Giving Compass' Take:

• Imagine Scholar is a youth and educational development initiative in South Africa that helps kids turn their passions into project-based learning and instruction. 

• How does the model that Imagine Scholar uses value student-centered learning? 

• Read the Giving Compass Guide in how to support STEM education. 

Three years ago, Phila had never touched a computer. Soon after joining our after-school program and being exposed to the likes of Code.org and programming lessons on Khan Academy, he started showing up at 7 a.m. on Saturdays to cram in two hours of lessons prior to class time. Three years later, he’s developed two apps and started a coding club to mentor younger students.

At Imagine Scholar, a youth and educational development initiative in South Africa, I get to work with curious, ignited, conscientious youth who boast an array of curiosities and passions, which we channel into projects they care about.

During our 7-month selection process, we do not look for the smartest kid. Instead, the kind of student who is successful is the one who most wants to be here. Students in our program attend an average of 25 hours a week—all on top of their government schooling. It's a big commitment, and we are constantly impressed by how dedicated our scholars are to their own growth, and how far they’re willing to go to achieve their goals.

In the long term, we aim to provide scaffolding for youth to be able to tackle extraordinary situations, challenges, and opportunities. While we can’t know how each student will choose to manifest this in their lifetime, we do know that the success of their actualization will depend on their ability to learn and how well they can connect with other people. Over the last nine years, we’ve come to believe that a user’s guide to cognition is an incredibly effective tool to empower youth.

Read the full article about Imagine Scholar by Megan Nellis at EdSurge