Educational Webinars Equip Teachers to Effectively Support Survivors and Vulnerable Learners

Devatop Center for African Development (DEVATOP) successfully implemented a two-part educational webinar series aimed at strengthening teachers’ capacity to effectively reach, teach, and support survivors and vulnerable learners, including children with disabilities and those affected by abuse, neglect, and social exclusion.

As classrooms increasingly reflect the realities of trauma, inequality, and diverse learning needs, educators require more than subject knowledge. They need practical, inclusive, and survivor-sensitive teaching skills. This webinar series responded to this need by equipping teachers with evidence-based strategies that promote safe, inclusive, and supportive learning environments where vulnerable learners can thrive.

The first session focused on disability and inclusion in the classroom, helping educators better understand inclusive education frameworks in Nigeria and practical ways to adapt lessons for learners with diverse needs. Teachers explored classroom adaptations, differentiated instruction, and real-life case scenarios, with a strong emphasis on supporting survivors and vulnerable children in ways that uphold dignity, protection, and psychosocial wellbeing. Interactive discussions enabled participants to reflect on classroom challenges, trauma-related behaviors, and appropriate response strategies.

The second webinar addressed effective 21st-century methodologies for teaching reading, with a focus on structured literacy and phonics-based instruction. Educators were introduced to the science of reading and practical approaches to improving foundational literacy, particularly for learners who have fallen behind due to trauma, disability, or limited access to quality education. Live demonstrations showed how structured literacy approaches can be implemented using low-cost tools, even in resource-constrained classroom settings.

Each webinar attracted between 80 and over 200 educators, including teachers, school leaders, education officers, NGOs, CSOs, and disability advocates from across Nigeria. Beyond the live sessions, recorded webinars and digital learning resources were shared widely, extending the project’s reach to over 500 educators. To ensure sustained learning and practical application, DEVATOP also established a post-webinar Community of Practice, enabling participants to continue peer learning, share experiences, and receive ongoing support as they implement inclusive and survivor-sensitive teaching practices.

This impactful intervention was made possible through the Foreign Aid Bridge Fund, and was hosted and managed by Panorama Global, whose support ensured effective coordination, quality delivery, and accountability throughout the project.

By strengthening teachers’ competencies in inclusive pedagogy and effective literacy instruction, DEVATOP is contributing to improved learning outcomes for survivors and vulnerable children, particularly those with additional learning and psychosocial needs. Through strategic digital learning initiatives and strong partnerships, Devatop Center for African Development continues to invest in education as a powerful tool for inclusion, protection, and long-term social change, ensuring that no child is left behind regardless of their circumstances.