13 Fayette Schools Collect Books to Send to Students in Ghana

By Abby G. Brunks

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

(Thursday, October 5, 2000, Atlanta, Georgia) – Thanks to many students in Fayette and Coweta counties, children in Ghana will be recipients of a bounty of books.

Achievers International-Georgia is sponsoring the project, which is being carried out in different school districts all over Georgia. The non-profit organization matches schools in Georgia with other schools in different parts of the world.

The project was conceived by George Kuntu-Blankson, who was raised in the West African nation of Ghana, and understands the needs of those children.

"Our books are out of date, and teachers have to photocopy so students can share," he said. "People don’t realize how much students in Ghana, and Africa, cherish textbooks."

Students at Kedron Elementary in Peachtree City are busy compiling books to send to Ghana. Enrichment teacher April DeGenerro, who works with gifted students, said kids at her school are also benefiting from the act of giving.

"For our students, it is an opportunity for them to provide learning materials for students in another part of the world that don’t have all the technology we do," she said. "I think the importance of the project is the influence reading materials can have on the students."

Jim Pittman, director of community education for Fayette County schools, is coordinating the books to Ghana project for Fayette.

"There are four high schools, one middle and eight elementary schools in Fayette County involved," he said. "The project is ongoing through the school year, and a shipment of books will go to Ghana in late October and again next spring."

In Fayetteville, Spring Hill Elementary has collected more than 500 books so far, said enrichment teacher Sara Mac Germano.

Spring Hill student Katie Powers said it’s important to share books with others less fortunate.

"I thought it would help them to learn how to read," she said. "We did it because reading is a good thing."

Blankson is deeply appreciative for the nearly 30,000 books that have so far been collected throughout Georgia.

"The books from Georgia schools will help reduce the level of illiteracy and will also eventually build a better nation," he said. "Knowledge leads the way and books will make it possible."