2020 END OF YEAR REPORT
Oasis pathways Academy adapts in 2020
Dear friends,
It is tempting to focus on the many, many ways in which this year has been different both for me and for Oasis Pathways Academy, but the real story is about how OPA has continued to fulfill its mission through it all. Though the global pandemic has disrupted in-person learning at Oasis Pathways Academy, the school has continued to provide education, jobs and much-needed food relief in the area. No other local school has been able to send teachers to communities for educational outreach and the government has even permitted a handful of P6 students to attend classes on site. The support of Ghana Community Pathways was critical to the large food distribution effort during the summer and the ongoing local food relief efforts coordinated by Dan and Hawa Bangrey. Read on to learn more about how your generosity, through Ghana Community Pathways, has made a continued difference to the health, education and economy of the people of the region and how you can continue to help.
Linda Atwater
Founder
Pandemic Food Security Distribution
Ever since the summer food distribution, grandmothers have been coming to Dan to say, "Thank you for keeping our children fed!" The huge food distribution that took place on the OPA campus really helped our families through a difficult period when food was not available due to Covid-related market and transportation shutdowns. Ghana Community Pathways is proud to have been a key part of getting food to the local community and to all the OPA families.
Education In Tough Times
When Ghana, like other countries, shut down all schools during the pandemic, Oasis Pathways Academy complied and the students returned to their villages. By May, the teachers were anxious to be with their students and teach again. Armed with face masks, pens, paper, songs, and tubs of books, the teachers teamed up on motorcycles and delivered lessons to the outlying villages. The children were so excited to be with their teachers again! Brothers, sisters and cousins gathered under trees to sing, dance, practice math, read books and learn. The parents have been especially grateful to OPA's dedicated teachers; no other school is doing this kind of outreach during the pandemic. The government is permitting students in the final year at each level to attend in person, so OPA's P6 students have been meeting consistently with their teacher, Moses.
Oasis Pathways Academy teacher visiting students during pandemic shutdown
Always Improving
The time that Oasis Pathways Academy has been closed has also been put to good use by making necessary safety and security improvements. Dan, Hawa and other staff have been busy renovating, repairing and making OPA ready for the anticipated return of the children to campus in January. Work continues with repairing older termite-ridden ceilings and windows, painting inside and out and adding new desks. The playground now has a new Gaga Ball court ready for children to play!
Reflection on Our Work
In this year of global focus on racial and economic justice, it has been important to examine Ghana Community Pathways' work in relation to the historic impact of colonialism and capitalism. We recognize that we, at Ghana Community Pathways, do this work in Ghana from a position of privilege.
Oasis Pathways Academy and the communities near the school provide Ghana Community Pathways with a place to build meaningful relationships and see lasting, sustainable progress. It is critically important that we trust our counterparts in Ghana with the economic and policy decisions that drive the programs we support.
An impressive 96% of all donated dollars go directly to Ghana to fund the work determined by Oasis Pathways Academy's local board of directors.
Our Impact
In addition to continuing to educate students and provide much-needed food to the community, Oasis Pathways Academy has continued to pay teachers and hire local workers to make building improvements throughout the pandemic. They are deeply grateful to be able to continue supporting their families and the stability provided to the local economy has been significant, thanks to your ongoing support. Please help us continue this critical work!
It is tempting to focus on the many, many ways in which this year has been different both for me and for Oasis Pathways Academy, but the real story is about how OPA has continued to fulfill its mission through it all. Though the global pandemic has disrupted in-person learning at Oasis Pathways Academy, the school has continued to provide education, jobs and much-needed food relief in the area. No other local school has been able to send teachers to communities for educational outreach and the government has even permitted a handful of P6 students to attend classes on site. The support of Ghana Community Pathways was critical to the large food distribution effort during the summer and the ongoing local food relief efforts coordinated by Dan and Hawa Bangrey. Read on to learn more about how your generosity, through Ghana Community Pathways, has made a continued difference to the health, education and economy of the people of the region and how you can continue to help.
Linda Atwater
Founder
Pandemic Food Security Distribution
Ever since the summer food distribution, grandmothers have been coming to Dan to say, "Thank you for keeping our children fed!" The huge food distribution that took place on the OPA campus really helped our families through a difficult period when food was not available due to Covid-related market and transportation shutdowns. Ghana Community Pathways is proud to have been a key part of getting food to the local community and to all the OPA families.
Education In Tough Times
When Ghana, like other countries, shut down all schools during the pandemic, Oasis Pathways Academy complied and the students returned to their villages. By May, the teachers were anxious to be with their students and teach again. Armed with face masks, pens, paper, songs, and tubs of books, the teachers teamed up on motorcycles and delivered lessons to the outlying villages. The children were so excited to be with their teachers again! Brothers, sisters and cousins gathered under trees to sing, dance, practice math, read books and learn. The parents have been especially grateful to OPA's dedicated teachers; no other school is doing this kind of outreach during the pandemic. The government is permitting students in the final year at each level to attend in person, so OPA's P6 students have been meeting consistently with their teacher, Moses.
Oasis Pathways Academy teacher visiting students during pandemic shutdown
Always Improving
The time that Oasis Pathways Academy has been closed has also been put to good use by making necessary safety and security improvements. Dan, Hawa and other staff have been busy renovating, repairing and making OPA ready for the anticipated return of the children to campus in January. Work continues with repairing older termite-ridden ceilings and windows, painting inside and out and adding new desks. The playground now has a new Gaga Ball court ready for children to play!
Reflection on Our Work
In this year of global focus on racial and economic justice, it has been important to examine Ghana Community Pathways' work in relation to the historic impact of colonialism and capitalism. We recognize that we, at Ghana Community Pathways, do this work in Ghana from a position of privilege.
Oasis Pathways Academy and the communities near the school provide Ghana Community Pathways with a place to build meaningful relationships and see lasting, sustainable progress. It is critically important that we trust our counterparts in Ghana with the economic and policy decisions that drive the programs we support.
An impressive 96% of all donated dollars go directly to Ghana to fund the work determined by Oasis Pathways Academy's local board of directors.
Our Impact
In addition to continuing to educate students and provide much-needed food to the community, Oasis Pathways Academy has continued to pay teachers and hire local workers to make building improvements throughout the pandemic. They are deeply grateful to be able to continue supporting their families and the stability provided to the local economy has been significant, thanks to your ongoing support. Please help us continue this critical work!
Letter from the Founder,
Linda Atwater
REPORT FROM GHANA, DECEMBER 2020
Greetings!
Last December, 2019, I was in Ghana for about three months time. I interacted daily with students, teachers and administrators. This, for me, has been an annual tradition over the past 15 years. It feels odd to not have the luxury of traveling to Ghana and making those personal connections that are so integral to our work there. I am so honored to know Dan and Hawa Bangrey and see how, during this pandemic, they have been pillars in their community and leaders at Oasis Pathways Academy.
It is tempting to focus on the many, many ways in which this year has been different both for me and for Oasis Pathways Academy, but the real story is about how OPA has continued to fulfill its mission through it all. Though the global pandemic has disrupted in-person learning at Oasis Pathways Academy, the school has continued to provide education, jobs and much-needed food relief in the area. No other local school has been able to send teachers to communities for educational outreach and the government has even permitted a handful of P6 students to attend classes on site. The support of Ghana Community Pathways was critical to the large food distribution effort during the summer and the ongoing local food relief efforts coordinated by Dan and Hawa Bangrey.
We share this Pandemic and the fallout that it has caused throughout the world.
Although Ghana's Covid 19 numbers are low, the slowdown of international aid, interrupted exports and imports , failed crops and school closures in Ghana have affected the poorest communities the most. Your generosity through Ghana Community Pathways makes a continued difference to the health, education and economy of the school, villages and of course, the children.
-Linda-
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 20 years that Linda Atwater has been involved in the Tongo District of Ghana. 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. We would love to hear from you. |
Oasis Pathways AcademyWe partner with the Talensi community non-profit, Peal Deng (NGO) that built and supports 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. |