In 2014 we accomplished some unique, exciting things and we want to share them with you. If you’re reading this blog you’re probably a supporter, and if you’re a supporter you are fabulous, we appreciate you, and we couldn’t have had such a great year without you!
One-of-a-Kind Toilets
Yes, you read that correctly. This year we build some of the absolutely coolest rural micro-flush toilets for our school. In fact we were the first school in all of Ghana to build these new innovative toilets. Now 100 kids at our school have a place to poop and we think that’s pretty cool.
Solar Panel Tablet Lab
Thanks to the generosity of our friends at Global Sustainable Aid Project (GSAP)our students have access to a solar powered tablet lab. This resource is loaded with Khan Academy and Wikipedia for Schools along with dozens of other educational resources.
Second Round of Pilot Micro-finance
With the success of first round micro-loans to women, we increased the loan amount to see what else these women could accomplish. We’re still in piloting phase and will be reviewing in 2015.
Afterschool Activities
We have partnered with 4H Ghana to establish an extracurricular club where are students plant and cultivate a school garden. Students will ‘learn by doing’ in areas like farming, vocationally relevant skills, and local development solutions with this great program.
Community Store
We built the first store at the tourist location of Umbrella Rock and the 3-in-1 Palm Tree (which are right in the Akaa community). The store serves hikers and the general community with proceeds going back into the school fund. This is one of the ways we are looking at creating sustainable solutions for monthly operational costs. Older students will also volunteer to reinforce practical mathematical and communication skills.
Moringa, Moringa
We joined hands with social enterprise, Moringa Connect in teaching new ways to cultivate and use the Moringa Tree. In January, the MC team planted several trees at the school – and now they’re taller than the school roof!
Class Excursions and Teacher Trainings
We love to support educational field trips for our students as a part of our curriculum enhancement. This year students visited Tetteh Quarshie Cocoa Farm and Aburi Botanical Gardens. We believe our students deserve not just education, but quality education and to deliver that we back up our belief by supporting multiple teacher trainings throughout 2014.
Volunteer Trips
We had two groups of fabulous Wooster students (Go Scots) visit in January and May of 2014. With veteran volunteers and first timers these groups did everything from classroom yoga, getting their hands dirty in construction projects and creating fun lesson plans (as pictured).
Can You Say Crowdfunding?
Holy cow, we’re excited about the success of our Indiegogo campaign. We reached our $15,000 school bus goal to provide safe, reliable transportation for our students to get to school. We believe every child who wants to go to school should be able to get there.
We’re trying some new things, because you know what, we like to learn. This has been a big year and we are even more excited for what’s to come in 2015! Join us this coming year: sign up for our updates (we won’t SPAM you), follow us on social media and donate!
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