- at Aplaku M/A Cluster of Schools
In a significant collaborative effort, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) Ghana has joined forces with United Way Ghana to kickstart a transformative Reading Project at the Aplaku M/A Cluster of Schools, situated within the Ga South Municipality. This groundbreaking initiative is set to have a profound impact on the education and lifelong learning opportunities for approximately 400 primary school pupils, spanning from Basic one to six.
The Reading Project represents an integral component of United Way Ghana’s overarching mission to uplift underprivileged communities. It dovetails seamlessly with PwC Ghana’s unwavering commitment to creating positive societal change, aligning harmoniously with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 4: Quality Education.
Central to the project’s objectives is the provision of age-appropriate books to young learners, the cultivation of their reading confidence, the ignition of a profound passion for reading, the expansion of their vocabulary, and the inculcation of sustainable reading habits. Volunteers from PwC Ghana have been actively engaging with these young learners, fostering interactive reading sessions and storytelling that have facilitated meaningful dialogues between volunteers and pupils.
As part of the effort to bolster literacy, the schools received a substantial donation that included an assortment of educational resources such as storybooks, bookshelves, flashcards, dictionaries, and exercise books. This comprehensive support aims to create an enriched learning environment, fostering the development of essential skills and knowledge.
Ms. Jennifer Akyaa, Assistant Manager and a dedicated member of the PwC Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability (CRS) team, expressed the firm’s profound belief in talent and skills development in young children.
She emphasized the long-term benefits of early literacy in building leadership skills and confidence, stating, “PwC has a global CRS team where we have projects that are rolled out on a global basis and based on that, on a national basis, we now select the project that affects us. We have done works in relation to menstrual hygiene, women empowerment, children, literacy, and the disability hackathon.”
Ms. Akyaa went on to highlight that the initiative began in April and, in June, PwC partnered with United Way to promote literacy. She praised the promising performance of the young readers and underscored the potential for even greater improvements with continued support. She stated, “We are making sure that we are training talents because at PwC we attract very high skills and talents, and we want to use this avenue to encourage them anytime they feel like dropping out of school.”
In an interview with Faustina Abbey, Impact and Operations Lead at United Way, she emphasized the critical importance of every child having the opportunity to excel academically. She explained the motivation behind the partnership with PwC, saying, “Our partnership with PwC started in June 2023, where we brought them here to donate some books. They donated appropriate books for their library and engaged them in how to read. During that engagement, we realized that the books we brought were not enough due to the large number of students. With support from PwC employees who generously donated some of their personal funds, we were able to acquire more books for the children.” Ms. Abbey elaborated that their ongoing engagement involved reading activities with students from Class one to Class three and coaching for students from Class four to Junior High School. She concluded, “We believe that children should be guided in order to become good people in the future.”
On her part, Madam Issaka Hawa, the Head Teacher of Aplaku M/A 1 Basic School, expressed deep gratitude for this vital intervention. She praised the collaborative effort, stating, “We are overwhelmed by the generosity of PwC Ghana and United Way Ghana. The resources they have provided and the time they have invested in our students will undoubtedly transform the educational experience here at Aplaku M/A Cluster of Schools.”
PwC, a renowned provider of professional services across Africa, operates in 32 countries, offering expertise in diverse industries in Ghana, including Consumer and Industrial Products and Services, Energy, Utilities, and Resources, Financial Services, and Government and Public Sector.
United Way Ghana, a part of the global United Way Worldwide Network, is a nonprofit organization with a global reach, working across 1,100 communities in over 38 countries. The organization focuses on Education, Health, and Economic Empowerment, with a steadfast commitment to making a meaningful difference in the lives of those it serves.
The partnership between PwC Ghana and United Way Ghana holds the promise of sowing the seeds of knowledge and literacy, providing a brighter and more promising future for the young learners of Aplaku M/A Cluster of Schools as they embark on their educational journey. This collaborative effort underscores the immense potential for positive change when corporate entities and nonprofit organizations join forces to uplift underserved communities and champion the cause of education.
