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