Have you ever wondered what Dignitas’ school partnerships look like in action, and what that partnership means to our School Leaders?  We’ll be introducing you to some of our Alumni over the next few days so that you can find out more!

Teacher Benjamin is the school leader at Golden Bells. The school was founded in 2014 in Mathare, Nairobi. He is a very welcoming and attentive teacher, who regards his school with pride and passion. Part of the first cohort of educators empowered by Dignitas, Benjamin is a fervent advocate for Dignitas school partnerships, which have trained over 1000 educators to promote effective learning.

“The training shifted my mindset from ‘teacher centred teaching’ to ‘learner centred teaching’. This made me realise that most of the teachers focus on the more talented students”.

This shift in focus has meant that Benjamin now gives different students different assignments to ensure that every child is learning at their own pace.

As well as promoting effective learning, Dignitas works to ensure teachers and school leaders feel confident and motivated to work as agents of learning and thriving. Benjamin describes his colleagues as a ‘community’, stating emphatically “we move as a team!”. Between the seven teachers at Golden Bells, they teach 152 students in grades from PP1 to Class 8. He describes how the implementation of frequent teacher and leader meetings ensures that if there is a new teacher, they are made to feel part of the community.

“At Golden Bells, if a teacher is facing a challenge, we are all facing a challenge together”.

Upon being asked what the biggest challenges he has faced as a school leader in a small community school, Benjamin immediately mentions uniforms and textbooks. In partnership with Tailored for Education, Dignitas provides learners in marginalised communities with locally made uniforms, including face masks and undergarments. Benjamin illustrates how it is difficult to overstate the significance of this on the learners’ education. Feeling more comfortable in class lifts their academics.

“Before they had access to uniforms, some learners might feel that they don’t belong in the school as they come from a different class. Now they feel like equals with their peers”.

Dignitas is privileged to have partnered with Teacher Benjamin and his team at Golden Bells.  The impact of partnership is clear – improved learning and well-being outcomes for the children in the school.  It is in partnership with Teacher Benjamin and his team, that Dignitas is able to realise our vision that all schools will become vibrant places for children to thrive and succeed!