Home>About Us

Our Story

At GCA, our core belief has always been that society's true foundation is built on its youngest members. Our involvement in childhood workforce preparation began as early as 2009. However, it was in 2020 when we officially established GCA, setting out on a dedicated mission to revolutionize childhood care, education, and protection across the globe.

Starting as a modest team with expansive visions, we've since evolved into a vast network of global partners and institutions. Each of us is singularly committed to one overarching goal: empowering the dedicated workforce responsible for molding our children's futures.

The holistic nature and shared importance of childhood calls for a comprehensive approach that involves all actors across multiple sectors.

(Nurturing Care Framework, World Health Organization).

Our Mission

To accelerate the development of a global workforce dedicated to childhood care, education, and protection. By fostering collaborations, sharing resources, and utilizing cutting-edge technologies, we aim to make quality education and care accessible for every child, everywhere.

 

Our Vision

A world where every child, irrespective of their background, has access to quality care and education, supported by a well-prepared, compassionate, and innovative workforce.

The GCA Collective Impact Framework

At the heart of every educational journey is the child. However, the influences shaping that journey come from a vast ecosystem of dedicated professionals and stakeholders. The GCA Collective Impact Framework is a visual representation of this intricate ecosystem. With the child at its core, our model encapsulates all the pivotal roles played by teachers, leaders, social workers, policymakers, and other essential figures in a child’s educational path.

Nurturing Holistic Development:
Each stakeholder plays a crucial role in a child’s journey. GCA ensures they’re equipped with the necessary resources, training, and network to thrive.

Unity in Purpose:
Our framework underscores the interconnectedness of roles, emphasizing collaboration for the collective advancement of a child’s education.

Empowering Every Stakeholder:
GCA is not just a platform; it’s a commitment to a holistic educational approach, ensuring each professional in a child’s life contributes to their optimal success.

 

Our Team

At GCA, our strength lies in our diversity. Our dedicated team members hail from various backgrounds but share a common goal: shaping a brighter future for our children.

DR. TARIQ KASHMIRI

DR. TARIQ KASHMIRI

Co-Founder
DR. SAMIA KAZI

DR. SAMIA KAZI

Co-Founder
DR. MANAL SADER

DR. MANAL SADER

MENA ADVISOR
CHELSEA JOHNSON

CHELSEA JOHNSON

DIRECTOR OF PARTNERSHIPS
DR. NANCY BROWN

DR. NANCY BROWN

Advisory Board Member

EDUCATIONAL CONSULTANT, PROFESSOR, UN REP

JIMM MELOY

JIMM MELOY

Advisory Board Member

EDTECH GURU, EX VP LEARNING @AUTODESK.

MICHAEL CARTER, PHD

MICHAEL CARTER, PHD

Advisory Board Member

GLOBAL EDTECH GURU AND STRATEGIC ADVISOR

ESTHER STEWART

ESTHER STEWART

Advisory Board Member

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

HARRISON A. PETERS

HARRISON A. PETERS

Advisory Board Member

CEO/CO-FOUNDER OF MCEL, FORMER TEACHER, PRINCIPAL, AND SUPERINTENDENT

DR. JEFF MELENDEZ

DR. JEFF MELENDEZ

Advisory Board Member

LEADER OF ZEAL EDUCATION GROUP AND LEAD NEXUS

ASHRAF YOUNIS

ASHRAF YOUNIS

Advisory Board Member

DIRECTOR MBC ACTION & MBC 3

ROBERT GUNDLING, ED.D.

ROBERT GUNDLING, ED.D.

Advisory Board Member

SENIOR CONSULTANT BETTER FUTURES, LLC

MEHEDI HASAN

MEHEDI HASAN

DIGITAL MARKETING
IAN MAKAMARA

IAN MAKAMARA

Advisory Board Member

LAWYER, HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVIST

KRITIKKA VISHWANATH

KRITIKKA VISHWANATH

Advisory Board Member

HUMAN RIGHTS EDUCATION, AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL

MAROUANE OURAHOU

MAROUANE OURAHOU

E-learning Manager

LMS Admin & Onboarding

RICHARD BYRNE

RICHARD BYRNE

Advisory Board Member

EDUCATOR AND PRESIDENT AT BYRNE INSTRUCTIONAL MEDIA

Dr. Hawani Negussie

Dr. Hawani Negussie

Advisory Board Member

Chair and Assistant Professor: Early Childhood Education

NORMA MINGI

NORMA MINGI

FINANCE ADVISOR
HASSAH ALDABBAS

HASSAH ALDABBAS

Advisory Board Member

SERVED AS DIRECTOR OF CHILDHOOD MINISTRY OF EDUCATION, KSA

Muhammad Waqas

Muhammad Waqas

Web Developer

I'm Web Developer with extensive experience in building High quality websites.

Royce B. dela Cruz

Royce B. dela Cruz

GCA Operations Manager

The Significance of a Dedicated Platform for Empowering Adults Involved in Child Care, Education, and Protection

Meet Noor

Noor's formative years will be significantly shaped by a diverse group of adults, from caregivers and educators to health professionals.

The mosaic of influencers in Noor’s life comprises:

  1. Parents and caregivers
  2. Teachers and educational facilitators
  3. Healthcare professionals
  4. National and local policymakers in sectors like health, education, and social protection
  5. Local government authorities
  6. Non-profit organizations
  7. International development partners and financiers
  8. Media entities, from radio to print
  9. Community pillars, including religious leaders
  10. Enthusiasts leading extracurriculars, from arts to sports

At GCA, our commitment extends to championing the rights of underserved communities, children like Noor being at the heart of this advocacy. We dedicate ourselves to enriching their lives by enhancing the skills and knowledge of the adults that influence them. Our distinction lies in being the premier online platform crafted with a child-centric ethos. Recognizing the value of collaborative synergies and shared resources, our platform is tailored for both learners and educators. Together, let’s pave the way for a promising tomorrow for every child.

In her early years of life (the most critical years), Noor will interact with multiple adults, including: 

  • Noor’s caregivers and family 
  • Educators 
  • Health professionals 

If Noor suffers from abuse or neglect, there will be interactions with: 

  • Social workers 
  • Law enforcement officers 
  • Lawyers 
  • Judges 

 

There are also groups of adults that will directly or indirectly influence Noor’s life, including:

  • policy-makers and programme managers in ministries of health, nutrition, education, child protection, social protection, finance, and other sectors, at national and local level;
  • local government representatives, mayors and parliamentarians;
  • civil-society groups;
  • development partners;
  • professional associations;
  • academic institutions, such as training institutes, colleges and universities;
  • funding initiatives, both global and national;
  • private-sector organizations including corporations and social enterprises;
  • local radio and newspaper journalists and other media; 

At GCA, we are concerned with the upskilling and credentialing of these groups. We want to advocate on behalf of children like Noor and make sure that every adult that influences a child’s life is reflecting upon their own role, but is also collectively thinking about the importance of the larger complex system of actors.  

We are unique because we are the only online learning platform created with Noor in mind. We know what it means to be child-centered. We believe that we can do this by working together. We know how essential partnerships are, and we know that it’s important to share resources, to lean on each other through trusted systems. That’s why we created the best platform to serve both our learners and training providers.

Proud to share our

Awards and Affiliations

Timeline

The story of how we got started on GCA

and our growth plans

2009-2020

Under the guidance of our founders, we trained over 15,000 individuals including educators, social workers, parents, policy makers, and more.

 

March 2020

The world was hit by a digital transition challenge. We witnessed numerous training providers serving children grapple with the shift to online platforms. Sadly, many children bore the brunt of this unpreparedness.

August 2020

Rising to the challenge, we birthed an online PLATFORM explicitly crafted for childhood workforce professional development. This platform was designed keeping in mind the intricate needs of adults serving, nurturing, and guiding young minds.

2021

  • Welcomed aboard 781 committed individuals devoted to bettering childhood experiences.
  • Rolled out over 150 courses, each geared towards refining skills for the childhood workforce.
  • Collaborated with 12 specialized training providers in childhood development and care.

2023

  • Our platform underwent a significant revamp, introducing advanced features and comprehensive services tailored for the childhood workforce.
  • Enriched our course offerings with 197 multilingual courses.
  • Proudly saw our community grow as 10,000 professionals joined, eager to upgrade their skills and knowledge.

Our plans for 2024

  • We aim to strengthen our bonds with global pioneers in childhood workforce development and training.

Vision for next five years

  • With our sights set high, we're targeting to equip and upskill 500,000 professionals within the childhood workforce sector.
  • We envisage further expansion of our network, partnering with renowned training providers, thought leaders, and regional specialists in childhood development and care.