Kotobabi NO.2 TWMA Project
With profound love, overwhelming sadness, and deep sorrow, I pay tribute to my dear sister in God, the remarkable Ms. Joyce Juliet Darko, the Head Teacher at KOTOBABI NO 2 TWMA KG PRIMARY B SCHOOL, POST OFFICE BOX SK 548, SAKUMONO-ESTATE. She unexpectedly passed away in her sleep in May 2023.
From the moment we connected, a beautiful bond was formed as we shared our passion for educating the youth and placing God above all else. It was in that instant that we became sisters, united by a common purpose.
As an African American, Ms. Joyce treated me as though I were a Ghanaian returning home to fulfill my calling. It wasn’t simply because my DNA test revealed my Ghanaian ancestry, but because her nature was one of love and compassion. She guided me and helped me acclimate to life in Ghana, offering her unwavering support whenever I faced any challenges. The mere thought of her brings tears to my eyes, but it also fuels my determination to carry on the work we initiated together.
The first encounter between Ms. Joyce and me took place after I relocated to the Tema area near Kotobabi School N02 in Ghana. My Ghanaian family, whom I met during the Year of Return, moved in with us. Our NGO conducted an assessment on the entire family, consisting of the father (42), mother (36), and their eldest son (6), in order to gauge their educational level, comprehension, weaknesses, and strengths. Regrettably, the results revealed that their six-year-old son, whom I will refer to as Jeff, was struggling with reading and writing in both English and Twi.
In the Black community, our Community Center in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, has encountered similar issues for over two decades. When we encounter a student in the United States who is not meeting the necessary standards for their grade level, either I or one of our Youth Empowerment Coaches would visit the school, interview the teachers, engage with the parents, and devise a plan to help bring that child up to speed.
As the CEO of our Ghanaian NGO, “BringBackHope,” I visited Kotobabi School N02 to investigate Jeff’s academic challenges. It was during this visit that I encountered Ms. Joyce, who warmly embraced me. It felt like a scene from “The Color Purple,” where Celie joyfully reunites with her long-lost sister, Nettie, only in this instance, the roles were reversed (LOL).
Ms. Joyce’s love and dedication to the success of the students and families at Kotobabi School N02 mirrored my own aspirations as she guided me on a comprehensive tour of the entire school premises. I encountered some of the brightest and most intelligent children across all grade levels, yet it was evident that she was overwhelmed by the numerous challenges faced by the school.
The Kotobabi Schools N02 complex caters to 3,000 students and staff, encompassing a kindergarten, two primary schools, and one junior high school, all situated on the same premises. The property was originally acquired through a donation from HFC Bank, now known as Republic Bank, in 2012. However, some of the school buildings remain incomplete, existing as either empty shells or concrete slabs.
Over time, the existing infrastructure has fallen into severe disrepair and is in dire need of a complete renovation. Classrooms suffer from collapsing ceilings or the absence of ceilings altogether, while many buildings lack windows or frames, leaving them exposed to the elements and susceptible to theft. The school’s resources are scarce, maintenance is non-existent, and due to insufficient bathroom facilities, children can be seen openly defecating on the premises.
My newfound sister and I joined forces, with her guiding me towards potential donors and sponsors who would empathize with our cause. She empowered me to pursue support from institutions such as HFC Bank, now Republic Bank, as they had provided assistance in the past. Additionally, she introduced me to the McDan Foundation, ECO Bank, ABSA Bank Ghana, GCB Bank Limited, Fidelity Bank Ghana, Standard Chartered Bank, Samsung, Dolait, Eddy’s Pizza, Domino’s Pizza, Pizza Hut, Naana Jane Agyemang, Pizza Inn, Open Labs Ghana, Nana’s Rice, KFC Ghana, Bridgewaves Ghana, Gold Coast Food Group, Pepsodent Ghana, PinkBerry Ghana Icecream, TOM Vita, Vodafone, MTN, AirTelTigo, Ghana Cocoa Board, Rafimex-Ghana, all of whom I have reached out to or will be seeking support from.
She also introduced me and my team to the Honorable Chairman Kwesi Poku Bosompen, NPP of Tema West, and the Honorable Mr. Isaac McCarthy-Mensah, Municipal Director of Ghana Public Schools, Superintendent of TEMA WEST MUNICIPAL OFFICE. With her assistance, we established a formal partnership with the Kotobabi Schools N02 system for ten years, initiating our Kotobabi Schools N02 restoration project in 2023.
As we bid farewell to Ms. Joyce, whose funeral will be held on July 8, 2023, may her soul rest in eternal peace. Her memory fuels my passion, compassion, and unwavering determination to see our shared vision through to completion. Together, we will restore hope and transform the lives of the students and families of Kotobabi School N02.
We kindly request your support in the amount of $52,000 for the first phase of the project. Our primary objective is to provide essential resources for the Kotobabi NO2 TWMA A&B and JHS School, benefiting its 3,000 students, 125 teachers, and staff, enabling them to successfully implement all five project phases.
We have established partnerships with reputable organizations such as Broward College Black Student Union (North, Central, and South campus), Martin Luther King Jr Elementary, We Buy Black, HG Solutions, the Ghana Public Schools System, the Honorable Chairman Kwesi Poku Bosompen NPP of Tema West, Ambassador Millie Tucker, and her NGO AFO Foundation, the African Diaspora, and the University of Ghana. These esteemed collaborators will provide supplementary assistance to the project through grants, sponsorships, and expertise, ensuring its long-term sustainability.
The purpose of this initiative is to support the Ghanaian government in generating more domestic resources for the country’s development, with a particular focus on empowering its youth to realize their full potential.
The project aims to foster innovation and equip young individuals with the necessary skills to address their evolving needs. By 2024, an estimated 6 million young people will enter the labor force, while by 2030, around 9 million jobs in Ghana will require digital skills. Our project, “The Ghana Project: Up Lifting Our Youth,” serves as a stepping stone towards implementing a sustainable strategy, recognizing that the future lies in empowering the youth to become self-sufficient by applying their creative skills across various industries.
According to UNICEF’s 2021 EDUCATION BUDGET BRIEF, during the 2021 Global Education Summit in the United Kingdom, the President of Ghana pledged to allocate at least 23% of the national budget to education over the medium-term (2021-2025). In line with this commitment, the Government intends to leverage technology and innovation to bridge the equity gap in education. However, as stated in the 2020 Ministry of Finance Budget statement, the total budget for education accounted for only 13.8% of total expenditure, largely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
It is crucial that we assist the Government in fulfilling this commitment, starting with the 2022 budget, to promote equitable access to education for all Ghanaian children, both in and out of school.
Fort Lauderdale Community Center
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