Completed Projects

Before Schools of Dreams began construction of the new school in Kwarfokrom, the community held their Kindergarten classes outside, underneath a tree. Inside the existing facility called Akuffokrom M/A Basic School, there was insufficient classroom space to accommodate all of the school aged children. Teachers had no place to sit and no space of their own; the headmaster’s office was in a deplorable state. Parents were reluctant to send their children due to the poor and unsafe condition of the school. 

Construction of the new school began in 2013, but progress was slow due to a lack of funding. Once the new roof was added, the children were able to resume classes in the building. Amazingly, as construction steadily increased, so did the enrollment of children in the school. With the addition of a new wing, new classrooms, and a safer facility overall, the total school population has increased from 56 to 523 students made up of the following:

The students at the school are thriving and their academic performance is strong. The Primary and Junior school classes came first in the 2019/2020 zonal spelling bee!

July 2021, the Akuffokrom Basic M/A School, was officially completed. To celebrate the finalization of the project a ceremony was held on July 31st, 2021 to announce the completion of the build.  It was an immense privilege to do this work, and we are honoured to hand back the care of the school to the government of Ghana’s Ministry of Education office. 

This is where it all began. Dora made plans to return to Ghana for the first time in 13 years; it was 2003, and Ann-Marie and Barbara went too. Part of the trip included a visit to the school in Mepom that Dora had attended. It was unrecognizable: the conditions were deplorable—crumbling concrete walls, scant supplies. So once they arrived back in Canada, Dora began working on a plan to raise money to rebuild the school and provide supplies to the students.

With the help of the church communities at MacNab Street Presbyterian in Hamilton, and Knox Preston Presbyterian in Cambridge, Ont., as well as many other donors, Dora’s long-held dream to help the children of Ghana to receive an education was realized. In 2004, the project was named Dora’s Dream, and three years later a nursery, kindergarten school and kitchen was completed and handed over to the Mepom community, along with clothing, school and cooking supplies, and a water poly tank.

Before the school was built there were about 30 children in the Kindergarten class.  Because their classroom buildings were unsafe,  many of the students in the catchment area were attending other schools. After the construction of the school, they immediately experienced 150 Students boost. The attendance is now thriving.

Schools of Dreams built, rebuilt, and renovated two nurseries, 

• Two junior kindergarten classes, and 
• a lunchroom (including installation of an industrial stove and water tank).