Dear Trinity Yard School Family,
As we reflect on another remarkable year of progress at the Trinity Yard School (TYS), we are filled with gratitude for the unwavering support of our community! This year has been a transformative journey for our students, highlighted by significant achievements and inspiring events, all reflecting our commitment to empowering youth through education and vocational training in Ghana. Together, we are paving the way toward a brighter future for our students and their communities.
Trinity Yard School Newsletter Year in Review
This year at Trinity Yard School, students thrived in a dynamic environment combining academic rigor with hands-on learning. From youth education programs focused on critical thinking to sustainable farming initiatives, we made incredible strides in fostering self-reliance and creativity.
Our weekly schedule involved applied learning in all core subjects with an emphasis on project work that requires our students to digest information and to think critically to solve problems in peer groups. Our afternoons were dedicated to the traditional arts and a daily journal response that helped our team of international volunteers and Ghanian teachers measure students’ development as young thinkers and writers. On Wednesdays, our ‘Green Day’ program combines theory with practical lessons in sustainable agriculture. Topics included mushroom cultivation, fish farming, and the effects of monoculture and illegal gold mining on the local environment.
The farm initiative focused not only on food and fish production but also on setting up irrigation systems using nutrient-rich fishpond water for more than 90 grow beds. Our mushroom production increased exponentially with new infrastructure and increased yield, while our 50 laying hens supplied the kitchen with daily eggs. The farm serves as a teaching model for ‘Green Day’ and contributes directly to meal support. This year, it helped provide over 16,000 meals to TYS students and our staff.
Our athletic programs continued to shine, with TYS Football Club finishing the season with an exemplary record in the region, led by a former TYS student who has since been awarded a supporting role in the premier league of Ghana. The Surf Club continued to gain traction with the leadership of a former student, who has not only coached but taught students about water safety and environmental issues affecting the ocean. What began years ago with the introduction of surfing in the village has evolved into a movement, fostering environmental stewardship and inspiring confidence, discipline, and community among the youth.
After the summer break, our cultural group began the second part of the year with renewed vitality. Our dance and drum instructors introduced ten traditional dances from the ten regions of Ghana, enriching our program while celebrating Ghanaian culture. Our curriculum now includes popular dances such as Kpalogo, Adowa, Apatampa, and Kundum. In an increasingly interconnected world where technology and globalization often overshadow local traditions, we take pride in helping to preserve the vibrant cultural heritage of music and dance in Ghana.
Throughout the past year, TYS has engaged students in a variety of enriching experiences, from health workshops and field trips to a cultural exchange with visiting high school students, in efforts to broaden perspectives and strengthen the global community. As we continue our work in our 16th year of offering afterschool literacy for primary students, an alternative high school, and vocational training, we remain dedicated to fostering an environment that promotes growth, creativity, and resilience among our students.
Career Development Program Student Placements
Our Career Development Program (CDP) is crucial in shaping the future of our students and continues to guide students to greater self-reliance and career readiness. This year, we have placed 17 new students in various career fields, bringing the current number of students in our current enrollment to 36.
Student Achievements
After four years of study, five of our female students have completed their CDP program and certification under the guidelines of the National Vocational Training Institute. Earning a certificate equips them with valuable skills, opening doors to a variety of careers, from teaching to business ownership and beyond. It also empowers them, showcasing their achievements to their families and communities.
The girls put their talents on display by exhibiting some of their work in a fashion show, dancing through the graduation with grace and pride. To witness such a ceremony was a true gift to me personally, as I was incredibly moved to see family, friends, and members of the village travel to support and show their love to these young women. It was an initiation into a new phase of life that was visibly empowering to each of our girls. I was filled with gratitude to be part of facilitating such a transformative moment. The next step for our five TYS alumni will be to set up a fashion shop in the city of Takoradi to operate as a woman-owned and woman-run collective of seamstresses.
Student Highlight: Emmanuel Oppong
Oppong’s academic capabilities place him at the top of his class and as the best academic student of our current group. Though his favorite subject in school is science, Oppong approaches all his classes with the same positive attitude, tackling tasks with confidence and full participation. His attentiveness to the teacher and timely completion of assignments make Oppong a natural leader in the classroom.
At the age of ten, Oppong lost his mother to illness. Since then, he has been living with his grandfather, a sole proprietor of a drinking spot in his village. During weekends and school vacations, Oppong helps his grandfather on the farm, growing cassava and plantain. Despite being the best student, he is very respectful and kind to all his peers. Oppong is dedicated and focused in his studies yet becomes a lively dancer and comedian during our school talent shows. Oppong will graduate from our bridge program in June and will move onto his next phase of study in technical school through our Career Development program.
Student Cultural Exchange Program 2024
In April, Trinity Yard School hosted a group of high school students from Vermont during a two-week cultural exchange program. Our combined student body engaged in a variety of experiences, including creating a large mural and conducting a story project. The students interviewed and recorded personal stories from elders in the surrounding villages, learning about their rich history and culture.
During one weekend, the group of 40 students embarked on a transformative field trip to Cape Coast Slave Castle and Kakum National Park, an opportunity that is rare due to financial and logistical challenges. The trip included a nature tour led by rangers through the rainforest and a thrilling canopy walk suspended 180 feet above the forest floor. Students shared reflections on the experience, noting the excitement of sleeping in a hotel bed and swimming in a pool for the first time in their lives. The impact of such a trip and the exposure to the world cannot be measured and evaluated the same way literacy comprehension can. The impact of our work goes far beyond the classroom; we are inspiring minds and laying a foundation for our students to build upon.
Message of Gratitude
We want to express our heartfelt gratitude for your ongoing support and commitment to TYS. Together, we can continue to empower our students and help them to achieve their dreams. We invite you to stay engaged with our community, online or come to volunteer, and consider supporting our students through a donation. Thank you for being an integral part of our journey!
Join the Works, Get Involved
We invite you to become part of our journey by volunteering. Whether from the comfort of your home or through a visit to Trinity Yard, your involvement provides a unique experience of living in the rural coastal villages of western Ghana while serving the youth of Cape Three Points. Get in touch here.
Your donation, no matter the size, directly changes the lives of the youth we serve, allowing us to continue our impactful work with the Cape Three Points community. Trinity Yard School is an IRS 501(c)3 registered tax-exempt organization.
Together, let’s continue transforming lives and building a brighter future for the youth of Cape Three Points. Stay tuned for more highlights, including updates on our sustainable farm, surfing club, cultural group, and student spotlights.
With heartfelt gratitude, All of us at TYS
Be sure to follow our Social Media accounts and share them with friends and family – Instagram – Facebook. You can also read our 2023 Newsletter here and our 2022 Newsletter here
