Narrative Report

I (Stephen Abarika, World Servants Country Coordinator) call this project, a project of very young but very enthusiastic participants. With a clear purposed for the project, participants demonstrated their support for the less privileged in Sawaliga as they invested a lot of time in constructing a classroom block. The project for many stakeholders was a highly successful project for the community and volunteers.

On their side, the local community demonstrated  their understanding and appreciation for the project as they fully participated in the construction of the classroom block. Their zeal for the project could be noticed before the arrival, during and after the Dutch volunteers left the community. The project also experienced a great integration of the Dutch team and local community members, working together as a team with a shared goal. Other project activities such as children program, Life skills program, home visitation went well. Participants were accommodated in a school building.

One week after participants Ghana, the project was completed and is currently in use by 75 children.

Many schools in the deprived communities in northern Ghana face the challenge of inadequate classrooms. This unfortunate situation has a negative impact on the access and quality of education with in the affected communities. Due to the current quality of education, many parents decide not to enroll their children at a local school. It also promotes school drop-out. The poor teacher and student engagement and interaction consequently leads to poor learner performance.

As a response to improve the undesirable situation the Sawaliga community constructed two classrooms by themselves, using local materials to serve the Kindergarten (KG). After what the community had done to help solve the problem of inadequacy of classrooms, they still realized that the problem persisted. It was at this point that the community, local government and district education office requested funding from World Servants through AG Care for 3 classroom buildings to help attract and retain children in school and at the same time, enhance quality teacher child interaction during school hours.

Therefore, the project by World Servants was timely and very much appreciated.

Planning, organizing and scheduling of work during the construction of the 3 classroom block was well managed. The community was well mobilized and empowered with effective project information. This was necessary to enable the process which was also crucial for community ownership and project sustainability. Both the visiting volunteers and their local community members worked together as a team with a common purpose. The technical leaders must be commended for their good work. Their professional work led to the achievement of desired project output of three classroom block.

Building materials for this project were well positioned in the project community at good time. This enhanced the smooth implementation of the construction plan/activities. The community dug the foundation and provided their contribution, unskilled labor at all stages of the building project. Even though the majority of Dutch students were no skilled builders, they were able to learn fast under the leadership of the technical leaders and contributed a lot in realizing the building project. By the time the Dutch team left the project community, the building was completely roofed while plastering was on-going. Two weeks after the team of Dutch volunteers left Sawaliga, the project was completed and is now occupied by 75 school children.

The quality of learning and teaching has improved. Classrooms have been decongested, allowing for free interaction with learners by their teachers. Children participation during lessons has also improved since the numbers per class per lesson has been reduced. 

In terms of accommodation, participants were accommodated in a school building. This became possible as the local school management temporary moved school children out of an existing classroom to have classes under a shed and a tree.

Even though the children’s program during this project was held in a small room, it achieved its objectives. Activities ranging from games, painting, drawing, storytelling from the Bible and many more were carried out to the amusement of all participating community children. Participating kids learnt a lot from the program, particularly from  stories of the Bible.

Cultural exchange activities were carried out during the period participants stayed in the community. As part of the activities, homes of locals were visited with the main aim of interacting and to understand each other’s (participants & local people) culture.

Members of the Dutch team visited the Bolgatanga Senior High School (SHS). This trip was arranged in order for students of the SHS and colleagues from Holland to interact with one another. At the end of tour of the school in Bolgatanga, both sides declared the visit as a good experience.

Transportation was well arranged. The bus was comfortable and the bus driver performed very well.  AG Care provided a vehicle which was used to facilitate the project.

Together with stakeholders such as local government officials, Ghana Education Service officials, leaders of local project community and set-up team from World Servants, AG Care carried pre-project security checks. This was necessary to identify and map out targeted strategies to take care of issues of safety and security during the project. 

The cooperation with the leadership team during the project period was highly cordial and productive. The high level and good cooperation was the main reason why the building project and other activities were successfully executed.  

3.7.1 Applicant

Was encouraging. The applicant (Education Office) provided the needed support (physical and moral) i.e. visiting project community before, during and after the Dutch team left the country. They also helped in community mobilization.

3.7.2 Staff

The cooks did a good job. They provided tasty meals for the participants.

3.7.3 Beneficiaries

The direct beneficiaries of the project, the teachers, unfortunately did not actively participate in the project. The reason being that they lived far from the school community. 

3.7.4 The local authorities

The local authorities helped in mobilizing the local community for the project and were represented during the interim handing over.

3.7.5 Community

Community support for the project came in the form of providing land for the project, water for construction and contributing unskilled labor.

AG Care technical team and members of Sawaliga community continued work on the 3 classroom building after the Dutch team left Ghana. The local community continued to provide unskilled labor in support of the project, making it possible to complete the work within two weeks after the Dutch team left. The presence of the World Servants team in the project community contributed immensely to promoting the self-help spirit that was noticed in community members before, during and after the team left the project community. Project ownership is also enhanced among local community members.

More and quality time and resources spent on community mobilization is very necessary to empower community structures for quick, quality and active participation in development initiatives in their community which will normally lead to sustainability of interventions.