Celebrating World Teachers Day

What is World Teachers day?

In 1966 the ILO/UNESCO Recommendation Concerning the Status of Teachers was adopted which sets out benchmarks regarding the rights and responsibilities of teachers and standards for their initial preparation and further education, recruitment, employment, and teaching and learning conditions.

The Sustainable Development Goal 4 on education, and the dedicated target (SDG 4.c) recognized teachers as key to the achievement of the Education 2030 agenda. World Teachers Day has become the occasion to mark progress and reflect on ways to counter the remaining challenges for the promotion of the teaching profession.

World Teachers Day is celebrated on the 5th October every year and is brought to you in partnership with UNICEF, the International Labour Organization and Education International.

Here is a short video explaining more about what World Teachers Day is:

Why it’s important to us


The Steve Sinnott Foundation has been committed to developing and supporting teachers from the start.


Our very first project was building schools in Nepal’s Palpa District with Manisha UK, and since then we have enabled Manisha Nepal to develop an annual teacher training programme tailored to the needs of the schools and region. The programme offers continued support throughout the school year via the placement of volunteer senior teachers and Newly Qualified Teachers.


We have delivered programmes hosting groups of teachers from Sierra Leone in the UK for teacher training and professional development. We worked with EducAid so that the teachers have then been able to deliver the same programmes to their colleagues in Sierra Leone.


We have opened Learning Resource Centres in Haiti, Nepal and we are currently opening one in The Gambia later this year. These centres provide teaching and learning resources to support the local teachers, online and remote learning facilities, offer support and sharing of learning and expertise. They provide access to a global support structure where practical knowledge can be pooled, challenges can be discussed and solutions can be shared.


Working with teachers in Ghana, we supported the development of the ‘A Big Book’ project – a partnership between the Ghana Education Service, and the UK based Educators International. This project provided, in Ghana’s Northern Region, bilingual early-grade reading materials developed by Ghanaian teachers. We are continuing working in partnership with Cuban and Haitian teachers to develop and disseminate a literacy programme in Haitian Kreyòl in Haiti.


Our Chief Executive, Ann Beatty is the UNESCO ASPnet co-ordinator for the UK and through this network of over 11,000 schools worldwide we are continuing to promote global learning and access to Education For All. Being part of this community allows the Foundation to encourage children to learn about and understand different cultures; promote critical thinking, teach campaigning skills and help them to get actively involved in working to extend the benefits of education to everybody.


World Teachers Day is an opportunity for communities to celebrate and support how the work of teachers is changing the world for the better. 



How will you celebrate World Teachers Day?


The theme for the 2020 World Teachers Day is “Teachers: Leading in crisis, reimagining the future”. For us this highlights an essential point about the role of teachers in the world and why we are working to support them.


Right now, we are supporting teachers in The Gambia through our project with the Gambia Teachers Union to deliver solar radios to students throughout the rural areas. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, lessons are being broadcast through radio, but many children lack access to radios and have limited access to power. By delivering solar powered radios we have enabled over 3,800 children and teachers to access education in The Gambia during the pandemic so far.  


We are about to start our new Positive Periods campaign. This has been the result of 2 years of pilot research and will enable teachers to learn about periods and how to make reusable sanitary pads so that they can teach students in their schools as well as community members about managing periods so that girls can continue to go to school and not miss up to a quarter of their education because they lack any means of managing periods and the stigma attached to them.


We are delighted to be able to share a wonderful poem composed and read by one of our ambassadors Sovel Cunningham of Quiet Mind Poetry which you can see below. This poem transports us back to our first day at school, and invites us to think about the changes we go through from year to year. More of Sovels work can be found here https://www.justbeingme.life/


Please leave a comment below to tell us what you are doing to celebrate World Teachers Day on the 5th October 2020.


You can find out more about the day here: https://en.unesco.org/commemorations/worldteachersday 

The Steve Sinnott Foundation • October 2, 2020

STEM programs in Haiti

By Ann Beatty • February 14, 2026
On 23rd January at the Cima Community School of Hope (ECEC), the first workshop was held with the first group of students as part of the STEM program. This activity marks a promising start to the program's implementation. STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) is crucial for children because it fosters critical thinking, problem-solving, and creativity from a young age. It nurtures natural curiosity, helps children understand the modern world, and builds resilience through hands-on experimentation. Additionally, early STEM exposure prepares them for future academic and career success. A total of 20 students participated in this first session. The session focused on a general presentation of the importance of computer programming in today's world. The students were also introduced to the Scratch software interface, an educational tool well-suited for teaching children programming. This initial experience went smoothly and generated considerable interest and strong motivation among the students.

Make This Spring the Season You Secure Your Legacy

By Steve Sinnott • February 14, 2026
At the Steve Sinnott Foundation, we know that planning for the future is one of the most important things you can do for the people and causes you care about. That’s why we’re delighted to offer our staff and volunteers the opportunity to write or update their will this Spring. Whether you’ve been meaning to get started for years, or you simply need to make a few updates, this is the perfect time to take that important step. Join Our Free Will Writing Webinar To help you get started, we’ve partnered with expert estate planners Octopus Legacy , who will be hosting a free webinar(s) covering everything you need to know about writing or updating your will. Staff & Volunteers 12pm, Thursday 5th March Online via Zoom - https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_uvirWft7S12lJUby6oUtnQ#/registration Supporters 12pm, Tuesday 10th March Online via Zoom - https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_xxJNZd6ZQYKMOs-2fNz0Gg#/registration During the session, you’ll learn: Why it’s important to have an up-to-date will What to consider when writing or updating your will The different types of will-writing services available How Lasting Powers of Attorney work and why they matter How to claim your free will this Spring This webinar is designed to make what can feel like a complex process simple, clear and manageable. Why Having a Will Matters Having an up-to-date will ensures your wishes are respected and your loved ones are protected. Without one, the law decides how your estate is distributed and that may not reflect what you would have wanted. A will gives you peace of mind. It allows you to: Provide clarity and security for your family Appoint guardians for children if needed Make specific gifts to individuals or causes Ensure your estate is handled efficiently Updating your will is just as important as writing one. Life changes marriages, children, property purchases, or changes in circumstances can all affect your wishes. Claim Your Free Will This Spring As part of this initiative, eligible staff and volunteers will have the opportunity to claim a free will-writing service. Full details will be shared during the webinar, including how to access this benefit. We encourage you to take advantage of this opportunity. Writing or updating your will is one of the most responsible and caring decisions you can make for yourself and for those you care about. Register Now Spaces are available now, simply register using the link below: Staff & Volunteers - https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_uvirWft7S12lJUby6oUtnQ#/registration Supporters - https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_xxJNZd6ZQYKMOs-2fNz0Gg#/registration We hope you’ll join us on Thursday 5th March and take this positive step towards securing your future.

The Foundation supporting the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

By Kaylem James • February 3, 2026
In my time as an assistant at The Steve Sinnott Foundation (SSF), one of my research tasks was looking into how the Foundation contributed to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). I really believe in the work of the Foundation and I have also been raising funds as I believe that every child must have the right to education. SSF is a UK-based educational charity focused on promoting quality education worldwide. It plays a supportive role in achieving the United Nations 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially Goal 4: (Quality Education), but its work contributes to several others as well. Here's how the Foundation supports the SDGs: Goal 4 – Quality education (core focus) The Foundation's main mission is to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all. It supports teachers and educational initiatives in developing countries. It runs programmes like: The Education for All Campaign – advocating for universal access to education. Teacher empowerment projects – providing training and resources to educators in under-resourced countries. Girls' education programmes – encouraging and supporting girls to stay in school and complete their education. Goal 3 – Good health and well-being Through education, particularly health-related programmes, the Foundation contributes to raising awareness about hygiene, nutrition, and mental health. The Foundation has developed a range of webinars to promote health and wellbeing and these can be found on YouTube. Goal 5 – Gender equality The Foundation promotes girls' education, directly addressing barriers that prevent girls from accessing and completing school. It advocates for the rights of women and girls, especially in patriarchal or disadvantaged societies. Goal 8 – Decent work and economic growth By improving access to education and vocational training, the Foundation helps create employment opportunities. Educated individuals have better chances of securing decent work. Goal 10 – Reduced inequalities It supports marginalised groups, including children in rural or conflict-affected areas, contributing to reducing global inequalities in education. Goal 16 – Peace, justice and strong institutions Promotes education as a force for peace and conflict resolution. Supports democratic participation and awareness through educational programmes that foster community engagement. Goal 17 – Partnerships for the goals Collaborates with NGOs, unions, schools, and governments to deliver and advocate for education projects. Builds international partnerships to achieve the SDGs through education. Summary While The Steve Sinnott Foundation's primary focus is on Goal 4, it contributes to many of the SDGs by empowering communities through education, particularly: Gender equality (Goal 5), Health (Goal 3), Economic growth (Goal 8), Reducing inequality (Goal 10), Peace (Goal 16), and Partnerships (Goal 17).  The Foundation’s programmes also contribute to the achievement of other SDGs through the power of the provision of education and life-long learning; 1. No Poverty, 2. Zero Hunger, 13. Climate Action. We believe that all of the 17 SDGs are only achievable by ensuring that all children, wherever they are born, deserve the human right of quality education. Over 250 million children are still out of school and the global out-of-school population has reduced by only 1% in nearly ten years, according to the UNESCO Global Education Monitoring Report 2024. There is still much work to do in achieving equitable and quality Education for All.