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Open.Ed | Project Backpack:

How We Learn About Learning in a Ugandan Refugee Camp

May 4, 2023 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM

259 10th Avenue, New York, NY 10001

Education starts at home… no matter where home is. Learn about Avenues’ partnership with Pangaea Educational Development in the Imvepi Refugee settlement in Uganda to help bring basic education to children thousands of miles away… and what that is teaching us about how we approach learning here.

The event will be live-streamed for those unable to attend in person.

Note: In-person attendance is limited. Vaccination is required for all in-person guests eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine. The health and safety of our community is our utmost priority, and the offering of in-person visits is subject to the health and safety conditions (including but not limited to vaccination status, mask requirements and social distancing recommendations), as well as state and country guidance, at any given point throughout the year.

Meet Our Speakers

Todd Shy
Head of Upper Division

Todd Shy is this Open.Eds moderator and has taught for more than twenty-five years in Cary, North Carolina, San Francisco, California, and New York City. He is currently Head of Upper Division at Avenues The World School in New York. Todd's recent book Teaching Life: Life Lessons for Aspiring (and Inspiring) Teachers was described by the founder of the Academy for Teachers as a “an eloquent love letter to teaching and to life.”

Drew Edwards
Co-Founder, CEO

Drew Edwards is the Chief Executive Officer at Pangea Educational Educational Development. He is a former Qatar Foundation WISE Fellow on Refugee Education, holds a Master of Education (M.Ed.) from Harvard University, a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in International Studies from DePaul University. He has spent 15 years working with children in post-conflict and crisis settings, where he has focused on informal and primary education in low-resource settings. In his free time, Drew is a coach, carpenter, and children’s book author.

Praharsha Gurram
Project Backpack Intern and Statistician

Praharsha Gurram is a high school senior at Avenues New York. As a part of Project Backpack, he analyzed student EGRA testing at regular intervals to explore how effective technology-based learning could be as a supplement to classroom learning. More broadly, Praharsha is interested in public service and policy; he has previously interned at the Office of Congresswoman Grace Meng, and is a frequent volunteer at his local NYC Community Board. In his free time, he likes playing basketball with his friends and watching Formula 1 races.

Işıl Çelimli
Research Scientist

Işıl Çelimli is a research scientist on the Research & Development Team at Avenues The World School. Trained as a sociologist, she previously worked at Columbia University and Middle East Technical University as a lecturer. Her research areas are qualitative research methods, thinking skills, human development and learning, and organizational health. She co-authored (with Julia Higdon) “Putting writing into perspective: Cultivating empathy through high-intensity writing practice,” published in The Journal of Educational Research. Currently, Işıl serves as the managing editor for ElementsEd: Research + Insight + Strategies.