In 2020, the world was struck by a pandemic (Covid-19) that nobody saw coming. Schools were closed, and students had to switch to digital learning. It was a difficult time for everyone, especially for kids who were struggling to adapt to the new learning environment. It was then that a virtual platform called Encourage HER Academy was created.
EHA was a unique platform that allowed girls to connect with each other outside of the virtual classroom. It started as a virtual meet-up, but it quickly became more than that. Kids were able to chat with their friends and discuss what was going on in their world. They were able to share their struggles and triumphs, and it helped them refocus when it was time for virtual learning.
For a year, EHA continued to be a virtual platform, and it helped students across Georgia. The pandemic started to subside, and schools began to reopen. It was time to say goodbye to the virtual platform and transition to in-person learning.
The students who had been a part of EHA were sad to see it go, but they knew that it had served its purpose. They had made new friends, they had learned to adapt to the digital world, and they had grown as individuals.
As the founder of EHA, I was proud of what we had accomplished. It was amazing to see how something as simple as a virtual meet-up could have such a big impact on so many people. And it left me wondering, what other ways could we bring people together and make a positive difference in the world? So we shifted from only operating in a virtual environment to operating in a combination of in-person and virtual environments.
