Building a library in Ghana, Maisie and Lena 24/25

News Story: Building a library in Ghana, Maisie and Lena 24/25

During our year in Ghana, we wanted to leave something lasting behind for the school: a library. While teaching at A. A. Fia Basic School, we quickly noticed a gap in students’ learning: although many were fairly confident in spoken English, they struggled with reading and writing. As lifelong bookworms ourselves, we believed that access to books could make a real difference in bridging that gap.

Our plan began months in advance, but as so often happens, time slipped away and obstacles appeared. Suddenly, with just over a week left, we still had no library. Determined not to give up, we threw ourselves into fundraising, and thanks to the generosity of family and friends from all over the world, we quickly raised £800 for books.

That weekend, we travelled to Accra, the capital of Ghana, where we spent one long day book shopping. With limited funds, we aimed for variety, choosing books for every age group, from KG1 to JHS3. We also made a deliberate choice to focus on storybooks rather than syllabus texts. At the school, we had seen that classrooms lacked storybooks entirely, and we wanted children to have the chance to read for pleasure, not just for exams. It was also important to us that they could see themselves in the characters of the books, so we made sure to buy as many as possible set in Ghana, written by Ghanaian authors.

After a hectic day in Accra and a long four-hour journey back home with a suitcase full of books, we had done it. Payment had gone through, books were acquired, and we were ready to begin converting an abandoned classroom into a library. Although we managed to buy slightly fewer books than we had hoped, we were able to combine them with the school’s smaller existing collection to create a respectable bookshelf full of them.

The next morning, the real work began. The classroom we hoped to use had been empty for some time, but it still had a large bookshelf that could be repurposed. We were joined by a group of our students who, having just finished their exams, were eager to help. Together, we cleared out the room, cleaned and dusted, sorted through stacks of old books (including one set from 1960!), and organized the new ones from beginner level through to more advanced. Maisie painted a mural to brighten up the space, and by the end of two very full days, the dusty classroom had been transformed into something that truly looked like a library.

The best part of the process wasn’t the finished room but seeing how quickly the children took to it. Even as we were still unpacking, some of the students who usually found English lessons boring were already sitting down with books, completely absorbed. At the end of each day, we read together, and it was amazing to see them learn and use new words almost immediately. It showed just how much potential there was once books were simply available.

We’re deeply grateful to everyone who supported our fundraising, and to the Headmaster, Sir Isaac Sallah, for giving permission to use the classroom. Our hope is that the library will keep growing and continue to give students the chance to read, explore, and learn for many years to come. Go Back