School’s overseas aid that money can’t buy

GHANA links . . . broadcaster Humphrey Barclay with pupils (from left) head girl Jayne Ausburgher, head boy Frazer Hadfield and deputy head boy Nilen Vyas

PUPILS at Oldham Hulme Grammar Schools are forging links with students in Ghana.

They are setting up a twinning programme with the Seventh Day Adventist Junior High School, which is run by head teacher Daniel Effah, who is only 26, in the town of Tafo.

The project is being led by deputy head boy Nilen Vyas and will initially involve an exchange of letters and photographs.

Hulme pupils will also raise money for the school and it is hoped that an exchange visit will take place next year.

Nilen found out about the charity the Friends of Tafo in a sixth-form assembly and said: “I am currently involved in helping a school in Uganda.

“I also do fund-raising for a lot of charities and I thought this project was a good thing which I could be part of.

“I asked for pupils to help me with the pen pal letters and the response was overwhelming,”

Head boy Frazer Hadfield is also involved and added: “Even though the scheme is in the early stages, there is definitely a buzz around the school.

“Rather than just giving money to Africa, it makes it seem more real if there is a focal point, especially for young children.

“They can relate to children of their own age and that makes it far more personal.”

Tafo is a three-hour drive from the capital Accra and is supported by the the Friends charity, set up by TV and radio producer Humphrey Barclay.

It carries out education, job and community projects which range from training centres to paying for children to attend school and university.

Mr Barclay, former head of comedy at London Weekend TV, got involved after visiting Tafo to attend the funeral of friend Asante Gyearbour, who appeared in the sitcom “Desmonds”, which he produced.

Mr Barclay visited Hulme last week and said: “I am really excited about the idea of the school establishing a connection.

“I long for young people in Tafo to know more about the outside world and the best way of cutting through all the preconceptions about other cultures is getting to know people.

“We may forge some friendships that will last and it is an opportunity for young people to think about people like themselves in different circumstances.”