Grantham Cliffedale pupils support school in Ghana with donations of toiletries and books

Grantham schoolchildren have been supporting a school in the West African nation of Ghana.

Pupils at Cliffedale Primary School have supported Dodowa Primary School by collecting a range of much-needed toiletries, reading books and school equipment.

The collection is part of Cliffedale’s ongoing commitment to be a ‘Rights Respecting School’, arranged to help their counterparts in Dodowa Primary School, situated in southern Ghana.

The link between the schools was inspired by Grantham couple Joe and Michaela Nelson-Cofie.

Raised in Ghana, Mr Nelson-Cofie was a pupil at Dodowa and has been personally supporting the school for many years.

His granddaughter subsequently attended Cliffedale, and the two schools have been developing a friendship over recent months by exchanging emails, letters and photographs.

The collection was co-ordinated by class teacher Lucy McBain, Cliffedale’s lead for ‘Rights Respecting Schools’ and the school’s council.

Speaking about the donations, Mrs McBain said: “We are so grateful to our pupils and their families for supporting this project so generously.

“This has really helped our pupils think about things we take for granted in this country and how we can help children in poorer countries receive their rights, too.”

Mr and Mrs Nelson-Cofie recently delivered the donated items to Dodowa Primary School in person, handing out more than 100 parcels of toothbrushes, toothpaste and soap. Afterwards, they told Mrs McBain that Dodowa’s children wanted to send a big “Oyiwaladoon” (‘thank you’ in the local Ga language).