrive and succeed. Stawisha Leadership Institute offers innovative training and coaching to empower schools and educators in marginalized communities to transform students’ opportunities. With a focus on instructional leadership, classroom culture and learner engagement, Dignitas’ program is designed to transform School Leaders’ and Teacher Leaders’ mindsets, tools and techniques.
In 2017, comparison using pre- and post- lesson assessments found that students in Dignitas classrooms showed a 44% increase in academic growth during the course of a lesson, whilst students in non-Dignitas classrooms experienced a 15% increase.
In 2018, impact data showed that Dignitas’ School Leaders gained significant % points (up to 30) across seven domains, including self-efficacy, pedagogy, and leadership, with 81% of School Leaders becoming proficient in the course of partnership with Dignitas.
To date, Dignitas has partnered 260+ schools across 6 counties and 2 countries. Dignitas has empowered 1500+ School Leaders and impacted the learning of 87,000 students.
Future Developments
Dignitas’ 2022 impact goal is to reach 300,000 children, and a roadmap to see this achieved has been developed.