Volunteer
Salesforce VTO Preschool Playground Project
On a playground, learning occurs in ways not possible inside the regular classroom.
There is strong research that supports the connection between brain development and children having the opportunity to play outside during their school day. Children acquire knowledge through play, experimentation, and discovery, and studies show that fundamental tasks such as exploring, risk-taking, and motor development can be most effectively learned through outdoor play.
The school currently has one playground for older children but the nursery lacks adequate space for the young ones to explore and play. Come be a part of the solution!
FUNDRAISING COMMITMENT: $6,000 by January 1, 2019
PROGRAM COST: $650
If you wish to submit your program cost, please click on the button below.
If you wish to support this project via a direct donation, please complete the donation form to the right.
Project Details
LOCATION: Semanhyiya American School, Ghana
PROJECT: Pre School PlaygroundDATES: February 2-11, 2019
COMMUNITY & PROJECT DESCRIPTION:
In rural Ghana, many children walk hours just to get to school. Once there, they have no supplies to learn with and teachers often don’t show up. Many classrooms have more than 60 students and corporal punishment is common.
The Semanhihya American School (SAS) in Senase is turning traditional Ghanaian education on its head. In 2015 Fred Benneh, Barbara and Mike Allison founded SAS with the intention of educating the next generation of entrepreneurs and changemakers in Senase. Today the school has over 400 students grades pre K through 4th grade, and classrooms continue to be built year by year as the money is raised and volunteers come to help.
Volunteers will spend their days building the final components for the new playground, as well as working with local teachers and students in classrooms on various school related activities. Volunteers will be fully immersed in the village culture and highly engaged in the projects underway!
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Meet Paula Pecorella, our Travel Coordinator
Paula Pecorella was born and raised on Long Island, New York. She attended Stony Brook University where she received her Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science and Journalism. She got involved with the Godfreds foundation after visiting the Semanhihya American School on Semester at Sea during her spring 2016 voyage. She founded a clothing company called Threads for Education which sponsors the head teachers at SAS to attend Teacher Training College. Now serving as the Global Travel Coordinator, Paula organizes and directs volunteer groups ranging from college students to professionals to visit SAS and help out. For information on group travel or solo visits, email volunteer@godfredsfoundation.org.
