Ten basic schools in the Bongo District of the Upper East Region have received a major boost in their teaching and learning efforts following the donation of 3,435 educational materials under the Nurturing Education Through Resource Donations (NERD) project, spearheaded by the charity organisation A-ensonga Hearts.
The initiative, which focuses on improving access to quality education in deprived communities, forms part of A-ensonga Hearts’ long-term commitment to bridging the educational resource gap between urban and rural schools.
The donated items — including 2,869 Alpha and Omega textbooks, 58 general books, 64 notepads, 300 pens, and 144 pencils — were distributed to ten beneficiary schools, among them St. Theresa Academy (Zorko), Fr. Lebel Memorial R/C Primary and KG, Feo Awiisi Primary and JHS, St. Augustine R/C Primary (Doua), Kunkua Primary and JHS, Bongo-Soe R/C School, and Winkogo Primary School.
Bridging the Education Gap
Ms. Kenndicta A-ensonga Ajene, Founder and Executive Director of A-ensonga Hearts, said the NERD project was conceived to ensure that children in remote and under-resourced communities have access to basic learning materials essential for effective teaching and learning.
“Many children in rural Ghana attend school without textbooks, while teachers struggle without adequate teaching resources,” Ms. Ajene said. “The NERD project is our way of levelling the playing field so that no child is left behind because of where they were born.”
She noted that the partnership with Alpha and Omega Publications, which contributed over 2,500 textbooks in subjects such as Science, Creative Arts, Reading, Numeracy, and Phonics, had significantly expanded the project’s reach and impact. Other donors, she added, supported logistics and the provision of stationery to reward hardworking students and teachers.
Sustaining the Impact
According to Ms. Ajene, the NERD project collects new and gently used books from individuals and institutions for redistribution to schools that lack such materials. She hinted that the next phase of the project would soon be launched in the Upper West Region, targeting more schools and pupils in need.
“We’re calling on more partners to come on board so we can sustain and scale up this initiative. Education is the foundation of development, and it requires collective effort,” she urged.
Community Appreciation
Teachers, pupils, and parents from the beneficiary schools expressed profound gratitude for the donation, describing it as timely and transformative.
Mr. Thomas Azure Alukuke, Headteacher of Fr. Lebel Primary School, said the materials would significantly enhance classroom instruction and learning outcomes. “We are grateful to A-ensonga Hearts and their partners. These books will make a big difference in how we teach and how our pupils learn,” he said.
A Basic Six pupil of Winkogo Primary, Ms. Jovina Abagbire, also thanked the organisation, noting that the gesture had motivated her and her classmates to study harder.
The Parent-Teacher Associations (PTAs) of the beneficiary schools further commended A-ensonga Hearts for its consistent support, recalling previous interventions such as the “Floor to Desk” (F2D) project and borehole installations, which have improved school infrastructure and community welfare.
Aligning with National Goals
The NERD project aligns with Goal Four of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which promotes inclusive and equitable quality education and lifelong learning opportunities for all by 2030.
Through projects like NERD, A-ensonga Hearts continues to champion a future where every Ghanaian child, regardless of location or circumstance, can learn, grow, and thrive.
