African Leadership Academy finds innovative ways to make our curriculum relevant to the real world. Last year, David Scudder, head of Life Sciences, challanged his Biology class students to write mock proposals to the Global Fund, presenting possible solutions to HIV, TB, or malaria for a target population in a specific African country.

 

Wilfred Griekspoor, the former Chairman of the Global Fund, is a longtoime supporter of ALA, and very much an active participant in the Global Fund proposal vetting process. Mr. Griekspoor kindly agreed to read eight of the proposals and give feedback directly to the students on them.

 

On November 9, Mr. Griekspoor spent 2 hours discussing not only how to write a proposal to Global Fund standards, but also how the students’ proposals could possibly be realized. His insightful comments and strategic thinking offered our students real-world opportunities to apply their knowledge to problems that have affected their lives.

 

Mr. Griekspoor also spoke with each student individually, not only discussing their proposals but also role-playing the process with them, with Mr. Griekspoor playing the role of evaluator and each student having to think on the spot as they faced the types of logistical questions that experience has taught Mr. Griekspoor.

 

This invaluable feedback has led some of the students to consider the feasibility of actually implementing their Biology Class projects as real-world opportunities to improve the lives of their fellow Africans.To cap off this amazing experience,  Mr. Griekspoor plans to visit ALA in early December to meet with these proteges personally.

Proposal: Create and distribute a monthly youth magazine that directly discusses the different aspects surrounding sexually transmitted infections and HIV/AIDS and will provide general information about the diseases and, highlighting the most common problems faced by adolescents in Africa.

Proposed by: Kylie Marais

Download and read the full proposal (139 kb, pdf)