St Nicholas Preparatory pleas for support

The authorities of St Nicholas Preparatory School, at Tema Manhean expansive fishing community in Greater Accra Region, have appealed for support to complete projects meant to improve the lives of disadvantaged children in the locality.

The academic entity aims at creating opportunities for the children to develop their full potentials, expand their skills, as well as to provide them with a better standard of living.

Captain Alkiviadis Kappas of the Tsakos Foundation in Ghana told journalists at the school’s annual celebration of St Nicholas Day; Patron of the Sea that the maiden phase of the project, comprising a three-classroom block, including the foundation cost $ 98,000.

The school, named after St Nicholas, is hosting St Nicholas Orthodox Church built by the Tsakos Group. St Nicholas Day is celebrated with a church service and an open day used to showcase projects and works undertaken by the pupils in the academic year.

Captain Kappas said the second phase comprising additional three classrooms is expected to cost another $ 60,000, whilst the completion of the first floor of the two-storey building with the six classrooms and offices is estimated at $ 120, 000.

The school was founded by the Maria Tsakos Foundation in 2012 with the motto: “Every Child has a right to education.”

The project consists of nine classrooms to make way for primary, junior and senior education.

It is being supervised by Captain Kappas and Deborah Eleazar, representatives of the Tsakos Group, in collaboration with the chiefs and people of the community.

Madam Eleazar told the gathering including Mrs Rita Damani, Director of Tema East sub-Metro and Mr Robert Kuzoe, Senior Manager of MTN Foundation that “we are short of funds. Our dreams are big but Captain Kappas and I, are growing old”.

“We want help in any shape or form for the school to make the difference,” she said.

Madam Eleazar said the school authorities believe in all rounded children who could be good ambassadors where ever they are and called for family support to make the dream possible.

“We have a long road to go but so far we are on the right road,” she said.

Madam Eleazar thanked the chiefs for their support and called for further collaboration, adding: “We are into this together.”

Mr Emmanuel Donkor, Headmaster of the school, said in an interview that the school with 12 teachers has come a long way to help the community made up mainly of fishmongers and fishermen to educate their kids.

Mr Donkor said the task has not been easy especially taking care of the health needs of the pupils and sometimes transporting the seriously ill children to hospital.

He thanked the donors for their support whilst appealing for stationery, books and other learning aids for the pupils.

Mr Donkor commended Aiglon College in Switzerland for providing musical equipment for the school’s brass band.

The items comprised six trumpets, three trombones and a number of side drums among others.

Master Innocent Sendzu, a pupil of the school who was sponsored by the school to undergo operation at Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital for the removal of gangrene said he is recovering and expressed thanks to Madam Eleazar and Captain for their support and allowing him to stay with them after the operation.

Master Sendzu was moved from Tema General Hospital to Korle-Bu to save his hand from amputation and the visibly happy Primary Two pupil, was seen with his friends dancing to various hip- life songs as part of the open day of the school.

“I feel better after the surgery,” he said.

The school has set up a fund to get Master Sendzu prosthetics and plastic surgery, rehabilitation and physiotherapy.

The pupils thrilled the audience to several chorography acts, a cadet parade, while they sung the Ghana and Greek national anthems.

There was also a beads bazaar to raise funds for the school.