Time with Play and Learn

I don’t remember if I was nervous when I first got to Ghana to work with Play and Learn. I know that after spending 5 months with the Play and Learn kids and volunteers I am so sad to leave. It’s really hard to put into words how amazing this time has been. Hope the photos help.

That's me..my first week there. Around this field is so familiar - like a second home

I have been taking pictures and making videos for PAL. This has been a great way to see firsthand all the learning sessions and football practices. Photography is such a fun way to see everything. I am a shy person, but having the camera is a good way for me and the kids to open up.

Have to get back before they grow up too fast!

I am constantly impressed by everyones dedication to the foundation. So much progress has been made within my time here. I have been given such an opportunity to grow and learn through time with the foundation.

I think it is common that new volunteers are nervous and may not know what to expect. Once you immerse yourself and meet the kids, there’s no denying the connections you will make with the kids and PAL’s vision.

My last day with the kids :(
but I know I'll be back

I am already ready to start planning my next trip back. I want to keep working and helping PAL far into the future. I am excited to see the heights this dream will reach.

What Matters Most

New, under experienced but passionate, Otema Yirenkyi and I, Beryl Ami Bansah, were eager to learn more about how Play And Learn Foundation works.

We had spoken to Nana about the technical aspects but we were more interested in the children and how they were being taught.

Even though we may have had some little interaction with children in our churches and families, this to us was a different ball game altogether. We felt we needed to talk to someone who had been with the children for some time, teaching and helping them so that when it was our turn we would not be found lacking.

So after one session with the children, we decided to speak to Meg, a volunteer who was in Ghana for two weeks, teaching the children.  In no particular order we asked her various questions. We gathered that due to the age range the children had to be taught different things. So first she put them in groups of similar ages. Then, she gave them activities depending on these groupings. Sometimes to make the activities easier and faster, she put them in pairs. At other times, just to make the class lively, she made up activities involving what they could see around them. Interacting with their surroundings made them grasp all that they were learning more quickly. She also took them strolling around the parks while giving them fun activities including spelling and drawing. She also encouraged the children to use solely English in class. At the park site, there is a small structure that all learning materials including a white board and are put in after each class.

Challenges she faced was that the children do not come early mainly because of house chores. The class is dominated by boys also because most of the girls have to go and sell and do hose chores as well. At times, all 30- something of them came for the class and sometimes the number reduced drastically to 5.

After we asked her a few questions about herself and how she found out about PAL. She told us about her dad’s involvement with PAL and so she decided that this summer she was going to come and volunteer in Ghana for two weeks. And you'd never guess how old Meg is..........15!! Just 15. What were we doing at 15? Definitely not teaching under-privileged kids across the globe.  That was very brave,
considering the fact that she had not been to Ghana before and also didn't know what to expect.

But the most important thing was that you don't have to do anything big to help others but you can help in any small possible way. Just be passionate about it. We welcome more people to help us help others. Whatever skill you have can help others. After all is said and done, your care and love is what matters most.

#ourstarsareshining

  

Thirsty Minds

“I see a tractor.” “It’s Meg’s book.” It’s lesson time. Once again, the kids are on the football pitch. But instead of boots on their feet and footballs to kick, they have books in their hands and pencils to write with. It’s really heartwarming to see the eagerness written all over their faces. And pouring out of their hearts, the will to learn. They were running helter skelter. Trying to find answers from among their friends.

God bless Meg. This selfless volunteer from the United States of America, who has played a vital role in getting these kids to reach their full and topmost potential in life

We always appeal for funds from various organizations especially the government, to provide classrooms for deprived community schools. But even under the trees, these kids showed the greatest enthusiasm that I’d ever seen in any classroom. Don’t get me wrong. We do need to provide a conducive environment for our children to be able to learn and appreciate properly what they learn.

So what is the difference between the kids in the classroom and those under the trees? It’s simple. Learning was made fun. It was interactive. These kids learnt about what they saw and how they could relate to it.

So generally. It’s not entirely about just placing them in the classroom. It’s about what and how you feed their knowledge – thirsty minds.

Our new volunteer, Ami Bansah and I, Otema Yirenkyi also had the privilege of introducing ourselves to the kids. From the questions they asked and the dashing smiles they wore, I could tell they enjoyed our company.