A SPEECH ON BEHALF OF KPELEZO COMMUNITY SCHOOL
By Tsekpa Afenyo Hephphathah - November 14, 2012
“The population of Kpelezo is about 500 and it is remote. We just brought electricity
to the village and do not yet have pipe born water. We drink from the river and the
majority of the buildings are made from mud and roofed with grass. The main
occupation is farming and we grow crops like yams, cassava, rice, palm and
vegetables.
Our school was built through communal labor in 2005. Before the school came into
being the kids had to walk 3-5km to school. The older children still do now. They
have to cross a river on the path that leads them to the next village which is
dangerous particularly during the heavy rain seasons. We were motivated to build
this school when one day a child drowned while trying to cross the river on the way
to school. Education we have seen, is the only or the foremost tool to help our
kids realize their dreams.
By meeting Erin Monahan, a proud citizen of the USA, we discussed how our
needs concerning the school will be supported. It was through this meeting and
many conversations with you, our friends, that Kpelezo Community School is
now smiling.
With you, our friends, we can go far. The people of Kpelezo pledge our strength
to work hard to assist any funds being raised for the construction and
future duties of the school and other projects. As you go for the trail,
remember you are helping the dreams of our kids come true. As the African
proverb goes “it takes a village to raise a child “ and as you are part of our
village we know all that you have done so far, and are about to do for us is
from love.
For us at Kpelezo we know that nothing good comes out of laziness, so we
have started fencing the beautiful school with bamboo, concreting the corridor
floor and digging a pit as a toilet facility for the kids.
We wish all of you a happy and a successful walk and run.
Ak-pen-ami.(meaning. thank you all.)”
AFENYO