We are almost at the end of another year that the Lord has blessed us with. From start to finish, the year 2022 has been very hectic, yet very much rewarding. As the year draws to a closure, we would love to give you some highlights on the amazing impact your benevolence and sincere kindness has made on the lives of the many lovely children here in Dagbon, Northern Ghana.
The precious lives of over 3,000 children in Dagbon have been transformed through your unmatched generosity. Many of these children but for your assistance would have gone through wasteful academic years, because they would not have learned to read. Through teacher training and the provision of books, thankfully, these children who hitherto could not even recognize consonants and vowel sounds can today read short stories.
In recent months we have held a number of reading competitions among children. For this we brought together children from different villages. We invited the parents, teachers and leaders of the villages to witness what the children have learned over the past year. This was a response from one of the parents:
"Oh, it was so great. A lot of people came to our village that day. Our children made us so proud. There was a reading contest. The children got prizes because they could read so well. When we went home, we were so satisfied. It is quite amazing, even though there is a school in our village, there has never been a child who could read as fluently as the children who participated in the contest today."
“If the government could continue what LDP is doing, there will be improved performance in the school” (Parent Teacher Association)
“When we graduated from the College of Education, we felt we were well trained, knowledgeable and ready for work ahead. The Dagbani reading instruction training we received from LDP exposed greatly how much we did not know, especially in teaching children how to read. The capacity building and materials we have now received, will make it possible for children to learn to read within a year or two.”
“Of all our needs in education, this is the most important one! Our major hurdle is the inability of the majority of our children to read, even at the Junior High Schools! Mother tongue literacy – what LDP offers – is what we needed all this while for children to lay the basic foundation in reading and writing” (District Director Ghana Education Service)
“Why do we have to beg for what is ours? It’s the responsibility of the Government to provide textbooks for our children, it is a right not a favour… the provision of books in Dagbani is our topmost priority” (A parent presses on Government during a press conference to come fulfil its obligations)
Your support has assisted us to intensify advocacy campaigns among stakeholders in education and call on the government to implement the language in education policy which prescribes that children should learn to read and write in their mother tongue first, before making a transition to English.
LDP was the first organization to hold an unprecedented gathering of all Members of Parliament who represent the various Districts in Dagbon to discuss not less a matter than the education of the children of the constituents they each represent, their low literacy achievement levels, and the need for the full implementation of the language in education policy. A resolve was made by the MPs to compose a document spelling out actions that will realize some short, medium and long term goals to successfully implement Mother Tongue Education in the Districts they represent.
Through your selfless donations, 30 community churches organised Bible Literacy Clubs for about 730 children in which children learned to read and were introduced to the Word of God through a Children’s Bible in Dagbani.
“Now I know that women are as important to God as men. Even though Adam was created first, Adam needed a suitable helper, a companion to be able to live and that is why God created Eve” (Learner). In a culture where women are often relegated to the background and men are considered superior, many girls feel incapable or less significant. This is an important lesson for boys and girls alike; God values all human beings equally regardless of how society looks at them.
In recent months we have held a number of reading competitions among children. For this we brought together children from different villages. We invited the parents, teachers and leaders of the villages to witness what the children have learned over the past year. This was a response from one of the parents:
"Oh, it was so great. A lot of people came to our village that day. Our children made us so proud. There was a reading contest. The children got prizes because they could read so well. When we went home, we were so satisfied. It is quite amazing, even though there is a school in our village, there has never been a child who could read as fluently as the children who participated in the contest today."
We are so grateful for your prayers and unflinching support towards the work of LDP and the children of Dagbon. On behalf of the staff of LDP I want to wish you
P.O BOX TL 2575 Tamale Ghana, West Africa | Phone: +233245590216 / +233207344096 | Email: inforequestldp@dagbaniliteracy.com
© 2022. All Rights Reserved. Literacy and Development through Partnership
