To Mum, with love: what Mother's Day looks like in Ghana

Yes, gifting a gorgeous bouquet on Mother’s Day is sweet. But in Ghana, a country where so many young children are deprived a basic education, one innovative charity is offering mothers so much more

As any mother will know, providing the best possible start for your children is key to their future success. Young minds need dreams to aspire to; parents to make proud. But in Ghana, where more than 350,000 four- and five-year-olds do not attend school and almost half of all pre-primary school teachers have never received any formal training, the odds are stacked against them. Case in point: learning materials are in such short supply that one dog-eared workbook must be shared between three children.

Yet one charity is tackling these challenges head on in order to help provide children with access to a quality education. Through its Brighter Futures Programme and Transformational Teacher Training, the Sabre Charitable Trust delivers vital educational tools to pre-primary and junior school children throughout Ghana and – ultimately – is enabling mothers to empower their family and, in turn, empower themselves as women.

In honour of Mother’s Day, we speak to the Ghanaian mums who are encouraging their children to hope, do and dream without limitation; to fight for an education despite the barriers. In short, to fulfill their true potential. And isn’t that what being a great mum is really all about? Their stories will inspire you.

Dorcas Cudjoe is mother to three children, her youngest two attend the Amenano Model Kindergarten in Shama District, Western Region of Ghana ‘My children enjoy school, and tell me their teacher praises them when they read. I have seen a real change in the children as they now come home and are able to tell me what they learnt in school. I also praise them, which makes them excited. When they grow up they want to be either a teacher, a driver or a banker. I am very hopeful that there is a bright future for them.’

Elizabeth Ankomah (pictured top) has two children. Her youngest girl is in her first year of pre-primary school in the KEEA District in the Central Region of Ghana ‘I can see an improvement in my daughter. She really enjoys writing, and whenever I ask her to write her name, she is able to do so and spell it both in Fante and in English. I’m so proud. The classroom has activity centres that reflect real-life situations, and when she grows up she wants to become a teacher or a nurse.’

Mavis Pokuah is a primary school teacher and has one child ‘I am a teacher, and as soon as my son started school, he asked for a pencil and a book. I wanted to help him, so I encouraged him. Now, he will mention a word and write it down himself. He knows this is called dictation.’

Victoria Ofuri has one child, who attends Mpeasem school ‘My child was in a private school before I brought her here a year ago. She can now write numbers from 1 to 50, write her name and recite the alphabet. She can even do dictation at home; she spells three-letter words. Because of my child’s performance, a neighbour has brought her child to school, too. I have another neighbour who has promised to bring her children here next term too. I am so happy with the kind of education my child is receiving.’

Agnes Prah has a daughter, Sarah, who has just completed her second year at Ayensudo M/A school ‘I am a farmer and also sell banku at the school. I brought my child here because of the activity-based learning being carried out. From my house, I see pupils using water to draw on the wall and Sarah can now write her own name. I want her to continue to learn; to make herself proud.’

Cynthia Nyarko’s twins, Eric and Erica, attend Dwabor M/A school ‘I was once a nursery school teacher, but I wasn’t trained. In those days, children could only write their names after class two, but now my son Eric is able to write his name even though he is still in kindergarten. Teachers write the children’s names on a mat for them to help them learn. I am hopeful for his future.’

For more information about the Sabre Charitable Trust, visit sabretrust.org