Last October, I posted a plea from Peace Corps Volunteer Carl Allen in Northern Ghana, who was raising funds to build a girls’ dorm at a business school in the village of Nakpanduri. We had met Carl two years ago while visiting the palace of his village’s chief, David Kansuk Laari. Today, I am happy to pass along the news from Nakpanduri that the girls’ dormitory has been completed and a new generation of rural Ghanaian young women will now be able to attend the Nakpanduri Business Secondary School. Eighty girls from surrounding villages can come stay in the accommodations and get an education. This is huge. It is widely accepted that one of the quickest ways to bring an entire community out of poverty is to educate its girls and women, so a hearty congratulations to the students, teachers, Chief, and to Carl.
Their website is quite impressive, with many lively colorful photos of the inauguration as well as more background information on the project: LINK.
Here’s the report from Carl:
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
The dorm is DONE!
At a lively dedication ceremony on April 2nd, 2008, the Nakpanduri Business Secondary School Girls’ Dormitory was officially opened. After an opening prayer from the Nakpanduri Imam, speeches from NABSS Headmaster Duut Peter Jatuat, the Presiding Member of the Bunkpurugu/Yunyoo District Assembly, Peace Corps Ghana Country Director Bob Golledge, and remarks from me (some in Moar – the local language), the dormitory was commissioned and the program closed with a prayer from Nakpanduri Assemblies of God Paster Thomas Lambon. The program also included two cultural drumming and dancing performances by the NABSS Cultural Troupe.
For the school and for the whole of Nakpanduri, the completion of this dorm represents a a great achievement in community cooperation. The community of donors were also a crucial part of this cooperative achievement. To all of you who supported me and this project – you have really done a great thing to help Nakpanduri and you have built a lasting connection to that community. Nakpanduri and I will forever be grateful to you for your contributions.
For the girls of NABSS, this dormitory represents an opportunity. It’s a drastic improvement to their living situation and to their educational possibilities. For some of them, it might alleviate one of the key conditions keeping them trapped in the cycle of poverty. For them it really means that much. They are very grateful.
I am also very grateful to have had the opportunity to be the conduit for this cooperation between two communities for which I care deeply. I am grateful for my whole Peace Corps experience in Nakpanduri, for all the friends I’ve gained and the lessons I’ve learned. The completion of the girls’ dormitory was a wonderful capstone to that experience.
A million thanks to all those who made it possible. God bless you all!
Carl
