Mafi-Kumase SHTS Marks International Day of Friendship with Campuswide Activities
Thursday, July 30, 2026, was an unforgettable day at Mafi-Kumase Senior High Technical School (SHTS).
The school transformed its Assembly Hall into a lively space of laughter, games, music, learning, and reflection as it marked this year’s International Day of Friendship. The event, led by the Safe Space Unit with support from management, staff, and students, was held under the theme “Building Healthier Campus Networks for Quality Education.”
The celebration formed part of the United Nations’ International Day of Friendship, which encourages young people to use friendship as a tool for building peace, respect, and understanding across diversity and differences.
The programme was vibrant from start to finish. Teachers, students, canteen staff, and kitchen staff all participated in activities such as face painting, card games, Ludu, Ampe, cooking competitions, and other fun engagements grouped under “Talent in Action.”
A highlight of the day came during the cooking competition. The school’s four houses—Akrasi, John-Ku, Kolly, and Peter—were paired into two teams, and in an unexpected twist, it was the boys who confidently took charge of the cooking. Staff from the Home Economics Department, together with representatives from the school canteen, the matron, and the administrator, served as judges while students cheered enthusiastically.
Beyond the fun, the celebration also encouraged reconciliation. Organisers declared the day “Do Good Day” and “I’m Sorry Day.” Throughout the programme, students and staff exchanged gifts and apology messages to mend strained relationships and promote forgiveness.
“We named the day ‘Do Good Day’ and also ‘I’m Sorry Day,’ where staff and students seized the moment to share gifts and apology messages with their peers,” a Safe Space volunteer explained.
A student who participated said the event had prompted many to rethink the friendships they keep. “This festival is about helping us build healthy relationships and choose the right friends who support our learning and personal growth.”
Addressing the gathering, the school’s Safe Space Focal Person, Mr. Kennedy Komla Lokoe, reminded students that friendship is never a small matter. He noted that many of life’s most valuable lessons do not come from textbooks but from the people we spend time with. He added that friends often influence choices more than students realise—some encouraging growth, others quietly leading them astray. The challenge, he said, is recognising the difference early.
Speaking on behalf of the Headmaster, the Assistant Headmistress in charge of Welfare, Ms. Alice Tanyedzi, said the school deliberately chose the theme because healthy friendships create peaceful learning environments. She urged students not to treat apologies as a one-day activity.
“Many of you have written apology letters today. Let them mean something. Don’t go back and repeat the same mistakes,” she said.
She encouraged students to build friendships that support their growth, reminding them that the people they choose today may become the network they depend on tomorrow.
The celebration reflected the vision behind the United Nations’ declaration of 30 July as the International Day of Friendship in 2011. The idea is that peace begins not only in meetings between world leaders but also in everyday relationships—in classrooms, homes, and communities where people learn to understand and respect one another.
The United Nations believes today’s young people will become tomorrow’s teachers, engineers, doctors, entrepreneurs, artisans, parliamentarians, and parents. The friendships they build now will shape the society they create in the future.