New school house in view for needy kids of Ghana

Michael Williams self-described ‘favorite moment’ of his 13 days in Ghana with the Rotary International mission to bring a safe, central well to Adedease Junction, population about 100. Courtesy Photos/Rotary International

In less than six weeks since his arrival back from Africa, Warren County Rotarian Michael Williams has raised most of the cash or commitments he needs to complete the building of a six-room school house in a poverty stricken area of Ghana.

During a whirlwind public speaking tour to service clubs, schools and anywhere anyone would listen to him, Williams says he is within $3,000 of the $40,000 in donations needed to complete the village school project he set for himself while working on a Rotary International Africa project earlier this year.

Williams, a local chauffeur, was one of eight Rotary club members from Florida, Virginia and West Virginia, who traveled some 13,000 miles to dig a functioning well to provide the village of Adedease Junction (population 100) in Ghana with drinkable water.

While there, Williams, who has worked with children for most of his adult life, including counseling needy kids at a summer camp called Alkulana near Staunton Virginia, saw the need for a six-room school house to replace the current four-room elementary school that was virtually open-air, no walls, just a thatched roof for shelter from monsoon rains.

The existing elementary school house

Already under construction, the school needs the additional money to complete cement block construction, an adequate water supply, electricity (from solar panels), and to provide equipment necessary for effective teaching of the 70-80 children who live in the village.

Williams, who returned from Africa February 9 as a “man with a mission” said he hopes the job can be completed by April of next year. It, too, will continue under the auspices of Rotary International. Meanwhile, he remembers fondly the village children who accepted him as the “broomi,” the bald headed white man, who loved him while he loved them back.

“Generally,” said Williams, who is still available for his entertaining presentation on his recent trip, “despite the poverty and all of that, these were happy kids, happy parents, lovely people making the best of their lives.”

The new elementary school site

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