CAMFED SUPPORTS CENTRAL JHS AT CHEREPONI (PAGE 11, OCT 21)

STORY: Zakaria Alhassan, Chereponi.

THE Campaign for Female Education, (Camfed) an international NGO in Tamale, has constructed a classroom block including a computer laboratory for the Central Junior High School at Chereponi in the Northern Region.
The three classroom block that has also been furnished by the organisation, replaces a dilapidated structure that has housed the school over the years.
The project was funded by Credit Suisse, a Swiss Bank. The sponsors have also supporting Camfed in the supply of computers, educational materials and mobile science laboratories and the organisation of Maths and science camp for girls in some selected schools in the northern region over the years.
In a speech read on her behalf, the executive director of Camfed, Ms. Dolores Dickson, explained that, “it is at the heart of our organisation to bring joy and hope to children in Africa.”
According to her, nothing is too expensive to provide for a child if it is necessary to give the child quality education and a safe environment to enable the child grow up to turn the tide of poverty in his or her family.
She indicated that, the project was the first of its kind to be embarked upon by her outfit since it was established in 2007. And that the choice of Chereponi was based on the degree of need among their operational districts in the northern region.
The fourteen beneficiary areas are Nanumba North and South, Karaga, Gushiegu, Tolon/Kumbungu, West and East Mamprusi, Bunkpurugu/Yunyoo and Bole. The rest are Chereponi, West Gonja, Savelugu/Nanton, Yendi municipal and the Tamale metropolis.
Ms. Dickson observed that the high poverty levels in the north can only be eradicated if the girl-child was offered quality education and women are given access to economic resources.
She expressed Camfed’s commitment to these objects for which reason 4000 needy girls in 128 JHS and 22 SHS in the region have been enrolled on the organisation’s bursary programme.
The bursary support covers school fees for SHS, exam fees for JHS, notebooks, bags, footwear, uniform, sanitary towels, mathematical sets and pens. And in this academic, a food package for sponsored girls in hostels has been included in the programme.
“Our termly cash transfers to 123 primary schools in the region is also aimed at providing a safety net for vulnerable children who are at risk of dropping from school due to lack of basic needs,” she further explained.
The Chereponi district director of education, Mr. Paul Konde, noted that the presence of Camfed in the area has impacted positively on the fortunes of education.
He mentioned the bursary and safety net fund interventions as some of the programmes which he said had enabled deprived children to access education and their expressed appreciation to the management and staff of Camfed for their invaluable support.
In a speech read on his behalf, the Northern Regional Minister, Mr. Sumani Nayina emphasised the preparedness of the Regional Coordinating Council to collaborate effectively with development partners to help in accelerating the socio-economic advancement of the area that is one of the most deprived regions in the country.
He urged other NGOs to emulate the example of Camfed by contributing towards reversing the downward trends of education in the area.