The Kwaaba Foundation has instituted a phonics virtual learning platform on Jolly Phonics for Lower Primary, Upper Primary and Junior High School level students at the Offei Yaw community, which has been massively patronized.
Education
Virtual Learning Initiative
The science of phonics is a method of teaching beginners to read and pronounce words by learning the phonetic value of letters, letter groups, and especially syllables. As a result, the first set of twenty-seven (27) students idling as a result of the COVID 19 pandemic and school closures have signed up and commenced (since 14th September, 2020) training using latest cloud-based meeting technology with a remote phonics specialist and two (2) on-site local teaching assistants. Two (2) learning sessions are held five (5) times in a week. Another set of thirteen (13) students are awaiting their turn to participate in the virtual learning program with a potential to scale-up to other communities.
In line with Kwaaba’s mission of community development, the Foundation is fully funding the program and has also donated equipment and furniture (laptop, projector, speakers, white board, tables, chairs, teaching and other learning materials).
Remarkably, parents from the community have also embraced the initiative and have committed to supporting the sessions with a daily token as their matching contribution to sustaining the virtual learning initiative.
A substantial number of storybooks and textbooks across the various disciplines and across all ages were donated in 2019 to educate and empower children in various communities.
In 2019, the Foundation sponsored a number of children to the three (3) day residential conference – Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) Conference – organized at Sunlodge Hotel in Accra. At RYLA, teenagers and young adults are educated and groomed to further develop character, leadership, self-confidence, and be exposed to a variety of issues and people, mentors, community leaders, and gain invaluable information and skills.
As part of its periodic strategic engagement with the town of Offei Yaw, Adeiso, and surrounding communities in the Eastern Region of Ghana, on 23rd February, the Kwaaba Foundation organized an educational tour to the Logos Hope Ship, the world’s largest floating book fair (docked at the Tema port and later moved to Takoradi port).
Fifty (50) people (students and parents led by 2 chiefs) had the opportunity to attend the onboard book fair. The Foundation, along with the Kaysens Group, funded the selection of books by each student as well as the stocking of the community library. As one observer remarked – “They will remember this trip all their lives. Hope it opens their minds to dream big.”
In response to COVID’s effect on children’s education, the Foundation instituted a Phonics Virtual Learning Program for twenty-seven students of Ofei Yaw Community (Adeiso). The science of Jolly Phonics is a method of teaching beginners to read and pronounce words by learning the phonetic value of letters, letter groups, and especially syllables. The sessions make use of latest cloud-based meeting technology with a remote phonics specialist and two on-site local teaching assistants.
In line with International World Literacy Month in September, on the 27th of September, 2021 The Kwaaba Foundation team together with the Kids of the Jolly Phonics Virtual Learning Class held an Open Day ceremony to discuss progress since the class started a year ago.
The team with the help of Madam Adisa Yakubu (Social Development Specialist) and Mr. Emmanuel Aseidu Acheampong (Educationist/Administrator) on arrival engaged the teacher, Mr. Adarkwa Offei, to discuss the progress of the children and any challenges faced. They gave “Teacher Adarkwa” some tips to boost productivity among the kids.
The activities of the day included reading Jolly phonics storybooks, poem recital, and singing. Some of the children read articles from The Daily Graphic newspaper on education, Covid-19, and other interesting subjects to the admiration of all. The children and parents also shared their positive views on the initiative; and thanked the Foundation for its enormous support. The team stressed the importance of the English language and how that will reflect on their academic performance in general.
Twelve (12) out of the 20 students have excelled and will soon be moving to the next level – Jolly Grammar
The Foundation celebrated International World Literacy Month with lots of advocacy work on the importance of education and why society should empower kids to read. Echoing President Nelson Mandela’s words, the Foundation also believes that indeed – “Education is the most powerful weapon to change the world.”