Christmas Newsletter 2025
Hope, Growth & Consistency: Our Recent Visit to Ghana
As we enter the busy Christmas period, we invite you to have a quick pause to learn more about the students at Wioso Secondary School. The Trustees, CEO and members of the global AME family had an incredible journey to Ghana in November and witnessed celebration, joy, and real opportunity.
This update is for everyone, whether you’ve supported financially in the past, shared our work with others, volunteered your time, or are simply learning about the project for the first time.
Together, we are part of what is making steady, lasting change possible.
Together, it’s not just education, it’s Alma Mater Education.
Girls Rising: Confidence, Dignity & Sparkle!
The Noble Belles’ Club motto is “Leave a little sparkle wherever you go”! Some of the most inspiring parts of our visit were time spent with the young women of the club, in the home economics department and around the school. We saw a visible change in their confidence, openness, and self-belief.
Girls told us how the club has helped them to:
Speak with confidence
Develop self-respect
Understand healthy relationships
Support one another
And since the club formed three years ago there have been zero pregnancies amongst girls attending the school (they are particularly vulnerable when returning home for the holidays).
This is the result of consistency — safe spaces, trusted adults, and practical support.
At the same time, the girls were honest about ongoing needs:
Wanting to hear from inspirational women
The need for better learning resources
And the continued challenge of sanitary products and safe disposal
Limited access to appropriate sanitary items still affects dignity, comfort, and sometimes attendance. These are very real barriers that remain.
Boys Finding Confidence & Voice
Equally important is giving young men an opportunity to share their struggles, learn how to be respectful adults and be aware of the challenges of their fellow classmates. The Noble Belles were beautifully supportive of this group — explaining that the boys struggle with:
Confidence
Participation
Expressing their thoughts in group settings
Students also suggested joint Girls–Boys Q&A sessions, led by students themselves — helping to build mutual respect, understanding, and healthy attitudes for the future.
Looking Beyond School: Clearer Pathways
Many older students spoke about uncertainty around their future. They have ambitions — in nursing, catering, carpentry, mechanics and more — but often lack:
Clear guidance
Exposure to vocational schools
Or understanding of what steps to take next
Plans are being developed to:
Organise visits to technical and vocational institutions (or even to start creating something ourselves in this field… watch this space!)
Create simple guidance booklets
Get a counsellor and career guidance teacher to support form filling and decision making
All to ensure that final-year students leave school with clarity and direction
Daily Life, Dignity & Wellbeing at School
Alongside learning, daily life presents real challenges:
Toilet facilities are stretched for the number of girls
Sick bay coverage is limited
There is no on-site accommodation for key pastoral staff
Boys lack adequate storage in dormitories
Students are eager for opportunities in sport, music, and creative activities
There is also encouraging progress:
A science lab has been promised by the local MP
Teacher salaries have been committed by the Ghana Education Service
Chickens are now on the farm, and provide eggs for the students
A new water bore hole and solar pump has been installed to improve crop yields
A teachers’ cottage has been pledged by the Ghana Education Service
These developments are hugely positive and represent important steps forward. They also require careful follow-up and planning to become reality.
Double Your Donation Now…
What Stood Out Most
Beyond buildings and programmes, what stood out most was the spirit of the students:
Older girls caring for younger ones in the dorms
Students encouraging one another
Young people beginning to believe in their own potential
A genuine hunger for learning and growth
The incredible passion and commitment of staff
This is the impact of steady support over time.
The Power Of Consistency
As we look toward the year ahead, we are especially aware of how important consistency is. Regular support allows:
Programmes to continue without interruption
Pastoral care to remain stable
Students to be supported not just in crisis, but every day
For those who are in a position to give this Christmas, these are some of the areas where support will make a meaningful difference.
Empowerment & Wellbeing
£10/month – Provides sanitary support for one girl
£15/month – Supports Girls Club sessions & learning materials
£25/month – Covers pastoral care, snacks & hardship support
£60 one-off – Helps fund the projector for monthly learning
£150 one-off – Supports the period-pants pilot for multiple girls
Vocational Guidance & Student Futures
£15/month – Supports regular vocational school visits
£50 one-off – Funds printing of career guidance booklets
£100 one-off – Covers transport for a full vocational visit
School Life, Dignity & Infrastructure
£20/month – Supports sanitation, hygiene & wellbeing
£30/month – Helps provide stable pastoral staff support
£150 one-off – Contributes to boys’ dormitory cupboards
£250 one-off – Supports toilet and sanitation improvements
£500+ one-off – Helps equip sports, music or wellbeing spaces
A Final Thank You
To those who have given financially this year — thank you. Your generosity is changing what is possible for these students.
To those who have given in other ways — thank you for being part of this community. Your interest, encouragement, and sharing of the work all help build momentum and awareness.
Our time in Ghana showed us that lasting change is built step by step, person by person.
From all of us — and from the students whose futures continue to unfold:
Warmest Christmas wishes and sincere thanks.