Ghana Girls Education 2010
Since this project was initiated in 2007, Create Change has witnessed change in the lives of almost 800 girls who have a dream of getting an education so they can pull themselves and their families out of poverty. Help to show the world what a girl can do if she is given a chance.
Videos from this Project...
Project Goal:
$60000
Currently Raised:
$60000
Progress:
100% raised
Location:
Northern Ghana
Will Benefit:
girls aged 12-20
Proposed Implementation Date:
September - October 2010
Ghana Girls Education: help send a girl to school today!
The Story of this Project...
Create Change has implemented the Ghana Girls' Education Project for 2010. New students were interviewed, fees were paid at schools, and school supplies were distributed.
Because of the generosity of our donors, this year Create Change was able to support an astonishing 650 girls to get to secondary and post secondary school. This means we essentially doubled the number girls we support this year.
Intake
Girls came in huge numbers, and staff met with every single new student who was applying for acceptance into the program. Ghana staff worked from 9am until 7pm interviewing girls along with accompanying family members, sometimes without taking a lunch break. It was especially difficult as Samson Abukari, our Program Manager in Ghana came down with the chicken pox at 35 years of age in our busiest moment.
It was an emotionally draining experience, as dozens of girls would come in on a daily basis, having lost all hope of continuing their education. Girls’ were more desperate than ever as school fees had doubled at all schools without warning. This means that although families had saved up, they were nowhere close to paying for fees. Create Change was their last hope of continuing their education.
Regardless of the difficult moments, it was really exciting to see how many bright girls will now have the change at a better future. As we told girls we would be paying their school fees, we saw many breakdown in tears because they had struggle dso had to make it. Some sat from 6am until 6pm for three or four days in a row, as our staff struggled to get to them. You could see the relief in their eyes as the emotion all poured out at once.
Fee Payment
Create Change sponsored students attend over 20 schools all over Ghana’s Northern Region. Some schools are over three hours away, which Creating Change Ghana staff had to travel to and from, to ensure each and every student is supported.
While some students managed to come up with over half their school fees, others were not able to contribute anything. Some girls come from homes where their families do not see the value in educating them, while others live in such extreme poverty that there isn’t enough money at home for food, let alone school fees.
One of the greatest complaints we hear from girls is how the stress of struggling to find money for school fees constantly affects their ability to concentrate on their studies. Having school fees taken care of in full for the year gives students peace of mind, so all they have to worry about is achieving well in school so they can move on to the post-secondary level.
School Supplies
Girls were also provided with a number of school supplies, depending on each girl's particular need. While some only needed a few books and writing materials, others needed support with feeding, a mattress for boarding school, and new sandals. Some girls were in such need they even requested soap for washing, which costs only 20 cents. The supplies help girls to live comfortably and improve their ability to study, so Create Change can be sure girls will be able to succeed throughout their education.
A giant thank you to all who donated to this project and have made the difference in the lives of each and every one of the girls we were able to sponsor. Things remain busy as we prepare to pay school fees at more than 30 schools. We hope to provide updates on girls as they progress and as this wonderful project continues through the year.
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