New classrooms provide access and opportunity

It’s morning as I visit Sukaya, a farming community of 1,500 people in the Northern Region of Ghana. Children are hurrying and — in some cases — dragging their younger unruly siblings along to school. I pass teary-eyed tots putting up a fight to leave their moms for the day.

But, when I get to school, the picture is different. Here children happily run around their bright new yellow classroom, decorated with drawings. There’s excitement in the air as the bell rings, marking the start of the morning assembly. After a few minutes and instructions, the children sing: “We’re marching to our classes.”

This scene has been 13 years in the making.

In 2006, classes were taught under a tree before being moved to a mud hut. Neither were ideal settings for teaching or learning. That was when Christian Children’s Fund of Canada (CCFC) intervened. In partnership with local partner Markaz Al Bishara, we joined with the community to build a temporary open-air pavilion with a floor and roof. We’ve since updated it into a school block with classrooms.

Emmanuel, head teacher at the school, has many stories from life before the classrooms were built. “As soon as it threatened to rain, children had to run home,” he told me, adding, “[they] were always distracted by motorbikes and other [happenings] around school. Many children did not pay attention, which affected teaching and learning.”

Then there’s the problem of distance. It’s not uncommon to have enrolment problems in communities where children travel far to school. And, UNICEF reports the challenge is most acute in Sub-Saharan Africa, where net enrolment for children in primary school was 79 per cent in 2015.

It’s morning as I visit Sukaya, a farming community of 1,500 people in the Northern Region of Ghana. Children are hurrying and — in some cases — dragging their younger unruly siblings along to school. I pass teary-eyed tots putting up a fight to leave their moms for the day.

But, when I get to school, the picture is different. Here children happily run around their bright new yellow classroom, decorated with drawings. There’s excitement in the air as the bell rings, marking the start of the morning assembly. After a few minutes and instructions, the children sing: “We’re marching to our classes.”

This scene has been 13 years in the making.

In 2006, classes were taught under a tree before being moved to a mud hut. Neither were ideal settings for teaching or learning. That was when Christian Children’s Fund of Canada (CCFC) intervened. In partnership with local partner Markaz Al Bishara, we joined with the community to build a temporary open-air pavilion with a floor and roof. We’ve since updated it into a school block with classrooms.

Emmanuel, head teacher at the school, has many stories from life before the classrooms were built. “As soon as it threatened to rain, children had to run home,” he told me, adding, “[they] were always distracted by motorbikes and other [happenings] around school. Many children did not pay attention, which affected teaching and learning.”

Then there’s the problem of distance. It’s not uncommon to have enrolment problems in communities where children travel far to school. And, UNICEF reports the challenge is most acute in Sub-Saharan Africa, where net enrolment for children in primary school was 79 per cent in 2015.

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About Children Believe

Children Believe works globally to empower children to dream fearlessly, stand up for what they believe in — and be heard. For 60+ years, we’ve brought together brave young dreamers, caring supporters and partners, and unabashed idealists. Together, we’re driven by a common belief: creating access to education — inside and outside of classrooms — is the most powerful tool children can use to change their world.