FRIENDS OF AGONA ASAFO

Agona Asafo Community Library Project

Who we are and our objective

Friends of Agona Asafo (UK) and Friends of Agona Asafo (Ghana), formed in 2008 for the specific purpose of enhancing the quality of education among children both in-school and out-of school in the village of Agona Asafo, about 50 miles west of Accra, are seeking donations to build, stock and maintain a Community Library. Agona Asafo has a population of approximately 12,000 of whom about 68% are children.

The situation

Education in Ghana is free for children of kindergarten, primary and junior high school age but the Government, despite providing buildings, is unable to fund senior high school education. To attend school, students must wear school uniform, be equipped with writing materials and parents must pay PTA dues. Because of poverty, even these requirements are unable to be met by many parents who may have up to ten children. The result of this is poor enrolment: 20% in kindergarten, 55% in primary, 32% in junior high and 8% in senior high schools. Of those in school, at least three or four children share one text book. There are no computers. Out-of school children help in the fields and in-school children roam the streets after school with nothing to do.

Why a library and what it will provide

The parents and villagers of Agona Asafo crave a better education for their children than they themselves had, and their children embrace education to a degree often unknown in the West. The library will house 2,000 books – Ghanaian-sourced curriculum text books and story books - and 30 computers. Only children in urban schools currently have access to computers and rural children going to senior high school are currently disadvantaged because of lack of exposure to early-stage computing. The library will therefore provide a quiet, dedicated environment in which to study.

Structure, current state of build and project oversight

The library has been designed by a local architect pro bono to a robust specification, incorporating eco-friendly features and an inspiring steeply pitched roof. The commitment of the men and women of the village to the project is such that they, under his supervision, are giving their labour free to build it. The foundations were completed in late 2008 and in June 2009 the walls had reached lintel height. The project is being overseen locally by the village Chief, Nana Yamfo Asuako XI, a co-author of children’s text books, a former teacher and one of the Chief Examiners for the English examinations conducted by the West African School Examinations Council, and by George Oduro, PhD (Cantab), Director of the Institute for Educational Planning and Administration at the University of Cape Coast – Agona Asafo is his ancestral village.

What donations will fund

The project is ambitious. It is costed at £48,000 (structure £15,000, technical support £2,300, furnishings including 80 desks and chairs £4,150, books, computers, staff costs £26,600 plus. It is also simple. All monies donated go to the project. There are no costs other than the bank fee charged for electronic transfer of monies.

For further information For further information, please contact Kathleen McBrearty (Treasurer, Friends of Agona Asafo) at km119@cam.ac.uk or visit the Friends of Agona Asafo Facebook page.