Activities
Outlook 2022-2023 (Where are we now?)
We are thrilled to share some exciting updates regarding our school KANAKA. Your continued support and investment have been instrumental in our progress, and we are excited to showcase the developments we've made.
First and foremost, we are delighted to announce that our school is up and running successfully! We currently have a vibrant community of 400 children and students enrolled in our primary, junior high, and vocational classes. Our classrooms are bustling with energy and enthusiasm as our students embark on their educational journey with us.
Speaking of vocational education, we are pleased to inform you that our vocational studies program has started, with the assistance of our governmental accreditation. We are offering classes in sewing and hairdressing, providing our students with practical skills that will empower them for future success in their chosen fields.
Some of our success:
- All junior high students passed their final exams in 2023 (28 students)
- We now have 150 students that follow one of our vocational studies
- KANAKA has made it to the top 10 best primary schools in de Ashanti region
However, we also face some challenges that need your attention. Firstly, our school bus is in need of repairs. Without the school bus, children are unable to be picked up and brought to the school to learn, impacting their access to education.
Secondly, the electricity bills generated by our vocational studies, such as operating sewing machines and hairdressing equipment, have been quite high. In order to address this challenge, we are exploring the installation of solar panels to cover these electricity bills more sustainably.
In addition to our academic and vocational offerings, we are also investing in our online presence to better connect with our community and stakeholders. We are excited to share that we have a new website in the works: www.kanaka-edu.com. This platform will serve as a hub for information about our school, programs, and events, allowing us to engage with prospective students, parents, and partners more effectively.
As we continue to grow and expand our impact, we invite you to join us on this journey. Your investment in our project will not only support the education and development of our students but also contribute to the overall growth and success of our school.
Thank you once again for your ongoing support and belief in our vision. and helping us make a meaningful difference in the lives of our students and the community.
Outlook 2018-2019 (Where do we need to be?)
- Continue to invest into the primary education for children in Domeabra and surrounding villages
- Teachers
- Teaching material
- Kitchen utensils
- To assist the food program
- Mattresses
- To facilitate boarding at the school
- Build out our vocational courses (Specific for empowering women)
- Sowing & Hair dressing
- Advertisement
- Sowing & Hair dressing
- Further invest in creating a safe learning and working environment
- A fence wall
- Two bungalow’s for families taking care of the school (security)
We would need 13.000 euro’s in order to achieve the goals mentioned above.
For a more detailed overview on the plan for the next 3 years please see the below excel document (tab “3 year plan”)
KANAKA 3 year plan & Cost overview
Memory 2017/18 (Where are we now?)
KANAKA started the year with the need to re-adjust its plans for providing affordable education.
In 2017 we sought to implement a nursing school course within KANAKA that would next to the educational peas, bring the school (closer) to self-sufficiency.
Due to a unforeseen governmental change in legislation prohibiting privately owned schools to provide nursing training the plan needed to be adjusted.
Plan B was to role out just the IT and fashion course instead, but with the lack of funds that would primarily have come from the nursing training we were not able to fund the start up of these courses.
Please find the presentation of the initial plans and requirements attached below (Nursing, IT & Fashion courses)
Having experienced these unfortunate setbacks KANAKA is now (continuing) to focus on the basic primary education.
In order to support this goal there was a need of a school bus that would transport the primary school children to and from the school.
After a much appreciated loan donation from A4C KANAKA was able to purchase the bus and build the facilities needed to support the increase of school attending children (made possible due to the better accessibility to the school.
In addition KANAKA has setup a new sowing course that is steadily increasing in attendance.
Please find the presentation of the progress made with the 20k loan below
We are very happy to announce that we are now providing schooling to more children than ever (35% increase)
Memory 2013 (Where are we now?)
Given the current conditions and demand (number of students) the financial situation at the end of 2013 is very precarious, the fees barely cover the costs of running the school, which means that in 2014 there will be no margin left for emergencies or to cover any of the construction costs. The main problem is that some of the students are finding it difficult to pay their fees on time or to pay them at all. The area is very poor and some students cannot afford education or they prioritize other expenditures, especially when the cocoa season is over (90% of the income in the area comes from cocoa).
Also, inflation rate in Ghana is very high (13,5 % ) and, because the country is developing very fast, construction materials are very demanded and very scarce. In 2013 we have seen prices increasing versus the budgets in just a few months, and in 2014 we can expect the same trend.
Until September 2013 permanent registration with the Ghanaian Ministry of Education was pending. But during 2013 Kanaka has been able to raise the 30,000 € needed urgently to secure the registration as a Primary school. With these funds we have done the following investments:
- Drilling and installation of water pump.
- Piping of water throughout school compound.
- Connection of industrial electricity in the whole compound.
- Finish off the toilets.
- Canteen and kitchen.
- Teacher’s accommodation.
- New sewing machines.
- Fixing patio and part of road. 80 Chairs and tables for the canteen. Utensils for the kitchen.
Also in 2013, and because we have gone from some private donations to donations from Foundations, with strict internal rules, we have undergone an internal change and become more professionalized, even if everyone involved in Kanaka (except for the teachers in Ghana) are volunteers. We have introduced a more formal Governance Structure in the Kanaka Stichting and we have enlarged the Board of Directors, in order to ensure appropriate knowledge and control.
We have also launched a new web page in Dutch and English to help spread the information about the project.
Outlook 2014-2015 (Where do we need to be?)
Until 2013 we have focused in obtaining the certification as a Primary school, in order to achieve the maximum number of students to make the school fully sustainable in the short to mid-term, but the school´s income can barely cover the running costs of the school, so there will be no money left for further investments and we have to continue searching for external funding in order to finish building all the required infrastructures for achieving the Professional Training certification. For this, financing of around 50,000 is still needed to finish the whole compound. Next inspection will be in September 2014 and by then we should, at least, have proper boarding facilities and enough equipment and workshops to teach all subjects.
Especially important are the dormitories, as not only are they a main requisite to achieve certification, but also because having boarding facilities for 200 students would mean an extra income of around 3.000 € which would help cover the monthly current losses in the running costs of the school.
Once the funds are raised and the Professional Training certification is obtained, the school is expected to achieve its maximum number of students very soon and to become financially sustainable in the short to mid-term.
| YEAR | AMOUNT € | DESCRIPTION |
| 2014 | 22.000 € | Build dormitories and boarding facilities |
| 2014 | 5.000 € | Sewing factory (to sew and sell clothes, done by the school students) including workshops for textiles |
| 2014 | 5.000 € | Books for library and computers (ideally laptops for safety as they can be locked after use) |
| 2014 | 5.000 € | Sports facilities |
| Total 2014 | 37.000 € | |
| 2015 | 8.000 € | Finalise 3rd wing building with top floor (additional classrooms) |
| 2015 | 10.000 € | Assembly hall, convenience store and Internet café. |
| Total 2015 | 18.000 € | |
| Total | 55.000 € |
Actions to improve the financial situation of the school (agreed in the last Board meeting Feb.2014)
- Start working on attracting more students, even from further areas but this is only possible when the boarding option is available.
- Start-up a sewing factory within the school where the students can practice their acquired skills and at the same time, generate a small income doing uniforms and other items.
- Start focusing on quality of education. In 2014 we should start preparing for when we obtain the Professional Training license to build a strong educational program.
- Need to publicize the benefits and importance of Professional training, as the general opinion now is that the only need for studying is to go onto University. This we can do directly with our Primary school students as the teachers will detect their skills from an early age and can advise the students on their options. The success stories of recent graduates are also helping to change the current mindset.