Cat Davison: Empowering communities
37m
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Full of Fire
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In this episode, we hear from Cat Davison, who has set up the education charity EduSpots in her 20s whilst working in normal full-time jobs. Cat is interested in learning how to create systems that empower and bring people together who aspire to create change in their communities.
Cat talks about how she went from being a shy teenager to leading EduSpots, and gives advice to girls hoping to create the future they want to see. She talks about some of the challenges and questions that have arisen in the process, and her ongoing efforts to position local leaders, their voices and their communities, at the heart of the EduSpots model.
Cat grew up in London before studying Philosophy and later Management at Cambridge University. She left university to go straight into teaching, hoping to spread her passion for ethical philosophy and sport, before an opportunity to be involved in an education project in rural Ghana led to a shift in focus.
Alongside teaching, Cat has since worked with a Ghanaian team to set up the EduSpots education network which aims to train, equip and connect educational 'catalysts' to enable community-led change. She studied an MA in Education and International Development at UCL and spent a year living, listening, and completing research in Ghana. In 2020, an estimated 15,000 learners of all ages have directly benefited from the 40 education 'spots', which are shared by local schools and run by a network of local volunteers who are trained in leadership, practical STEM and literacy development.
Connected to this, EduSpots also runs online courses which enable European and African students to connect through live discussions of development theory and practice with a focus on African scholarship. Cat is currently also Director of Service and Social Impact at Sevenoaks School and Chair of the Independent School Council’s Community Action Group.
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