LearnLink Projects: GHANA

Ghana Community Learning Centers (CLCs)

LearnLink is working with three NGOs in Ghana to establish Community Learning Centers (CLCs) to enhance basic education, train teachers, develop local businesses, strengthen municipal administration and civil society organizations, and provide health care information.

To ensure broad public access and maintain their education focus, the CLCs have been set up in the offices of three community development and training NGOs: the Central Region Development Commission (CEDECOM) in Cape Coast; the Centre for the Development of People (CEDEP) in Kumasi, and Partners for the Internet in Education (PIE) in Accra.

The Community Learning Center builds on the telecenter concept but emphasizes the learning functions of the communication technologies that are made available, thereby increasing access to basic education and life-long learning opportunities. In addition, learning needs assessments are conducted to ensure relevance to community priorities, and CLC staff are trained to help visitors become familiar with the technologies, resources and services offered at the Centers. To facilitate long-term sustainability, fee and management structures are being put into place, and community involvement, as well as increased collaboration with the private sector, is actively promoted.

Jonnie Akakpo, LearnLink’s Resident Advisor, is working closely with the three NGOs to create a CLC environment that is conducive to learning, provide technical support and arrange staff training in management, computer operations and outreach. He also has established monitoring mechanisms to measure the use and impact of the CLCs.

The activity is funded by the Global Bureau Joint Action Implementation Fund (JAIF), which is promoting innovative field activities and Global Bureau Center collaboration. The Human Capacity Development Center (HCD) funds LearnLink’s involvement with the activity, along with the collaboration of the Environment Center Urban Programs office (ENV/UP). The Leland Initiative of the Africa Bureau Sustainable Development office (AFR/SD) has provided basic equipment packages for the CLCs, and USAID/Accra has provided grants to each of the NGO partners to fund facilities improvements and other ancillary needs. The Research Triangle Institute, which received funding under the same JAIF activity, is assisting with community assessments and NGO capacity building.

For more information, contact Linda Leonard LearnLink’s Acting Director.