Greetings!
As my time in Ghana draws to an end, I must admit I'm still up to my ears in
terms of work! After nearly two years of being in Ghana, my term is to end
soon, in August. Although my struggles and success have been many, I haven't
always found the time to share the good and bad news with people back at
home. Many of you have asked me to write more about my peace corps
experiences, and I'm sorry I haven't been able to kept up with my side of
the communication lines (after all, I'm stuck most of the time in a remote
village, so my access to Internet and mail is limited). But let me just sum
it all up by saying how amazed and inspired I am by the experiences and
people I have met while working as a Peace Corps volunteer in Ghana!!
Today, I'd like to write about a special project, for which I'd like to
appeal for help. Please also forward this email to any person you know who
might be interested in contributing.
The school at which I'm teaching lacks so many resources, which really
hinders the children's learning. The biggest problem at our school is the
lack of decent buildings and learning materials helpful in the education of
deaf children. As such, my school's headmistress, some concerned staff
members, and myself have put together a proposal, seeking funds to build for
our school a computer laboratory and library.
As a reminder, I'm teaching at a school for deaf children. Savelugu School
for the Deaf is a boarding school for both primary and junior secondary
level students (the equivalent of elementary and junior high). There are
currently enrolled 240 students. SAVEDEAF is 30 km north from Tamale, the
capital of the Northern Region of Ghana. The people of Savelugu are peasant
farmers and the main economic activity is subsistence farming.
Since the original construction of the school campus in 1978, the Ghana
Education Service has not financed the building of any new structures, which
are drastically needed to support the school's vast expansion in student
enrollment. Every year we have to turn away dozens of hopeful applicants
because the school does not have decent facilities to accommodate a larger
student population, meanwhile, SAVEDEAF is the only deaf school for the
entire northern region (There are only 12 deaf schools across all of Ghana).
Our dormitories are overcrowded, our kitchen struggles daily without a
constant supply of water or fuel for cooking, our classrooms looks like
abandoned jail cells and our text books have more stains and tears than
legible text. The attached photos of our campus
show the dire conditions in which the students live and learn.
We have approached local organizations, businesses and government for funds
to build our proposed computer laboratory and library, but have
unfortunately received only disappointing rejections. Ghanaian culture and
government still has a very stigmatized approach towards hearing disabled
persons, and in general deaf persons are marginalized as persons incapable
of making significant contriubutions to society. Thus our school receives
very little assistance in terms of education materials and resources for
development.
Meanwhile our students are seriously struggling on a daily basis to live
decent lives, and to gain their basic education.The students' hearing
disabilities establishes a reliance on visual explanation of lesson topics.
However the lack of quality educational resources and teachers specifically
trained in deaf education available to special schools significantly hinders
comprehension of curriculum and training in life skills. When explaining
difficult topics, teachers must grapple with advanced sign language
vocabulary or attempt to draw diagrams.
Thus we are appealing for donations to enhance the quality of instruction of
students, by funding a facility that can create access to
valuable
learning materials that address the complexity of deaf education. With a
modern facility, teachers would be able to easily explain difficult topics
through showing pictures or videos at the computer laboratory, or
referencing illustrations and books at the library.
Furthermore, the proposed facility will improve extracurricular learning and
entertainment through the establishment of clubs, which will meet regularly
at the computer laboratory and library. The computers will also assist the
school in administration procedures and assist teachers in making higher
quality educational materials.
If you have interest in making a donation to support our project, please
continue reading for instructions on how to donate, or you can go to the
peace corps website www.peacecorps.gov
and find my proposal under 'Volunteer Projects' --Ghana--Computer Lab--S.
Krewin--project number 641-226.
We have an official bank account opened through the Peace Corps website, to
which you can electronically donate money. Or if you can't keep up with
modern technological conventions, you can send a check to addressed to my
parents, who will in turn pay the amount into the account set up for the
proposal.
Grazyna Krewin
13007 SE 203rd PL
Kent, WA 98031
The proposed building is estimated by the contractor to take no more than 2
months to build, so we are hoping to finish the
fundraising
by the end of MAY . That way we can build the facility during June and July,
thus making it possible for me to finish my volunteer service according to
my initial contract. Other wise, if the project is unable to be successfully
completed before August, I will consider extending my service so that the
precious work we did does not go to waste. (Peace Corps policy does not let
volunteers hand over their major projects to subsequent volunteers.)
Any amount of donation will be greatly appreciated, as not even the tiniest
gesture of humanity will ever go to waste!
Please also ask your employer if they support a Matching Gift Program.
Thanks for your concern and generosity in hearing our plea! On behalf of the
students and staff at Savelugu School for the Deaf,
You can also write the check for: Peace Corps OPSI
in the lower right corner write Sabrina's project no.
641-226
and mail it to
the address:
Peace Corps OPSI
Partnership Program
1111 20th Street NW
Washington, DC 20525
Sabrina Krewin
Click here to view the project on line or to donate to this project now!
http://www.peacecorps.gov/index.cfm?shell=resources.donors.projdetail&projdesc=641-226
The following information is posted at the Peace Corps website:
Computer Lab and Library
Location: GHANA
Volunteer Coordinator(s): S. Krewin of WA
Funds Needed: $13,706.00
Original Request: $13,706.00
Project Number: 641-226
Community Contribution: $4,569.00 (25%)
This proposal provides access to teaching and learning tools that are
critical to the special and complex needs of hearing disabled students.
Computers can electronically store and retrieve a great variety of learning
materials for the children who depend on visual
explanations.
Savelugu School for the deaf received donations of nine computers and 400
books but has no place to set them up and teach with them. The school is
requesting financial assistance, to add to their existing resources, to
construct a secure, simple, two-room computer lab/library for an effective
learning environment. With a population of 20 million, Ghana has only twelve
schools for the deaf. Only three have modern facilities that include a
computer lab and library. Schools for the deaf must teach the same national
curriculum as a regular public school, yet they lag behind in dozens of way:
lack of textbooks, outdated textbooks, teachers untrained in sign language,
shortage of classrooms, overcrowded dorms, no access to water. (Students
walk three kilometers to collect water in buckets at an irrigation dam.)
Acquired computer skills will expand employment options and life skills for
deaf Ghanaians who historically have high rates of unemployment. Access to
computers will support school administrative tasks such as managing student
records, enrollment and budget.
Donate to this project NOW!
http://www.peacecorps.gov/index.cfm?shell=resources.donors.projdetail&projdesc=641-226
***PLEASE ASK YOUR EMPLOYER IF THEY HAVE A 'MATCHING DONATION' PROGRAM***
Participation is simple!
http://www.peacecorps.gov/index.cfm?shell=resources.donors.mgifts
Ask your employer if they support a Matching Gift Program. Obtain a
Matching Gift form from your employer's human resources or payroll
department. Complete the donor section of the form and submit it along
with your donation. If you donated on-line please send it separately with a
note detailing your on-line donation, to the following address:
Peace Corps
OPSI
1111 20th Street NW
Washington, DC 20526.
Peace Corps processes the form and sends it to your
employer. Your employer will then send us a Matching Gift. It's that
easy!
Tips:
Companies may match donations made by spouses or retirees. Double or
triple matches are offered by some companies! For more information
about matching gifts please contact
matchinggifts@peacecorps.gov
Thanks Again!