Blessing Swanta Bonat, popularly known as Tr. Swanta, is the Founder and Executive Director of Community Outreach for Educational Change (COEC). An educator with a special interest in children's development, she is also a school manager, trainer, education consultant, rural education activist, and humanitarian.
Devoted to ensuring quality education for all children, particularly those from rural areas, her sixteen-year career has primarily focused on Northern Nigeria, a region facing terrorism and high illiteracy rates.
Armed with a BA in Education (CRS), a Master’s degree in Christian Education, and certification from the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria, Swanta possesses extensive experience across all educational levels and school systems. Her career progressed from Class Assistant to Class Teacher, House Mistress, Hostel Administrator, School Administrator, School Manager and now School Owner. She has also participated in numerous training programs and workshops.
In 2016, driven by her belief that “a child’s location should not determine the quality of education s/he gets,” and guided by the principle of leaving no child behind, Swanta resigned from her position in Abuja to pursue active educational evangelism – taking quality education to underserved and unreached communities. This led to the establishment of COEC with the singular goal of providing educational support to children in rural areas, regardless of ethnicity, religion, social status, political affiliation, or age.
Operating in communities often resistant to formal education, and facing dangers from extremists, Swanta’s work involves navigating challenging environments with poor infrastructure, insecurity, and tribal conflicts. She uses social media to inspire educational activism, sharing her experiences through series like “Public School Experience” and “HeadTeacherDiaries,” highlighting the plight of rural children.
Swanta has received numerous awards, including the FBI Award for Influence through Professionalism (2020), the AKS Education Awards India for Global Teacher Award (2020), the FBI Award for Influence through Education/Social Good (2019), the ZI Prize Award for Education and Activism (2019), the NBTT Recognition Award of the Year 2017, and the Inspirational Educator Award as the 2023 Inspirational Leader of the Year from Meadow Hall Foundation. She has also been featured in over 10 online magazines, blogs, and social media platforms, and has spoken on radio, television, and at various events.
Her dedication to student growth led to the establishment of the free Rural English Literacy program in 2016, starting with 96 children in Southern Kaduna. This expanded to include volunteering at LGEA Primary School Samaru II, Kaduna State, KYCA Academy Gora, Kaduna State, ECWA Oakland Schools, Pisabu, Kebbi State, and EMS Children’s School Jos, Plateau State where she served as a Literacy Teacher and School Admin/Manager, setting up her first Literacy Centre.
Swanta initiated the Extreme Makeover School Edition in 2016, providing pipe-borne water, painted classrooms, whiteboards, a tiled classroom, a 3-in-1 machine, a repaired well and WC toilet, and a rehabilitated Literacy Centre. She also launched the Teacher Volunteer Network in 2016, the Teachers’ Meet, the Teacher Development Forum, and the Scholarship Hub in 2018, which is currently providing scholarships for 101 school children across 11 schools.
Her campaigns, including #GetASchoolChildOffTheFloor, #FedToLearn, #SoSheCanSchool, and #PayARuralTeacher, have provided classroom furniture, 100 mattresses, salary support, and free meals to numerous children and teachers. Through these programs, she has reached over 84 rural communities, 914 families, 108 schools, 2000 teachers, and 10,000 children.
In response to the 2020 school closures, she launched The School Project and established COEC Model Schools in Tagama, a crisis zone, equipped with competent teachers, a feeding program, and a library. The school currently serves 153 learners from 146 families across 19 communities, with 43 children on full scholarships and daily meals provided through the FedToLearn program.
Swanta is currently the Discipleship Coordinator of the Kafanchan Regional Leadership Team of Operation Christmas Child and also serves on the board of Thinking Cap Literacy Initiative, further demonstrating her commitment to combating illiteracy.
Special Projects
My goal is to help all education stakeholders especially students, teachers, school leaders, school owners and organizations thrive in an ever changing educational landscape.
Community Outreach for Educational Change
COEC Model Schools
Campaigns
Memberships
Awards
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