Equip 100 Ghanaian Children with Literacy Skills for Life

My Story:

Hello, my name is Chiedza Ikpeh, and I am the Co-Founder and Director of the RARA Education Project CIC. In the new year, I will be taking a career sabbatical and spending my leave in Ghana with my family, friends and colleagues abroad. During this time, I will be supporting localised education projects on behalf of the RARA.

My sabbatical leave is inspired by my recent visit to Ghana, which opened my eyes to some pressing issues, particularly towards the quality of education. This experience ignited a passion in me to do something to make a difference, however minuscule, in the grand scheme of the education landscape in Africa. As Nelson Mandela once said, "Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world." I firmly believe that positive socioeconomic improvement can only be achieved by improving and advancing the quality of education one stride at a time.

Unfortunately, as Gideon Kwasi Animah states, in his commentary on the 'The decline of basic education in Ghana' states, the quality of primary education in most sub-Saharan African countries, including Ghana, is still saddled by serious shortages in resources due to increased enrolment. These shortages have profound consequences on social and economic futures.

After a recent exchange with education advocates on the ground in Ghana, such as Paul Mensah Amanor, founder of the Foundation for Educational Equity and Development (FEED), I was further motivated to respond to the problem of educational poverty in Ghana. For context, FEED is a Ghanaian-led non-profit organisation that is committed to improving literacy and educational opportunities for underserved children, working tirelessly to ensure every child has the chance to succeed.

The Cause:

Upon hearing about the empowering work delivered by the team at FEED, I made a commitment, on behalf of RARA, to support Paul and the team in providing resource to support the ongoing delivery of 2 initiatives running under the the "Libraries Without Walls" project - the "4 Weeks 2 Read" program and the "Lit Bag Campaign".

Initiative 1

The "4 Weeks 2 Read" program is a transformative literacy initiative that uses a meticulously designed curriculum, to empower non-readers to become confident readers within just four weeks, opening up a world of opportunities and imagination,

Initiative 2

The "Lit Bag" Campaign aims to make books accessible to every child. Distributing “Lit Bags” filled with age-appropriate books to children in underserved communities, nurtures a love for reading and promotes literacy as a fundamental right.

At RARA, our goal is to ensure that 100 more primary school children are able to read by Easter of 2025. This is the cause.

Our Mission:

We aim to sponsor the training of 100 students to read within 4 weeks. Each cohort of 10 students will be guided by a trained teacher, ensuring rapid and monitored literacy development. We also want to ensure that these 100 students receive a "Lit Bag" filled with essential resources to continue their learning journey at home.

Total Fundraising Goal:

The total cost to support the literacy education of 100 students is £3700. This will cover the training, resources, and take-home resources for all students.

How the Funds Will Be Used:

£1,100 of your generous contributions will be given to the "4 Weeks To Read" programme (£110 per cohort of 10 pupils):

£2600 of your contributions will be given to the "Lit Bag" campaign, ensuring 100 pupils take home reading and writing resources (£26 per bag) including:

How We’re Raising Funds:

To raise these funds, I, as co-founder and director of RARA, will be participating in a sponsored run. I will be running in the Liverpool Run Aintree 10KM on Sunday 15th December 2024. This event will not only help us raise funds but also raise awareness about FEED ’s impactful work across our UK networks.

Throughout my preparation for the race, I will document my journey and engage with social media platforms to draw attention to the cause and highlight the power of collective action in supporting this mission.

Long-Term Impact:

By supporting this campaign, you’re not just contributing to a short-term goal; you’re helping build a foundation for lifelong learning. These literacy and digital skills will empower these 100 Ghanaian children, enhancing their chances of academic success, improving their future employment opportunities, and enabling them to contribute positively to their communities.

Join Us in Supporting FEED:

Please consider donating to our cause and helping us reach our goal. Your support will make a tangible impact on the lives of these children and their future. Every contribution, no matter the size, brings us one step closer to providing these children with the skills they need to succeed.

Share and Spread the Word:

If you are unable to donate, please help us by sharing this campaign with your friends, family, and social networks. Together, we can change the world, one child at a time.

Thank you for your support and generosity. By supporting this campaign, you are investing in the future of these children and empowering them through education.