This summer, Teach With Africa continued to demonstrate the extraordinary power of global partnerships in education.
Through our collaboration with the Global Teachers Institute, Bay Area educators traveled to South Africa to exchange ideas, learn alongside local teachers, and build relationships that transcend borders.
Together they explored innovative teaching practices, participated in the Axis Summit, collaborated with schools including LEAP and Holy Family Primary, and strengthened a growing network of educators committed to ensuring every child has access to a high-quality education.
This year, our Bay Area cohort was joined by Vivaan, a senior at Archbishop Mitty High School, who traveled with his mother, Swati.
Passionate about mathematics, Vivaan taught differential calculus to students at LEAP 3 Science and Maths School and is currently developing a series of online instructional videos designed to complement the learners’ mathematics curriculum and provide an ongoing resource beyond his time in South Africa.
His mother, Swati, a UCLA-trained mindfulness facilitator, also brought her expertise to the experience, leading a science-based mindfulness workshop for GTI interns and members of the TWA cohort.
Her workshop complemented the Circles of Consciousness framework led by the LEAP Institute, creating a meaningful connection between mindfulness, personal development, and the broader work of supporting educators and learners.
Together, Vivaan and Swati demonstrated the spirit of reciprocal exchange at the heart of the TWA experience, contributing their individual expertise while learning alongside the educators, students, and communities they encountered.
What makes these exchanges so meaningful is that they extend far beyond the classroom. Bay Area teachers partnered with South African colleagues to co-teach mathematics, literacy, and outdoor learning experiences, while students discovered that curiosity, creativity, and collaboration are universal languages.
From preschool literacy programs in Alexandra Township to student-led mathematics festivals and classroom exchanges connecting San Francisco and Johannesburg, educators returned home inspired by new perspectives and practical strategies that will benefit students on both continents for years to come.
As Teach With Africa looks ahead, we remain committed to creating opportunities where teachers learn from one another, communities grow stronger together, and students gain the confidence to imagine a bigger future.
Our work continues to expand through partnerships in South Africa and Kenya, while we seek new collaborations and sustainable support to deepen our impact. We are grateful for your belief in the transformative power of education. You make this all possible for Teach With Africa and our allied partners. Thank you.
