In the winter of 2016, a meeting between a Canadian doctor working at the Cape Coast Teaching Hospital in Ghana and Justin Ekor, Principal of Archbishop Amissa School, marked the beginning of an extraordinary journey.
Dr. Heather Scott, Dr. Ron George and Dr. Anka Matei, who have worked to improve maternal and newborn care in Ghana, brought not only their medical expertise but also a bag of soccer balls and donated soccer jerseys. . Little did they know that this would be the beginning of a beautiful partnership between his two worlds.
Archbishop Amissa School, located in central Ghana, was the center of this heartwarming collaboration. Initially, donations from Canadian clinicians provided the school with much-needed soccer equipment, computers, photocopiers and a library.
But the real magic happened when one of the doctors, Heather Scott, began connecting Archbishop Amissah School with Auburn Drive School in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia.
Auburn Drive School, led by principal Karen Hudson, wholeheartedly embraced the idea of fostering relationships with schools in Ghana.
In 2019, Principal Justin Eko, Principal Hudson, and Heather Scott formalized the commitment through a memorandum of understanding. Their vision was clear – to foster cultural exchange and support each other’s educational journeys.
The partnership was successful. Fundraisers, including the sale of African bracelets and later a calendar featuring students from Archbishop Amissah School, were enthusiastically organized by Auburn His Drive students.
These efforts and the dedication of the Canadian team provided critical resources such as an outdoor summer shelter, new doors and locks, and much-needed whiteboards for Archbishop Amissah School.
COVID-19 changed their plans, canceling events such as fundraising dinners.
Still, the team’s resilience, led by Heather Scott and Principal Hudson, prevailed. This year, Auburn His Drive High School held a popcorn and lollipop sale, and Principal Hudson delivered the funds directly to the school during his August 2023 visit to Ghana.
Our commitment to Archbishop Amissah School goes beyond infrastructure. Recognizing the urgent needs of students, the Canadian team, led by Principal Eko, provided backpacks, uniforms, educational supplies, and nutritious meals to students during the pandemic.
Looking to the future, the goals of this partnership are as bright as ever. Plans include building a perimeter wall to ensure a safe learning environment, purchasing musical instruments such as trumpets, and installing more whiteboards. Our dedication to these students is unwavering and our focus is on those with the greatest need.
Auburn Drive High eagerly looks forward to continuing this collaborative and mutually beneficial relationship and strengthening the bond between Canada and Ghana through education and friendship. As they say, there’s more to come, and the future is full of promise for these two schools located just a few miles apart. But we are united by a common goal: to provide life-changing education and support.
Disclaimer: The views, comments, opinions, contributions and statements made by readers and contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policies of Multimedia Group Limited.