As 2019 draws to a close, we’re looking forward to delivering even more life-changing impact in 2020. As well as looking forward, we’re taking stock of 2019—you can explore our most popular blogs from 2019 below.

Click on the titles, or keep scrolling for a summary of each.

Stay tuned to Bridge all year round using your favourite social network(s)—we’re on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube, or sign up to our monthly newsletter for a regular digest of our work. 

Top 10 blogs

1. Bridge showcased at the Education World Forum
2. More women in the boardroom? Start with more girls in the classroom
3. Bridge join millions for the ‘World’s Largest Lesson’
4. Are you in the 86%?
5. Bridge teacher becomes TV star
6. Bridge named as a Top Ten Employer in Africa for those who ‘want to make a real difference to society’
7. Teachers Transform Lives
8. UNGA: Now is not the time for talking—it’s the time for action
9. Bridge becomes inaugural Vanguard member of Million Lives Club
10. To manage, you must measure: working towards realising SDG 4

Check out our highlights from previous years: 2018 | 2017

Bridge pupils celebrate Day of Education at the Nigerian Stock Exchange

In January, 50 of our Bridge Nigeria pupils helped to celebrate the very first International Day of Education through touring the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE). On this trip, pupils learnt about the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and capital markets.

More women in the boardroom? Start with more girls in the classroom

Ahead of International Women’s Day, we made the case for prioritising girls’ education, and the need to bring girls into the classroom. Few areas are as gender imbalanced as education in the developing world. Learn more about why the rural-urban divide has made education disproportionately unequal.

Bridge join millions for the ‘World’s Largest Lesson’

In March, Bridge pupils from India, Kenya, Liberia, Nigeria and Uganda joined pupils from all around the world to participate in The World’s Largest Lesson — a United Nations initiative to teach children about all 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Are you in the 86%?

Ahead of Book Lovers’ Day, it was important to reflect on the worryingly high number of people around the world that do not have access to the most basic levels of education that would enable them to read and write. If you’re reading this blog, you are one of the fortunate 86% that’s literate. 

Bridge teacher becomes TV star

August was an exciting month for Bridge! MaryJane Ikeakaonwu, a teacher from Bridge, Daddy Savage in Lagos, was a contestant on Nigeria’s very first Teachers Reality TV Show. The show was endorsed by the Federal Ministry of Education as well as the Teacher Registration Council of Nigeria. It shone a spotlight on the incredible work that teachers do across the country in building the nation’s future!  

Bridge named as a Top Ten Employer in Africa for those who ‘want to make a real difference to society’

Every year, African Business magazine releases the results of their study which determines what makes a great employer in Africa. This year, we were delighted to have been ranked eighth amongst organisations that have the ‘ability to make a real difference to society’. We continue to pride ourselves on the role we play in improving the lives of all of our pupils. Take a look at our current vacancies here.    

Teachers Transform Lives

In October, we launched our #TeachersTransformLives campaign to shed light on the incredible work that teachers do to inspire the minds of their pupils. The campaign also advocated for better teacher training and professional development to demonstrate how any teacher can be supported and empowered to succeed in the classroom. 

UNGA: Now is not the time for talking—it’s the time for action

At the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), global and national leaders come together to discuss how to achieve sustainable development. Co-founder of Bridge, Dr. Shannon May was crowdsourced to be the 2019 keynote speaker for Business Fights Poverty. She spoke about the importance of governments and communities working together with the private sector in order to transform education systems.

Bridge becomes inaugural Vanguard member of Million Lives Club

We are delighted to have become an inaugural Vanguard member of the Million Lives Club, a brand new initiative to celebrate and cherish innovators and social entrepreneurs, and the impact they make in society. Founding members were unveiled at the October Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) meeting as a way to increase transparency amongst donor governments.   

To manage, you must measure: working towards realising SDG 4

The 2019 SDG 4 Data Digest from the UNESCO Institute for Statistics has reaffirmed the vital need for accurate information in order to measure progress. At our current pace, one-in-six children aged 6-17 will still be out of school by 2030, meaning we would have failed to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 4.