.jpg)
It must be acknowledged that this kind of activity in rural settings where parents cannot afford tutoring services is deeply appreciated by the community. There has long been an academic performance gap between rural students and urban students in Ghana because of the lack of such opportunities in rural areas. Parents of urban students are more likely to enroll them in after-school tutoring due to their economic status; this often helps to boost their grades and gain them acceptance into the best schools.
“One idea is for them to be able to compete with their urban counterparts and it’s working. We’re actually going to put [up] a graph showing the current improvement since we started the mentoring program two years ago,” Amoako states.
A recent ranking report, according to Amoako, demonstrates that students in the Apirede region rank high on the scale, a remarkable accomplishment for the organization. The women are also allegedly more assertive and empowered now that they are economically independent.
“We’ve made a difference in that community. We have introduced these children to Information Technology, something that some of them would never have seen in their lifetime in the rural setting. Children now, three to five-year-olds, have a place where they can go to play with their electronic toys,” she adds.
But with every constructive development comes challenges and for the RCEC it is management. This is because once a center is established managerial responsibilities are transferred to the community, which could result in mismanagement when hired administrators have little experience in the field. The arduous task of constantly replacing management is also an issue, asserts Amoako, because most of the managers leave for better jobs once a certain level of experience has been acquired. And then there is the need to replicate the center in other areas, which requires funding. Although the RCEC receives assistance from the African Women Development Fund, which sponsors the girls in the mentoring program and Information Technology, Amoako says it continues to seek support.
“Mine is to empower rural communities, especially women and girls so they can take charge of their lives. Too many girls [are] dropping out of school, getting pregnant and going nowhere. We need to stop the cycle.”
*The RCEC has been accepted into UniversalGiving’s program of web-based services that easily connect donors with outstanding projects in the world to contribute to any program. To donate to Amoako’s cause, visit the UniversalGiving site for more details.
NATURAL HAIR AT THE WORK PLACE
Posted: July 12, 2010
CUT YOUR LOSSES
Posted: June 09, 2010
WHEN TO CALL IT QUITS
Posted: May 21, 2010
SHATTERING THE GLASS CEILING
Posted: Apr. 22, 2010
WISH THERE WERE MORE OF YOU?
Posted: Apr. 5, 2010
NAME ISSUES
Posted: Mar. 25, 2010