March 2023 Issue
Welcome to this special International Women's Day (IWD) themed edition of the Pulse!
At NewGlobe we believe that we should celebrate women everyday… but the 8th of March is always an additional opportunity to place gender equity at the centre of conversations. NewGlobe held a series of staff focussed sessions in each office lead by our female leaders and also hosted our first global employee webinar which had nearly 200 people take time out of their day to participate!
NewGlobe won the 2023 Learning Provider of the year award at a star studded ceremony in London. In Nairobi, NewGlobe hosted an interactive panel session and stand at Sankalp Africa, where the results of the Kremer study were once again the focus. Plus, NewGlobe’s Policy and Partnerships leadership team gathered in Rwanda for a week-long workshop focussed on growth.
In addition, we welcomed BayelsaPRIME’s new Managing Director (MD), Linus Adaikwu, to the NewGlobe family.
The NewGlobe Alumni Network was launched to enable those who have played a part in NewGlobe’s journey to stay connected. Please do share the link with former colleagues!
Many more countries and partners - including Rwanda and Liberia - have joined NewGlobe as signatories of the commitment to action on foundational learning which came out of the Transforming Education Summit (TES).
Outside of NewGlobe: In Nigeria, Bola Tinubu is the new President elect, Ajay Banga has been nominated as the new World Bank President and Liesbet Steer has left the Education Commission.
Wishing you a Joyful and Happy Holi Celebration
Many of our Indian colleagues celebrated Holi - the festival of lights and colours.
Photo News
the place of unity as a strategy for achieving gender equity: STAR Education - Parent - Teacher Meeting in Manipur: NewGlobe India team celebrates International Women’s Day:
Top left to right: EKOEXCEL staff celebrating International Women’s Day: Bridge Liberia partners with national government to commemorate International Women’s Day: Bridge Nigeria Celebrates International Women’s Day: NewGlobe -
Photo of the Policy and Partnerships leadership meeting in Rwanda: KwaraLEARN's Communications Director, Bolanle Olukoju, leads an insightful conversation during the #IWD2023 Focus Sessions: BayelsaPRIME female staff emphasise
NewGlobe team picking up the ‘Learning Provider of the Year’ Award with UK TV show host Claudia Winkleman!
Culture Perfect
The work we do at NewGlobe is transformative and requires high levels of interaction with people It is important to empathize with people, sometimes I try to put myself in my colleagues' shoes and understand things from their perspective. I continuously remind myself that I must be open to feedback from my colleagues so I can make changes to improve my work. Interaction with people is crucial and requires good listening skills and effective communication.
Innovation at NewGlobe involves a dynamic set of activities that gives birth to new ideas aimed at transforming learning outcomes around the world
My work involves creating and supporting the implementation of new ideas across teams within NewGlobe Through this, I offer knowledge, skills, opportunities and hands-on support to teams to create and implement new ideas For example, coaching writers and managers on how to develop teacher guides and the use of student performance data to inform instruction
Angeline Teaway
The work we do at NewGlobe has a strong positive influence on the communities we serve The impact can be seen in the improved learning outcomes of pupils in both reading and numerical skills.
The schools also experience improved teacher attendance and ultimately receive tremendous support from parents and educational stakeholders
The desire to always improve and go beyond expectations and targets drives my work at Bridge Liberia.
Marie Nadine Isimbi
Virginia Muange
Tea or Coffee?
Time out with Enoh Ugbona
In this edition, we caught up with Enoh Ugbona, Managing Director of EKOEXCEL, Enoh shares her passion for education, motivation and career journey
Can you kindly tell us what you do, your background and your career?
I am the current Managing Director of the EKOEXCEL program, having previously worked for Inlaks Ltd, an Information Technology Systems Integrator, where I was General Manager, Business Operations and Strategy Planning/Execution for Africa. I was hired to restructure the company's business operations unit, which would include functional areas such as Sales Operations, Information Systems, Brand/Marketing, Legal, Customer
Success, Governance, Risk, and Compliance. I was also the CEO's Technical Assistant for Strategy Planning and Execution
I also worked at Oracle as the Business Operations Manager/Sales Business Analyst for West and Central Africa. Before joining Oracle, I worked for Cisco in West Africa as the Business Operations and Partner-Led Manager I have also served as a Program Coordinator for the International Red Cross covering West Africa
I am happily married to Temofe Ugbona and we have been married for almost 12 years. We have 2 boys 11 and 8 years
How long have you worked at NewGlobe?
2 years and 2 months
What do you like most about working at NewGlobe?
For over 20 years I have been drawn towards driving operational excellence in local and international companies, and NewGlobe brought another perspective of using technology to drive pupils’ learning outcomes at scale which is unique
A lot of people know you as Enoh MD of EKOEXCEL but we would like to get to know you on a more personal levelDescribe yourself using one word.
Persistent No matter the situation, the desire to get to the finish line keeps me motivated.
You are a woman in leadership and we can assume that your position comes with a lot of responsibilities and almost no downtime. When you do get some free time, how do you like to spend it?
Interestingly, I love to watch football I am a Liverpool fan I also love to play chess and lawn tennis. I listen to music alongside audio motivational messages and books
What advice would you give to your 25year-old self?
You can become whoever you want, be confident in yourself, and stay focused on your goals
The world is currently plagued by so many challenges at the moment, if allowed to change one thing in the world what would it be?
If we could just love one another and look out for each other this world will be a better place
Your favorite destination in the world and why?
I love spending time with the family in Sapele, Delta State, because it is a peaceful place and I am close to nature, especially after the hustle and bustle of Lagos. I also love visiting Houston, Texas, USA, and Alberta, Calgary, Canada
As a woman who has risen the corporate ladder, I imagine you have faced some tough challenges. What has been the most difficult one and how did you navigate it?
This will be my resumption at NewGlobe a day before the commencement of the training of over 2,000 teachers after the COVID-19 pandemic and being able to successfully work with my team to complete the 10 days of training against all odds from the government stakeholders
This month is International Women’s Day. What would you like to say to women at NewGlobe
As a woman, your background or gender doesn’t define who you will become and shouldn’t stop you from achieving your goals.
On a final note, are you a Tea or coffee?
I just love my water
Meet the NewGlobian Sapam Anjana
March's NewGlobian is Sapam Anjana based in India Manipur. Sapam Anjana has worked at NewGlobe since April 2022 as a Schools supervisor. She is based in Manipur, India and takes care of 19 schools under her supervision. Immediately after she completed my Master’s Degree, she worked with an education-based NGO- Teach For NorthEast, before joining NewGlobe. Her job at STAR Education entails working with the school headmasters in administering and improving the functioning of the school with the help of available data.
March 8th 2023 is a day set aside to celebrate women, can you please tell us about your experience working at NewGlobe and do you have any advice for Women at NewGlobe?
Growing up, we were always told that men and women are treated differently at work, women get lesser opportunities etc. But at NewGlobe, each gender is equal and I am amazed at the number of women holding positions at the higher management level. I have never faced any gender discrimination either verbally or in any of my interactions Employees respect each other and cooperate to achieve the larger goals of the programme Each individual’s contribution is highly appreciated irrespective of gender differences.
My advice to all women would be, “Live up to your passion, do not fear or hold back yourself because the world needs YOU”
Tell us what you like the most about working at NewGlobe and what you find most challenging.
Manipur is an economically disadvantaged state in India with its primary occupation being agriculture and daily wage workers. From the perspective of education, this calls for a strong, competitive and advanced public education system in the state to provide better opportunities for
Meet the NewGlobian
Sapam Anjana
children. The quality of the public education system is deteriorating. In line with the above-mentioned background, Personally, the most challenging thing is working with government partners and also this is the exact thing I like the most about working at NewGlobe
We work for a change, a change for a better tomorrow through education on a large scale I also like the fact that I work with a team that is diverse and upholds each other.
What are your career goals and how does being at NewGlobe help you achieve them or put you on the right path to getting there?
I believe that education plays a dominant role in uplifting and advancing society. This belief leads to my career goal which is to actively work towards enhancing educational equity and quality in underdeveloped regions The focus is children in the age group of 6-14 NewGlobe provides me with the platform to start working towards my career goal which also gives me a clearer picture of what challenges lie ahead and how they can be addressed and reduced. NewGlobe provides me with practical experiences
What activities do you like to do outside of work to relax?
My go-to activities to relax are listening to my favourite music, getting tangled in my collection of books and exploring recipes
Around the Globe Discover Kigali
Our destination of the month is Kigali, Rwanda Kigali is home to the RwandaEQUIP program and played host to the NewGlobe Policy and Partnerships workshop earlier this month Kigali is the capital and largest city in Rwanda, a small landlocked country in eastcentral Africa. Known for its stunning hills and valleys, Kigali is one of the most beautiful cities in Africa
The official languages of Rwanda are Kinyarwanda, French, and English, with Kinyarwanda being the most widely spoken. Christianity is the dominant religion, followed by Islam and traditional African religions
Population: 1.4 million people
Language: Kinyarwanda, French, and English
Kigali is also home to several parks and natural attractions, including Nyungwe Forest National Park, a biodiverse rainforest with over 13 primate species, 300 bird species, and hundreds of plant species. The city is also located near
the beautiful Lake Kivu, which is surrounded by rolling hills and offers visitors opportunities for swimming, boating, and fishing.
Rwanda's economy is primarily based on agriculture, with coffee, tea, and bananas being the top export crops. Kigali is a hub for trade and commerce in the country.
5 Fun Facts about Kigali
1. Kigali is one of the cleanest cities in Africa, with strict regulations on littering and pollution.
2. Rwanda is known for its mountain gorillas, and visitors can trek to see them in the nearby Volcanoes National Park.
3. In 2020, Kigali was ranked the 2nd safest city in Africa by Numbeo, a global database of quality of life indicators
4. Hillywood is another name for Kigali City The word Hillywood is a combination of hills and Hollywood. This name was given to Kigali because Kigali's domestic film industry is advancing and the city is located in a hilly area
5. The Nyabarongo River, part of the upper headwaters of the Nile, forms the western and southern borders of the administrative city of Kigali, this river lies somewhat outside the built-up urban area The largest river running through the city is the Nyabugogo River
Work and Balance
“Be
Work and balance have always been a struggle for me The problem is I love work, so separating the two is near impossible. When I was asked to write this article I told one of our colleagues and they laughed and said, good luck, this should be the ultimate challenge for you I’ve been working internationally for 10 years now, (1 5 of those years with NewGlobe) and when I first started my family and friends said that the only reason I chose to travel abroad is so that I would have no one close enough to me that would yell at me to stop working all the time it didn’t work, members of the New Opps team still give me a hard time for it, but I do believe I am getting better at managing it Let me go ahead and try to outline how I solve the issue of work and balance in three different ways.
moderate to taste the joys of life in abundance”
- Daniel Campos
Geri Mezzoni, Academic Director, New Opportunities based in Boston. Pictures from left to right were taken in Islamabad, Mizoram, and Bayelsa.
Family First
It’s always been a rule in my family that wherever we are, family comes first Whether it is a video call or in person, we are always there for each other. My niece and nephew enjoy playing, “Where in the world is Aunty Geri over a WhatsApp call” (it usually ends up with them telling me to come home, but they are learning their geography) Bananagrams is also a fun virtual game to play. But most importantly it’s the sharing of stories, smiles and laughs Many times I can get wrapped up in work and feel I don’t have time for a quick family call, but it always turns out that a five or ten-minute call with the family is the exact medicine I need to help me focus and get back on track. Try it, fingers are crossed it’ll work for you too
Do what you love and love what you do
Okay, this one is kind of cheating, but hear me out. The work never ends. All of you who have been with NewGlobe for a while now know this. All of you who are new to NewGlobe will learn it soon enough if you haven’t already It’s not just you It’s everyone in the company (well at least everyone in the company that I’ve spoken to about this). Because the work never ends you need to make sure you take breaks Don’t burn yourself out, we need you. I am so fortunate that I get to see magnificent new places and meet amazing new people. If I didn’t take time to breathe in the fresh air and taste the food in the local shops I would miss out on those one-off conversations I have with people who I randomly bump into in the street. Every new interaction I have helps me to understand the ‘landscape’ of where we are/will be working These little breaks help me to do my job better.
Be Yourself
I’ve without a doubt jumped down a rabbit hole with this one, you can skip right to 3 if you’d like, but I do think the number one way for me to have work and balance, is for the two to be the same. I do not change my personality at work. When I write emails, I tell all of you how awesome you are in the email I do the same when I’m writing to my family and friends. I do that, one because you truly are awesome and need to know that, but also because that’s how I write I write what I’m thinking and say what I’m thinking I do try to take cues from the room, for example, if we’re in a government meeting, I try not to spurt out that I think the minister has a nice hat or that the secretary’s shoes match their shirt Sometimes closing my mouth works Many times it’s hard though, that’s who I am, and by being myself it’s hard for me to see the work/balance thing, because I’m happy, so there’s no need to separate the two Except of course when I see trees that are just calling to be climbed, that without a doubt is not in my JD, but I need to do wherever I go because that also makes me happy and is me being myself.
Prioritise life goals
Some of your life goals may be to have a good job or raise a happy and healthy family. Perfect Go for it You’re already doing the first one by being here I am almost certain though that none of you would’ve joined this job if one of your life goals wasn’t to do something good in this world. NewGlobe’s mission is to provide millions of children with a life-changing education and all of us are a part of that My life goal of ensuring children receive a quality education aligns perfectly with that of NewGlobe. Whatever we need to do to achieve our goals, let’s do it As you prioritise your life goals we will all continue to work towards the common goal which is NewGlobe’s mission Don’t forget to take time for your family, do what you love, and be yourself along the way. It’ll make the fuzzy line of work and balance just a little more okay
Recipe of the Month n Malpua
powder. Malpua is often made during festivals like Holi, Navratri and Diwali, special occasions and are a street food as well. Soft and fluffy on the inside, yet crisp and lacy on the outside, these syrup dipped pancakes are a real treat.
Ingredients:
• 1 cup all purpose flour
• 2 tablespoon khoya
• 1 teaspoon powdered green cardamom
• 2 tablespoon chopped pistachios
• saffron as required
• 1 tablespoon semolina
• water as required
• 1 1/2 cup refined oil
• 10 gm readymade rabri
• 1 1/2 cup sugar syrup
Cooking Methods:
Step 1 - Making Malpua Batter
·In a mixing bowl take the all-purpose flour, fennel seeds and cardamom powder. Mix the dry ingredients well.
·Add the khoya and curd (yogurt). Please use fresh yogurt Instead of khoya you can also use milk powder.
·Add water and begin to stir to a thick or medium-thick flowing batter without lumps.
·Cover the bowl and allow the batter to rest for 30 minutes
·Meanwhile when the batter is resting blanch the almonds and pistachios in hot water Keep them soaked in hot water for 20 to 30 minutes. Then peel and slice them Keep aside
Step 2 - Making Sugar Syrup
In a pan take sugar and water Stir so that the sugar dissolves. On a low heat simmer this mixture.
·You need to have a ½ string or 1 string consistency in the sugar syrup If you cannot achieve these string consistencies than just make a sticky syrup
The sugar needs to be kept warm For this keep the sugar syrup on a hot water bath so that it stays warm throughout and does not crystallize
Meaning you have to keep the sugar syrup pan on a bowl or another pan filled with hot water. The hot water should touch the base of the pan containing the sugar syrup.
Step 2 - Making Malpua
·Heat ghee in a frying pan or skillet.
·When the ghee is heating up add baking soda to the batter
·Stir to combine so that the baking soda is mixed evenly with the batter
Lower the heat Take 2 to 3 tablespoons or a ladle of the batter and gently pour it on the hot ghee.
·Spread the batter lightly with the back of the spoon. Make 2 to 4 malpua depending on the size of the frying pan
Fry until both sides are golden flipping the malpua as needed for a couple of times.
·Drain them on paper towels to remove excess oil.
