Dreaming of Africa

Kedron Elementary Students Collect Books to Send to Ghana

By Joy Borazjani

Fayette Neighbor Staff Writer

(February 22, 2001, Fayetteville, Georgia) – Kedron Elementary students impacted the lives of children in Africa last Thursday without leaving their school.

The students teamed up with children in Ghana, Africa, to do an exchange that will help both sets of pupils and enhance their educational experiences. Kedron students in all grade levels collected new and used books, which will later be distributed to schools throughout Ghana.

While students at Kedron are helping others in Ghana learn about the world through books, the African pupils are enhancing the cultural knowledge of their American counterparts. In exchange for the books the students in Ghana have made straw hats and baskets. Every student who donated a book chose one of the crafted items.

Fifth-grader Brenden Leonard didn’t have any trouble choosing the hat he wanted.

 

"I think it’s good because we’re donating books to children who want to read," he said.

George Kuntu-Blankson is a representative from Ghana and the Ghana Literacy Project. He was on hand to receive the books and deliver the hats and baskets.

"The children of Ghana are excited to see their talent going abroad, and the books coming back to them is an added delight," Kuntu-Blankson said.

"The teachers in the rural areas have very little in the way of supplies and teaching materials, so these books will make a difference.

Straw craft is a deep-rooted cultural northern Ghana tradition, which is passed from generation to generation. The hats are made from hollow grain stalks and dyed various colors. Each hat donated under the Books for Ghana project has been hand crafted by children ages 8 to 13 with the supervision of parents and teachers.

Achievers International-Georgia has been very instrumental in getting this project off the ground.

Bette Hickman, the Executive Director of Achievers International, paired the Ghana proposal with Kedron teacher April DeGennaro, whom she knew was looking for an international project.

Hickman coordinated the donations and worked closely with Kuntu-Blankson to facilitate the exchange.

"The Fayette school system is the most active, most progressive school system we work with," said Hickman. "They are very creative in their approach to education."

She works with 60 schools. The first Fayette County School to work with Achievers International was Sandy Creek High School.

"Without Marlene Holland starting the work at Sandy Creek five years ago, none of this would be happening," said Hickman.

The books will be delivered to Africa by the Navy.

The public can purchase one of the handmade baskets at the LaFayette Educational Center for $20.