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Remembering Our Purpose - Abiye Tekle
Posted by Roger Dickinson on 15 August 2016 4:35 PM CAT
Welcome to the 1st Annual African Spelling Bee; where we celebrate education and the love of reading one word at a time. African Spelling Bee Consortium is a leading continental organization working to strengthen the value of education and promote healthy educational competition among our youths. As stated by Nelson Mandela, “Education is the most powerful weapon you can use to change the world” With this quote from a beloved, adored, and respected African as a catalyst, African Spelling Bee sprung to life a year ago to serve our community in the continental Africa. Nine different African Spelling Bee organizations engendered African Spelling Bee Consortium and through these mediums, we strove to promote academic excellence, to develop human resources, and above all help children of Africa and their family achieve success regardless of religion, gender and geographic origin both in Africa. These educational contests are designed to encourage and provide supportive and positive learning environment in which every child has the opportunity to develop life lasting skills, which in turn fosters self-confidence and personal growth. We are committed supporters of education, which is why the spelling bee competition is one of a series of our continental wide initiatives to help inspire children to achieve greater heights in education.
At this turning point in our history, it is important to prepare children to compete in the global economy; the benefits of school wide activities such as spelling bees help students acquire skills which are needed in today’s global competitive work place. At ASB we advocate the new and evidence based teaching methods that improve language comprehension, such as teaching word pattern, the exception to pattern and various grammar/spelling rules which has supplicated the rote memorization of word methods of the past. Even with the advent of new technologies youngsters need to master the building blocks of spelling; a good grasp of spelling will make itself felt as children mature and communicate through e-mails, letters, essays, and reports throughout their personal, academic and professional lives. Here at ASB, we believe good spelling habit/practice creates an environment where the writer’s message to the reader is unimpeded; where he/she is the most influential communicator; furthermore, good spelling is the component of effectiveness in the writer’s communication and messages. We believe that in order for children to spell well, it is necessary and important they read widely and learn the meaning of words, it all comes together to produce the basis for a child’s success throughout school, professional, and personal lives.
The growing global interdependence trend that characterizes our time calls for a generation of individuals who can engage in effective global problem solving and participate simultaneously in local, national, and global civic life; put simply, preparing our students to participate in today’s and tomorrow’s world demands that, we nurture their global educational competence.
Our organization seeks to increase knowledge and enhance dialogue, encourage creative expression, and generate new ideas across the fields of culture and education. ASB in partnership with parents, teachers, schools, and concerned citizens, governmental and non-governmental organizations is steadfast to develop youth to be globally competent citizens, workers, and leaders by equipping them with the knowledge and skills needed for success in an increasingly interconnected world. In the spirit of “educational opportunity for all children,” we believe you will join us to make our aims and objectives a reality and contribute your efforts to the transformation of a continent.
Abiye Tekle
Founder of Ethiopian American Spelling Bee, Ethiopian Spelling Bee, and Co- founder of African Spelling Bee.
