History

The Nsaba Science Foundation was founded in 2002 by Professor Kojo Fosu. After returning to his home village upon retirement, he saw the lack of education and opportunities for many of the youth, especially adolescent girls, in the rural community. Together with a few local teachers they came up with a program that would offer free computer training and after-school classes in Math, Science, and English. Classes began in September of 2003; with one computer and 10 girls from JSS 1 (Grade 7). In 2005, with the help of SYTO Ghana, the Foundation started receiving international volunteers from North America and Europe to help with computer training and the development of the programs.

In its few short years of existence, through the generous support of people and organizations locally and abroad, the Foundation has been able to expand their programs to include both girls and boys. There is now the capacity to allow all Junior Secondary School students to receive computer and science laboratory training during regularly scheduled classes. Other activities organized by the Foundation include a fully operational community library, a internet cafe provider, a science laboratory facility, and currently under construction - a cultural centre, as well as a scholarship fund enabling students to attend secondary school.

Sept 2007 Newsletter

AT LAST….
We got it. The Science and Computer Resource Centre for the Foundation is fully equipped and serving all the five Nsaba Junior Secondary Schools. It is a dream come true. Thanks to the Ghana International Bank Foundation whose generous donation of 70 Million cedis has enabled us to purchase 20 more computers and a sizable number of science lab equipment. This has brought to conclusion our long search for help to provide these modern educational facilities to rural Nsaba children. Actually owning and operating science and computer laboratories are a rarity in any Junior Secondary School in rural Ghana. Again we may have scored another first in Ghana. We had already provided this rural community with an internet connection, courtesy of Q-KON of South Africa, through the initiative of the Nsaba Nifahene, Nana Kwame Kra II (a.k.a. Mr. Kofi Anane Adjei ), and his lovely wife Awo. We also may have reduced considerably the level of rural deprivation which afflicts our rural growing school children, especially the girls. Since this exceptional show of kindness by the Ghana International Bank, the acting General Manager of GSL has recently also donated three computers to us through Mr Paul Nkansah. We will be most grateful for more from our supporters and the general public. Also we will accept earphones; A4 & A3 Printing papers; cartridges for HP 1020 Laser Printer and Z23, Z25 Lexmark Printer. Please stay tuned for the official opening.

OUR 3rd ANNUAL SCIENCE & MATH QUIZ …The Nsaba Islamic Junior Secondary School won double Prize Awards in our 3rd Annual Science & Math Quiz contest for both the “SCHOOL and PUPIL CATEGORIES” on the 20th of July, 2007. Five Junior Secondary schools competed. They were the Presbyterian, the Methodist, the Catholic, the Islamic and the A.M.E. Zion In attendance were also the District Assistant Director of Education, Ms. Ernestina Nkansah; the District Coordinator of Girl Child Education, Ms. Rose Osam; the Nsaba Circuit Supervisor, Mr. Atta Kwame Joseph, all the Head Teachers; representative class teachers; children from all the schools and parents. The District Assistantm Director of Education commended the Foundation for such brilliant idea of organizing these contests, but also encouraged the Foundation to involve more schools in the Agona District in all future Science & Math Quiz contests. This year’s quiz was made possible by donations from the Ghana International Bank, Mr. Steve Amoaning-Yankson, Mr. Kojo Adisi-Adjei, Ms Asomaning, Bafari Farms and the Nsaba community.

PROESSIONAL INTERACTIONS FOR OUR KIDS
As part of our effort to demystify science, mathematics and technology, we have organized a series of interactions between our Foundation children and selected individual professionals who are highly acclaimed in these areas of study, in order to motivate the desire of the children to also achieve future greatness. The following are the selected subjects for the first series.
• ABC of Mathematics by Mr. Kwesi Mensah
• Rural Hydro-Electricity by Mr. J. N. Saah
• The World of Insects by Dr. Y. A. Duodu
• Creating Own Software by Mr. G. Ofori-Som

SISTER INSTITUTION
The Honors Program of North Carolina A & T State University in Greensboro, USA, has established Sister Institution relationship with us. By this arrangement we can engage in collaborative programmes that will expose and inspire our children to appreciate the significance and benefits of the cross-cultural interrelationships between America and Ghana.

RURAL ICT TRAINING
We are setting the pace in rural Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and therefore offering the following comprehensive courses to all interested parties in OFFICE SKILLS, APPLICATION SOFTWARE, DESK TOP PUBLISHING, NETWORKING & HARDWARE

MONTY in RURAL NSABA ... Well here are some of the things this town in Ghana can offer…...A cultural centre is currently under construction for the science foundation. Here there will be workshops on traditional African dancing, drumming, carving, cooking, and art. In the building there will also be guest rooms for visitors who are studying in the workshops. I also suggest that people stay with families. The people in Ghana are very hospitable and spoil their guests; at least that’s my experience so far. I think that anyone who is studying anthropology would also be very interested in experiencing the culture here in Nsaba. For anyone in the nursing program, there is a rural clinic in the town. This is where I have been working for the last month so far. A nurse or pre-med student can have great opportunity to assist with surgeries, give immunization shots, help deliver, register and weigh babies. We also give lectures on hygiene, contraception and diseases, especially in the outreach programs. This involves going to other villages that are not accessible to the clinic. This has also been an amazing experience for me.

In the town there are also 4 kindergartens, 8 elementary schools, 5 junior high schools and a high school. For anyone who is interested in teaching, the schools here, especially, the Nsaba Science Foundation, are seeking North Americans to help out with teaching or build the curriculum. I am currently teaching junior high school children in the Nsaba science foundation four days a week. It’s a little challenging writing on a chalk board that must have been bought some time in the 40’s and having roosters walking through the classroom crowing but I’m starting to get use to it The father in my host family, who I have also made very good friends with is a professor, named, Kojo Fosu.. He studied at Howard University and then lived and taught in Washington D.C. for about 22 years. After this time he decided to come back to Ghana and help develop his home town Nsaba. He has started an NGO called the “Nsaba science foundation for girl child education”. Recently he has also opened the foundation to boys. This foundation is an after school program which teaches math, biology, chemistry, physics, English and basic computer operation. The top students from the junior high schools were chosen. I am teaching biology on Mondays and Wednesdays and computers on Tuesdays and Thursdays. On the weekends I also suggest travelling. There are beautiful national parks all over Ghana. I have been to one so far called Mole National Park.

By Monty Lennie, from Canada

APRIL 2007 Newsletter

Our 3 honored guests…...

1. MISS KIRSTEN BOSCH ...In early February, Kirsten, a Canadian-born honorary citizen of Nsaba, and former volunteer of the Foundation, returned from her home country to revisit her second hometown, Nsaba, and all of the Foundation’s activities; but especially to re-establish confidence in the all-important Scholarship Award Scheme which she and her Canadian friends of the Foundation had instituted for the Foundation. She had been gone for a year. In her speech, she lauded the achievements of the first batch of the scholarship winners, and expressed her joy that they were a part of the unfolding history of the Foundation. She brought prize items for the Monthly Library Quiz contests, additional donation to the Library Fund, a whole lot of love and compassion to Nsaba township. She indiscriminately dispensed assorted gifts not only to almost anyone she had known on her previous stay in Nsaba, but also to anyone whom she thought deserved help. Yes “sister Kirsten “ came back, and you should have seen the expression of happiness in the faces of the Foundation children for the return of their almighty legend “sister Kirsten”. She visited them in their homes and schools, shared small talks and snacks with them, and finally danced with them at the typically Ghanaian traditional- style welcome reception which was held in her honor on February 9th. (right...are Foundation girls and Queen—mother Mintaa watching as Kirsten drinks the traditional “bresuo” from a calabash)


2. THE GHANA INTERNATIONAL ... A nine member strong team of the top executive of the Trustees of Ghana International Bank Foundation, including the Chairman of Board of Trustees, Mr. Brian Hagger, the Managing Director of the Bank, Mr. Joe Mensah, came from their United Kingdom and Ghana offices to check us over, and assess our progress for a possible additional assistance to complete our Science and Computer Resource Centre. They had previously donated 20Million Cedis (about $2,000) that enabled us to install electricity and water; and provide Computer and Science Lab furniture. Although the welcome reception took place on a Sunday morning at 9am, a most difficult day, especially for more than half the population of Nsaba, who must go to church. Yet on that Sunday 25th February morning, many of the townsfolk came to join us to welcome our honored quests from the Ghana International Bank and to lend their support, exhibit their commitment and express their appreciation. Specifically those who came to grace this wondrous event that looked more like a mini-durbar, included Chiefs, Queen-mothers, Elders, Heads of schools, Teachers, Patrons, Volunteers, Parents, School Children, representatives from the Agona District Education, the Nsaba Christian Church Council, the Moslem Community, and the Nsaba grassroots. The Chief’s Okyeame (spokesman) poured libation. The Foundation girls performed two captivating dances. The parents of the Foundation children presented them with produce from their own farms. An appeal for more funds, made by the Director of the Foundation, to purchase more computers and lab equipment in order to make the Resource Centre project operational, was greeted with a positive response from the chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Bank’s Foundation. This team toured our future Resource facility. Nana Kwame Kra II, Nsaba Nifahene promised us land for a permanent building for the Foundation. The Bank promised to assist with the engineering costs. Last week, the Bank gave us 2,500,000 cedis to cover the shortfall against another 2,500,000 cedis raised from pledges.


3. THE A&T STATE UNIVERSITY STUDENTS... Then came the six academic staff and twelve students from the Honors Program of the Agriculture & Technical University in North Carolina, USA, to celebrate the 6th of March with us. Wow, what an excitement for many of our kids, who for the first time in their lives, came face to face with so many beautiful young African-Americans. We were just so overwhelmed with the idea that they would rather choose to celebrate Ghana’s momentous occasion at rural Nsaba. We danced together, interrelated and exchanged addresses. Discussions of possible adoption of our girls and the Foundation by A&T University, were held between the Asst. Director of the Program, Prof. Andrea Williamson and our Director, Prof. Kojo Fosu. An anonymous donor from A&T gave us $100 right there.

Salute to our Supporters...
As we pause to congratulate ourselves for oneyear successful publication of four editions of our Newsletter (this is the first edition for a second year), we take the opportunity to express our gratitude for the invaluable contributions made by the Board of Trustees, Patrons, Cognate Members, Parents, Donors, Friends as well as the multitudes who have supported us in diverse ways, inside and outside both Nsaba and Ghana, that have led to the growth of the Foundation from its infancy. Though no-where near maturity, the Foundation is on its way to becoming a promising future giant. Thanks to your careful nurturing of the ideals and the sincere devotion to the vision of the Foundation. It is gratifying to note that your unflinching and dedicated support have given us a firm grounding which emboldens us to grow from strength to strength. We salute you.

Dec. 2006 Newsletter

SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS LAUNCHED
The Kirsten Bosch Scholarship Award scheme for Nsaba Science Foundation was launched by the Agona District Director of Education, Mr. Dowuona-Hammond, on the 27th October, 2006. Four girls, Barikissu Alhassan, Beatrice Dadzie, Dorcas Nyarko, Felicia Addae; and five boys, Joe Atowu, Eric Addo, Ernest Incoom, Afeni Abdulai and James Korsah in the Foundation Programme who had gained admission to various secondary schools won tuition awards that covered school fees, PTA dues, computer classes, exercise and note books. Mr. Mohammed Dauda and Mr. Emmanuel Nyarko were honored with Prize Awards for excellent teaching of mathematics and science subjects respectively at the Foundation extra classes. And so were Barikissu Alhassan and Dorcas Nyarko for overall best BECE performance by Foundation girls as well as Joe Atowu for overall best BECE performance by Foundation boy and the Islamic JSS for school attended by overall best BECE student in the Foundation. Miss Kirsten Bosch who freely offered this scholarship scheme to Nsaba children, is a very modest young Canadian engineer of only 24 years of age. She stayed here at Nsaba as a volunteer for nine months, teaching computer literacy, science subjects and English Language to Nsaba JSS children who participate in the Foundation’s programmes. She has established this Scholarship Fund for the Foundation with the support of her friends, family, and neighbors from her community. Her advise to the first lucky recipients of the award is to “remember that it is now their turn to shine and help others reach their full potential.” Our readers can also contribute to this Fund. Kirsten’s commitment and contribution to Nsaba children through the Foundation are phenomenal. She and her sister Andrea single-handedly refurbished and revitalized the Nsaba Community library which had been totally neglected and abandoned for several years, and established the Kirsten Bosch Library Fund, so that a Library Assistant could be employed to keep the library open for Nsaba Children. There is also the Kirsten Bosch Reading Club to cultivate reading habit in Nsaba children. Yes Kirsten is a legend here in this rural Nsaba town.
AND THE DIRECTOR, in his welcome speech, says that this scholarship scheme marks a significant stage in the development of the Foundation. It indicates that we have come a long way, and we are going a long way. So what have been some of the achievements that have given us this honour. The Foundation still gives free computer training and free extra classes in science, mathematics and English language to girls in all the Junior Secondary Schools in the
Nsaba Traditional Area. It has organized a series of academic quiz contests, scientific trips, science projects, reading contests; established a Reading Club, an internet connection,
a Computer and Science Resource Centre; published a newsletter; engaged three of our pioneer Foundation girl-child members as computer instructors in our training centre on attachment; administers a community library; and now this, an administration of a Scholarship Awards scheme for Foundation children. If you remember that we started with one computer only three
years ago, you will appreciate this initiative. We appeal to you to offer us your contribution.

MARIT CAME BACK...Yes, sister Marit actually came back to Nsaba from her native country of Norway to reconnect and check on the progress of the Foundation. Her vibrant spirit was still intact, and so were the kindness and the bundle of life which characterized her first visit with us as a volunteer for six months at Nsaba. The computer programme of the Foundation, especially, means so much to her that she has spent an incredible amount of time, energy and resources
to make sure of its healthy survival. She came with loads of prize items for future winners of the many academic contests which the Foundation regularly conducts, as well as cash donations for equipment, programmes and whatever will bring quality improvement to the Foundation. This generosity was made possible with joint contributions from her friends, mother, father, brother, herself and Hafslund. And were the Foundation children thrilled. As usual she was on the computer with them virtually everyday, teaching them more ways to access the internet for more educational materials, including wikipedia, Googleearth and all, which enabled the kids to travel the cities of the universe from the comfort of our computer centre in our rural native home-town of Nsaba. Dearest Obroni Marit please come back again soon. We already miss you.

THE DANQUAHS AGAIN. This time they donated yet another one of the latest of them all, a P IV computer, during their last November visit to the Foundation. It was a very short holiday visit packed with lots of philanthropic activities in this Nsaba rural home-town of Mr. Alex Danquah; and of course he came with his supportive German wife Brigitte. In addition, they provided the Islamic Junior Secondary School with cement and building blocks which has enabled them to continue with the construction of some of their classrooms and offices. They also gave much-needed text books to both the Islamic and the Presbyterian JSS. For us in the Foundation, it is the third time around. Please accept our gratitude LIKE A DREAM We could not believe it when the Ghana International Bank handed out the check to cover the full costs of refurbishing our Computer and Science Resource Centre with electricity, water, 40 computer tables, 40 computer chairs, 6 long science tables and 20 stools. As a result of this generous contribution we are now ready to accept 32 more computers, and any number of science equipment or cash donations from individuals, organizations, businesses, agencies etc, so that all the JSS children can begin to use this new facility now. The old building had been allocated to us by the local Nsaba Presbyterian Church which we renovated. Thank you Ghana International Bank for assisting Nsaba children to turn their dreams to reality.

Sept 2006 Newsletter

EXCITING...What is exciting is that two of the first batch of the pioneers in our programme have joined our teaching staff on attachment at our computer training centre in accordance with the policy of the Foundation. Like all the other kids in our programme, when they pass the BECE they will enter secondary schools of their choice this academic year on the Foundation’s Kirsten Bosch Scholarship Fund. They themselves had been extraordinarily brilliant throughout the three year programme, and now they have the rare opportunity to share their computer knowledge with their own peer group. What an exciting chance at role–modeling. And both of them happen to have attended the Nsaba Islamic Junior Secondary School. They are Beatrice Dadzie 16 and Barikissu Alhassan is 15. We are proud of them. We wish each of them a triumphant future.

THE RIGHT TO READ…“Give a book as a birthday gift to a child. Buy a book for your child every month. Reward your child with a book”. These were some of the resounding words echoed, especially by the District Education Director, Mr. Dowouna-Hammond, at the just-ended Agona District Book Week Celebration, which was launched at Agona Swedru on July 11th, 2006. The aim is to encourage reading habit in the youth of the District. It was the first time eight kids from the Foundation’s Kirsten Reading Club were there to participate. They showed great performance, when they were invited to the Reading Train. These kids, representing perhaps the only Reading Club in the District, exhibited outstanding reading skills that won accolades from the audience—confidence, fluency, articulation and audibility. In the follow-up Reading competition for the District schools, our girl Charity Bossman, was placed fourth. And imagine, they are only JSS One kids.

Rev. Mrs. Marion MacKay
Our latest volunteer We are happy to introduce our new volunteer in English Language from Canada. She is the very respectable Presbyterian Church Minster Rev. Mrs. Marion Mackay. She is here at Nsaba with her husband, also a Reverend Minister, to provide training at the Nsaba Lay Training Centre, at the request of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana. Rev. MacKay has freely volunteered to teach at the Foundation’s extra classes in addition to her missionary assignments. We are most grateful for this wonderful opportunity. She is God sent.

Alex and Brigitte Danquah : The two lovebirds met in a bus in Frankfurt when Alex was a student in Germany way back in the 1970s. He is from the Brofoyedru neighborhood at Nsaba, but has never forgotten his hometown background. That is why since this “Brofoyedru miracle” made it big in Germany, he has proudly ploughed back generously, in the most impressive way, to the development of Nsaba, thanks to his supportive German wife, named Brigitte. Both have made cash donations, as well as in-kind contributions of a laptop, and a state of the art computer flat screen to the Foundation. Other beneficiaries of the generosity of the Danquahs include the Nsaba Islamic Primary/JSS. They have given them books, and donated towards the construction of additional classroom blocks. WHAT A COUPLE . We wish them blessings.

Dagger is gone...We don’t know how heacquired his “guy name dagger”. But however it was, it surely did cut through all manner of red tapes to get us six computers, three printers and the only UPS we own at the moment. And dagger always brought them with some of these inspiring e-messages. “gradually we will build the full capacity of the centre, when equipment break down, don’t worry, it’s part of the story. and like they say, success attracts success”. Yes Ebenezer Arthur (dagger) was that kind of a guy. Now he is gone forever. Dead, not to be seen or heard from again. We will miss him .May His Soul Rest In Peace.

May 2006 Newsletter

Australia-Nsaba School Connection


It all began in 1995, when Dr. Kwabena Anaman, a resident of Sydney decided to improve the dilapidated schools in his hometown of Nsaba. He made an appeal to some selected Australian Churches and Schools in Sydne. The following are some of the major schools, churches, and individuals, including Dr. Anaman and his immediate family, which freely gave from their savings and organized fundraising activities so that Nsaba school children could have a break in life.



Knox Grammar School, Wahroonga, Sydney
Our Lady of Hope Christians Catholic Primary School, Epping, Sydney
MLC School, Burwood, Sydney
Saint Ignatius College, Riverview, Sydney
The Scots College, Belleview, Sydney
Santa Sabina Catholic Ladies College, Sydney
Uniting Church, Chester Street, Epping, Sydney
Arnold Spencer
Reverend Graham Debus

A total of $30,040 was raised between 1995 and 2004. Within a three phase implementaion period, Dr. Anama used all the monies to provide all the various Junior Secondaty Schools at Nsaba with clean pipe borne water, modern water-closet toilet facilities; as well as refurbish broken down school structures; roof classroom blocks and invigorate the faded walls of chuch buildings with fress paint. Thanks to these generous Australian donations and the forsight of Dr. Anaman, a Foundation patron, Nsaba school children now enjoy basic modern conveniences. They can finally concentrate on serious academic work.

Conchita was here...One of our Patrons, Dr. Conchita Ndege Kemei, paid us a special visit here at Nsaba in March from her native country of the United States of America. She is a Professor and Head of the Lyceum at the A&T University, in Greensboro, North Carolina. We thank her for her generous donations.



Our role-model
Miss Helena Arko is the present District Director of Education in the Awutu-Efutu-Senya District, Winneba. She trained as a school teacher after completing her Primary/Middle School in her home town of Agona Nsaba. She holds a Diploma in Theatre Studies, a B.A and an MA degrees, respectively, in Linguistics and Public Administration; all from the University of Ghana, Legon. She has worked as a Classroom Teacher, an Environmental and Cultural Studies Organizer, as well as held many senior key positions in the Ghana Education System (G.E.S). Impressive, isn’t it. Well she is also a Patron of our Foundation. Her advise is that the girl child should study hard, socialize, share ideas, but keep her dignity as a woman.

They marched on girl child day.
April 2006 was girl child month which was celebrated countrywide by all school girls. At Nsaba it was marked by talk shows and route marches throughout the town with the full participation of our girls.

2006 Scholarship Recipients

Ernest Incoom Beatrice Dadzie Felicia Addai


Emmanuel Nyarkoh Barikissu Alhassan James Korsah


Eric Addo

Mavis Kontoh

Joe Atowu

Afenyi Abdulai