Watoto: April - Extracts from Lucy's Blog
Thursday 15th April 2010
If you have ever wondered how COCO source our projects then this issue of Watoto hopes to provide you with an insight of what a project visit involves.
Ghana: Hopes for a brighter future
"The best part of today and the whole trip was the visit to Sawla Vocational Training Centre (VTC), this is the furthest West I have been and not very far from the border of the Ivory Coast.
The girls at this centre are the friendliest I have ever met, not to mention the most enthusiastic. There's a feeling that everyone genuinely wants to be here and they are happy and grateful for their chance at an education.
They want to hear what I have to say, what my advice is to them and they smile, clap and laugh when I wish them good luck with their exams. I ask the computer class "Are you confident that you will pass your exams in November?" and I am met with a loud and resounding "yes!" What has been created here is so much more than an educational institution; it's a great big family.
The headmistress talks to her girls like they are her own daughters and there is a definite air of respect in her communication. The girls are learning a variety of skills here including hair dressing, dress making, tie dye, tailoring, catering and information technology. The teachers have teamed this up with life and entrepreneurial skill classes.
The need for this centre is for more classrooms and more dorms, there are just too many students and they desperately need more places. The demand is huge and girls are coming from far afield to try and get a place at this centre. Opportunities for education in the North of Ghana are scarce but opportunities for quality education are practically non-existent, with the exception of this centre. The fees for a term are 5 Cedis which is around £2.30 (£6.90 per year) and not all of the girls can afford to pay this but the teachers help out where they can. As we leave the VTC I feel very positive that Wulugu have done some great work and I am hopeful of a partnership."
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