"Being part of this dream gives me a purpose"

1. What impact do you think the school has on your students? Wilkinson: I strongly believe that the school does not just provide free education for our students, nutritious meals etc, but also provides them with an avenue to be given education that focuses on improving their talents and exposes them to new knowledge about the world and what they can offer by believing in themselves and being a beacon of change for their families and communities in the near future. 2. What impact do you think the school has on your teachers? Wilkinson: I believe that the fundamental benefit the school provides for our teachers is a good salary that helps them to provide for their needs and that of their families. Moreover, aside salaries, the school provides consistent training for teachers on pedagogical usage and behavioural change strategies that helps them improve as teachers. I also believe that the school fosters the ability of teachers to be a beacon of hope, love and change for our learners and their communities. The school also serves as a steppingstone for our teachers to further their own professional careers as teachers. 3. What impact do you think the school has on Kankaboom and the surrounding communities? Wilkinson: Before the establishing of Kankaboom Children’s School, children from the age of four had to walk from their homes to a far community not less than 1 to 2 km, to get to school. The road was long, hot, and unsafe. Moreover, most children were found not attending school until they were about 6 years of age. Now the school has provided an opportunity for safety and an avenue for children to be educated starting from 3 years. Secondly, due to frequent interaction with parents and community leaders on the importance of education, there has been a renewed purpose to educate every child for a brighter future for the communities. 4. Can you tell me an inspiring story from our project? Wilkinson: Our school has an autistic child who many people, including the child's parents, thought he was attending school simply for the free lunch! One day we saw him arranging colors according to sequence from red then yellow, green and blue. He made sure arrangements were in order with focus and determination. I was amazed including all who saw it and realized that this student was absorbing more information at school than we thought! 5. Why are the donations we receive so important? Wilkinson: Without the donations we receive, we would not have been able to increase the number of Children who attend school in the communities the project serves. Secondly, children would not benefit from the healthy meals the school provides that puts big smiles on our children's faces. Thirdly, without the donations, our hardworking teachers can't be given a salary that can sustain them and their families in communities where farming is the main source of income. Further, without the donations, the project would be unable to provide the teaching and learning materials required to provide an education, such as exercise books, pencils, educational toys, textbooks and exam questions. The donations are vital in sustaining our school and the vision to provide holistic quality education for children in rural communities in Ghana. 6. What impact does the project have on your own life? Wilkinson: I believe that the project has given me the opportunity to be part of a vision that seeks to positively impact the lives of Children and their communities. Being part of this dream gives me a purpose. A purpose of being a beacon of hope.