For years, pupils of Kanee M/A Basic School in the Jirapa Municipality endured the harsh reality of attending school without access to clean drinking water — a situation that not only affected their health but also disrupted learning, as children either went thirsty, walked back home during lessons, or skipped school altogether.
That burden, however, has finally been lifted, thanks to a life-changing intervention by the Millennium Child Support Group (MCSG), which has commissioned a new handheld borehole at the school to provide reliable access to potable water.
The borehole, part of a broader school feeding initiative, was funded by the ECOWAS Commission through its Regional Agency for Agriculture and Food (RAAF) and supported by the Spanish Cooperation. While the project initially aimed to improve nutrition and educational outcomes, the lack of safe water emerged as a pressing need during MCSG’s baseline survey, prompting the water intervention.
Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, Mr. Godfrey Ato Parker, CEO of MCSG, described the borehole as a symbol of sustainable development and a major step toward ensuring children’s well-being and access to quality education.
“This is more than just a water source — it’s a bridge to better attendance, health, and dignity for our children,” Mr. Parker said. “We believe this facility will drastically reduce absenteeism, particularly among girls, and improve sanitation and hygiene conditions in the school.”
He emphasized that safe water access is foundational to education and child development and reaffirmed the commitment of MCSG and its partners to continue addressing structural gaps in rural education systems.
Mr. Martin Yiripare, a representative of the Jirapa Municipal Education Directorate, commended the organization for its timely response to the needs of the school, calling the dual intervention of water access and school feeding a “game changer.” However, he also appealed for further support to upgrade the school’s physical infrastructure, which remains inadequate.
Traditional leaders and local government officials, including Naa Dinaa Donglabong Ganaa III, the Paramount Chief of the Jirapa Traditional Area, and Jirapa Municipal Chief Executive Mr. Peter Tu-Ang, were present at the event, underscoring the community-wide importance of the development.
Community members welcomed the borehole with excitement and pledged to maintain the facility to ensure its long-term functionality.
With this intervention, the Millennium Child Support Group has not only quenched the thirst of schoolchildren but has also reignited hope in the transformative power of targeted, community-driven development.
