Post by The Jenga Hub

We recently traveled to Saly, Senegal for a learning retreat organized by the Daara Community with support from the Gates Foundation , and graciously hosted by our peers ARED and LABORATOIRE DE RECHERCHE SUR LES TRANSFORMATIONS ECONOMIQUES ET SOCIALES (LARTES-IFAN). The retreat brought together 16 NGOs from across Africa, all working to improve education outcomes. Our shared focus was powerful: From innovation to adoption — exploring how we can work more closely with governments to strengthen foundational literacy and numeracy in meaningful, sustainable ways. One of the highlights was visiting schools in Senegal implementing programs co-created by the Ministry of National Education alongside ARED and LARTES. Seeing engaged learners, confident teachers, and strong use of national languages in classrooms was truly inspiring. We also had the privilege of participating in a panel discussion with representatives from the Gates Foundation, the Senegalese Minister of National Education, and the Executive Director of ARED, reflecting on what strong government partnerships can achieve when built on trust and shared purpose. We’re returning home with fresh perspectives, practical strategies, and renewed motivation to apply these learnings in our own context. The future feels bright. Grateful to the Daara Secretariat and the Gates Foundation for welcoming us into this learning community. #Jengahub #foundationallearning #governmentsupport #daaracommunity

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