IDIA Teacher Professional Development: The Gambia
In order to assist American educators to teach their students about the global community, IDIA has developed a teacher professional development program in the Gambia, a small democratic country located in West Africa.
Since 2006, IDIA has partnered with the Better Africa Youth Initiative (BAYI), a Gambian NGO, to provide leadership development and educational support services to young people throughout the Gambia. IDIA has sponsored conferences in which Gambian students work with American undergraduates to learn about public speaking, information synthesis, and conflict resolution, among countless other critical life skills.
Building out of the strong partnership with BAYI, IDIA will bring teachers to the Gambia to learn about the educational structure and strategy of Western Africa. The week long program will give American teachers the opportunity to sit in on classes, discuss teaching challenges and opportunities with Gambian teachers and school administrators, and teach select classes to Gambian students. When not meeting with BAYI members and Gambian educators, participants will explore Gambian culture and cuisine.
When program participants return to the United States, they will be equipped to share their experiences not only with their students, but also with fellow teachers and administrators. In addition, IDIA will facilitate continued discussion among teachers and students, helping to develop long-lasting relationships for teachers across continents.
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IDIA is a registered provider of teacher professional development in the State of New Jersey.
