Electric Mail > General > October 2008 > Teshie

Teshie – the final countdown

The second group of ESB volunteers touched down at Accra airport on Sunday, August 17th. The sense of excitement and anticipation was unaffected by the news that some luggage had failed to make the journey from London. After boarding the bus from the Airport the din of excited chat soon subsided, as the group further travelled from the Airport the more basic the general living conditions became obvious. Anticipation was replaced, in part, by apprehension as they observed conditions that were simply alien while also trying not to pry on people simply getting on with their different day-to-day lives.

So began a truly exciting journey as part of the group of ESB volunteers with an ambitious plan to refurbish Teshie National School – a school which caters for around 3500 children. They were, of course, following in the shoes of those who arrived in April. The atmosphere was a strange mix of excitement, apprehension and pride, coupled with a real wish to get to know a little about Ghanaian culture and its people.

Over the following two weeks, three blocks of six classrooms, each were prepared for painting, with up to four coats of paint applied and finished out with full electrical installation. In addition, a resource centre, complete with an air conditioned computer room, was commissioned. The painters were led by Martin O’Brien, who was on his second tour of duty. Once Martin had organised his trusty team of painters he passed the reigns of responsibility over to Paul Cullen.

Deirdre O’Hara, Deirdre Newell, Michael McNicholas, Paddy Stapleton, James Power, Frank Scott and Joe Mooney concentrated initially on the resource centre while Peter O’Shea, Deirdre Arthur, Brian Clarke, Gerry McGough and Paul Cullen made inroads into the classroom blocks. The IT Team of John Kelly, Mags Forrest and Denise Enright commenced the installation of the computing equipment with Daragh Mulligan on hand to finish out all the telecom patching. Meanwhile the electricians under the guidance of Ger McCarthy piled through the work at a huge pace, Ger giving great credit to his team of Daragh Mulligan, Dave Carey, Brendan O’Connor, Jamie Corcoran and Garry Keane (making their second trip), aided and abetted by Tom O’Sullivan, Sean Mooney, John Keane, Colin Maloney, Derek Kelleher, Mick Moran, Ciaran McBrien and Cathal Shivnen.At the heart of the operation was Mick O’Connor always on the look out for each of us and Chef extraordinaire at lunch time. Brian Cronly provided the continuity and project management presence and expertise across the full duration of the project.

In a week of great excitement, the highlight was the commissioning of the IT Room and the arrival of first of 25 teachers for IT training. The team members who were making their second trip got massive satisfaction from this as it marked a tangible culmination of work started in April. The teachers and children were wonderful and eager to learn. It was a hugely emotional moment for all and more than one tear was shed. As the week progressed the team to know many of the teachers, the children and the building site workers.

As in April, the group were visited by Chief Executive, Padraig McManus, who joined the painting team and applied the lilywhite with great vigour. As previously, Maol Muire Tynan facilitated Irish media who recorded progress and again an Open Day was held at the site which was attended by pupils, teachers, families and invited dignitaries. The climax was a stirring oration delivered by Sherifah Dawuo, playing the role of school prefect, urging her fellow pupils to treat their new school with respect and threatening anybody who misbehaves!

The result has been truly amazing. The school has been transformed from run down partially covered classrooms with no electricity, running water or toilet facilities to a modern school complex, completely refurbished with full electrical installation in all classrooms, a state of the art computer room complete with air conditioning, broadband and work stations and a full suite of educational and business software.

Fifty teachers have now been trained, providing increased possibilities for thousands of children, and a cadre of ESB volunteers have returned home with a greater insight into life and a huge feeling of fulfilment and pride - proud of our own efforts, those of colleagues and the vision and commitment of ElectricAid and ESB.

The refurbishment of Teshie National School is something that will always remain with each of the volunteers. It was summed up perfectly by Daragh on the open day with the comment that, "Our wish is that some day he will read that the President of Ghana was a past pupil of Teshie”.

Each of us felt very fortunate to have had the opportunity to make this trip and many of us would willingly return at another opportunity.

A photo of (l-r) John Keane, Paul Cullen, Mags Forrest, Brian Clarke, Denise Enright, Derek Kelleher, Deirdre Arthur, Tom O’Sullivan, John Kelly, ICT Group, Frank Scott, ESB Power Generation, Ciaran McBrine, Deirdre Newell, James Power, Cathal Chivnen, Brian Cronly and Joe Mooney. Front row (l-r) Colin Maloney, Mick Moran and Gerry McGough with two of the local staff.

Pictured: (l-r) John Keane, Paul Cullen, Mags Forrest, Brian Clarke, Denise Enright, Derek Kelleher, Deirdre Arthur, Tom O'Sullivan, John Kelly, ICT Group, Frank Scott, ESB Power Generation, Ciaran McBrine, Deirdre Newell, James Power, Cathal Chivnen, Brian Cronly and Joe Mooney. Front row (l-r) Colin Maloney, Mick Moran and Gerry McGough with two of the local staff.

A photo of Ger McCarthy, Brian Cronly and Mick O'Connor

Pictured: On the open day for the school children are Ger McCarthy, Brian Cronly and Mick O'Connor after receiving their sashs.

A photo of Padraig McManus and Justine Apawu

Pictured: Padraig McManus visits one of the classrooms. He presented a Certificate to Justine Apawu (left) who successfully completed the IT training course.

A photo of (l-r) Ciaran McBrine, Colin Maloney, Paddy Stapleton and Michael McNicholas

Pictured: (l-r) Ciaran McBrine, Colin Maloney, Paddy Stapleton and Michael McNicholas putting the finishing touches to one of the classrooms.

A photo of (l-r) Denise Enright, Peter O'Shea, Mags Forrest and John Kelly

Pictured: (l-r) Denise Enright, Peter O'Shea, Mags Forrest and John Kelly with one of the local school teachers.



		Teshie – the final countdown The second group of ESB volunteers touched down at Accra airport on Sunday, August 17th. The sense of excitement and anticipation was unaffected by the news that some luggage had failed to make the journey from London. After boarding the bus from the Airport the din of excited chat soon subsided, as the group further travelled from the Airport the more basic the general living conditions became obvious. Anticipation was replaced, in part, by apprehension as they observed conditions that were simply alien while also trying not to pry on people simply getting on with their different day-to-day lives. So began a truly exciting journey as part of the group of ESB volunteers with an ambitious plan to refurbish Teshie National School – a school which caters for around 3500 children. They were, of course, following in the shoes of those who arrived in April. The atmosphere was a strange mix of excitement, apprehension and pride, coupled with a real wish to get to know a little about Ghanaian culture and its people. Over the following two weeks, three blocks of six classrooms, each were prepared for painting, with up to four coats of paint applied and finished out with full electrical installation. In addition, a resource centre, complete with an air conditioned computer room, was commissioned. The painters were led by Martin O’Brien, who was on his second tour of duty. Once Martin had organised his trusty team of painters he passed the reigns of responsibility over to Paul Cullen. Deirdre O’Hara, Deirdre Newell, Michael McNicholas, Paddy Stapleton, James Power, Frank Scott and Joe Mooney concentrated initially on the resource centre while Peter O’Shea, Deirdre Arthur, Brian Clarke, Gerry McGough and Paul Cullen made inroads into the classroom blocks. The IT Team of John Kelly, Mags Forrest and Denise Enright commenced the installation of the computing equipment with Daragh Mulligan on hand to finish out all the telecom patching. Meanwhile the electricians under the guidance of Ger McCarthy piled through the work at a huge pace, Ger giving great credit to his team of Daragh Mulligan, Dave Carey, Brendan O’Connor, Jamie Corcoran and Garry Keane (making their second trip), aided and abetted by Tom O’Sullivan, Sean Mooney, John Keane, Colin Maloney, Derek Kelleher, Mick Moran, Ciaran McBrien and Cathal Shivnen.At the heart of the operation was Mick O’Connor always on the look out for each of us and Chef extraordinaire at lunch time. Brian Cronly provided the continuity and project management presence and expertise across the full duration of the project. In a week of great excitement, the highlight was the commissioning of the IT Room and the arrival of first of 25 teachers for IT training. The team members who were making their second trip got massive satisfaction from this as it marked a tangible culmination of work started in April. The teachers and children were wonderful and eager to learn. It was a hugely emotional moment for all and more than one tear was shed. As the week progressed the team to know many of the teachers, the children and the building site workers. As in April, the group were visited by Chief Executive, Padraig McManus, who joined the painting team and applied the lilywhite with great vigour. As previously, Maol Muire Tynan facilitated Irish media who recorded progress and again an Open Day was held at the site which was attended by pupils, teachers, families and invited dignitaries. The climax was a stirring oration delivered by Sherifah Dawuo, playing the role of school prefect, urging her fellow pupils to treat their new school with respect and threatening anybody who misbehaves! The result has been truly amazing. The school has been transformed from run down partially covered classrooms with no electricity, running water or toilet facilities to a modern school complex, completely refurbished with full electrical installation in all classrooms, a state of the art computer room complete with air conditioning, broadband and work stations and a full suite of educational and business software. Fifty teachers have now been trained, providing increased possibilities for thousands of children, and a cadre of ESB volunteers have returned home with a greater insight into life and a huge feeling of fulfilment and pride - proud of our own efforts, those of colleagues and the vision and commitment of ElectricAid and ESB. The refurbishment of Teshie National School is something that will always remain with each of the volunteers. It was summed up perfectly by Daragh on the open day with the comment that, "Our wish is that some day he will read that the President of Ghana was a past pupil of Teshie”. Each of us felt very fortunate to have had the opportunity to make this trip and many of us would willingly return at another opportunity.		Pictured: (l-r) John Keane, Paul Cullen, Mags Forrest, Brian Clarke, Denise Enright, Derek Kelleher, Deirdre Arthur, Tom O'Sullivan, John Kelly, ICT Group, Frank Scott, ESB Power Generation, Ciaran McBrine, Deirdre Newell, James Power, Cathal Chivnen, Brian Cronly and Joe Mooney. Front row (l-r) Colin Maloney, Mick Moran and Gerry McGough with two of the local staff. Pictured: On the open day for the school children are Ger McCarthy, Brian Cronly and Mick O'Connor after receiving their sashs. Pictured: Padraig McManus visits one of the classrooms. He presented a Certificate to Justine Apawu (left) who successfully completed the IT training course. Pictured: (l-r) Ciaran McBrine, Colin Maloney, Paddy Stapleton and Michael McNicholas putting the finishing touches to one of the classrooms. Pictured: (l-r) Denise Enright, Peter O'Shea, Mags Forrest and John Kelly with one of the local school teachers.