Twenty-two deprived students in Talensi-Nabdam get support

Retired Peace Corps volunteers, Linda Atwater, Kirstin Green and Peal Deng and a Community Based Organization (CBO) have sponsored 22 deprived students in the Talensi–Nabdam District to continue their education.

In addition, Ms Green, Mr Ryan Almandinger, students from San Diego and the CBO have built an Information Communication Centre (ICT) for use by students from schools in the Talensi-Nabdam District.

Ms Atwater told the GNA in an interview that she was touched by the plight of the deprived students most of whom had lost their parents and could not continue with their education.

She said based on this she and Kirstin launched fund raising activities in California and Oregon, saying that, from 2005 to 2011 they raised $ 3,868 to sponsor 22 students’ education and presented sport kits, computers, books and bicycles to the School for the Deaf in the District.

She said $13,000 was raised in San Diego to complete the ICT Centre and the provision of computers and other logistics for the Centre.

Ms Atwater said the donors included Bill and Michelle Lerach Optimist Club, Coronado High School, Democratic Club, Amnesty International, Ishmeal Tetteh, Prentice Family and the Morris family.

She said there were still a number of deprived students in the District who needed support to continue their education.

Ms Atwater said she together with Peal Deng and local schools had compiled a list of deprived students and she would go back to look for more funding to support them.

“The students in the area have the greatest potentials and should be supported to continue their Education,” she said.

The Chairman of Peal Deng, Mr Alphones Daniel Kennedy Bangrey, said he was grateful to the Peace Corp Volunteers and the US donors.

He said most of the students who were supported with their school fees, school uniforms and books and the payment of their National Health Insurance Scheme premiums are in Senior and Junior High schools.

Mr Bangrey said the aim of the CBO was to support the government in the areas of education and other social interventions and that Peal Deng had planted 1,500 trees around a dam it had de-silted to prevent soil erosion and desertification.**