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Regional News of Saturday, 31 March 2007

Source: GNA

Odoi Atsem Memorial School receive assistance from volunteers

Accra, March 31, GNA- Nii Amasa Namoale, Member of Parliament for Dadekotopon at the week-end reminded parents to co-operate with educational authorities to instil the fear of God and discipline in their children.

He said it was only by divine and qualitative secular education that parents could hope to bring up responsible children who would not give their parents avoidable problems in the teenage years and young adult lives.

Nii Namoale gave the reminder in Accra at the inauguration of a library, furniture, a toilet facility, goal post and football equipment as well as a website, at a cost of 21 million cedis, donated by two volunteer teachers, Abigail Sarfatti from Israel and Michelle Lavallee from the United States of America to the Odoi Atsem Memorial School, at La, in Accra.

The MP underscored the value of proper child upbringing and discipline for responsible adulthood and nation building and implored parents to team up with teachers to inject proper moral values in their children.

He explained that it was the responsibility of the school and the community to come together and complement government's efforts to bring qualitative education to Ghanaian children.

"That is why communities ought to initiate meaningful projects to boost education," the MP said, and expressed his appreciation to the two ladies for their voluntary spirit.

Ms Sarfatti, a student of African Studies and Ms Lavallee, a Sales Executive, who are volunteering to teach in the school, expressed their joy in their ability to help the school, which is in a deprived area. Ms Sarfatti said the project was made possible with donations from friends and families back home, adding that "I was inspired by Isaac Baddoo, a pupil of the school to create the library, when he approached me and asked if I could give him more books so that he and his friends could read more."

The two volunteers, who said their visit to Ghana was the first to Africa, described Ghana as a wonderful and unique country. They said Ghanaians were friendly, adding that they made foreigners feel welcome.

Mr Percy Amoah Gogo, Principal, and his deputy Mr David Akpor Sowah expressed their appreciation to the volunteers and pledged to ensure that the facilities were put to the best use.