Ghanaian School Supplies: Mole and Larabanga

In these two neighboring communities, near Mole National Park in Northwestern Ghana, there are significant educational needs. Both communities have well built school buildings and they share a library. However, there are very few school supplies (just a few notebooks shared among students in classes of 40). The library, donated by an international agency, is a nice facility but the organization provided no books. Thus, it has stood empty and closed for the last several years. A priority of the local community council is to open this library.

While visiting the well run Mole school, the head master requested soccer balls. He showed a bag of about five, extremely worn balls that were donated many years ago. This represented the entire athletic supplies for a school serving around 500 students. In his office, I saw the one globe (from the 1980s) available to the school and learned that they had virtually no writing or art supplies and students had to share old textbooks. Nonetheless, students were obviously focused on learning, listening to their teachers, and the school was clearly well managed.

In Larabanga, there are many more primary school aged children. While we hope to provide some school supplies, our first goal is to bring library books and picture books. Our donation will enable the library to be opened, encourage reading, and help enhance learning of English and literacy. This donation was requested by an elected councilman (and teacher) who is very enthusiastic about expanding opportunities for youth in his area.

Where the money goes

Our initial donation of $1000 in supplies will provide:

• Soccer balls and an air pump for a school of about 500 students
• World maps
• Art and other educational supplies
• Library picture books
• Atlases
• Other library resource materials

All supplies will be purchased in the United States and delivered directly to the communities in March of 2010.