VVOB

At a young age, children can dream of becoming anything and gender doesn't matter... yet. Research shows that by age six, most children already believe some jobs or roles are “for boys” and others “for girls”. Even at as young as three, children start to pick up on the quiet and sometimes loud social cues, norms and practices that shape their overall worldviews.  It's on all of us to create learning environments where girls and boys are equally encouraged to explore, lead and imagine their futures, free from harmful gender stereotypes. Gender-Responsive Pedagogy (#GRP) helps make this possible by supporting teachers to recognise and challenge the gender norms that play out in classrooms. GRP guides teachers to plan lessons, use language and manage classrooms in ways that include every learner. Learn more about how GRP helps turn classrooms into spaces where all children feel seen and supported: https://lnkd.in/ei8WvDYs

For Willy Lukwiya, learning agriculture changed when he stepped out of the classroom and into the field. Instead of only reading about farming in textbooks, Willy began learning by doing: raising seedlings, growing tomatoes and green peppers, and learning how to use pesticides and herbicides more responsibly. Today, he has started his own farm and has his sights set on becoming an agricultural researcher. Willy's story is part of VVOB’s Green LEAP project, which is helping teachers make agriculture and entrepreneurship education more practical and relevant for young people in Uganda. Follow Willy’s journey from learning about farming to building a future in it: https://lnkd.in/excShwRs

Youth unemployment is back on the rise. International Labour Organization's new Global Employment Trends for Youth report shows unemployment rose to 12.4% in 2025, just two years after hitting a 20-year low. 67 million young people are unemployed, and 257 million are NEET(not in employment, education or training), meaning they've dropped out of both the job market and the classroom. Young women continue to carry the heavier burden, with NEET rates more than double those of young men, not because of unequal schooling, but unpaid care work and barriers to decent jobs. Good teachers and strong training systems won't fix the labour market on their own. But they're often what keeps a young person believing there's still a path forward. At VVOB, our Skilling for Sustainable Futures flagship supports education systems to prepare young people with the skills they need for the future of work, including green skills, entrepreneurship and transferable competencies that help them navigate a changing world. #InternationalYouthDay #YouthDay

What would you do with an extra billion dollars for education? That’s the question Lee Crawfurd explores in a new article for the Center for Global Development, looking at 34 organisations where philanthropic funding could help drive meaningful change at scale. We’re pleased to see VVOB on the list! What a nice recognition of an approach we’ve been committed to for years: working with education systems, governments and educators to strengthen the quality of teaching and learning, and making sure that solutions have a chance of reaching scale. There’s some excellent work represented in the list, so we’re in good company: https://lnkd.in/eBYCK-DF

Earlier this week, we asked you to complete one simple sentence: "Every learner deserves a classroom where..." You shared your answers. We listened. And together, you created a picture of what meaningful learning spaces can look like. Swipe through to read some of your thoughtful reflections. Which response resonates with you the most? Or is there one you'd add?

Job Opportunity - Join VVOB's Gender-Transformative Pedagogy Hub Are you passionate about advancing gender equity through education? This is your opportunity to help shape the future of VVOB by joining our Global Gender-Transformative Pedagogy (GTP) Hub, based in Nairobi, Kenya. We're looking for talented colleagues to join our Global Flagship team in the following roles: - Global Strategic Education Advisor – Gender Technical Assistance for RTIA - Global Strategic Education Advisor – Gender-Transformative Pedagogy - Global Flagship Advisor – Teach2Empower (T2E) About the GTP Hub The Gender-Transformative Pedagogy Hub is VVOB's dedicated global flagship driving gender-transformative approaches in education. Curious to learn more about this exciting approach? Read more below. https://lnkd.in/epXVAJtu Interested? Find out more about the vacancies and apply through the links below: - Global Strategic Education Advisor - Gender-Transformative Pedagogy https://lnkd.in/ev-QjNGn - Global Strategic Education Advisor - Gender Technical Assistance for RTIA https://lnkd.in/eCf3_jib - Global Flagship Advisor - Teach2Empower https://lnkd.in/eEcPeEnp Application deadline: 30 August Please help us spread the word by sharing this opportunity with your network.

A good conference sparks ideas. A great conference turns those ideas into action. Originating from a contribution to the UKFIET conference in 2025, VVOB en Ecuador has developed a practical Teacher Guide to help teachers and students submit strong projects to the agriculture and climate change category. The guide shows how the right conversation, in the right room, can lead to solutions that respond to real needs. Read the full article written by VVOB's Alejandra Marín Aleaga and Larissa Celis on UKFIET - The Education and Development Forum: https://lnkd.in/eZsN3Tjv

Let's start the week with a little reflection. Finish this sentence: Every learner deserves a classroom where... What would you add? Share your thoughts in the comments!👇

When school attendance drops, learning doesn’t have to stop. In Zambia, Teacher Mary Lungu has seen how economic pressures pull children out of class, especially during farming season. But she doesn’t give up on her learners. Instead, Mary reaches out. She talks to parents, explains the impact of missed school days and encourages learning to continue at home. “Most of the children are left alone. Their parents go for work. So we call the parents, we discuss. We try to put measures in place at home.” Mary’s story shows that when teachers and parents connect, even tough circumstances can become opportunities for shared sense of responsibility and better learning outcomes.

For early childhood development practitioner Evodia Mzizi, children learn what is possible by watching what adults do. After taking part in the Siyalingana course, Evodia started challenging gender stereotypes in her classroom through everyday play and interaction. She plays along in their games, and in doing so, helps children understand that toys, colours and activities are not defined by gender. When children see their teacher tackling gender stereotypes, they begin to question them too. The Siyalingana course is an initiative by the European Union's Regional Teachers Initiative for Africa (#RTIA). Through RTIA, we’re promoting gender-responsive pedagogy, a teaching approach that challenges stereotypes and promotes equality. Read Evodia's inspiring story in our 2025 Annual Report: https://lnkd.in/ey-N6ZuR VVOB in Kenya VVOB in South Africa