“ORBIS PICTUS ” is the name of this year’s charity project  embarked on by the Michael Kunke Foundation. This project saw the foundation reconstruct the Junior High School One Classroom Block of the Elmina M/A Basic School. The school has 70 Junior High School (JHS) 1 students split in two, occupying two classrooms (35 per class). The building housing the JHS students is over 40 years old and has seen no renovation since it’s construction. The state of the structure made learning unbearable as the students are left to the mercy of the weather with a leaking roof when it rains, there were no windows with the exception of some holes in the wall that allows little or no ventilation making the classroom extremely hot on sunny days. The wooden pillars holding the corridor of the structure was basically hanging and excessive erosion over the years had left the foundation of the structure hanging.

Front view of the school before (left) – after (right)

With the help of our partners The Embassy of the Czech Republic in Accra and Lemon Beach Resort in Elmina the entire unit was pulled down and rebuilt to make it a more conducive and hospitable place that will enhance the teaching and learning experience for both teacher and student.

Rear view of classroom before (left) – after (right)

This was a four month project which gave a temporary source of employment to 25 local artisans. We also supported 5 Ivorian refugee artisans who we also worked with on our project for last year by giving them a role to play in the reconstruction process. To enhance the teaching and learning experience we raised the roof and ceiling level and also added windows to improve ventilation.

The project was officially handed over to the school authorities on 15th October 2021 during a brief but colourful event.  Present at the event was Robert Hrubý, the Economic and trade Counsellor at the Embassy of the Czech Republic in Accra, David Duron of Lemon Beach Resort and Eric Djanator, Projects Manager of Michael Kunke Foundation.