Ghanaian Football Academy Right to Dream in partnership with Vodafone Graduation Ceremony

From a dirt football pitch in Accra 11 years ago, non-profit Right to Dream in partnership with
Vodafone has grown into a specialist football, education and leadership academy with high ambitions for nurturing future African role models through sports, academia and arts.

Seven Academy students who recently graduated leave to join top boarding schools and colleges in the UK and US on full scholarships namely, Mohammed Fatawu - Hartpury College UK, Ali Abass – Hartpury College,UK, Francis TakyiAtuahene – Hotchkiss School US, Abu Danladi – Dunn School US, Edward Opoku – Millbrook School US, Rashid Nuhu – Kent School US, Geoffrey Acheampong – Cate School, US

Throughout their time at the Right to Dream (RtD) Academy, teachers work with the students to instil a sense of pride in them in relation to Ghana and Africa leading to a strong sense of commitment to ‘giving back’. The graduates therefore signed their commitment to ‘give back to Africa’.

The ‘Give Back’ Scheme provides a structure for RtD graduates’ which, throughout their lives,
supports them to plan and quantify their contribution to Ghana and the wider African continent to
prevent the ‘brain drain’ trend and loss of talent to other countries.

Girls Football Programme

Recruitment of the first generation of girls to the academy in 2012 will provide the perfect platform
to promote and educate Ghanaian society on gender issues and advocate women’s rights.

The Academy would empower girls by:
? Improving confidence levels
? Providing an education
? Encouraging them to become active members of society.

The Academy would offer girls:
? A first class education
? Specialised football training
? Guidance on the development of leadership and life skills.

Paralympian Programme: Changing perceptions about disability in Ghana

In June 2011, 4 talented Ghanaian Paralympians arrived at the Academy to embark on an intensive
training schedule in the lead up to the London 2012 Paralympic Games. The athletes have the talent
and determination to succeed and become role models for young people with disabilities.

Right to Dream are providing the elite team with an intensive training programme, administrative
support, tailored nutritional programme, sports psychology, accommodation and family support and
employment opportunities post London 2012.

200m and 1500m wheelchair African record holder Rafael Botsyo said: “I have competed in two
Paralympic Games but never won a medal because of poor preparation. Preparation is everything.
With Right to Dream I have the chance for good preparation to win and to change the perception of
disability in my country.”

African paracylcist champion Alem Mumuni said: “I look at the opportunity as a dream…I crawled for
9 years before I had a stick to help me walk and now I have the chance to represent my country and
help others with disability succeed in life.”

Disability in Ghana

In Ghana the number of people living with disabilities is estimated at 2million of the 24million
population (World Health Organisation). People with disabilities are often regarded as unproductive
and incapable of contributing in a positive way to society, and rather seen as constituting an
economic burden on the family and the society at large, which leaves them in a vicious cycle of
poverty (Ghana Federation of the Disabled). Disability is both a cause and a consequence of poverty
– a relationship that is particularly acute in developing countries.

Right to Dream is passionate about tackling this issue and contributing to the long-term
development of Ghana through the provision of sporting opportunities and nurturing talented,
underprivileged children into leaders of change and role models for society.

[ENDS]

For further information on Right to Dream
+233 2005 100 72 / info@righttodream.com / http://righttodream.com
Watch Right to Dream ‘Talent’ film (2 minutes)>http://youtu.be/5ql3yzyDuWk
Reports and Photographs: http://manchesterunitedpremiercup.com