2004

In connection to a charity concert at the Zurich International School in Wädenswil, Switzerland, the organizer asked me if there were school projects in my home country of Ghana that she could donate a part of the proceeds to. Together with a colleague of mine, I decided to purchase learning material for a school in Kumasi, Ghana. 

During my next stay in Ghana, I met the director of a local village school near the legendary Lake Bosomtwe. We visited the small school and found an uncleared piece of land on which there was nothing but a rundown wooden structure that was the school building and a small wooden hut where a portion of rice was prepared for the students on a daily basis. Around 20 students came more or less regularly to school undergoing a walk of several kilometres each way. The director was almost at the point of quitting when we spontaneously decided to support the school in order to provide the local children with consistent education. 

2005

We gathered more money for tables, teaching materials, clothes and shoes through donations from my students and their parents and also from school events. However, the school was still lacking in many areas. For instance, the teachers in Ghana had been working pro bono and so we decided to gather larger sums of money through football tournaments, sale of African drums and crafts in order to provide at least a modest salary for the local teachers.

2006

I decided to purchase the land on which the school was built and the surrounding area in order to guarantee that the school could remain there. I spent most of my vacation on-site cultivating the land with the help of my Ghanaian friends and building a fence around the property so that the children could play there safely. During that time I noticed that only very few students came to school due to the great distance they had to travel on foot and to their parents' lack of money to pay for the modest school lunch. We had to find a way to provide education for a larger group of students. We needed a school bus! 

Another topic was the arduous pumping and carrying of water during our week long work. It quickly became apparent that the school required a water tank that would allow the teachers to focus on their lessons and provide filtered water that would guarantee a minimum of hygiene. There was a lot to discuss and plan before the digging could begin for the construction of the water tank and quite some time would pass before it would finally happen. 

Full of thoughts and ideas I returned to Europe where my students and friends eagerly awaited the latest pictures and news from Ghana. 

2007

Through a larger donation and also my personal contributions, as well as the charity of some of my closest friends, we finally managed to purchase a school bus. It took us three days in the blazing heat until we found the right bus and another day to complete all the necessary administrative steps.

The joy was outrageous when we finally put the bus to use and from that day on, the number of students increased steadily. In three years we increased the number of students by five times. In order to finance the bus as well as the salaries for the teachers, we came up with a business plan for using that bus as a so-called Tro Tro taxi. We found a bus stop near the school where the bus could be put to work outside of school. With the help of the taxi business, we planned to purchase another bus and thus inspire the teachers and parents to help themselves as well.

2008

Finally, we were able to start the water supply project and the construction of the water tank platform. Thanks to the built-in filter we could offer the students clean drinking water. However, we still did not have pipes leading to the toilets that stood on the other end of the property behind the school house.

When and how could we solve this problem with our humble means?

2009

A fire broke out in the school kitchen and forced us to make a decision which actually helped us with our toilet problem. Since we could no longer make use of the kitchen, we needed to act quickly and so we decided to construct a dining hall that could also be used as a conference room. Adjacent to the hall we planned to build a large storage room with generous toilets equipped with automatic flushing systems directly connected to the water tank. At the front of the building, we planned to have a covered outdoor kitchen. Construction started before the end of 2009.

2010

The first service trips of ZIS students took place in 2010. Students of grades 9 and 11 came to visit the school and helped during 1 week with the completion of the first concrete building on the school compound. 

The raining season started and we quickly realized that the cooks needed a small room with a door they could close and lock during the rains and also keep food and materials dry and safe. We were proud that the work could be completed and the inauguration took place in 2010.     

2011

Once you start, you have to continue…

For the first time since 2004, we started planning. What next? And where do we want to be in 5 years?

The wooden classroom was no longer acceptable and the breakdown could be expected any day. Small financial support from many people over the past years could not help building new classrooms, or be used for the purchase of one or two school buses.

We had to look for fundraising of bigger amounts, but to achieve this, we first had to change our concept, look for qualified teachers, get the school accredited and take all the necessary steps to show supporters and donors that we were seriously planning to build up and develop the school in a professional way. 

All of us worked hard and we were so happy that close to the end of 2011 we started with the construction of 3 new classrooms. It was amazing to see all of us, workmen and close friends worked hard, also during their winter holidays to make all this happen and come true.  

After many years and endless efforts, we are now convinced that the direction we chose and the concept we developed is the right one. The road we chose is long but we feel the dream and soon the vision will become reality.

We are looking forward to the challenges in 2012.

2012 - 2013

The number of students increased steadily and we no longer had enough classrooms to educate them all. Since our modest financial means would not permit us to build significant additional structures. We expanded the existing building by three more classrooms and an office. Compared to where we began, this was a luxury, but personally, it inspired me to find the necessary means to provide an environment that would truly benefit the students.

Finally, we were able to begin with the construction of a new school building with five classrooms and a connected toilet facility. For the first time, we were confronted with problems that inevitably coincide with a construction project, the kind of obstacles that are difficult to solve at a distance. Constructing a new school building became a significant challenge and learning process for all of us. For the first time, different mindsets and cultural/regional perspectives became taxing on our patience and tolerance. The result was that we had to accept the manner in which our friends wanted to proceed with the construction and all that was left for us was to repeatedly share our plans and ideas with them whenever we were on site. With a great effort from all involved, we succeeded in finishing the new building complex. The result was extraordinary and the students were proud to be learning in a new and colourful environment.

Another highlight was the purchase of another adjacent plot of land. In return, we agreed to support the construction of a public toilet in the village of Behenase. To increase the level of safety of the campus, we started to build a wall around the perimeter. In order to accomplish that, we required large quantities of cement, sand and stone, which in turn meant the need for more financial means in addition to the materials and craftsmen.

In past years we only visited Ghana twice a year, however, the advancing construction and development of the school forced us to make more frequent trips. Now we are able to visit the school every two to three months as far as our vacation times permits.

2014

The new building complex and the wall were finished. We decided to invite everyone who was part of this effort in any way to the official opening ceremony. Of course, the directors of the Zurich International School, the representatives of various educational institutions, a group of students from ZIS and our Ghanaian friends and families needed to be present. The parents of our students were also cordially invited.

The local chief (a sort of mayor who represents local justice, administration, traditional religion and culture) honoured our school with his presence. Together with other guests he cut the ceremonial ribbon, thus officially opening the new school building. We will never forget this day. Our guests from abroad were fascinated by traditional dances or procedures. The students from ZIS painted traditional Adinkra symbols all along the walls (symbols and meaning are explained under “Partnerships, Adinkra village.)   

We had achieved a lot and we could have kicked back and relaxed for a while if not for another significant challenge that came during the rainy season: The erosion of the sloped school grounds. How could we solve this problem efficiently and without a large cost? A solution was presented, however at a utopian cost. Then, however, we found a landscaper who put forth a traditional solution. He suggested that we plant (not sow) a special kind of grass on the majority of the school grounds that was capable of absorbing large quantities of rainwater and conveying it to the right places. This solution was not just very efficient, but also very inexpensive compared to other suggestions and it also gave the school grounds a sophisticated look.

The growth of the school, the extensive support that we have received so far and our plans for the future of Bosomtwe International School (BIS) led us to create a foundation in order to properly manage donations.

As is the case in all countries, in Ghana we needed to fill out all the right paperwork, understand new and different laws, find the right specialists who could help us with our administrative tasks, have talks with banks and financial authorities, etc. The new foundation and the growth of the school had increased the administrative load significantly and we were happy that global connections allowed us to perform the vital administrative tasks in Switzerland.

And then... Ebola. Even though Ghana was spared, the country and its economy were shaken. Service Trips no longer took place, but we still travelled to Ghana just as before. The country's precautionary measures, as well as our own, gave us a positive outlook. This break from the status quo gave us the time to focus on the teachers and students and support them in whatever way possible.

Thanks to generous donations and the desire of our students to remain at our school even after their completion of Primary School, we decided to construct a new building for Junior and Senior High School students, a First-Aid room, a Head Office, a staff room and a supply room. We began construction before the end of 2014.

2015

The year began with great promise and the new JHS building was slowly taking shape. Since it was to be a two-story building, the construction would prove to be much more complex than with the previous projects. We had discussed all the details with the craftsmen, measured everything precisely, calculated and ordered all the materials and returned to Europe full of excitement and anticipation. However, things did not go as planned...

We were faced with an unpleasant surprise on our next visit. In spite of pre-existing plans and precise directions, we arrived to find that the ground floor of the new building was built in the British fashion with round pillars, as we would see in official buildings and palaces. It would have been so easy to just follow the plans and architecture of the other buildings.

The stairs leading to the second floor had to be taken down due to structural deficiencies. At that point, we decided to only proceed with the construction effort when we were on site. Since the extension of the second floor and the toilet facilities were delayed by several weeks, the completion deadline of the building was moved to 2016. Smaller jobs like plastering the walls and sealing the subceiling could be done in the meantime.

For the first time since the outbreak of the Ebola epidemic, we were able to welcome students from Switzerland in October. They painted the furniture for the Pre-School and assisted in the setting up of a school garden. It would be used for experimentation, the cultivation of both local and for us more familiar vegetables. Working in the garden became part of the After School Activities that also encompassed a reading club brought to life by one of the teachers. It was later expanded by a Homework Club and individual remedial lessons.

In the final months of the year, we erected a sizeable covered outdoor eating area next to the school garden. Thus all students could eat at the same time, visitors always had a place for their meetings and activities and our smallest students would always find a place to play there.

The years of 2014 and 2015 had been the most work-intensive since our first visit to the small bush school. Following the suggestion of some business contacts, we renamed the school to Bosomtwe International School (previously Bosomtwe Community School), to highlight our commitment to provide education to students from more distant areas as well. It also reflects our international ties.

We and our students understand our school as a sort of private model school where children and teachers find themselves in a friendly and colourful environment with small classes that encourage motivated and individualized learning.

2016 - 2018

What did 2016 have in store for us?

We had many plans that we wished to achieve in the course of the year. Among other things:

•  Complete the new building with further toilet facilities
•  Furnishing on an IT Lab in combination with a school library
•  Creation of a playground for the younger children and a sports field for Physical Education and After School Activities.
•  Planting grass on the lower school grounds
• Making use of foreign voluntary teachers and medical professionals 

And that is just to mention a few.

We were hoping for a quiet and peaceful new year. 

The years 2016 – 2018 were the busiest and most challenging years since construction work started at BIS. Funds for the expansion of old buildings and facilities as well as the construction of the new Junior / Senior High Complex were provided by generous donors. We adapted the school concept according to regional and local requirements. 

We started with the construction of a 3rd-floor storey building, offering classrooms for Junior and Senior High Students, small offices and a modern dormitory floor to host boarders. Thanks to the support of our partner school in Switzerland and private donors we were able to equip our own computer lab, a library with text and storybooks, games, puzzles etc. The classroom furniture was replaced by high-quality home used furniture.
   

We developed a colour concept for the classrooms and labs according to ages and repainted the Lower School Complex in 2018.     
   

To stop erosion during the raining seasons, we started planting grass, areas which we are using since then as sports fields inside the campus. Hence the School Owner’s teaching of all types of sports as an important part of education became true. BIS’ focus is on holistic teaching.   
    

Unexpected, difficult weather conditions, climate change, flooding, electric power failure, every second day, with extremely high or low voltage, forced us very often, to change our work plan, stop the work completely, do repairs and maintenance not part of the budget, due to the circumstances.
 

Our understanding of the influence that climate has on the behaviour, pace and culture of people grew with each flooding and power failure. Only patience, tolerance, flexibility and perseverance will finally lead to success. Knowing all this there are still situations from time to time where it is difficult to remain patient and tolerant. But we are working on it.       

By chance, we got to know of the sale of two uncompleted houses in the small village Behenase near the school in short walking distance from BIS. These houses are perfect for teachers’ and volunteers’ accommodation and the bigger house can be used to host international students on service trips or training camps.   

2 ½ years of intensive activity and hard work are over and 2019 will hopefully be the year of completion of the projects we have started. As usual, we are confident but at the same time curious if and to which extent we will be able to finish and reach our goals. We hope that the considerable changes in the education sector will not disturb our plans too much and we can go on the next “educational adventure trip” with our students and teachers, in correspondence with our teaching concept.                

2019

Many changes took place in Ghana in the past 2 years and the Education concept “Free SHS for everyone” which was launched in 2018, had an impact on the BIS plans and program. We decided to stay for some time with the Primary and JHS program, which was the right decision. 
 

Our main focus is on holistic learning, especially at the Lower Primary Site, to build a profound and strong basis which opens up their mind and improves their learning skills for the rest of their school life.  
  

Our former students, who unfortunately had to change to public Senior High Schools, can see a big difference and are recognized as exceptional students, with a high motivation level.  

Whenever they are on vacation they return to BIS to help either inside the classrooms or outside on the constructions site, or they just come around to pay a visit and feel home again.

Due to very bad weather and infrastructure conditions in the Ashanti Region we had to slow down with the completion of the new constructions projects, i.e. the new sports changing and bathroom complex with detached washrooms. We were forced to shift the completion to the year 2020. The heavy rains caused big damage to our school wall and we had to bundle all workforce to plaster the outside walls, dig gutters, remove trees and plants growing too close to the walls. It took two months until the plastering was done, consuming about 500 bags of cement and a considerable sum for materials and labour cost.  Luckily the dry season started earlier, this was very helpful to finish the work before Christmas. 

Once more we had to be patient… but on the other hand, it allowed us to concentrate more on the teaching concept and teacher training. In other words, as one of our friends said, for years we were concentrating on the hardware, it was now the time to upgrade the software.  

Sometimes we speak English in Germany or Switzerland, sometimes German with the Ghanaians, without even realizing it. And more and more also the different cultural aspects, traditions and behaviours are mingling. We are living in two different worlds and we try to filter the best out of it and put it together into the BIS teaching, for the sake of the children.  

Ten years of project and construction work have passed and we are looking forward to another exciting decade with many wonderful surprises ahead of us.  We will keep you posted.