Project Manager Niranjana talks about life in Awutu

It’s been almost Four months since I arrived in Ghana, and wow, has a lot happened! Time has flown by so fast and I have enjoyed every moment thus far.

Ghana is a wonderful, vibrant place- from the food to the music to the clothes. When I first got here I was (naturally) wary of solid food that you swallow without chewing. Now? I actually have frequent cravings for good FuFu and Groundnut soup, and it is fast becoming my favourite Ghanaian dish! 

The music is literally everywhere, even in the most remote village you can stumble across a sound system pumping reggae, hip-life, high life, or a combination of all three! As for the clothing, Ghana has the most beautiful fabric I’ve ever seen, the markets are full of wonderful prints, and women carry their babies in printed make-shift baby carriers, it's wonderful!

Having been born and raised in London, It’s taken time to adjust to village life in Awutu-Bereku where things move much slower. The school, however, runs at an entirely different pace from the village it resides in; things are constantly moving onward and upward!

When I first arrived at the school, I must admit I was slightly intimidated. The Project Manager prior to me, Marcus, had done such a great job- and I wanted to continue to do the school proud. However, I have quickly come into my own, and I now feel at home; the staff have been so supportive and the smiles of the students are a constant motivation to push the school to be one of the best in Ghana.

One of the most rewarding tasks I have overseen since arriving here has been the completion of the girls' hostel. Our most vulnerable female students now have a safe haven. This took a lot of preparation with many different aspects to consider but it is now all up and running successfully! The girls are so grateful to have a place where they feel safe.

We have also started work on the construction of a third classroom block, and thanks to my co-worker and friend Rajib, it’s all going very well (more on that from him).

AWSHS is such a wonderful project. There are so many of us here in Ghana, in the UK, and worldwide, that wholeheartedly believe in the mission of the school, and it is this collective dedication that keeps our students smiling.