Informal Education

The Southern Sudan Interactive Radio Instruction (SSIRI) project is a program of the Southern Sudan Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (MoEST). It is funded by United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and administered by Education Development Center (EDC). Four SSIRI activities provide learning opportunities for children, adults, and teachers in Southern Sudan.

The Educational Quality Improvement Program 3 (EQUIP3) is a Leader-with-Associate Award that is designed to improve earning, learning, and skill development opportunities for out-of-school youth in developing countries.

The Innovative Technology Experiences for Students and Teachers (ITEST) program is designed to increase opportunities for students and teachers to learn about and use information technologies within the contexts of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. The program supports both youth-based projects with strong emphases on career and educational paths, and comprehensive projects for students and teachers.

EDC has developed three new culturally-targeted videos to supplement the VOICES/VOCES HIV/STD prevention program. VOICES/VOCES, an intervention that has been proven effective in reducing rates of new STD infection, has been disseminated to about 1500 agencies through the United States, and is one of the widely used behavioral interventions. Over 600 agencies and 1500 trainers have delivered the program.

The Zambia QUESTT Project aims to improve the quality of basic education delivery systems and to mitigate the impact of HIV/AIDS on children’s educational experiences (both in and out of government schools). To accomplish these objectives, QUESTT is leading several initiatives to improve teacher practice through the integration of Interactive Radio Instruction (IRI) in government schools and technology-based interventions. These interventions include the use of video and cell phone communication for both in-service and preservice teacher support.

Ruwwad (an EQUIP3 Associate Award), taken from the Arabic word for “pioneers,” is a ground-breaking program created by Palestinians, for Palestinians. Its mission is to empower Palestinian youth and the adults who serve them, so that both groups can become strong local leaders and change-makers. Since 2005, Ruwwad has been planned, designed, and implemented “by youth, for youth,” with a focus on positive leadership development for young women and men ages 14 to 30.

EDC will evaluate Adobe Systems Incorporated’s new signature initiative, Adobe Youth Voices (AYV), an international youth media making effort. Adobe and their program partners are training educators in five cities to lead youth media projects. The evaluation team will coordinate on-going evaluation to document the successes and challenges in implementing the initiative; and measure AYF effectiveness in meeting intended outcomes for teachers and students.

EQuALLS2 is an EQUIP3 associate award that aims to increase access to quality education and livelihood skills in areas affected by conflict and poverty in the Philippines. With specific emphasis on the Muslim areas of Mindanao, the EQuALLS2 project targets schools, barangays (barrios), and municipalities to strengthen formal and alternative education and reintegrate out-of-school youth into the economy.

The Youth Media Learning Network (YMLN) is a new capacity building and professional development initiative intended to strengthen the practice and expand the reach of youth media.

The Center for Science Education (CSE) at EDC and the Lawrence Hall of Science in Berkeley, California (LHS), are leading a national initiative to promote long-term professional development in project-based science for after-school program providers.