Africa Literacy Development Initiative (ALDI), which was powered by Victoria Michael Foundation last week Thursday (December 7, 2017), commissioned a fully furnished kindergarten classroom block including library for Afuaman Basic School in the Ga West District of Amasaman of the Greater Accra.
The facility, which was commissioned by the deputy Minister for Education, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, was constructed upon the request by the Chief of Afuaman, Nii Afua VII, Queenmother, Naa Odual I, together with authorities of the Afuaman Basic School, is aimed at making quality education accessible to the Afuaman community and its adjoining environs.
Hitherto, the school was being held in an old three-unit classroom block with inadequate furniture, which could not accommodate its growing children population. The timely intervention of ALDI put smiles on the faces of the community members as they hoped the facility, which included a library, would contribute in enhancing academic performances of the pupils.
Inaugurating the facility, founder and Executive Director of ALDI, Miss Victoria Michael, stated that her outfit was committed to giving back to communities like Afuaman to enable its pupils attend classes in an improved environment, and get motivated to study hard to improve their fortunes in future. She mentioned that the organisation agreed to support the school because it recognises the important role education plays in the development of society. “It is important we create an environment that will help the youth develop their physical and mental activities as well as businesses, and partnership is the way to go,” she said.
She pointed out that since its inception in 2015, “We have consistently focused our attention on how to support government efforts in the improvement of literacy, especially in the rural and underserved communities. She noted that her outfit understands that the role of nation building should not just be an act of patriotism but should also be based on taking necessary actions as citizens to better the lot of the society.
“To us at the ALDI, this is a demonstration of what corporate social interventions should be—identifying a need and helping to fill that need in a way that is meaningful, sustainable and to brighten the lives of pupils and their families for many years.” “Our vision as a societal organisation and skills acquisition is key to national empowerment.
At ALDI we believe that every child in any part of Africa should have the right to quality education irrespective of how remote their locations,” Miss Michael noted. Flanked by the deputy Minister for Education, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Footprint2Africa Barrister, Mr Osita Oparaugo, Chief of Afuaman Community, Nii Afua VII, Queenmother, Naa Odual I, and Headmaster of Afuaman Basic School, Mr Michael Owusu, Miss Victoria Michael called on teachers and the pupils to work together to preserve the facility and tasked them to adopt a good maintenance culture to ensure its abiding existence.
For his part, Headmaster for Afuaman Basic School, Mr Michael Owusu, expressed appreciation to the ALDI for the gesture, saying that the commissioning of the two-unit kindergarten classroom block for the school will help rectify various challenges including inadequate classrooms, classes under trees and absenteeism. “We thank the Africa Literacy Development Initiative for the facility, which would remove a huge burden and impediment to teaching and learning in our school,” he said.
Chief of Afuaman, Nii Afua VII, and his Queenmother, Naa Odual I, thanked the organisation for identifying the needy community for them to be provided with assistance. They further congratulated ALDI for helping their community and the education sector with structures, furniture and learning materials for the kindergarten block.
Story: Freeman KORYEKPOR AWLESU
Writer’s email: freeman.koryekpor@todaygh.com