Sunderland charity, Global Teacher, has appointed local business leader Joanne Cooper as its new Chair of Trustees.

Joanne, who is also CEO of community development charity Back on the Map, will work alongside founder Chris Nutman to further the charity’s mission of providing education through Classroom-in-a-Box™- a portable, solar-powered, offline learning kit that works without electricity or internet – to those living in crisis zones and off-grid communities.

Based on High Street West, Global Teacher believes that education doesn’t just transform lives – it inspires the next generation of dreamers, visionaries and problem-solvers, tackling the digital divide head on.

Chris Nutman, Director of Global Teacher, said: “We are delighted to welcome Joanne as our new Chair. Her experience and strong charity governance knowledge will be invaluable as we continue to grow. She shares our belief that our Classroom-in-a-Box™ product has the potential to bring light and opportunity into the lives of children in challenging circumstances. We look forward to her insight as we continue to expand our reach.”

The charity currently has five units live in Ukraine and Africa.

Joanne Cooper, Chair of Trustees for Global Teacher, said: “I am a strong believer in equality of opportunity and that education should be available to everyone regardless of circumstances. It can be the route out of poverty and adversity for many people, and that’s why Classroom-in-a-Box™ resonates so deeply with me.

“Chris has built something truly special with Global Teacher. The passion, the genius of the idea, and the simplicity of the product are what make it so brilliant. I’m excited to work with him and the team to build on this incredible foundation.”