TWO YEARS AND MOVING ON BY GOD'S GRACE!

It seems unbelievable that more than a year has passed since our last post. Dream Seed Academy is back with another post. Lots of things have engaged our attention so much that when we add some difficulties we  were having with internet networks and laptop problems we always postponed our desire to post . Bringing up a baby (business) to the point where it can grow often calls for your active involvement 24/7. Don’t worry however; we will fill you in with details of what had happened.

FIRST VOLUNTEER

Sharing a story about Elmo and his Friends

On the way to visit Abonya, a nearby village

In November through December 2013, we were blessed with our very first Volunteer, Dede, from the United States of America.  She was such a blessing to our school and the kids really loved her and her contributions to the school. Here’s what she has got to say about her time here.

My experience:Volunteering at Dream Seed Academy

I volunteered with Dream Seed Academy for seven weeks starting in November 2013.  I helped to teach English language classes, with a focus on reading and writing.  I worked with children on different language and literacy skills through activities like reciting nursery rhymes, singing songs, reading storybooks together, and writing names.

I enjoyed listening to the children eagerly recite some of the things they had learned: the alphabet, the definitions of new words, nursery rhymes, or new songs.  I had a wonderful experience and really enjoyed getting to know the children.  And it was especially nice to have the children greet me with big smiles and shouts of “Auntie Dede” whenever I showed up at the school.  But there were also some challenges.  For example, the way I talk – fast and with an American accent – made it difficult for the children to understand me when I first started, especially for the younger ones who are still learning English.  And space is limited, so I had to think of appropriate activities for lots of students in small spaces.

But overall, I had a positive experience and hope the children did too.  I can tell that they are eager to learn.  And I know the school leaders, teachers, and staff are eager to make a difference.  It takes a lot of hard work and commitment to operate a school and I have much respect for all the teachers and staff who are committed to working with students at Dream Seed.

What you can do to get involved:

One of my main activities at DSA was reading storybooks to the children.  This was something they all seemed to enjoy.  Some of their favorites were “The Chick and the Duckling” and “The Cat Who Cried Mouse.”  I know that leaders at Dream Seed are very interested in creating a children’s library for the school and the larger community.  I have no doubt that there are many children who would love to be able to borrow books and read them themselves. This would also be a great and fun way for them to get extra practice reading. If you have books (new or gently used) that you would like to donate, I know they would be greatly appreciated.

 Dede is organising a book drive for our school library. If anyone is interested in sending us some books from the state, you can contact her on dedeaddy@gmail.com

PART OF NINE CLASSROOM BLOCK NEARLY COMPLETED

Pupils of the school matching to their classes

The school and its surroundings

By God’s good grace, we managed to complete a three-classroom block by the end of August 2014. Though not completely finished, it offers the kids a place to learn. It wil be heartwarming for Dede to know that kids have a much bigger space now!

SECOND SPEECH/PRIZE GIVING DAY

Granduants with their Certificates

Teachers on the graduation day

In August 2014, we had our second graduation/speech and prize giving day and our very first children’s cadet which thrilled the parents with brilliant performances.

The Kindergaten cadet 2014

Kpalogo dance of the Ga's 

We are grateful to God for how far He has brought us. Without His help we wouldn't have come this far. We trust that He will be with us and would enable us to fulfill our commitment of impacting positively the lives of the children He gives us.

Dream Seed Academy has had a successful academic year by the Grace of God. We crowned the year with our first graduation ceremony for 20 kids passing on to Primary education. Looking back, it has been challenging but the beam of smiles on the faces of the children as they put on their gowns for the ceremony was satisfying. Some selected pictures of the graduation ceremony are presented here.

Raising of Flags 

Choreography Igwe Song

 Graduants

School choir singing Tis so sweet to Trust in Jesus

Parents and Guardians in attendance

Raising of Flags

ONE YEAR SOON!!!!!

ONE YEAR SOON!!!!!

Very soon Dream Seed Academy is going to be a year old. From very humble beginnings we have gone through two terms successfully.With just six weeks left to complete the third term, we are all so excited and thankful to God for using us as instruments in his hands to bring quality but affordable education to the people of Kpone Bawaleshie and its environs.

In addition to working hard academically, this term is seeing a lot of  preparations for our first ever graduation for children moving on from kindergaten to stage one which will come on in the first week of August. We are working hard to put on a great show for parents and guardians. There will be prizes for children who have done extremely well as well.

At the moment our population stands at 150 and growing. We have had some challenges, chief of whom has been our inability to run our essential skills for life programme due to limited staff. This programme is very dear to our hearts as it lies at the heart of the school not to give only academic knowledge but knowledge in other important areas of life that positively impacts on a persons life. We believe this is one way we can change lives, contribute to the millenium development goals and reduce poverty. It is our fervent hope that children from Dream Seed Academy would become beacons of hope that would shine and brighten the corner wherever they would find themselves now and in their adult years. Below are some pictures from Dream Seed Academy.

HOPING FOR THEIR DREAMS TO BE FULFILLED

 

Children at an assembly

 

Preschoolers in class

 

Sunflower class in session

BOOK DONATIONS

 

Books donated by the Aikins family of Atlanta Georgia, USA

 

Books donated by Opare family of Takoradi, Ghana.

VOLUNTEERS
We are interested in working with volunteers worldwide who share the same ideas of improving lives and reducing poverty through education and who would love to come to Ghana to effect this change in the lives of children. Apart from working on our Essential Skills for life programme, there are teaching opportunities, homework assistance and opportunity to help us create a library.

If you would like to volunteer with us, you can write to us through dreamseedacademy@gmail.com to express interest and get further information about how you can volunteer with us.

About us

Dream Seed Academy  (DSA) offers first class education to children of Kpone Bawaleshie, Nanoman, Abonya and its environs at an affordable tuition of GHS 1.00 a day. These areas are rural communities close to Dodowa at the outskirt of Accra, Ghana. Parents in these areas have long desired for an excellent education or their wards. Excellent education however, often comes at a cost which most parents in rural areas cannot afford. As they settle for less in terms of education for their wards, so do the future opportunities of their wards narrow. The children who would be left with fewer options in life due to limited education perpetuate the cycle of poverty found in these areas and in the nation as a whole. DSA is therefore established to enable parents realize their dream of quality education and a future life of progress for their children at affordable pricing.

The school opened for its first admissions on the 3^rd of September, 2012 and currently has 67 children enrolled, with 5 teaching staff and 4 non-teaching staff. Classes range from nursery to primary 1. The encouraging enrollment for a first time school really shows how much parents in the area yearn for quality education.