Letter from the Founder,
Linda Atwater
REPORT FROM GHANA, JANUARY 2020
Greetings!
So much has happened in the last year in Ghana. I was privileged to again travel to Tongo to live, work and play with the children and people in the communities surrounding the school, Oasis Pathways Academy.
With a substantial donation, a new classroom block was completed on the ground floor and there are now two beautiful, full sized classrooms in use. They feature fans, a wall of windows and lights. New metal desks with chairs were purchased and put together for the upper primary grades. With these two new classrooms completed, renewed efforts are pushing for funding to complete two classrooms on the second floor.
We continued to support the efforts and growth of Oasis Pathways Academy in the small village community near Tongo, Ghana.
I again, traveled to Ghana for three months to work with the teachers, administration and the children in the school.
Our goals for 2020 are to continue the hot lunch program, support raises for all school workers, continue to support the OPA school bus (picking up children from the outlying villages), work on the school community garden education project,, improve the playground space and equipment and... construct the second floor of the new school block. Whew, it's a big list but doable with you as our partner.
OPA continues to provide a heavily subsidized hot lunch for all the children. They each pay 60 cents a week. For some it is the most substantial meal of their day.
Ongoing teacher training will be implemented this next school year as well as some new curriculum materials and methods. We are always striving for the best in pedagogy.
Best of all, the children are thriving in our small classrooms with the amazing, loving, dedicated teaching staff. This learning environment is extraordinary and a blessing for the whole community.
june 2020 Covid-19 response in Ghana
We are celebrating our donors response to the food insecurity and needs of Ghanaian families, and appreciation for those on the ground that helped organize and run the food distribution. Covid-19 in Ghana prompted market shut-downs and blocked transportation of food. Ghana Community Pathways and United Hearts raised funds to support a community food distribution
Large quantities of rice, beans, peanuts and five gallons of oil were measured out to keep each family supplied with food until the harvest and/or markets and travel restrictions are eased by the government.
A month of planning went into this food distribution as we gathered funds and waited for the banks to process the wire.
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Oasis Pathways Academy teachers traveled to villages, visiting children, engaging in lessons and handing out coupons that families used when they arrived at the distribution site.
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Ghana Social Welfare, the Police Department, Community stakeholders and school staff all contributed to making this event safe and well orchestrated.
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Masks were made by a local tailor using Ghanaian wax print fabric. All participants and workers at the distribution site received a mask.
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A total of 370 families, traveling as far away as 15 km from the school grounds, were supplied with food. In a separate distribution, 137 disabled folks were served as well with a quantity of rice and beans.
Thank you all for stepping forward with your donations to make this all possible! |
8/16/2020 The Ghana Government just announced that all schools will reopen by September 10th. Oasis Pathways Academy is planning how best to serve and keep safe; the teachers, students and staff. Check back here or our Facebook page for updates. www.facebook.com/GhanaCommunityPathways.org/
accomplishments of the 2019 school year
new classrooms in use
Check out the new primary four classroom, students in action, doing a group project. Notice the colorful tile floors and all the light streaming from the louvered windows.
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These are the new ground floor classrooms. Oasis Pathways Academy is growing! Help us complete the second floor and two more classrooms.
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2018 sanitation improvements
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OPA children and teachers in front of the composting toilets. The bank of 6 toilets was partially funded by a Peace Corps Grant.
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Hand wash stations were added so that the children and teachers can wash after using the toilet and before meal time.
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pre-K and kindergarten space
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The pre-K and kindergarten levels now have their own space with a kid-sized toilet and washing facilities. Custom tables and small chairs render the space versatile enough for their learning needs. Donated board books and picture books provide contemporary literature experiences.
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This is Wilson, he took an assignment to create something from clay to a new level. The children dug clay from the school grounds and set about making sculpture. The children took inspiration from their environment.
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Child sized scissors from the US and colored straws give preschoolers practice cutting, working their fine motor skills. When they strung the pieces into a necklace, wow, something to wear and take home.
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WHO WE SERVE
We have formed an international family with the men, women and children of the Talensi tribe in Ghana. Love, respect and commitment has developed over the past 18 years. We see positive sustained results in the education, the well being of the children and in village life. There is always more to do... That keeps us returning and serving.
Why Ghana? |
volunteer opportunitiesWe can only do what we do in Ghana when we collaborate with you. There are many ways to be involved such as organizing a fundraising party. (We will come with everything you need to host a jewelry making or craft party.)
Volunteer at Oasis Pathways Academy in Ghana. Stay tuned for details on an upcoming volunteer trip in June 2020. We would love to hear from you. |
Oasis Pathways AcademyWe have partnered with the Talensi community, (Peal Deng NGO) to build and operate a village school, Oasis Pathways Academy. We now have a nursery, a pre-K, kindergarten and Primary 1 through 6th.
Your donations provide scholarships, school supplies, teacher salaries, hot meals and transportation for these village children. |