New classrooms thanks to Melbourn students
6th September 2016
Students at an overcrowded school in Africa are enjoying a little more space this term thanks Melbourn students and staff
The sixth and seventh classrooms in the 350-plus student Grace Methodist School in Ghana should help ease the overcrowding at the prep school in the village of Attabadze after 13 students and two staff from Melbourn Village College spent two weeks during the summer holidays working there.
But even getting there had its trials for the travelling party, who had to make the difficult decision to stick to their planned route via Istanbul despite a military coup in Turkey the day before they were due to leave.
Then they arrived in Accra, West Africa’s largest city, at night, which was more than a little daunting, and took a bus across town to a ‘Guest House’. The staff were helpful, but the accommodation was basic with no running water and cell-like rooms.
It was enough, however, to allow them to travel to Attabadze rested for the task ahead. This involved helping local workmen complete the sixth classroom, which was already under construction, and erecting a seventh. By the time the Melbourn group left, only the roof was left to go on to the newly-built room.
This was no mean feat. The school, built at the far end of the village, lies on solid, dusty and impenetrable earth too hard to even sink a tent peg, which meant students ended up sleeping in the neighbouring enormous and impressive church.
The students worked hard in blazing sun and temperatures approaching 30 degrees Celsius and that and the basic conditions – the toilet was a hole in concrete suspended over a trough – resulted in some of the Melbourn party becoming unwell.
But that did not detract from their achievements – or the fantastic experience of immersion in a different culture.
PE teacher Rob Walker, who led the trip, said: “The children offered us a fantastic welcome and it was clear to see their excitement at our presence. The teachers and the headmaster (Isaac) led a welcoming ceremony of prayers and Ghanaian hospitality started to become evident.
“We handed over a large bag stuffed full of kind donations of stationery and books from our local community and Tesco. This gift was warmly received and the students proudly paraded two pencils and a pen each.
“On our fourth day it was sports day and all the students arrived in PE kit and played football, handball and volleyball, challenging us to matches.
“It was clear that this was a boys’ domain and the girls were expected to watch, not take part, so we tried to address this by getting the girls playing handball, netball and Frisbee.
“A fantastic day of sport and dance was had and the students; both Ghanaian and those of MVC were exhausted but had a wonderful time interacting and learning each other’s culture.”
The Melbourn students also had the chance to visit the Kakum National Park, an area of protected rainforest home to many species of protected and rare birds and primates.
Before the MVC students left they were treated to a performance of a traditional Ghanaian story about the right of passage into adulthood, were presented with traditional Ghanaian dresses and shirts and had many photos taken.
Mr Walker added: “By the time we got home, the stresses of the first few days of the trip were long since forgotten and there was enormous sense of achievement as I watched 13 students, who had developed into a mature, hardworking and responsible team, hug their parents.”
A video of the trip is available here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tlx4cy7YIAs
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