Progress at Teshie School in Ghana

Under the hot African skies, reddust laden with shifting sands carried down on the wind from the vast Saharan desert, a plan is taking shape by the outskirts of Accra, the capital of Ghana. The location is a township called Teshie. What started as a germ of an idea has now become a fully-fledged project with men busily digging trenches, building walls, pouring concrete, fitting roofs and fitting doors and windows in what was once a run down and decrepit shell of a school.

The children, with their smiling faces and uniforms spick and span as only a mother can get them, bunch together and cajole me into taking another photo. How could you refuse these laughing, hopeful, smart, playful little tykes? After all that's why we're here...

The main construction contract for the refurbishment of the Teshie School Complex was awarded after a week of intensive negotiations in December 2007. The contractor mobilised on site on Thursday, December 26th and work began in earnest on January 2nd. So far progress has been good as our photographs show. Construction of temporary accommodation was quickly completed to enable the children move out of the first two buildings designated for extensive renovation. The new resource centre, which will house a library and IT centre, is progressing well as are lots of other ancillary works such as the perimeter wall and toilet and washroom facilities.

The first team of ESB volunteers is scheduled to arrive in Ghana on Sunday, April 13th. Their job involves electrical wiring, painting and other sundry chores. To 'toughen' them up and prepare them for their 'in-country ordeal' a bootcamp briefing session was organised in Head Office on February 8th. First item on the agenda was health and safety.

The team received details on the need for vaccinations, general health tips and how to cope with the oppressive heat and how to prevent dehydration. Special attention was given to protection from one of the tiniest but one of the most deadly members of the insect world, the mosquito, which spreads disease in that part of the Africa.

Next on the agenda was a brief introduction to Ghana, its people and culture and an outline of the project scope of work as it applied to the ESB team. A short history of ESB activities in Ghana since the mid 1980's was also provided to give a backdrop to ESB involvement in the project.

ESB Chef Executive, Padraig McManus expressed his thanks to the team for volunteering to travel to work on the school project. He also indicated that further opportunities would become available to staff who wished to contribute their efforts to this and possibly other humanitarian developments in the near future.

Present at the briefing was our Ghanaian architect, Yooku Magnus Sampson, who took part in a question and answer session with the group.