📖 LEARN – Lessons Beyond Borders

🌐Digital Tools to Grow Global Competence:

As an educator who traveled across the world through the Fulbright Teachers for Global Classrooms (TGC) program, I didn’t just prepare lessons—I prepared to reframe learning through a global lens. From Washington, DC, where we explored the foundation of global education, to Kaolack, Senegal, where I stood side by side with teachers and students building real-world solutions, this journey revealed how powerful the right digital tools can be in connecting classrooms, cultures, and communities.

Below are five tools I used/plan to use—to bring that global spark home and equip other educators to grow their own global competence toolkits:

1. Empatico

Why I Recommend It:During our fieldwork in Senegal, I saw firsthand the value of meaningful human connection. Empatico makes that happen for younger learners by allowing virtual exchanges with classrooms across the globe. It’s how we bring curiosity, empathy, and perspective into daily learning even from across the ocean.

2. Out of Eden Learn

Why I Recommend It:The slow, reflective storytelling we witnessed on Gorée Island in conversations about identity, history, and trauma—reminded me how important it is to pause and reflect. Out of Eden Learn guides students through journeys that encourage that same thoughtful global awareness. It’s storytelling that heals, connects, and teaches.

3. World’s Largest Lesson (SDGs)

Why I Recommend It:. World’s Largest Lesson (SDGs):Our students in Senegal designed a campus-wide recycling initiative because there were no proper trash bins on campus. That moment of student-led sustainability mirrors the kind of global problem-solving the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals encourage. This platform provides powerful resources to anchor your instruction in real change.

4. Google Earth + Voyager

Why I Recommend It:Before ever setting foot in Dakar or Kaolack, I used Google Earth to explore the landscapes, cities, and cultural landmarks of Senegal. Paired with Voyager stories, this tool helps students take virtual field trips, explore cultural heritage sites like Gorée, and build place-based global awareness.

🌍 What is Global Competence?

Global Competence is.........

Global Competence is the ability to:

• Investigate the world

• Recognize and respect multiple perspectives

• Communicate ideas effectively across cultural boundaries

• Take meaningful action to improve conditions

In Senegal, this came alive as we:

• Led community-wide recycling projects on campuses without waste systems

• Co-taught in English Clubs, using drama, music, and vocabulary-building

• Observed multilingual classrooms, where French was taught alongside Wolof and Pulaar

• Explored historical legacies like Gorée Island, linking past and present

🧭 Global competence is not just a goal it’s a daily practice rooted in experience, reflection, and a desire to make a difference.

Day One in Dakar: Culture, Connection & Curiosity

From the very first morning, it was clear—learning in Senegal would engage all five senses. The air was warm and sweet, the ocean stretched just beyond the mosque's majestic towers, and the hospitality was as rich as the culture itself.

We were welcomed at the Azalaï Hotel, a modern masterpiece named after Senegal’s current president, that redefined what many imagine when they think of Africa. The setting itself was a lesson—this continent is not monolithic; it’s innovative, stunning, and deeply proud.

Over roasted chicken with honey glaze and delicate potato gratin, we broke bread and broke barriers—educators from across the U.S. sharing stories, laughter, and our hopes for the journey ahead. We sipped traditional attaya (Senegalese mint tea) and watched vibrant youth dressed in elegant cultural garments perform with pride and grace—a reminder that tradition and excellence walk hand in hand here.

Learning has already begun—and not from textbooks, but from taste, texture, and shared experience.

Atya Tes: Where Time Slows and Souls Speak

In Senegal, tea isn’t just a beverage—it’s a ritual.

The first time I experienced Ataya, I didn’t fully understand what was unfolding. I thought I was just being offered a drink. But three rounds later, I realized I’d been welcomed into something sacred. Something slow. Something soulful.

Ataya Tes is made over hot coals—never rushed, never microwaved. It’s brewed in stages, like life itself:

• First Glass: Bitter and strong, a wake-up call to your senses.

• Second Glass: Softer, sweeter, more familiar.

• Third Glass: Perfectly balanced—a taste that lingers long after the cup is empty.

Each pour comes with conversation, with connection, with community. It’s where laughter happens. Where stories unfold. Where no one is in a hurry and everyone is fully present.

There were no phones out. No rushing to the next appointment. Just people, tea, and time.

And for a moment, I wasn’t a visitor. I wasn’t an American educator documenting my Fulbright experience. I was just another person, seated on the mat, passing cups and soaking up the magic of stillness.

The Hidden Curriculum of Ataya

This tea ceremony taught me more about relationships, patience, and intentional presence than any textbook ever could. It reminded me that learning is deeply human, and some of the most powerful lessons come when you’re not looking for them.

Back in the U.S., we teach bell to bell. We prioritize pacing guides and progress trackers. But here? They prioritize people.

And in that pause between pours, I learned something: Connection is the lesson. Tea is just the teacher.

After days filled with chalk dust, classroom echoes, and cultural immersion, Dakar offered a different kind of lesson—one in stillness, sweetness, and savoring the moment.

Tucked away near a bustling city street, I stumbled into a local ice cream shop—not on the itinerary, but exactly where I was meant to be. I ordered a simple scoop of chocolate. No fanfare. No expectations. Just a craving for comfort in a city full of rhythm, heat, and heart.

But here’s what I didn’t expect: how rich it would taste. Not just the flavor, but the moment.

Because in Dakar, even the ordinary feels magical. The city pulses with history and hustle, with art and activism, with sunlit sidewalks and warm smiles. And in that one quiet moment—with chocolate melting and laughter in the air—I felt like I wasn’t just a visitor. I was here. Present. Grateful. Home, even if just for a moment.

This wasn’t just a treat. It was a reminder:

In that scoop was connection. In that bite, belonging.And in that little Dakar shop, I remembered why I came in the first place—to taste the world, fully.

Bag Water in Kaolack: A Sip of Reality

In Kaolack, the sun doesn’t just shine—it scorches. The kind of heat that clings to your skin, soaks your clothes, and makes you crave water like it’s the only thing that matters. And when you ask for water here, you won’t get a bottle or a glass. You’ll get a small plastic pouch—sealed and ready to tear open with your teeth.

Bag water. It’s everywhere. On street corners. In classrooms. In markets. It’s how hydration flows here, how relief is packaged and sold for a few CFA francs at a time.

At first, I hesitated. I wondered: Is it safe? Is it filtered? But quickly, I realized that for many people in Kaolack—especially children in the schools we visited—this isn’t a question of luxury. It’s survival. This is the only form of water they have access to during the school day. There are no water fountains. No cafeteria ice machines. No plastic refill stations. Just a bag. Bite and sip.

And the more I watched, the more I saw students conserving, sharing, and sometimes even going without. A basic human need reduced to a zip-top pouch—and sometimes, a privilege.

🌍 A Bigger Conversation: Water, Equity & Education

In the U.S., we debate the sugar content of school vending machines, the temperature of classroom fountains, or which branded water bottle is the trendiest. But here? The debate is far simpler:

This experience reminded me that water is not separate from education—it’s foundational to it. A thirsty child can’t focus. A dehydrated student can’t learn. And in a global context, where climate change, pollution, and underfunded infrastructure collide, water insecurity becomes a barrier to literacy, attendance, and achievement.

🍽️ First Bites, Lasting Impressions: My First Meal in Senegal

It was my very first night in Kaolack, and the air was thick with heat, dust, and curiosity. I had no idea what to expect for dinner, but I knew one thing: I was hungry—and ready to experience whatever this new chapter had to offer.

Then it came out. A plate, steaming and simple—roasted chicken, seasoned rice, and a generous dollop of… mayonnaise.

Wait, mayonnaise?

That’s right. In Senegal, especially in Kaolack, chicken is often served with mayonnaise as a beloved condiment. No ketchup, no BBQ sauce, no fancy aioli—just a creamy, tangy scoop that somehow brought the whole meal together. And honestly? It slapped. The tanginess of the mayo against the smoky chicken and warm rice made me pause and smile. It was unfamiliar, but comforting.

What struck me more than the flavors, though, was the communal way we ate—shared plates, passed bowls, and laughter filling the room. Eating wasn’t just nourishment—it was connection. It was welcome. It was culture on a plate.

In that moment, something clicked. This journey wasn’t going to be about five-star meals or curated tourist stops. It was going to be about presence. About humility. About saying yes to the unexpected—even if it looks like chicken and mayonnaise.

👗 Custom Threads in Kaolack: A Stitch of Belonging

One of the most unexpectedly beautiful parts of my time in Senegal was the moment I realized: I wasn’t just visiting—I was being woven into the fabric of this place. Literally.

In Kaolack, fashion is art. It’s storytelling. It’s pride. From the moment I stepped out onto the dusty roads and passed bustling markets filled with bold wax print fabrics and vibrant colors, I knew I had to take a piece of this home—not from a store, but through the hands of a tailor.

With the help of a local teacher, I got measured from head to toe, chose my fabrics (yes, plural—because how could I pick just one?), and described the vision in my head: something that honored their tradition but still felt like me. And within just a few days, my outfit was ready.

💬 The tailor didn’t just sew a dress. She stitched in conversations, smiles, sisterhood, and spirit. There was something sacred in watching her work, in seeing her turn raw cloth into confidence. And the best part? When I wore it, I felt Senegal. Not as a tourist, but as someone who was seen.

In the U.S., fashion is often fast. In Kaolack, it’s intentional.

And I’ll carry that with me. Not just the outfit, but the lesson: When you slow down, connect, and create—style becomes culture, and clothing becomes memory.

CULTURE – Custom Elegance: The Beauty of Traditional Dress in Senegal

One of the most unforgettable moments during my Fulbright journey wasn’t just in the classroom—it was in the tailoring shops of Kaolack, where tradition, fashion, and identity all come together.

In Senegal, clothing is more than fabric—it’s language. It’s pride. It’s power.

We had the opportunity to get custom outfits made, and the experience was nothing short of magical. From selecting vibrant wax prints to watching the tailor sketch our measurements by hand, every stitch told a story. Mine was soft green and gold, tailored with elegance and intention. For the men, deep embroidery and rich layers reflected their status and strength.

Wearing it wasn’t about blending in. It was about honoring a culture that welcomes you with both style and spirit.

Cultural ConnectionThese outfits weren’t just for show they were woven into the events we attended, the homes we visited, and the pride we carried. I felt regal. Rooted. Re-centered. Because this wasn’t fast fashion. This was heritage, handcrafted.

🦁 TRAVEL – Walking with the Wild: My Fathala Lion Encounter

They say Africa awakens something ancient inside of you—a part of your spirit you didn’t even know was sleeping.

That part of me woke up the moment I stepped into Fathala Wildlife Reserve, just a few hours outside of Kaolack. Towering baobab trees, dust trails dancing in the air, and the distant echo of birdsong set the tone. But nothing prepared me for what came next: I was about to walk side-by-side with actual lions.

Yes—lions.

Clothed in my khaki uniform and gripping the wooden walking stick they gave me more for courage than defense, I found myself face-to-face with two majestic lions, raised by the rangers, calm but powerful. We walked together, their massive paws padding gently along the dirt path beside mine.

And in that moment, something shifted.

🧭 Power, Peace & Presence

Being that close to an animal we’re taught to fear wasn’t terrifying—it was grounding. I could feel my heartbeat slow. I became hyper-aware of every breath, every step, every whisper of wind. These weren’t zoo lions behind glass; they were living, breathing symbols of nature’s raw beauty and balance.

I thought about how often we, as humans, disconnect from the natural world in our fast-paced lives. Walking beside a lion forces you to feel the earth again. It reminds you that life isn’t meant to be hurried. It’s meant to be experienced.

🧵 Culture Meets Courage

The Fathala team shared stories about lion behavior, conservation, and the spiritual significance of lions in West African traditions. It felt less like a tourist attraction and more like a sacred rite of passage.

There was reverence in the silence between us and the lions. A mutual respect.

And beneath the adrenaline, there was joy—pure, childlike joy.

Reflection

As an educator and traveler, I seek these moments—when the world stops spinning and teaches me something new. Fathala reminded me that courage isn’t always loud. Sometimes, it’s quiet, steady, and walking beside you with golden eyes and a wild heart.

And just like that, I added another unforgettable chapter to my journey through Senegal.

🕊️ TRAVEL – Gorée Island: Echoes That Still Speak

The moment our boat docked, I felt it. Not just the salty breeze off the Atlantic or the rhythmic pulse of drums in the distance—but the weight of something unspoken. Gorée isn’t just a beautiful island off the coast of Dakar, Senegal. It’s a living monument to centuries of stolen lives, stolen stories, and stolen futures.

🚪 The Door of No Return

We walked single file, quiet, heavy. The sun was shining, but the walls around us held shadows. The House of Slaves. The holding cells. The iron shackles still on display. But it was the Door of No Return that silenced me completely.

Imagine standing at the last threshold where millions of Africans were pushed through—bound, brutalized, dehumanized—into ships that would carry them across oceans into generations of suffering. That door was never just wood and hinges. It was the severing of culture. Of names. Of language. Of freedom.

As I stood there, I thought of my ancestors. Of the ones who were lost to the waves. Of the ones who survived. Of the fact that I was standing there now—free—bearing witness. Honoring them.

I came to Senegal as a teacher, but on Gorée, I was a student.

Every cracked tile. Every rusted chain. Every story from our guide was a lesson in resilience and reclamation. This wasn’t just a field trip—it was a soul-shifting pilgrimage. It reminded me why education isn’t just about textbooks and test scores—it’s about truth-telling. It’s about ensuring students—especially Black students—know where they come from and why they matter.

🧩 The Missing Piece of the Curriculum

In the U.S., slavery is often reduced to a paragraph. A sanitized version of events that avoids the brutality. But on Gorée, there’s no looking away. And maybe that’s exactly what we need more of. Spaces where pain isn’t hidden—it’s honored. Where healing begins with acknowledgement.

🌍 Global, Yet Deeply Personal

Gorée reminded me that being globally competent doesn’t just mean learning about other places—it means reconnecting with the places that made you. It means feeling history in your bones and turning that feeling into action, into advocacy, into legacy.

As we boarded the boat to leave, I turned back one last time. The island was still. But my spirit was not.

TRAVEL – Gorée Island: Where the Sand Whispers Stories

Stepping onto Gorée Island felt like walking into a wound that had never fully healed.

The air was thick—not just with the ocean breeze, but with the weight of centuries. Cobblestone paths. Faded colonial buildings. The haunting beauty of it all. It was quiet, yet the silence screamed.

We visited the Maison des Esclaves (House of Slaves), and nothing could have prepared me for what I felt as I stepped through its narrow corridors. The infamous Door of No Return stood there—unassuming, weathered, yet gut-wrenching. It's the final place enslaved Africans passed through before being shipped across the Atlantic, torn from their land, their families, their identities.

I touched the walls, and it was like they spoke. Generations of pain embedded in the cracks. Stories buried in the salt and stone. I thought of my ancestors—of all our ancestors—who endured unimaginable horrors, yet whose spirits never broke.

🧭 More Than a Tourist Destination

Gorée is not a photo op. It’s not an Instagram backdrop. It’s a sacred place. A memorial. A reckoning.

Standing there as a Black woman, as an educator, as a traveler—I was reminded that every privilege I hold was built on the backs of those who had none. And with that comes an unshakable responsibility: to teach the truth, to honor the legacy, and to keep the stories alive.

This wasn’t just a visit. It was a pilgrimage. And I left different than I came.

🌐 Foundational Resources for Global Education

Start here. Learn deeply. Grow globally.

If you’re new to global education or just want to deepen your understanding, these are the resources that shaped my thinking — before I ever stepped foot in Kaolack, before I taught “Man in the Mirror,” before I saw what global learning looks like in real time.

Each of these links lays the foundation for how we can teach students to think critically, act compassionately, and solve problems that stretch far beyond their zip codes.

1. Educating for Global Competence – Asia Society & CCSSO

Read the Full Framework:

This is the blueprint. It defines global competence through four major dimensions: investigating the world, recognizing perspectives, communicating ideas, and taking action. It’s the backbone of how I structured my Fulbright unit and student projects.

Why it’s here: This framework doesn’t just talk about “global” it shows you what it means in classrooms, across content areas, and how to build students' global capacity step-by-step.

2. UNESCO Global Education Monitoring Report

Explore the Report

UNESCO’s annual GEM report explores equity, access, and progress toward the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) for Education. It gives a global lens on who’s being served—and who’s still being left behind.

Why it’s here: My experiences in Senegal particularly the language barriers, waste access, and instructional inequities felt directly tied to the same trends this report highlights. The struggle is global. So are the solutions.

LEARN: The Bowl That Brought Us Closer: Sharing a Meal, Sharing a Bond

There’s something deeply spiritual about sitting on the floor and sharing a meal from one bowl. In Senegal, this isn’t just custom—it’s community. It’s connection. It’s culture.

During one of our first days in Kaolack, we were invited to experience a traditional Senegalese meal—served in a large communal bowl, placed on the ground, with everyone gathered around like family. We sat cross-legged, eyes wide, hearts open, hands washed.

At the center of the bowl was ceebu jen (rice and fish), a staple in Senegalese homes. But around that bowl, we weren’t just eating—we were learning. Laughing. Listening. Observing. The rhythm of the meal felt like a song passed down for generations. Each person took from their side, using their right hand or a spoon, respecting boundaries, while always keeping an eye on one another.

🍚 More Than a Meal

It was unspoken, but understood:

• No one eats until everyone is ready.

• You eat your portion, but not at the expense of others.

• You savor the food, but more importantly, the moment.

The act of sharing this bowl taught me more about respect, humility, and human dignity than any textbook ever could.

In the U.S., we often associate meals with hustle—grab and go, single plates, fast forks. But here, food is slow and sacred. A moment to pause, to reconnect, to nourish not just the body, but the soul.

What Stayed With Me

I left that meal full, yes—but I also left changed.

Because the bowl wasn’t just about food. It was a symbol.Of equity.Of patience.Of cultural richness rooted in Ubuntu: “I am because we are.”

In Senegal, I learned that education doesn’t only happen in classrooms—it happens in kitchens, courtyards, and in the circle of a shared meal.

A Dance of Heritage: Honoring Tradition in Kaolack

In the heart of Kaolack, under the soft glow of the afternoon sun, I witnessed something I’ll never forget—an explosion of rhythm, grace, and cultural pride. These students, adorned in brilliantly dyed boubous and expressive headwraps, took to the stage with a spirit that transcended movement. This wasn’t just a dance performance. It was a declaration of identity. A reclamation of history. A celebration of Senegalese pride.

Their movements told stories—of strength, of sisterhood, of joy. The fabric swayed like the wind itself had joined in, and the audience clapped to rhythms that have pulsed through generations. I sat on the mat in front of them, completely immersed, feeling the heartbeat of the community around me. No stage lights. No microphones. Just raw, unfiltered energy and tradition echoing through every stomp, every spin, every smile.

It reminded me how deeply connected the arts are to education and liberation. These students weren’t just performing—they were preserving. Teaching. Sharing. Their dance was a lesson in history, culture, and resilience far beyond any textbook.

As someone who comes from an arts-integrated education background, this moment struck my core. It reminded me that our students don’t just need academic rigor—they need space to express who they are. They need rhythm. They need freedom. They need moments like this.

In Kaolack, they are dancing toward their future, and I’m forever grateful to have witnessed the power of what happens when culture and education move together.

🌍 Global Education Organizations & Why I Recommend Them

1. World Savvy

🔗 https://www.worldsavvy.org

Why I Recommend It:World Savvy centers global competence at the heart of its work. They offer teacher professional development, project-based learning curriculum, and school-wide transformation models. During my prep for Senegal, I pulled frameworks from their Global Competence Matrix, which deeply aligned with our sustainability and social justice teaching goals.

2. Asia Society – Center for Global Education

🔗 https://asiasociety.org/education

Why I Recommend It:This center leads some of the best global competence professional learning. They provide free lesson plans, videos, and strategies aligned to Educating for Global Competence by Veronica Boix Mansilla (our foundational text). Their work helped frame my cross-cultural activities on identity and perspective-taking in Senegal.

3. iEARN (International Education and Resource Network)

🔗 https://www.iearn.org

Why I Recommend It:iEARN connects educators and students in over 140 countries through collaborative global projects. It’s a powerful platform to implement real-world learning. I used it to study project models before leading our campus-wide recycling initiative in Kaolack, and I continue to recommend it for bringing authentic student voice into global conversations.

4. TakingITGlobal

🔗 https://www.tigweb.org

Why I Recommend It:This platform empowers youth as global changemakers. Educators can access tools for action projects, digital storytelling, and student-led initiatives. Their "My Voice" platform helps develop students’ confidence in sharing solutions to global issues much like what we modeled during our community waste management lessons in Senegal.

5. Global Oneness Project

🔗 https://www.globalonenessproject.org

Why I Recommend It:With a focus on storytelling through multimedia, this site features compelling photo essays, short films, and lesson plans centered on culture, migration, and the environment. It’s ideal for humanities and arts integration which directly connected to my drama-infused English Club lesson on vocabulary, music, and identity.

🔍 Global Education Assessment Toolkit

After visiting classrooms in Kaolack and sitting shoulder-to-shoulder with students who are navigating language shifts, access gaps, and identity in real time — I walked away with one clear thought: just teaching content is not enough.

We’ve got to find ways to see our students deeply, measure what matters, and adjust our instruction so every learner has a real shot at global readiness. That’s what this toolkit is all about. These are my go-to resources for helping educators assess global competence, student voice, and deeper learning  no matter your zip code.

1. Asia Society: Global Competence Rubrics

🔗 View Rubrics

These rubrics break down what global competence actually looks like — from investigating the world to taking action on global issues. It’s not just academic, it’s social-emotional too.

Why I Love It:I used this framework when designing my real-world math exchange activity at the Global Symposium in DC. It gave structure to something innovative — which is what most of us need as we try to make “global” feel doable.

2. World Savvy: Educator Toolkit

🔗 Explore Toolkit

World Savvy gives a full 360-view of what it means to be globally competent plus ready-to-use reflection tools, student checklists, and inquiry prompts.

Why I Love It:This would’ve been perfect to bring into the English Club lessons I co-led in Senegal. So many students were wrestling with real issues waste, identity, access and this would’ve helped them name and reflect on those connections.

 3. OECD PISA Global Competence Framework

🔗 Global Metrics

If you’re looking for something a bit more formal or international, this is it. It includes sample items and explains how different countries measure global thinking.

Why I Love It:I used this to help crosswalk ideas from U.S. classrooms with what I saw in Senegal. It affirmed that kids everywhere are thinking deeply they just need the right questions.

4. Global Oneness Project: Reflection Tools

This site offers short films, photo essays, and storytelling with rich prompts. And best of all? Their tools lean into empathy, culture, and reflection.

Why I Love It:This ties beautifully into the “Man in the Mirror” theme lesson I taught in Kaolack. Students aren’t just learning English they’re learning who they are. These prompts help them articulate that in powerful, introspective ways.