Over the course of eight weeks, Team4Tech, Barracuda Networks, and Africa ICT Right (AIR) joined forces to create solutions that support education for employability for learners in Ghana.
Building Future-Proof STEM Skills for Students and Educators in Ghana
Africa ICT Right (AIR), a Ghana-based nonprofit, is dedicated to bridging the digital divide through ICT education. Their work supports 3,000 learners and 400 teachers annually, focusing on issues like education, gender equity, and youth empowerment. Partnering with Team4Tech and Barracuda Networks, this project aimed to strengthen AIR’s organizational capacity to deliver impactful educational programs and enhance STEM skills.
Team4Tech has partnered with AIR since 2022, and our partnership goals include:
- optimizing internal operations
- developing scalable and impactful programs
- redesigning and digitizing STEM and entrepreneurship curriculum
- building digital maker space labs
- redesigning their business and strategic plan
In early 2024, Team4Tech staff co-presented with AIR leadership at the ICT4D conference in Accra, Ghana, leading a panel discussion on bridging the digital divide in education through co-design, capacity-building, and more. In September 2024, AIR collaborated with employee volunteers in Team4Tech’s inaugural Innovate for Impact Event.
In this latest virtual strategic pro bono project, Team4Tech divided nine skilled volunteers from Barracuda Networks into two teams to tackle STEM integration for AIR’s educators and students. One subteam focused on developing an organizational roadmap, and the other tackled creating adaptable STEM curricula.
Collaborative Efforts in Action: Mapping Goals, Planning Curricula
In just over two months of virtual collaboration, the nine volunteers contributed 450 hours of their time, valued at over $85,000 dollars of pro-bono consulting, to support the staff at Africa ICT Right. This is an impressive contribution in just over 2 months.
—Laura Christman, Senior Marketing Data Specialist at Barracuda Networks and Team4Tech Volunteer
Organizational Roadmap
This team of skilled volunteers developed a three-year strategic plan to guide AIR’s integration of STEM and entrepreneurship programs into learning experiences serving under-resourced communities. The roadmap outlines goals including:
- launching a new ICT lab by 2025
- establishing entrepreneurship clubs
- fostering partnerships to scale impact
STEM Curriculum Development
The second team of skilled volunteers created and adapted engaging educational materials to spark interest in STEM among students and teachers. Their deliverables included:
- Cybersecurity Curriculum: An adapted cybersecurity program from Ignited Education for learners aged 12–16, culminating in an app design project that teaches online safety.
- Scratch Coding Curriculum: Based on Harvard’s “Getting Unstuck” series, this curriculum encourages creativity and coding skills through hands-on projects for students aged 9–14.
- Arduino Lessons: A hands-on introduction to electronics and robotics using Arduino platforms, enabling students to experiment with sensors, motors, and LEDs.
Volunteers designed each curriculum to be accessible, scalable, and adaptable for a variety of learning environments.
Volunteering with Team4Tech to adapt a cybersecurity curriculum for students in Ghana was an unforgettable experience! Working alongside dedicated colleagues, we crafted lessons that aimed to empower young learners with critical digital skills. It was a truly rewarding to contribute to expanding educational access in a meaningful way. I’m grateful for the chance to have made a positive difference!”
—Clarke Lewis, Customer Service Representative at Barracuda Networks and Team4Tech Volunteer
The resources developed by Barracuda Networks volunteers will significantly enhance AIR’s ability to deliver quality education. Teachers now have ready-to-use lesson plans, enabling them to integrate coding, robotics, and cybersecurity into their classrooms. Additionally, the strategic roadmap provides a clear vision for AIR’s growth, ensuring sustainable and scalable impact.
This partnership demonstrates the power of skilled volunteering in addressing educational inequities. By combining corporate expertise with local knowledge, Team4Tech and Barracuda Networks have equipped AIR to drive long-term change for Ghana’s youth.
The Team4Tech experience has been transformative, equipping our organization with innovative tools, strategies, and resources to deliver impactful STEM education to underserved communities in Ghana. By enhancing our capacity to integrate technology and hands-on learning, we can inspire more students, upskill educators, and drive long-term interest in STEM careers. This collaboration will amplify our mission by fostering curiosity and unlocking potential in the next generation of innovators.”
—Daniel Ganyoame, Africa ICT Right Executive Director
Team4Tech is proud to facilitate connections between volunteers and education-focused nonprofits like Africa ICT Right, improving education that ultimately prepares learners for better jobs. This is just one example of Team4Tech’s global contributions to education. Our organization continues to accelerate the impact of nonprofit organizations globally.