The Start of a Journey!

After graduating from Drake University, we'll be embarking on a year-long adventure to improve education in Ghana, Africa. When sharing this decision with people, many people have asked why Africa and what exactly we will be doing. Please allow us to elaborate.

Why Ghana? We have both had the opportunity to take two incredible, life-changing trips to this developing country in Western Africa. While there, we spent a good portion of our time in a rural village called Asikuma. Here we not only learned a lot about ourselves, but the world we live in.  We fell in love with the people, the way of life, and the country. We are now compelled to go and give back to a place that has given us so much.

When reflecting back on our time spent in Ghana, there is not one specific moment when we knew that moving there was going to be our next step in life. However, we both have had the opportunity to teach in the schools and experience firsthand the disparity and need that hinders learning there. Picture 30 students gathered under a large tree sitting on broken benches huddled around a single cracked chalkboard trying to learn. Picture a small classroom filled with over 60 kindergarten age students trying to gain the attention of a single teacher. Picture five year olds running over their classmates trying to get to the front of the room only to ask to go next door to get the family’s only pencil from their older brother or sister. Picture the children who are not fortunate enough to be enrolled in school hiding behind the trees that line the school grounds, standing for hours on end to try and hear what their friends are learning. This is the environment, which we’ve taught in and experienced, but more importantly these are the realities of education and everyday life in rural Ghana.

While in Asikuma we will be working for Kingdom Cares International, a non-profit organization that works sustainably in Ghana to improve the lives of many through education, community outreach, and the development of transferable skills. The primary focus of our work will be to help develop the primary school that Kingdom Cares opened earlier this year. Our goal is to create a curriculum for children that allows them to learn everything necessary to pass the high school entrance exam that is necessary for them to further their education. We will be working very closely with a team of teachers there to ensure that the students are being taught effectively, and that the school is running smoothly.

This is an extremely exciting, yet nerve wracking time for both of us. We would like to invite you to join us on our journey. Many people have asked what they can do to help and support us as the departure approaches! 

How you can partner with us:

Give: We are going to be working in a school and community that has a lot of expected and unexpected needs. Our goal is to raise significant funds to help cover the needs of the school and students. Some possible uses for the funds include feeding 200 school children on a daily basis ($200 per day), student uniforms ($13-14), teacher salaries ($100 per month per teacher), student transportation ($150 per week), and educational materials.

Donations can be made in two forms.

• Become a part of the 1200 club! To help meet the needs as they arise on a monthly basis, we are asking you to consider a recurring donation of $100.00 or more a month. In return, you will receive a monthly newsletter with project updates and have your name displayed in the Kingdom building and on the website.
• kingdomcaresinternational.cloverdonations.com/1200-club/

·      Make a one-time donation to Kingdom Cares International toward Education Development in Ghana:  

• kingdomcaresinternational.cloverdonations.com/sponsor-a-project/

Follow Us:

Like the Kingdom Cares Community School Facebook Page and/or follow our blog: Here you will find more information about the school, projects, and we will also post updates and pictures throughout our endeavors so you can follow the journey.

·      https://www.facebook.com/KCCSchool

·      http://kccschool.blogspot.com 

Information about donating:

1.     All donations are tax-deductible.

2.     Please label all donations

3.     Checks can be made out and mailed to:

          Kingdom Cares International at 6095 NE Industry Drive Des Moines, IA 50313

4.     Give online by visiting the corresponding link above.

If you have questions or would like more information about the work we will be doing in Ghana, please do not hesitate to email us at kccschool15@gmail.com.

Thank you in advance for your love and support!

*Anna & Mary*