Canadian student volunteers build KG for Kpedze-Todze Community

A cross-section of students from the Ryeson University in Canada, and some lecturers, are assisting the Kpedze-Todze community in the Ho Municipality, to ensure quality basic education at the kindergarten level, as they have embarked upon the construction of a modern kindergarten complex for the community.

The first phase of the project, which was inaugurated by the Volta Regional Minister, Mr. Joseph Amenowode, became possible through the help of a Canadian organisation called DIVOG, which informed the student volunteers about the plight of kindergarten children at Kpedze-Todze, who have no classroom.

Speaking at the inaugural ceremony, the Project Coordinator of the kindergarten building, Prof. Ian Mac Burnie, said the kindergarten project was dear to the hearts of both the lecturers and student volunteers, since it involved child growth and development.

Prof. Burnie noted that one of the best ways to ensure a fulfilled life was to help promote the education of children, which would adequately prepare them to become responsible adults in future, because the hope of every nation was in its children.

He continued that a conducive school environment with the necessary teaching and learning materials with good teachers, were cardinal in the promotion of education at all levels, and announced the intention of the volunteers to extend the project to other needy communities in the region.

Prof. Burnie assured the chiefs and people of the Kpedze-Todze that they would source for funds for the completion of the second phase of the project, which include additional classrooms, and would be completed in December this year, to make education at that level more attractive for children.

A Representative of the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), Mr. Michael Gort, lauded the good relations between Ghana and Canada, which has existed over the years, as it promoted the common interest of both countries, in terms of development.

The Volta Regional Minister, who was full of joy about the self-help spirit of the chiefs and people of Kpedze-Todze, commended the Chief of the town, Togbe Okumka V, for his distinguished leadership, and assured the people that with such positive spirit, the government would help them with the needed materials to engage in community projects.

The Regional Minister, however, observed that the culture of self-help, which the people in the region were noted for, was gradually diminishing, giving way to an attitude of complete reliance on government to address all their problems, without making any effort to help themselves.

Mr. Amenowode said with the global economic down trend, communities which needed development would be provided with building materials to build structures relevant to their development needs, noting that the activities of the Canadian student volunteers should be emulated by all, to initiate and actively participate in their development projects.

The Regional Minister therefore urged the district assemblies to ensure that projects needed by communities were supported by the people in order to reduce cost, and commended the Canadian government for the continuous support to Ghana in its development efforts.

The Chief of Kpeze-Todze, Togbe Okumka V, thanked the Canadian student volunteers and their lecturers for the assistance, and announced that the kindergarten would be named after Prof. Burnie's late mother as a way of appreciation to him and the students.