Inbal Alon: Portrait of an international educator

E-180′s So you think you’re an educator is a series of portraits showcasing the work of individuals and organizations who redefine, by their work or their ideas, what it means to be an educator.

Inbal is a rare diamond. You know: the kind of person that immediately stands out because of her dedication, passion and vision. She just is. And from what I have seen, it inspires every single person she meets.
Inbal has worked with non-profit organizations to promote access to education for all children. Among many things, she has worked in Uganda with former child soldiers and children affected by conflict, in Tanzania with Congolese refugees, and in Kenya with youth committed to peace. Currently, Inbal works for the Bantwana Initiative, dedicated to providing comprehensive care and support to children orphaned and made vulnerable by HIV and AIDS.

Here’s her story, in her own words.

____________________________________________

Current job
Program Officer
Bantwana Initiative, World Education

Studies
Bachelor of Public Affairs and Policy Management, Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada
Master of Education, International Education Policy, Harvard University
Photography, high school, and my dad
Creative writing, from all my favorite authors

What does education means to you?
Education to me is a process that empowers people to be the best version of themselves. I think we all have something important to contribute to this world, and good education gives (or at least should give) us the skills and the language to achieve our potential. My involvement with education has mainly been in a supportive role, meaning, I am usually not the teacher, but I support programs that help to get the kids in the school, or support teachers to do a better job. Mainly I work in Africa on programs that support children who have been left out of school, such as orphans or children affected by conflict, to have the opportunity to get back into school and learn like other children. Sometimes, when I have the opportunity to interact directly with young people, I encourage them to dream and to have a vision of their best future. A big part of education, in my opinion, and motivation, and re-igniting in people the desire to learn and to create.

What brought you to that view of education?
I have been blessed by having so many supportive people around me throughout my life. From childhood to now, I have always had people around me that believe in me, in my talents, and in my potential to contribute to the world. The more I saw of the world, the more I realized that no everyone has this kind of support. That’s where my vision of education comes through, to give every child, regardless of where he or she is born, the opportunity to learn in a safe environment that nurtures curiosity and builds self-confidence.

Tell us a story, something that inspired you to do the work you do.
When I worked in Northern Uganda, I was part of a team that managed a very large scholarship program for children who had been affected by the 20 years of conflict in the region. Many of our beneficiaries were former child soldiers, or girls who had been abducted and raped, or children who lived in villages that got attacked. Secondary education was not free at the time in Uganda (there are some efforts now that are just starting to cover some of the school fees for secondary school by the government) and the demand for our program was much more than we could handle. We’d often have huge line ups outside our office, mainly people who had applied and wanted to check up on their progress. Young people would come day after day, walking long distances, to try again and again to get their chance. One day, a student came in asking if he had been accepted. I recognized him as he had been there many times before, and unfortunately, he was not one of the students we could sponsor. Although I knew he was not one of our students, I decided to double check, our of respect for his determination. As chance would have it, we had actually made an error and Morris was supposed to be one of our students, hidden before by a mistake in our data entry. When I told Morris, he was so surprised he could barely speak.
‘You can go to school, we have you registered at a vocational school in Kitgum,’ I told him, ‘we have a truck taking some students there that is leaving in two hours… I know it is short notice.’
‘Madam, it is ok. I will be back here. Thank you. Thank you Thank you.’
An hour later, Morris was back, with all of his belongings in a small box, ready to go on the truck, to a town he has never been, with people he does not know, and he was delighted.
I remembered my own preparations going to college, the weeks leading up to it, packing and unpacking, visiting the place, contacting my roommate. Even moving to Uganda was a production, a few days of trying to decide what to bring, months of mental preparation for the big change. And here was this young man, ready, willing, excited to pack his entire life with a one hour notice, for a chance at education. I realized thanks to Morris that youth in Africa are hungry for opportunities to be education, to gain skills, to have an opportunity for a good job, to make something of themselves. I admire this courage, strength, and passion for opportunities, and it is this hunger for education that motivates me to do the work I do.

How did you learn the skills you needed in order to make the jump from the classroom to international education?
I would say that working in international development you learn the most by being in the field. All the classes and reports in the world cannot prepare you for what it feels like to try and conduct a workshop outside under a tree with groups of kids pointing at you because you look different, or how paralyzed you feel sometimes in a refugee camp with so much suffering, or how amazing it feels to see a group of girls leading a performance about human rights, or how frustrating it can be to plan something and have none of it work out but remain flexible to plan it again. I learned my skills by listening a lot to people I respect and trust, especially friends from countries where I have worked. I have also learned a lot by doing, just jumping into things, recognizing that I am going to make some mistakes, and working with people to improve. Whenever I start something new, I consult with a lot of colleagues, other organizations, and beneficiaries of the program, to try and create something that works for all of us and draws on our collective knowledge and skills.

Anything else you want to share?
Over the years I have recognized that in addition to contributing to education programs in Africa, I also have an important role to play in educating others about the work I do and some of the stories I come across. I have come to see my role as building bridges, between the places I work and the rest of the world. I think there is huge potential in initiatives that link people across places in a positive way, such as inter-cultural exchanges, micro-lending, scholarship programs, fair-trade and others, and I think all of these programs depend on people caring about others, the ability to empathize. I really enjoy creative writing so over the years I have written to my family and friends about my experiences, so that I can share with them a bit of my experiences and in doing so allow them to see a bit of another part of the world. I believe that through stories we can help people to see the world through another person’s eyes, and through this empathy, we develop care, and care can lead into action, global action and change which is so needed.

_________________________________

You can follow Inbal’s amazing work and thoughts on her blog.
Also, feel free to contact her if you want some advice on how to make the jump into international education: inbal.alon@gmail.com

So you think you’re an educator?

Thanks to Turtle Dove Photography

What does it mean anyway? It usually means that you are either working in a daycare or that you’re a teacher. I developed a great passion for education after a life-changing trip to Guatemala, when I was only 19. My parents were not too sure if they should let me go to this post-civil war country with 4 other excited girls. Knowing what I know now, they shouldn’t have, but hey, travel broadens the mind, right?!

Anyhow, after this 2 month trip where we taught basic computer skills and English to young Mayans, I felt that I wanted to do something meaningful for humanity, something that would make a difference, something that would matter. Journalism? Politics? Education. Nothing more efficient to change the world than discussing human rights and cultural diversity with 350 students, once a week to change the course of humanity. I would then create an army of multiplying agents, spreading over the world my ideals of solidarity and social change. That was the plan. Slightly arrogant, I’ll give you that.

So I enrolled in a Bachelor’s degree in High School education, with Ethics and History minors (yeah, we have that in Quebec…). I then rediscovered something that I had forgotten since my own schooling years: school can suck. Not all the time, not everywhere, not with every teacher. But generally, youth are bored, they feel trapped, they don’t care, they don’t know what the heck they are doing sitting 7 hours a day, and they can’t wait to get out of there. Just ask around: most people didn’t like school.

Big distinction here: most people didn’t like school. Does it mean they didn’t like learning? Not at all. But keeping quiet all day waiting for someone to tell you what you should be thrilled about has very little to do with learning.

Don’t get me wrong, schools are essential: they give the children something to do while the parents are at work, they bring societal cohesion and provide the basic skills we all need to contribute to our community and to understand the world in which we live. But school is not the only way to educate. And schools don’t provide a fulfilling professional life for all educators, for all their career.

So back to my first question: what is an educator? An educator fosters individual and collective development; an educator sees learning opportunities where others see a simple encounter; an educator diagnoses learning issues an offer solutions. Educators can provide support and ideas wherever knowledge is transmitted.

Over the Summer, I’ll share with you the portraits of several educators from all over the world who decided to dropout of the school as we know it and explore other ways to educate. They are filmmakers, authors, politicians, social entrepreneurs, researchers, executives. They’re self-employed or they work for Right to play, Learning Matters, The Door, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, UNICEF or the Cirque du Soleil. And they’ll share their experience with you.

What they all believe in?
That education is the most efficient way to create sustainable social change.
And that we should set the educators free.

Contact me if you feel your experience can provide insights on how to be an educator outside of schools.

The Portraits:

Inbal Alon: Portrait of an international educator