Donating School Supplies Gallery

Buying school supplies in Bolgatanga Here, Steve (founder and CEO), Susan (customer service director), and Paul (our partner in Bolga) are selecting various supplies at a store in Bolgatanga to outfit a local primary school for the full year. As with most small and hyper-localized economies, with an order of this magnitude, the shop owner can only supply so much on the spot. But, using the money that we provide her, she will then buy supplies from all of the surrounding shops in the area, spreading the support to many businesses and families.

Preparing to distribute school supplies Eleanor (director of our non-profit), Richard (a native of this village and our friend/translator), the Assemblyman for the region, and the headmistress for the school prepare to give out the various supplies to every child.

The schoolchildren line up by grade The headmistress leads the function and all of the schoolchildren line up by grade. We then distribute the supplies to every child, one by one, according to their grade level. Even amidst the excitement, it’s all very well-coordinated and it’s an uplifting day for everyone.

Steve loves taking part Steve, the founder and CEO, personally hands out school supplies to a student. He loves taking part, saying that “he knows how important education is for the well-being of each person and for their society as a whole” and shares how “the children are always very sweet and appreciative of the help.”

It’s a group effort and everyone takes turns Here, Susan, our customer service director, is helping the headmistress. By easing the financial burden of purchasing supplies, students are better-prepared and more likely to be able to attend school.

Our longtime partner, Paul, handing out supplies Paul Akurugu, our longtime partner in Ghana, wanted to be a part of the ceremony. He always helps us with the logistical support as well (trucks, labor, scheduling, and financial contributions). It really is a collaborative effort, like all of our operations in Bolgatanga, and Paul plays a crucial role in making it all run smoothly.

Richard went to this very school as a child and speaks to the students Richard, our translator and a valued member of our Ghana team, made sure that he was available to help on this day. Having grown up in this village and attended this school himself, it was particularly meaningful for him to participate and he gave a heartfelt speech, telling the students that he was studious as a child and worked hard to get good grades. It was very emotional and moving, as he emphasized the importance of education and urged every student to dedicate themselves to learning.

Susan was honored to be part of the ceremony Here, Susan takes her turn in handing out supplies to students. Susan expressed how special it was to be involved in the ceremony and to witness firsthand the gratitude and appreciation of the students.

It’s an exciting day for all of the students It’s a day buzzing with excitement and enthusiasm for all of the students, but even so, they are always very disciplined. But once we have handed out all of the supplies, the kids are free to let loose and it’s a raucous and joyous celebration!

A typical classroom scene This is a view of an open-air classroom in the Bolgatanga region, with a chalkboard and no electricity. With the school supplies that we provide, the classroom-learning environment is improved greatly and it’s truly impressive how much learning can happen with just the rudimentary basics. Both the teachers and students are very committed, and are a testament to the transformative power of education in their community.

The headmistress directs and supervises all school operations The headmistress’s office, with additional school supplies to last throughout the year. As headmistress, her role is very important and involves supervising all of the academic and management decisions at the school level. We work in tandem with her to ensure that our aid helps as many students as possible.