Beyond the Classroom Foundation Equips Educators to Create Safer, More Inclusive Classrooms for Girls
On Saturday, November 16, 2024, Beyond the Classroom Foundation hosted a full-day Safer Classrooms training workshop in Blue Hills, Kado, Abuja, bringing together over 100 educators from more than 20 government and private schools across the city.
The workshop, which ran from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM, created a shared space for teachers, school counsellors, gender officers, and administrative staff to reflect on the realities girls face in school and the role educators play in shaping safer and more supportive learning environments.
Rather than focusing only on awareness, the session centred on practical reflection, how everyday classroom interactions, expectations, and responses can either support or limit girls’ participation and sense of safety.
Speaking at the event, the Executive Director of Beyond the Classroom Foundation, Raquel Kasham Daniel, said:
“Creating safer classrooms for girls does not always start with big changes. It often starts with small shifts in how teachers see, listen, and respond. When that changes, the classroom begins to change.”
The workshop was coordinated by Peace Agada, who served as Project Manager, leading implementation and ensuring strong engagement across participating schools.
The training featured a diverse group of facilitators working across education, gender, and child protection, including:
- Ms. Uche Okoro, Founder, Early Years Hub
- Coach Teajay Chunu, Founder, Teens of Fire Leadership Network
- Ms. Inimfon Etuk, Founder, She Forum Africa
- Ms. Irene Bangwell, Co-founder, Knosk Charity School
- Ms. Yejide Ipadeola, Founder, Teachers360
- Ms. Margaret Bolaji-Adegbola, Founder, Stand With A Girl Initiative
- Ms. Raquel Kasham Daniel, Founder, Beyond the Classroom Foundation
Each facilitator brought practical insights and real-world experience, guiding discussions and helping participants reflect on how their actions in the classroom influence student safety, confidence, and participation.
Participants engaged actively throughout the day, sharing experiences from their schools and identifying simple but meaningful changes they could begin to implement immediately.
The Safer Classrooms workshop was implemented with support from the IGNITE Project, a multi-partner initiative funded by the Agence Française de Développement (AFD) and implemented by partners including the International Rescue Committee (IRC), Urgent Action Fund-Africa, and the René Moawad Foundation.
Beyond the Classroom Foundation continues to focus on strengthening classroom-level change, supporting educators to take practical steps that improve safety, participation, and outcomes for girls.
