We are excited to welcome Ava Kakavand, an incoming first-year student at the University of California, Davis, as one of our newest Zoom teachers with SmartKids Ghana.
Ava brings with her a strong foundation of teaching and tutoring experience. All throughout high school, she volunteered as a peer tutor in her school’s Academic Support Center, providing drop in help to students across multiple grade levels. She assisted with subjects such as Spanish, English, and Math, at both Honors and AP levels. Beyond simply answering questions, Ava made sure her peers engaged deeply with their material by asking thoughtful and challenging questions that reinforced understanding both in the present and for the future.
Her experience also extends to online learning. As a first generation Iranian American, Ava took Farsi lessons to strengthen her connection to her heritage. During the COVID 19 pandemic, she continued her learning journey online, coordinating with a native speaker over Zoom and Skype. Through these virtual lessons, she not only advanced her language skills but also grew comfortable using digital platforms to teach, learn, and connect with others.
When asked why she wanted to join SmartKids Ghana, Ava shared:
“I would like to become a Zoom teacher with SmartKids Ghana because I believe that earning leadership comes out strongly through helping others. As Robert Ingersoll once said, ‘We rise by lifting others.’ I will not only be educating individuals about chapters from various parts of the world, but will also be further educating the young minds in Ghana. I am excited to see the passion and delight in each of the individuals’ eyes as they take in even just one new piece of knowledge each session. I feel that each person deserves grace and education on this planet, and being a teacher to them will allow them to become seen and heard forever.”
In addition to teaching, Ava will also be fundraising $250 to help support the Zoom teaching program, ensuring that SmartKids Ghana continues to provide access to quality virtual education and resources.
We are thrilled to have Ava on board and cannot wait to see the impact she makes on our scholars through both her teaching and her fundraising efforts.
