Founder of Raising Education Within Africa (REWA)
Priyanka Ram describes herself as “a teacher, an author, a mother and an inspired human being with the simple purpose to make a difference — with some style and some smile!”
Ram is the founder and director of a Gaborone-based nongovernmental organisation called Raising Education Within Africa (REWA), which has the goal to empower young people to rise above the ordinary.
Ram says she works with teachers, parents, children and educational organisations to inspire creativity, a zest for learning and the optimism to excel in students of all learning abilities, backgrounds and ages.
Her goal, she says, is to develop educational programmes that can transform lives and com- munities throughout Botswana.
To this end, she has worked in prisons, schools, not-for-profit organisations and universities.
She also gives personal consultations at her education centre, which was started in 2012. Her activities have impacted on thousands of children and families in Botswana in the six years of REWA’s operation.
She has also ventured into the enchanting world of writing for children. Her recent book An Elephant’s Tale is now available at book- stores around the world.
REWA recently won a pan-African education award for its entrepreneurial approach to education, worth £1 000, from the United Kingdom charity Teach a Man To Fish. With more than 350 entries from Africa, Ram says REWA did exceptionally well to be named a country winner in the competition.
The aim of the competition was to identify and celebrate the achievements of social entrepreneurs who understand the role education can play within their communities.
The organisation holding the competition, Teach a Man to Fish, says they were looking for programmes that are innovative, sustainable and create real impact.
The REWA educational centre offers the Kip McGrath tutoring and remedial programme in maths and English for students between four and 18 years of age. Ram says they offer one-on-one remedial intervention for students with learning difficulties.
The centre also runs an entrepreneurship programme for learners. During the programme, students run a business project while being coached and inspired by more experienced young entrepreneurs.
Raising Education Within Africa also works as a consultancy providing teacher training, curriculum development and strategic planning for schools and education organisations in Botswana.
Ram says REWA has developed into an organisation that delivers a variety of profes- sional and educational services to parents, students, schools, colleges and other educational providers.
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