NYU Accra recently collaborated with ADANU, a local NGO with the mission of helping rural communities to own and lead critical development activities that benefit them. Together, NYU Accra and ADANU organized a day build and rural homestay for NYU Accra students in Saviefe Gbedome, a village in the Volta Region.

Students participated in the construction of a three-unit classroom block. Both NYU Accra and the local community provided the materials and labor needed for this project. Activities included fetching water, mixing concrete, and carrying concrete to the construction grounds.

NYU Accra students also had the opportunity to volunteer at the community school the next day. Students took over classes with supervision from the resident teachers to help school children with colouring, word formation, and vocabulary building. The NYU Accra students were divided into three groups to work with the children. 

• Kindergarten and Lower Primary: This group helped children in Kindergarten and Grades 1-3 with colouring. The children coloured vegetables and fruits. NYU Accra students helped them to cut the printed images and glue them to manila boards. The manila boards were pasted on the classroom walls to act as decorative pieces.
• Upper Primary: Students who volunteered in this group were assigned to grades 4-6. They aided local children to complete word puzzles and exercises in word formation.
• Junior High School: Students who volunteered in this group taught junior high school children English vocabulary by focusing on word formation and solving word puzzles.

The NYU Accra students had an amazing time helping, making connections, and gaining an understanding of rural life in Ghana.