We started, in May by finishing the transformation of a dutch barn type structure at Disiga for about 40 pupils into a three classroom with store, toilets and latrines school for over 150 pupils and two extra staff on the adjacent site. This was jointly funded by the Clive and Sylvia Richards Charity, the Beatrice Laing Trust and Wulugu Projects own funds.

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Guomo was the next school that we found funding for.  The primary school had been camped in the grounds and a spare room of the Convent in Guomo but the nuns really did want to reclaim their space . They had been very patient indeed

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The PTA had been trying to get help from the District Assembly and raise funds themseives to build a new school but they were feeling helpless. Wulugu Project saw how hard they had been working to support their children’s education and Fondation Eagle came to their aid in June 2019.

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A six classroom school was built with store and toilets. Extended rains delayed the finishing (plastering and painting) of the School until December 2019 but the pupils rushed in to fill their new classrooms.  Ghana Education services provided seven women and 3 men teachers for the new school and the school was included in the ‘Schools Feeding Programme’ which provides all pupils one wholesome hot meal  a day, free. This greatly encouraged more pupils to attend regularly.

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The village and PTA are so excited by the opening of their new primary school that they are now redirecting their efforts with renewed confidence, to seek funding and build a Junior High School so their children can continue in school, locally.

Cheshugu was the centre of another group of villages with masses of children trying to study in dangerous local mud constructions  that can melt away in the rainy season . For safety reasons Kindergarten and primary 1&2 moved into the JHS building, which was more secure, in the mornings and primary 3-6 used the classrooms for the afternoon . This Shift system was very tiring on the teachers and pupils.

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JHS pupils had been sent away to another village with some space which disadvantaged the girls. With Foundation Eagle’s help, with funding sent in November 2019,  a new six room primary school was built for the primary classes with store and toilets and the kindergarten moved permanently into the old JHS block. The PTA are being encouraged to build a new JHS school next door. The build was finished 29th March 2020 .Due to COVID-19 we have been unable to ‘hand over the school’ to Ghana Education Services and the pupils have not returned. They too will be included in the ‘Schools feeding Programme’ which is funded by the District Assembly  on the orders from National education policy in Accra. A good idea for the pupils but it leaves the District with even less funds to build new schools or supply books or desks.

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When Solomon Nachina , our man in Tamale realised that the COVID-19 virus was coming to Ghana too  and he heard all the precautions being sent out from Accra.  He realised that many of his villages were really being ‘kept in the dark’. Very few people had electricity, radios or televisions and often villages were suspicious about information coming from Accra. It always seemed a world away from them. So Solomon created a power point presentation and armed with his laptop, a projector, generator and white sheet he travelled to the villages . With permission of the chiefs he would call a village meeting for all, men, women and children and explained about the world pandemic and how they could protect themselves. No ventilators here.  The villagers trusted him as he spoke in their own language and he had lived with them when he built them the school .The villagers came to understand the importance of hand washing and isolation.  Whilst soap was available to buy, clean water was not locally. It was often miles to walk to the nearest well / creek .

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So he asked for help to build Boreholes .  A mechanical bore hole with tanks and taps cost about £4000 . Wulugu publicised the need in UK and sent out £8000 to dig two boreholes in strategic villages where the water could be accessed by the most. The clean water will save lives after the COVID-19 epidemic as many die from Cholera ,Typhoid  and Malaria  found in the stagnant dams that are shared with the animals.

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We have continued to supply  and maintain equipment in three of our most needy vocational schools , some of which is being stored  to be installed in the schools when they open.

And to the future ; funding is very tight  with some doners ‘shutting up shop’ but we intend to continue searching for funding  for  building new schools at  Nwogu and Sanga and try and repair Boakadu and Zanzug-yipala  near Tamale . We are continuing to try to provide desks for primary schools and equipment for vocational schools and support for trainers to further their education.