Since the letdown of the youth conference, we have directed our attention to a new project for young people in Gbawe.  It was an after-school program that hopes to supplement or compliment the learning/teaching of students at a local public elementary school.

We believe that the project is necessary for a couple of reasons.  One, until the start of this new school year, students attended school in shifts.  We figured that not much learning could take place when such a small amount of time was spent at school.  Luckily, the system has changed and this new school year will allow students to go to school fulltime.  Regardless, in comparison with the various private schools in the area, the government schools leave much to be desired.  The very structure within which learning is supposed to be happening is far from appealing.  Again, this begs the question of ‘what kind of learning happens at the school?’  Thus the need for the afterschool program to supplement it.

Secondly, private tutors are expensive and children from low-income households are unable to access it. Like a lot of the luxuries here, only those with money can afford the quality of education.

Thirdly, and I think perhaps most importantly, the need for a space where children can enjoy some kind of freedom in terms of creativity is a big one.  We envision the afterschool program to not only give children with help with their homework, but also provide them with the opportunity to engage and interact with each other in ways that will allow for their full development.  An emphasis on creativity will be pressed through the arts, games and an atmosphere of positivity.

So I’ve been put in charge of making this project happen.  As first, I saw the plan in the same mould as the afterschool programs that I was accustomed to.  However, with the scarcity of resources, I had to jump right back into reality. We decided that a simple plan will be best.  The plan has been drawn out and we are at the consultation stage.  School begins very soon and we have plans to meet with a couple of school administrators to get their take on the idea- as in what they think about the project and whether they can support it in any way.  The program is going to take place in the government school where PAAJAF holds the adult education classes.  Some of the tutors at the adult class are interested in giving their time to the project as well.  We also aim to solicit the assistance of students from a nearby secondary school , to help students with their homework.  We wait to see what happens.

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