Support Teacher Bungalows in Rural Village in Ghana

Hi everyone! I just got back from Ghana and wanted to share a meaningful project that I've been working on since August 2024.

Help Us Complete Teacher Housing in Rural Ghana

We’re thrilled to share that we were awarded a $33,700 charitable grant from the Maldari Family Charitable Foundation to build teacher bungalows in Old Odonase, a rural farming village in the Central Region of Ghana in West Africa. Our total fundraising goal is $43,850.

Thanks to this generous support, we’ve made significant progress and have already constructed six housing units, which is our 2025 goal. Each unit includes a small kitchen, main room, and a bathroom with a toilet and shower. These bungalows will provide teachers with comfortable living spaces complete with running water and plumbing. These amenities are significant in the village where only two toilets currently exist at our technology center and were installed a few years ago.

Our goal is to attract and retain top educators by providing housing that is competitive with accommodations in more developed areas so students in Old Odonase can receive a consistent and high-quality education.

Why Teacher Housing Matters

Old Odonase School serves students from Nursery through Junior High School, drawing in children from surrounding villages due to its growing reputation and resources. Despite the school’s success, the lack of housing for teachers continues to be a major barrier for remote rural communities like Old Odonase. Teachers face long and difficult commutes. The teachers sometimes walk over an hour on rough dirt roads or wait hours for transportation from the nearest town, Abura Dunkwa.

These challenges result in frequent absences and turnover, which disrupts student learning. In August 2024, two dedicated teachers had to leave due to the difficult commute. Teachers with health issues are particularly affected. Without accessible and comfortable teacher housing, we risk losing great educators to schools with stronger resources.

Community-Driven Solution

The idea for teacher housing came directly from the educators and community during a town hall meeting in January 2024. Upon receiving the generous charitable grant, construction began with the support of the community and has been led by our Ghana-based Empathy FX International Team Lead/ Co-Founder, Nana Aggrey-Fynn, who has worked tirelessly for months to bring this vision to life.

Though the bungalows aren’t fully complete, the event brought together prominent community leaders including representatives from the Ghana Education Service, local government officials, Reverend Ministers from Cape Coast, the village chief, and former residents who traveled from far and near.

The guests, honorees, and community members of all ages eagerly rushed into the new units with excitement.

The reaction was overwhelmingly positive, with one young woman commenting, “I want to become a teacher at Old Odonase so I can live here!”

Impact on Students and the Future

Headmaster Emmanuel Nana Opoku Ankomah, who commutes up to 35 minutes each way by motorbike over rough roads, believes teacher housing will change everything. With on-site housing, teachers can arrive earlier, stay later, and support students beyond the school day, especially those who need extra help or have non-traditional schedules.

This project is about investing in a brighter future for students who are already breaking generational cycles of poverty through education. When we support teachers, we support entire communities.

Other Ways to Give

We are so close to completing this vision. Your donation will directly fund the final phase of construction, including plumbing and finishing touches to make the homes livable.

If you’d prefer to donate without platform fees, we also accept contributions via:

Zelle (Chase)

Check

GoFundMe deducts a 2.9% + $0.30 fee per transaction to ensure secure processing, but donations made via Zelle or check ensure 100% of your gift goes to the project. Please reach out to us directly for those details.

Thank you so much for your continued support. It means the world to me and the people of Old Odonase, Ghana who are beyond grateful for our community of donors.

Follow along at @makeyourmarkinafrica on Instagram and visit our website at https://www.empathyfx.org

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