Learning Power for Futures

Education is the key to a promising future and the foundation for individual and social development. Nevertheless, many education systems around the world are facing major challenges – including Zimbabwe’s. Due to underfunding, schools are struggling with scarce resources and a lack of qualified teachers. As a result, the quality of education suffers, which has a direct impact on students and their future prospects. The skills taught are often not relevant to the labour market, which, in addition to the difficult economic situation in the country, further contributes to graduates struggling to find suitable employment.

As an additional burden on students, inadequate access to energy and regular power cuts affect everyday life and lead to lessons being cancelled. Innovative, future-oriented teaching approaches are difficult to implement due to the insecure energy and water supply. Yet Zimbabwe has great potential for generating renewable and reliable energy.

A HOLISTIC APPROACH

The Learning Power for Futures (LP4F) project addresses these challenges holistically. Together with the long-standing partner organisation JEO (Jesuit Education Office), the aim is to provide secondary school learners with the high-quality education they need to pave a promising path for their future. The project is mainly implemented in Harare and Mashonaland in Zimbabwe with complementary project interventions in Kasungu (Malawi) and Lusaka and Monze District (Zambia), as they are facing similar educational and environmental challenges.

INTERACTIVITY BOOSTS LEARNING

To foster a more dynamic learning environment, teachers are trained to integrate interactive and play-based learning methods. This well-established approach already proved successful in the previous project at primary school level. Students are more motivated, and the knowledge imparted is made more tangible.

SCHOOLS AS PIONEERS OF SUSTAINABILITY

Based on needs analyses, the schools are equipped with photovoltaic systems or other sustainable and relevant infrastructure (e.g. school gardens, water pumps). Beyond energy production, the process of generating energy and utilizing these resources offers valuable opportunities for learning – education for sustainable development is directly integrated into lessons. In this way, students not only learn about the complexities of our time but also build the capacity to find solutions. They become active players in shaping a sustainable future.

FUTURE-READY WITH ESSENTIAL SKILLS

Secondary school students are on the cusp of their professional journeys. To make it easier for them to enter the world of employment, the project focuses on developing essential life and employability skills. By cultivating entrepreneurial mindset and action, as well as fostering labour market-relevant abilities, students are positioned for a promising professional future.