Learning for life

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Learning for life

Shkoder, AlbaniaTirana, Albania
Organization type: 
for profit
Project Stage:
Idea
Budget: 
$50,000 - $100,000
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Project Summary
Elevator Pitch

Concise Summary: Help us pitch this solution! Provide an explanation within 3-4 short sentences.

The school for life. Young generations will learn to be better in the surrounding society, to learn how to give and how to receive.

About Project

Problem: What problem is this project trying to address?

The education system in Albania is getting weaker every day. Pupils, students are just going to school because they need to, they need the diploma for their future job. The methodology used in our schools is far away of equipping the young generation with the tools they need to be better in the society, for themselves, for their families and especially for the society. The education system (elementary, secondary and Universities) are promoting laziness, cynicism, selfishness, etc. The society and the schools are building up a generation that take care of appearance rather than values; staying at surface rather than entering to the core idea, fighting or augmenting for it.

Solution: What is the proposed solution? Please be specific!

As professional in my filed of expertise ( 12 years of banking management, staff management, hiring and training, business development and KPI setting and measuring and 7 years parallel experience lecturing in University of Shkodra “Luigj Gurakuqi” Economic Faculty) and as mother of 2 children I would like my kids and the young generation with whom I’m working with, to be: - Critical thinker - Rational - Always think cause and effect correlation - Do not take anything for granted, but question if there were other ways to do, or act. How to achieve that? - Starting with elementary school, where the new generation is developing - New, enriched, interactive curricula - Well trained teachers with a vision for the future - 5 senses teaching ( reading, listening, watching, doing, experiencing)
Impact: How does it Work

Example: Walk us through a specific example(s) of how this solution makes a difference; include its primary activities.

It time for Albania to move from “I teach, you listen” to “I give, you learn”. Schools cannot teach everything, and not everything is learned in school. Therefore is very important that young generation will not only listening to the teacher,reading a book,reproducing it and taking the exam at the end.They need to learn for life, not for the school itself.Additional to the conventional teaching method my idea is to add: 1.Interactive teaching. Students need to see, touch, feel, and experience what they are learning. The teacher is sharing the main ideas of a topic, than student will read additionally on their own some recommended books, articles. Than discus in the classroom with their pears. They will see documentary and argument and give their opinions on them. They will work on projects in team and make a presentation on them. They will be asked to write a group and individual essays on the respective topic. 2.On natural and science topics the student need to visit and travel and see by themselves the nature and all sorrounding environment. 3.Our young generations need to be active and creative. Sport and art are crucial for this learning method. Volleyball, basketball, soccer, tennis, table tennis, gym, swimming are a must to prepare the student to be part of a team, to win and help others to win. Art,theatre playing will develop their creativity. 4.Be part of the society and the environment. Be social competent and responsible, full of courage and act as a brave citizen. Participate, create and give their example in community projects.
Sustainability

Marketplace: Who else is addressing the problem outlined here? How does the proposed project differ from these approaches?

Shkoder city has 118,000inhabitants. There are 28 kindergarten (6 private), 33 elementary schools (13 private) and 18 secondary schools (8 private). There is no direct competitor for the model of school idea I do have. There is no school with inside gym (except one). There is no school with sport facilities, not only in Shkoder city but in all Albania. The challenges are a lot. Opening such a school requires a lot of responsibility, quality and investments. The existing private schools are not marking the students for what they deserve, but as far as they pay they will stay in that school. The school I’m talking for there will be discipline, will triumph meritocracy and empathy for each other.
About You
About You
First Name

Senida

Last Name

Mesi

About Your Organization
Organization Name
Organization Country

, Tirana

Country where this project is creating social impact

, Shkoder

Your role in Education

Parent, Teacher.

The type of school(s) your solution is affiliated with

Private (tuition-based)

How long has your organization been operating?

Please select

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Innovation
How long has your solution been in operation?

Still in idea phase, but looking to launch soon

Now that you have thought out your entry, help us pitch it.
Define your company, program, service, or product in 1-2 short sentences [136 characters]

The school for life. Young generations will learn to be better in the surrounding society, to learn how to give and how to receive.

Identify what is innovative about your solution in 1-2 short sentences [136 characters]

The way of teaching, they way of communicating with students. The knowledge students will get, will serve them for life.

Social Impact
What has been the impact of your solution to date?

The offered solution will make a huge difference in the quality of teaching and learning. Students will receive new experience and new teaching materials. They will know better themselves, how to interact with other, to be more empathic in their life, to understand better the others feelings. The knowledge they will get will not be for the sake of marks, exam only, but knowledge that will remain with them for the entire life. They will get the love to always read and study. They’ll be more healthy and fit and always prompt and in first line for better life.
More and more students will join the school, parents will be happy and their will contribute to improve this system. It will reduce the hours the student spend in coffee shops, but instead will give to them the desire to learn, to play and to perform. It will much more save to spend even the afternoons in the gyms, theater of the school, pool, computer, lab or library.

What is your projected impact over the next 1-3 years?

It will help to start a reform in the education system in Albania. Hopefully the parent will start demanding much more for their children and the Ministry of Education and other players will collaborate to multiply this “hopefully” positive experience.There is needed a turning point. There is a lot of discussion (formally and not) taking place for an increased of quality in the education system, from elementary to Universities. It seems that private schools are thinking in terms of profit only, and public system is fading in demanding quality, respecting curricula, and giving the wrong incentives.
It will help to improve the development of the youth. They will be better off and able to accept the future challenges in the Universities and in their future life.

What barriers might hinder the success of your project? How do you plan to overcome them?

1.Initial investment- Savings,grants,loan, businesses investments
2.Hiring and training pedagogic staff- with the connections,friends, colleagues, relatives that work as teacher will help finding the best staff. For training there are possibilities of collaboration with international organisations like USAID,SORROS etc
3.Going on with against the flow, introducing an innovation in the market- overcoming with a lot of marketing, PR, open days, lobbying, meetings, writing and other activities.
The dedication and the desire to bring in my hometown something that will be for the benefits of future generation will give me the courage to always give my best, to work hard and accomplish not only my personal dream, but giving an example that not everything is done for profit maximisation.

Winning entries present a strong plan for how they will achieve and track growth. Identify your six-month milestone for growing your impact

Having the first student results and the fist feedback from parents, students, teachers, educational state institution.

Identify three major tasks you will have to complete to reach your six-month milestone
Task 1

Finish the school investment and getting ready to open the doors.

Task 2

2. Finishing with the hiring and training of the pedagogic staff. Completing the school with all the didactic materials.

Task 3

Promoting and opening the doors of the school. Explaining the new concept and the teaching methodology to parents, students

Now think bigger! Identify your 12-month impact milestone

Having the community, parents and students recognition for the new approach. Having students happier, self-confident and smarter

Identify three major tasks you will have to complete to reach your 12-month milestone
Task 1

Having the first year students results, their feedback and their parents feedback for future improvements.

Task 2

Having students succeeding in competitions with other schools in the country ( Olympiads, sport competition, debating clubs)

Task 3

Improving the organisation, didactic materials, evaluating teaching staff

Founding Story: We want to hear about your "Aha!" moment. Share the story of where and when the founder(s) saw this solution's potential to change the world [125 words]

My husband, a physician and myself since our children entered in school started to see the real problems of elementary school. As part time teachers both of us have been seeing the problem of High Education as well ( Universities), where students had not willingness to come to school, no incentive to learn, problems in writing and expressing themselves.
Since one year we are thinking to enter in this incentive, being supported by our friends, parents as well. We know that cannot change the world, but definitely we can make e change, we can give a support to the education system in Albania for change. We can give a hope to the parents that are willing to invest for their children future. We can be part of seeing young generation being much more developed and with more values and essence.

Sustainability
Tell us about your partnerships

Partnerships are expected with USAID,SORROS,American Development Found,NGOs investing in the field of education.Individuals/business can investment.Banks will support with loans to support initial investment.
Meetings with international institution,(UNICEF, UNESCO,Foreign Embassy)we do believe that they give their contribution on making this project successful.
Additionally to this, we are planning that during the afternoon to offer to the disabled children the sport facilities of the school free of charge, here Government and NGO working in this filed can be as well our partners.

What type of team (staff, volunteers, etc.) will ensure that you achieve the growth milestones identified in the Social Impact section? [75 words]

Qualified staff, well trained, experienced will be part of our team.
We will undergo into a rigid selection process, to choose the best. We already identified some key teachers, the best of the market, which we can approach and pay them for their knowledge and their dedication.
Managing the staff will be our key priority. Actually the good teachers are not distinguished from incompetent one. We will offer a transparent and merit based remuneration scheme.

Please elaborate on any needs or offers you have mentioned above and/or suggest categories of support that aren't specified within the list