Our Mission

Mission

Education Beyond Borders is a non-profit, non-denominational NGO devoted to closing the global education divide through teacher professional development and community education. Our organization focuses on the building of teacher leaders as the key to quality education for all. We work primarily, but not exclusively, in developing countries, in order to build self-reliance, health, and capacity.

In short, the purpose of Education Beyond Borders is to invite, gather, distil, synthesize, and disseminate the best collective wisdom from teacher leaders from every culture to make all teachers even more effective in contributing to the creation of a world that works for all.

At 85 million, teachers are the largest single group of trained professionals in the world AND the key to our children's future. According to the U.N.'s "Education for All" initiative, the numbers of pupils per teacher decreased in 121 of 146 countries between 1990 and 2012 at the primary level, but 4 million more teachers are still needed to get all children into school. Trained teachers remain in short supply in one third of countries; in several sub-Saharan African countries, less than 50 percent are trained. The issues are complicated by the number of children who do not go to school at all - 104 million, 50% of who live in countries touched by conflict. 

Despite its crucial connection to economic and social development, teacher training is often uneven, protracted, or unsupported. In addition, teachers are rarely included in educational policy change or significant decision-making. Teachers are not just a resource for our children; they are the key to development. They know who is sick, who is missing, who has been abducted into the sex trade or conscripted into a military gang, who has been orphaned by AIDS, who is achieving and who is not. In short, teachers are society's glue, and they certainly deserve our assistance; otherwise, we are all left with a gaping digital, educational, and economic divide. If the key to economic development and our young people's future is education, then teachers should have resources, tools, and access to the Internet, as well as each other.

Members

We are an organization comprised of teachers and volunteers, supported by all those who believe in education as a passport to an optimistic future. People join Education Beyond Borders because they are interested in making contributions to education as a means to enhance the human condition. As a membership and volunteer-based organization, we are structured in a way that reflects the evidence of what makes good teaching. Local communities are empowered; leadership is developed; learning is intrinsic, rather than motivated by extrinsic rewards alone; we create together and rely upon each other; our endeavours are empirically tested, relevant, and focused on needs.

Approach

Education Beyond Borders does not plant flags; rather, we respond to requests for partnership in order to enhance teacher and community education. We form partnerships with and generate support from individuals, corporations, governments, NGOs, local/global agencies, and stakeholders. We clarify the benefits and incentives for participation. For us, education is a collaborative effort lasting a lifetime; our learning model is designed to connect global "best practices" to those - at the local level - who can build their capacity and, in so doing, change their communities. It is through this approach that we hope to connect schools for a continued and sustained relationship--enabling teachers and students to grow together through shared experiences and global education. EBB’s development model is designed to reinforce the Istanbul Principles and to systemically address Goal #4 (Quality Education) of the Sustainable Development Goals throughout our framework and activities.

Our Answers to some Philosophical Questions can be viewed here.

Our Logo

In coming up with a concept for our logo, I looked to nature. I was (and still am) always drawn to a dandelion going to seed. How it turns white and fluffy and how the seeds take off when you blow on it. I was told that you were suppose to make a wish when you blew on them (or was that when you caught and released them?). Regardless, that is what this logo represents: we are all seeds and with education we are set free to grow to be what ever we want to be and my wish would be for equitable quality education for all. Our logo can also represent a learning circle with teachers surrounding their learners. Also being circular to represent the world and a classroom—a global classroom. It also has enough mystery to leave it open to other interpretations. Enjoy! Education Beyond Borders logo and name are a registered trademark and you must have written consent to use for any purpose.

Non-Discrimination Policy

Education Beyond Borders prohibits discrimination against teachers in our Canadian-based organization and worldwide upon the basis of race, colour, gender, religion, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, or any other legally protected characteristic. Education Beyond Borders is firmly committed to a policy of equal opportunity in all aspects of employee relations, including employment, salary administration, employee development, promotion and transfer.

As a non-profit organization, we will not be permitted to assume lobbying functions regarding political positions at home or abroad. We can, however, promote the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, as determined by a United Nations charter, and articulate its components, within the context of our international work. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights focuses its attention on values they determine as inalienable, such as freedom, a respect for diversity, and the ability to participate in a democratic society.

Education Beyond Borders will reserve the right to terminate its agreements with those partners whose own non-discrimination policy is inconsistent with the values we have articulated above.