Advancing gender equality in and through education: A conversation with Echidna Global Scholars

The Center for Universal Education at Brookings is delighted to have this year’s Echidna Global Scholars: four inspiring leaders advancing girls’ education and gender equality in diverse contexts. We invite you to join this important conversation and engage with the scholars as they discuss their work, challenges, and visions for change. 

At Brookings, Betty Akullo (Uganda) is reimagining education for girls in post-conflict Northern Uganda through a skill-based, justice-oriented approach that builds agency, resilience, and equity beyond exams. Faith Nkala (Zimbabwe) is exploring how gender-responsive pedagogy can move from policy into classrooms, ensuring teachers are able to foster inclusive, transformative learning for every child. Racheal Kalaba (Zambia) is shining a light on the often invisible leadership of rural girls, expanding how leadership is recognized and supported through culturally rooted frameworks like Ubuntu Womanism. Zaynab Gates (Argentina) is examining gender equality in Indigenous teacher education programs, with a focus on how Indigenous women can reshape curricula and transform education for the next generation. Together, these scholars will share their research, insights, and lived experiences in advancing education that is inclusive, equitable, and transformative.

Join the Conversation with the 2025 Echidna Scholars at Teachers College!

• Faith Nkala, Country Director for Education Development Trust, Zimbabwe
• Betty Akullo, Executive Director, Women and Rural Development Networks, Uganda
• Racheal Kalaba, Founder and Head of Strategy, ZAMWILL, Zambia
• Zaynab Gates, Senior Research and Teacher Training Coordinator, C