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Educational Excellence

1. EEC is how you keep members engaged.
2. EEC is looking for opportunities to improve education.
3. EEC supports or provides the overall picture of our DKG work needed to reach focus area goals.
4. EEC supports our seven Purposes.
5. EEC helps members move beyond superficial support of teachers by expecting real change that
speaks to educational excellence.
6. EEC involves finding engaging projects and programs—presenters, activities—to engage members
and/or serve the community.
Keeping these ideas in mind, the remainder of this article provides clarity to the various focus areas of
EEC and possible opportunities to apply these focus areas of EEC in state organizations and chapters.

International Projects: UNICEF/USA — Schools for Africa — GIRLS
UNICEF USA has discontinued the Schools for Africa project and recommended several projects as
possible replacements. At the 2024 International
Convention, members approved “Girls Initiative
to Revitalize Learning and Success” (GIRLS) as
the new DKG international project. This program
focuses on goals similar to those targeted by Schools
for Africa, specifically access to quality education
for children, with a focus on girls, orphans, and
other vulnerable youngsters.
For historical perspective, Schools for
Africa became the Society’s first official
international project in 2010. At that time, a
partnership was established with UNICEF/
USA. DKG members at all levels of the Society
embraced this project with a multitude of programs
and projects aimed at support. During its tenure,
members donated more than $600,000 to Schools
for Africa.
State organization and chapter EECs should consider these opportunities:
1. Educate members about this project, emphasizing global awareness.
2. Implement motivational strategies:
• Direct members to the DKG website for information.
• Include information in chapter and state organization newsletters.
• Create a global awareness committee that can share information briefly at each meeting.
• Partner with local organizations that are involved in global projects.
• Invite educators who have taught in other countries of the world and/or local community
members who have traveled to other countries of the world to speak on relevant topics, such as:
» education in Africa and other needy countries of the world;
» need for clean water and wells;
» building of schools.
3. Solicit donations and conduct fundraisers:
• Implement Change for Change—collect at chapter or state organization meetings.
• Try “Tens for Teachers”— collect dimes at chapter meetings.
• Play games that collect money to donate—Left, Right, Center; Bingo (Bingo cards can feature
information on global awareness).

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