Teaching Together 2025: Collaboration Across Cultures
submitted by Arla Connell,
Grade 5 English Generalist, Maple Grove Elementary
Have you ever heard of The Gambia? When I first received the news in November that I had been accepted into the CTF/FCE Teaching Together 2025 program, I hadn’t.
My initial elation at the chance to travel to Africa was quickly tempered by a healthy dose of panic. Eager to learn more about this small West African nation, I put on my teacher’s hat and began researching. Despite its modest size—especially when compared to Canada—The Gambia is home to a rich history, a vibrant culture, and a strong commitment to education, particularly in supporting the professional growth of new teachers. With that knowledge, I was more than ready to pack my bags.
This past summer, from July 6 to 27, I was part of a team of Canadian teachers sent to The Gambia. Under the umbrella of Education International and aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, the Canadian Teachers’ Federation/Fédération canadienne des enseignantes et des enseignants (CTF/FCE) sent 57 teachers from across Canada to 11 countries in Africa and the Caribbean. I was fortunate to be part of one of two Canadian teams working in The Gambia. Our goal? To co-facilitate professional development for new teachers.
It is important to emphasize that this initiative was built on partnership. More specifically, it represents a long-standing relationship between CTF/FCE and the Gambia Teachers’ Union (GTU). For many years, these two organizations have worked together to provide high-quality professional development opportunities for GTU members. The workshops—covering topics such as collaboration, communication, and effective classroom management, to name just a few—are created and delivered by Gambian professionals in partnership with Canadian teachers.
Over the course of two and a half weeks, our team worked with young Gambian educators in the city of Farafenni and on the island of Janjanbureh. Together, we explored ways to strengthen collaboration within schools, promote positive leadership both inside and outside the classroom, and organize classrooms more effectively to support student learning. We also engaged in meaningful discussions on how climate change is impacting students’ lives, among many other topics. If the walls of the Farafenni Youth Centre or the Region 5 Education Office in Janjanbureh could talk, they would tell the story of how a small group of Canadian teachers and young Gambian educators proved that, no matter where we live, teachers share the same passion, challenges, and commitment to their students.
I am deeply grateful to the Teaching Together program. Words cannot fully convey how much this experience has enriched my life, both personally and professionally. I came away with a renewed understanding of the vital role teachers’ unions play in supporting educators, the importance of ensuring quality and accessible education for both students and teachers, and the reminder that teachers—no matter where they are from—share the same dedication and commitment to their profession.
Do I know where The Gambia is? Now I do—and I’ve left a piece of my heart there to prove it.
