Foundation gifts Assin Foso Odumase R/C School water system
For decades, pupils of the Assin Foso Odumase Roman Catholic Basic School began their mornings not in classrooms, but with containers in hand, walking to a community borehole in search of water before lessons could begin.
Established around 1965, the school has long depended on an external water source for its daily activities, forcing pupils to leave the school compound each morning to fetch water for drinking, cooking and sanitation.
That long-standing challenge has now been eased following the commissioning of a mechanised borehole by the Hatch House Foundation, a non-governmental organisation committed to supporting underserved schools and vulnerable communities across the country.
In addition to the water facility, the Foundation also presented Information and Communication Technology (ICT) equipment, including a projector with accessories, an HP laptop and a coloured multi-purpose printer to strengthen digital teaching and learning in the school.
The support followed an appeal made by the school after the Foundation donated 10 all-in-one desktop computers to improve ICT education.
Ceremony
At a ceremony to hand over the projects, the Foundation’s Administrator, Stephanie Adawu Dadzie, speaking on behalf of the Chief Executive Officer, Tayib Sheriff, described the intervention as a fulfilment of a commitment and a practical response to the school’s most urgent needs.
She stressed that in an increasingly technology-driven world, exposing children to digital tools has become essential for academic growth and future employment opportunities.
Mrs Dadzie said the Foundation remained committed to helping bridge inequalities in deprived schools by investing in interventions that improve both education and well-being.
Beyond the school population, she explained that the mechanised borehole was expected to also serve surrounding residents, benefiting about 2,000 people within the school and neighbouring residents.
She further encouraged school authorities and residents to cultivate a strong maintenance culture to ensure the sustainability of the facility and equipment.
Appreciation
Receiving the items on behalf of the school, the Headmistress, Theresah Amoah, expressed appreciation to the Foundation for responding to a challenge that has disrupted academic work for years.
She explained that because the school lacked potable water, pupils frequently moved outside the compound during school hours to fetch water from the community borehole, affecting punctuality and concentration in class.
The headmistress recalled one frightening moment when a pupil narrowly escaped being hit by a motorcycle while crossing the road to access water, describing the experience as deeply worrying.
She expressed confidence that the new borehole would significantly improve sanitation, reduce unnecessary movement by pupils and create a safer and more favourable environment for learning.
The school’s ICT facilitator, Jacob Ofosu Opare, also welcomed the support, noting that technology has become central to Ghana’s educational curriculum.
He said the equipment, particularly the projector, would make classroom instruction more interactive and improve students’ understanding of ICT-related subjects.
Mr Opare assured the Foundation that the items would be carefully maintained and used to improve teaching outcomes.
Officials from the Ghana Education Service, including a School Improvement Support Officer (SISO), Mark Brewu Arhin, and a Municipal Girl-Child Education Coordinator, Evelyn Kedidor, attended the event.
Also present were the area Assembly Member, or Affutuakwa electoral area, Eric Kwaku Foh, Parent-Teacher Association members and community leaders who commended the Foundation for what they described as a timely intervention.
