Our linked school in Ghana is in Aseseeso, which is in the Eastern Region about an hour's drive north-east from the capital Accra. Nestling against hills, it is part of a peaceful farming community which produces a huge variety of crops including many fruits, vegetables, timber and even fresh-water fish. Aseseeso Presbyterian Basic Schools, with students aged between 3 and 16, are on two sites in the centre of the village.The KG and Primary schools are together on one, while the Junior Secondary School is a few minutes' walk away. The aims of the link are for both school communities to understand what life is like in a different cultural environment, to exchange news, information and resources for teaching and to exchange visits. Enjoyment is an important aim too as real people make connections. Since a partnership was formed in the new millennium, students have learnt about Ghana through correspondence and research as well as exchange of resources. Over and above expectations from a school link, our students have generously raised money towards improving resources in our partner school. In particular, current year 12 students, as a result of a focus on Ghana in their citizenship lessons in year 10, raised over £600 through their own fund-raising efforts.
A Ghana Club meets regularly to discuss news from Aseseeso, send letters, produce resources, host visitors and enjoy activities with a Ghanaian flavour. This is a 'drop-in' club open to staff and students.
Alan Mayhew explores some thoughts on the benefit of linking projects. Read also more in the 2004 newsletter.
Early in September 2003 the UKOWLA Ghana Linking Conference in York, UK, provided an opportunity to explore the benefits and practicalities of linking projects.
Linking is happening all around us and at a pace, all made much more possible now through the advances in communications technology. Institutions such as schools and local authorities, church groups, youth groups and whole communities such as the city of York have established links with Ghana. The worldwide north-south linking process now has active support at parliamentary level through an all parliamentary group at Westminster.
Many speakers reiterated one theme: linking is about, and must be, a two way process between north and south partners if it is to be really successful. One young speaker, Amy, spoke well about the youth exchange as part of the York-Fanteakwa link. She and other teenagers visited Ghana followed by a return visit by Ghanaian youngsters to York. Participants raised their own funds and although a cultural shock, the exchange was clearly a great success which has given them a different perspective on life. They also came to realise that teenagers are much the same everywhere. Linking is very much about meeting face to face.
The linking between schools takes the process much deeper. It can be of great benefit to both partners. A crucial aspect is that links become sustainable as part of a process of building a world community. It is important for different generations of pupils and teachers to participate and gain from the process. It is clearly important that there is freedom and flexibility within partnerships to enable it to flourish and to be able to respond to root issues such as 'what can I learn from it?', 'what do I want out of the link?', and 'what can I contribute?'.
A Ghanaian perspective on linking was presented by Letitia Boateng who stressed the benefits of the contributions and commended their direction but also emphasises that participation and funding remained crucial aspects to deal with. Letitia and a group of Ghanaian participants were well aware of the need to involve community associations and organisations much more.
Following on from that conference, the Executive Committee discussed at some length the subject of school links, at its September 2003 meeting. It was acknowledged that linking had considerable potential for GSA and that it is a natural additional activity to our present work - especially important in that it involves young people, the future.
There are many different issues to grapple with in setting up and sustaining a link between a Ghanaian and a UK school and it takes time; but when successful it is rewarding and satisfying. Five GSA members have decided to form a working party: Catherine Batten, Letititia Boateng, Jo Hallett, Sue Hewlett and Wendy Spratling. In February this year the Committee and most of the Working Party members were able to meet to explore the way forward. After an absorbing session which high-lighted many important issues, it was agreed that a paper setting out criteria for school links should be produced. The Working Party met at the end of May and also included Nick O'Neill (who spoke at the AGM) and Kate Regan who is involved in setting up a link between a community technical college at Hungerford and the Aseseeso-Aboase JSS in Eastern Region.
Further news is to be expected in the next newsletter, but we have made a start in identifying some funds received from the Morel Trust to support our work in making contact with young people and developing Link contacts.