Oliver Champness
Abofour Community Library and Rebuilding Messiah Classrooms
Fundraising for EduSpots
Story
UPDATE January 2017:
We have decided to build a structure with four classrooms downstairs, and 2 large rooms on top, to be used by the whole Abofour Community as a Community Library (expanding their current small library which has been used in the most incredible way possible!). Children and adults already come from far and wide as late as 9pm at night to use the books and benefit from the desk space and light. We have every conviction that this facility will be put to great use and have a significant impact on the entire area. We have already raised roughly £10,000 but will need another £20,000 to meet the total target. Building has already started, and we are keen to get the kids back in the classroom asap.
Initial Story
In December 2015 a team of six pupils from Brighton College were lucky enough to visit the village of Abofour in Ghana to open a new community library at the Messiah International School. We found the school truly inspiring in its work ethic, kindness and character, and we were so happy to see the wider community using the library during the evenings and weekends long after we had left. The following message was sent to the trustees of Reading Spots by Joseph Addae, Director of the Messiah International School, Ghana on 30th November 2016:
"I would like to inform you that five of the Messiah School buildings have been destroyed by heavy wind and rain today, 30th November, 2016 between 2:30pm and 3pm.
It all started with the usual wind which blows when its about to rain, however it became heavier all of a sudden and started to tear off the roofing of the buildings. The teachers, realising what was happening, rang the bell for school to close. We thought all students were out from the buildings however about 50 pupils were still inside. It was only during a second check of the buildings that we found them still inside. All efforts were made to get them out, but unfortunately one student was badly hurt as a result.
The school has been terribly affected and we currently have no classrooms for the nursery and kg1, kg2, stage 1, stage 4, stage 5 and part of stage 6. We are going to continue to teach under a tree somewhere tomorrow so that learning can go on in order to prepare for the students for their terminal examinations. The collapse of these buildings have come as a great shock to us."
The school has been terribly affected and we currently have no classrooms for the nursery and kg1, kg2, stage 1, stage 4, stage 5 and part of stage 6. We are going to continue to teach under a tree somewhere tomorrow so that learning can go on in order to prepare for the students for their terminal examinations. The collapse of these buildings have come as a great shock to us."
In response, Reading Spots and the pupils of Brighton College have launched an emergency appeal to raise as much as possible to rebuild the school and get the children of Abofour learning again - bringing them back inside their classrooms. Please give as much as you can to this amazing village, and our friends in the school. The people who work and study at The Messiah International School embody the optimistic and tenacious spirit that is so unique to Ghana, and while they will recover from this storm in time, it would be wonderful to give them a Christmas to remember by rebuilding this school which is such a vital part of the community.
We have decided to build a structure with four downstairs classrooms, and 2 large rooms on top, to be used by the whole Abofour Community as a Community Library. Children and adults already come from far and wide as late as 9pm at night to use the books and benefit from the desk space and light. We have every conviction that this facility will be put to great use and have a significant impact on the entire area.