My Story

My name is Andrea Jones I am 26 year old youth and community graduate (BA Hons), I graduated last summer July 2017, I left school at 16, with no qualifications or A levels. I started a B-Tec diploma in drama unfortunately due to financial situations I had to work full time, this affected my education and I failed the course. After many years of waitressing, bar tending and working at Poundland I was left feeling I lacked something in my life and wanted more. this is when I discovered the princes trust 12-week programme which was extremely successful for me. I ended up getting a place as a mature student at the university of Bedfordshire, being extremely grateful but also overwhelmed in my first year I kept my head down taught myself spelling, grammar and punctuation. I soon realised the lack of education I had, I was also diagnosed with dyslexia, after years of being told I was lazy by school teachers, so I took it upon myself after each assignment was given to me to get as many books from the library and do as much reading as I possibly could. I managed to break the cycle and was the first in my family to graduate. The Charity organisation I hope to support is called Humanitas Charity, which runs a primary school located in the remote, rural community of Ayensuako in southern Ghana, it forms part of our Education Matters programme. In Ayensuako, families live in basic mud huts without electricity or sanitation and do their best to live off the land, although the climate and conditions make it a real challenge to grow or sustain crops. ‘Three hours’ drive from the nearest city, this isolated, hidden community is miles from the main road and so receives no aid or support from outside the community. When you consider Ayensuako has no infrastructure or local trade, life in the village is a daily struggle for survival. Our school caters for 230 children, providing them with full-time education, and a chance to break the endless cycle of poverty in their community. Our school is staffed by qualified teachers and we provide our students with all of the tools and books they need to succeed. Primary school normally lasts for 6 years, however an official report from the Ghanaian authorities suggests that only about 21% of primary school students in Ghana are in the appropriate grade for their age. Poor performance is common in areas like rural Ghana, so we aim to cater for 7-8 years of education, to allow our students to repeat if necessary. Once our students finish primary school we will support their transition to high school and further education. For someone like myself to be Involved in this project it would be a life changing experience to help the people of Ghana Ayensuako, but alongside that having my own difficulties in the education system here in Britain I understand the absolute importance of education, and the detrimental effects it can have on one’s life without it! Nelson Mandela said himself “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world”, I don’t think any words could be more true. I would be eternally grateful if I could go on this project and help those who need it, just thinking of positive impact to the student’s lives brings tears of joy to my eyes, I have a big heart and I just want to share it with the world!

I am asking for you to sponsor me with any kind of financial donation with the aim to raise £2000.00, £500.00 of this will go directly to the Humanitas charity, the rest of the money will support me with travel, jabs and any over raise will also go into the Humanitas charity organisation.

Follow my blog, I will keep you updated daily from Ghana via my social media sites to see the difference YOU make with a small donation, let’s make this happen people of the world be the difference.

Andrea Jones