Kafui Esi Adjei is married to Emmanuel Adjei, previously profiled in this blog in the article, “Dedicated to Building the Future.” Kafui and Emmanuel have three children. She is currently the Managing Director of Kasie Enterprise, producers of concrete products. Living in Accra, she is a teacher by profession and loves cooking and gardening. Kafui has been selected to be a member of the Food for People management team and has agreed to be a guest blogger. This is her first post.
Emmanuel introduced me to Mrs. Grace Ninsaw, headmistress of Otinibi School. The Headmistress then introduced me to the teachers and a few of the students, whom I had the chance to interview. I found out that not all students of Otinibi live in the village. Some of the students come from neighboring villages and walk, ride bicycles or take commercial vehicles to the school from their homes. I learned that some students do not eat before coming to school. Either there is no food at home in the morning, or their parents do not have the funds to provide food money for their children. Many of the students are excited and eagerly awaiting the opening of the Food for People center.
Teku Kwami, a junior high school student, says he is very happy about the project because he will be assured of a decent meal at least once a day.
Stephen, another junior high school student, is excited that he and his classmates will soon have nutritious meals and will therefore be able to concentrate better in class. This will enable them to have better grades at the end of the term.
Another student, Asibi Akayawo, said that she is also looking forward to the day when the students will regularly have good food and potable water, which is scarce and expensive in this area. She says the Food for People project will end the practice of students moving about in search of food and water, which makes them spend longer periods outside the classroom during break.
I wanted to know how the children’s parents were receiving the news about the opening of the facility and was glad to hear their positive responses. Emmanuel White’s parents explained that it is a difficult task to provide regular breakfasts for their children. The FFP project will ease this pressure, since parents are aware that even if there is no money to provide food on certain school days, their children will be fed at school and therefore will become healthier.
Headmistress with Otinibi teachers
Miss Rose Arthur, a Basic 2 teacher, is glad that the project is opening in Otinibi. According to her, most students drop out of school due to financial difficulties. When Food for People opens, providing food for the children on school days will no longer be a major headache for most parents. The money previously used to buy food can now be used to buy textbooks and school uniforms for the children.
When I spoke with Lomotey, a farmer from Otinibi, he said, “We are happy even more than the word itself!” Although this drew laughter from us, it is worth noting that this project is no little thing to the people of Otinibi. Lomotey described the FFP program as “a blessing from God, because even though there are a number of schools around the area, Otinibi School was chosen.”
Tawiah, a mason, also from Otinibi, added that all they could do was thank the donors and God for allowing them to experience this blessing.
This is indeed a program that will not be taken for granted by the beneficiaries.
