Casting nets, Catching Dreams: Supporting Young Students In Fishing Communities

Eighteen (18) children were selected last year to be part of the I MADE IT programme, which is ongoing in two fishing communities in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana.

Girls from John Wesley Methodist Basic School

Five (5) girls were selected from John Wesley Methodist Basic School at James Town; five (5) girls from Bishop’s Girls’ School, located near James Town but in the central business district of Accra; and eight (8) children from Chorkor Presbyterian Basic School. All three schools are situated in fishing communities.

After selecting five girls from Chorkor, one of them sadly died. Her mother had died suddenly, and the child, unable to bear the loss, also passed away shortly afterward. While trying to fill the space, the class teacher requested that we include two boys who are very, very needy and intelligent. Two other girls, who were also very intelligent and highly disadvantaged, were added to the selected children. The headmistress lamented that there is a possibility the two girls might drop out of school after their basic education. This is because an older sister of one of the girls, who is also very intelligent, is currently at home. Their mother, a single parent, could not continue supporting her daughter’s education. The class teacher has been assisting the other girl’s mother (also a single parent) in taking care of her intelligent daughter.

Students at the Chorkor Presbyterian Basic School

Students at Bishop’s Girls’ School

We engaged with these children for many weeks before the selection process. We were looking for intelligent and needy children, but we got a mixed grill. Although all the selected children are from disadvantaged homes, they are not all academically strong. The question is, how did they MAKE IT? Your guess is as good as mine.

What should we do? We will explore all their individual gifts, develop them, and empower them to the fullest.